Project idea:
Wince TV
The same eye-watering sarcasm of America's Finest News Source,
The Onion. But in the case of Wince TV, it's about sensationalised irrationality of a philosophical kind, instead of hyped-up but extremely banal news stores.
Straightforwardly silly, like
A Bit of Fry and Laurie, and
Monty Python. The aim is to get the silliness of an idea across, not distract the viewer with special effects.
Some examples:
- Talking-head at the news desk announces a global prize-winning science ceremony, and transitions to live coverage. We hear the news reporter asking, "So what did you win the prize for?" An excited, well-dressed scientist says, "We finally discovered the smallest particle!" News reporter: "Wow! Finally! So what will you do with the $1.3 million prize money?" The response, "Oh, more research of course. The particle has several even tinier floating components, and we don't know anything about these."
- Talking-head at the news desk announces a notable religious charity event, with a big smile. A news reporter is pictured walking through an eatery for the homeless, and asks a priest dressed in expensive velvet and silk cassock, standing by, "What's the charity event in aid of?" He replies, "Jesus said, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Kingdom. Today we have some of the city's leading business men, dining with us, learning how the poor live. We're eating some humble pie, and learning from our poorest brethren how to inherit the Kingdom." He turns and shakes the hand of a business man. He grins and nods, and says, "See you for golf tomorrow, Chuck. And Jill said to drop in afterwards for some drinks."
- Talking-head: "Teachers around the nation are holding a 'Think for Yourself Day'. Part of the new federal Initiatives for Literacy Program, John has the report.
Reporter: [Entering a quiet classroom. In a hushed voice.] "Children here are engaged in a thinking session. Today is "Think for Yourself Day". Ah, the session is finished, and a child is reporting their thoughts.
School-child: "I was thinking about what Ms. Banrock said to us yesterday, when talking about thinking. She said all correct thinking uses logic. When Martin asked what logic is, she said, "It's what mathematicians and scientists use to come up with correct answers." Then Martin asked: "But what if you're not a mathematician or a scientist, can you still do correct thinking?" She said, "It's not as good." But she's not a mathematician or a scientist, so she can't be doing correct thinking."
Ms. Banrock: [To news-reporter) Children have such clear, simple minds!
- Talking-head: "We're celebrating the 70th anniversary of Woman's Thought magazine, the leading feminist journal in the US. More from Jessica."
Reporter: [To an elderly lady over coffee.] "What do you think of Woman's Thought?"
Woman: "Well, originally there were a lot of long essays, but it improved over time. Now it's very useful. There are so many good tips: how to paint your nails, where to buy shoes, how to tell whether your man is in a money-spending mood or not, how to get even more sexual pleasure, that sort of thing. I can't live without it!"
And so on.
Just short and snappy. Less than 3 minutes a piece.
A Youtube channel for multiple contributers. It'd be good to have the same talking-head at the desk, for recognisability.
Anyone interested?
.