Filling In BLANK SLATE

So we were talking about two different BLANK SLATES the other day, and I finally got the chance to sit down and watch the good one (Harsh, yes...but there's reasons why this is the good one).

Watch it now. (I'll wait)

Now, why this BLANK SLATE above is the good one, and the other one isn't, goes to something we've discussed here on Pulp 2.0 many-a-time.

The TNT BLANK SLATE jumps right into the story.

We are presented with a puzzle that moves the main character - Anne Huston- along and into the narrative...all within the first episode. (Momentum, kids...never forget momentum)

The OTHER BLANK SLATE meanders and substitutes obscurity and possibility for momentum. We don't start feeling the narrative until episode 3 or so...by then it's too late.

In every other aspect - look, production value, tone - both shows are on similar ground. (And yes, we do have Clancy Brown in the TNT show, but his part COULD be performed by an unknown if necessary). So YOU CANNOT SAY that budget was a major factor in quality.

It's the story that made all the difference in the world.

With TNT's BLANK SLATE we want to fill in the blanks...we know we are plunging toward more cool information to come because we end on a hard cliffhanger (I won't spoil it).

So how did they create the momentum?

I have it on good authority from someone involved with the production that they shot it as a feature and chopped it up (knowing they would do so). So at the get-go the entire show was designed as a single story with continual escalations of tension, drama, character, etc...

I have no doubt we will see the feature version of this show on DVD after its run on TNT. They may even premiere it there as a Saturday Night Feature or something.

My one problem with the TNT and Dean Devlin's Electric Entertainment BLANK SLATE is that I can't embed it here on my blog so that people can click and jump right into the story from here instead of having to click over to the TNT.tv site...