By: Jordan King

GoT Lost Behind the Scenes: Underexposed Television Producers in Magazines

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

D.B. Weiss David Benioff

Carlton Cuse

Damon Lindelof

Game of Thrones Lost

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• RQ1: How are the producers portrayed in magazines?

• RQ2: Does the portrayal of the producers change from the post trial-and-error season (season 2 of each show) to the virally popular season (3rd for GoT, 6th for Lost)?

• Eugene Shaw: Agenda-setting Theory

• Robert Entman: Framing Theory

• “Showrunner”

BACKGROUND

METHODCase Study• Who:

• What: – Total : 60 articles

• Where: MasterFILE Premier magazine database

• When: Post trial & error season (2) and most viral season (3,6)

METHOD (CONT.)• How: Search terms: (producers, show, actors)– Targeted number of articles– Categories: • Mentioned briefly• In-depth but short• In-depth and long• No mention

Show Target # of Articles

Producer 1

4

Producer 2

4

Show Title

4

Actor 1 1Actor 2 1Actor 3 1

ANALYSIS• 68% were from entertainment magazines

• 42% had no mention of producers

Briefly MentionedIn-depth but ShortIn-depth but LongNo Mention

– Martin covered 30% more than producers– Abrams covered 17% more than producers

THE ORIGINAL CREATORS

George R.R. Martin

J.J. Abrams

USE OF “THE PRODUCERS”Actor-concentrated Articles• At the beginning of an article:

– “She also looks phenomenal in a bikini—a fact that Lost’s producers haven’t been shy about taking advantage of “ (Rolling Stone).

• At the end of an article:– “‘We were flirting with despair until we saw her

audition,’ says a producer. ‘This was someone people would follow into the fire’” (Rolling Stone).

• No mention:– “Admit it, the writers have no idea where this thing is

going” (Esquire).

FRAMING• Professional vs. Personal

Actors

Personal (61%)Pro-fes-sional

Producers

Personal (10%)Pro-fes-sional

SO WHAT?• Reporters hiding producers’ identities

seen as insignificant

• Framing in a personal lens creates an easier connection between viewer and actor

• Some could argue the exposure makes the experience less real

So why does it matter? • Ill-informed society• Need balance of topics and publications

– Personal connection– Educational

ANY QUESTIONS?