It's called Masterpiece and it premiered last Sunday. Primetime Italian public TV.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/16/x-factor-novel-writers-talent-show-italy
Is it the end of literature? Would you participate? Are we all doomed? Care to discuss?
I'd check it out. I think anything that brings attention to literature is a good thing. I generally believe pop culture is an asset to all art forms. People get interested. They pick it up. They learn what they like. And then some of them dive deeper and try to develop their skills in those crafts.
That's what happened to me anyway.
I'd do this if it came to America. It could be interesting.
I'm not to worried of course. I feel about it the same way, someone would try to elect me for that Stacy and Clinton Show.
I'm skeptical of anything with a television attached to it, that isn't reviewing a bad movie and being allowed to take your time to take notes on why you don't like it.
And I'm skeptical of anything where its timed, its thematic, and someone is watching you while you write. I'm sorry but that would bust and halt whatever concentration I have at the moment. I would probably simply stop writing.
As long as they can find something cinematically interesting in dudes sitting around reading and writing, then I'm cool with it. I love trash TV.
A few years ago I watched online this Canadian mini-series they did based around the 3 Day Novel contest. It was cheesy as hell.
I just feel the pressure mounting.....
My primary issue is, I have to look to see if people are reading over my shoulder as it is. Techno music and classical is as much external noise as I can handle.
From a wider public audience, I can see this working. But novels have to be revised, often revised again and again. I couldn't imagine something written in thirty minutes includes revision. There is often that thing where I let my own life themes inform my writing. I wouldn't get that with a theme of any sort.
Interesting idea. I wouldn't watch it, but I don't watch TV, so that sort of stands to reason.