Abstract:
A computer controlled system and method for creating an interactive television show incorporates audience feedback gathered by way of Internet software. Selected inputs include e-mail, as well as telephone and telecopy with these inputs influencing various levels of the script of upcoming episodes. The system provides for enhanced entry of comments and feedback, gathered by way of a calculated overlapping of questions, to allow structured incorporation of such feedback into the complex process for producing weekly and other episodic television shows. This invention further includes means for optimizing advertising revenues through Internet data gathering and dynamic feedback by character webmasters.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to data processing systems and methods for managing a complex television episode development and production. More specifically, the present invention relates to the systems and methods for creating feedback controlled productions of television episodes wherein information is collected from viewers through a sophisticated processing network including Internet and web based collection sites.  
           [0003]    2. State of the Art  
           [0004]    Since its inception in the 1940&#39;s, television has entertained by methods including the presenting of fictional stories, which have typically been developed by an individual writer or team of writers with no audience feedback. Television is such a successful entertainment medium that it has penetrated practically every North American home. Despite the unrelenting encroachment of television into the everyday lives of the general population, writers of episodic shows and situational comedies have been and continue to be constrained to create their art prior to receiving any indication of public acceptance or other audience feedback. The advent of internet technology provides means for obtaining immediate audience feedback, which can be used to pro-actively adjust the coarse and subject of the television show to enrich story development.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The invention represents convergence technology that works to incorporate audience feedback into later episodes to enhance the quality and audience acceptance of later shows by both broadening scripting possibilities and fulfilling audience expectations. Engendering audience participation will allow ready access to audience information, heightening the ability to effectively target future merchandising opportunities.  
           [0006]    Akin to several contemporary television shows (e.g., Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Bold And The Beautiful, etc.) the method of the present invention presents questions to the audience on its custom-designed “sister” internet homepage. Similar to the Internet “teaser” website developed to promote the recent Blair Witch Project movie, the “sister” homepage will also act to assure future audience attendance by displaying some limited information about upcoming episode(s). The present invention, however, utilizes its sister website to do more than simply poll or inform its audience. First, the type of question asked by the invention is distinguishable from those generally found on television shows&#39;websites today: namely the invention queries will be prescribed to directly determine the show&#39;s story line, whereas the latter&#39;s are for more general individual quizzing, entertainment or indirect information gathering for the show&#39;s producers. Second, during each episode the intention&#39;s sister homepage will be updated simultaneously to reflect the events that transpired during the story. Third, the method of the invention incorporates and utilizes planned, systematic data gathered from audience feedback for creative and commercial purposes.  
           [0007]    The purpose of the invention is to create shows that significantly reflect audience preferences. After the televised airing of the weekly TV or other show, the show&#39;s sister website will poll the audience to determine the direction that the storyline should take in future episodes. Audience members can also participate in the polling via toll-free 800, 877 and 888 numbers, Personal Digital Assistance (“PDAs”), email or by fax. The weekly poll will close after several days, at which time the TV production staff will finalize its incorporation of the audience feedback into various future episodes, with results appearing on air as early as one week later. Audience feedback that influences programming content may be collected directly from weekly audience polling, content-driven audience-authored email, chatroom discussions or Bulletin Board Services (“BBS”) postings, and other forms of viewer online participation (e.g., games, contests). Feedback also may be surmised from audience-preferences garnered from intelligence data collected from the story&#39;s e-commerce character-portals residing on the sister website.  
           [0008]    The invention satisfies a yearning for entertaining interactivity by introducing new techniques to maximize the convergence of the extant static television scripting practices and of developing internet technologies to create a new paradigm for interactive entertainment. The invention enables delivery by exact, widely available, technology of content-rich “narrowband convergence” story telling-experience.  
           [0009]    The invention creates a link now missing in interactivity, namely, actualization of audience input in a product created by a production company for audience consumption. Under the invention, the audience now is an active participant in content production anticipated for its own consumption, by putting in place viewer-to-producer information sharing infrastructure.  
           [0010]    Furthermore, the TV show acts as an innovative backdrop for modern e-commerce, by serving as: a “catalog” for online merchandising, a vehicle for product placement commercials, and, its website, as a repository for market intelligence. Enhancement of viewer ownership in the show&#39;s storyline will increase the audience&#39;s “stickiness” and allegiance to televised airing and the website&#39;s e-commerce activities. And because the e-commerce is being developed simultaneously with the show, both will be more organically integrated, and therefore, more seamless to the end-user. Viewer ownership would be a powerful tool for driving traffic across media platforms, opening new doors for user retention and leveraging. Transitioning the passive TV viewer into an active Web user enhances brand awareness and increases advertisers&#39;exposure. A viewer invested in his/her story&#39;s content will become and remain attracted to the advertising and e-commerce opportunities associated with such content. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1—Schematically portrays interrelation of audience, programming staff and internet.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b —Diagrams comparing methods of receiving audience feedback. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    Although the preferred embodiment set out below demonstrates means for production of a television show, the invention is suitable and readily applicable to all media scripting, including, but not limited to, on-line streaming media, film and other visual/format(s) for storytelling. FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the interrelation between the audience/viewers ( 10 ), production staff ( 11 ), broadcast company ( 12 ), internet and other methods of communicating with the audience ( 10 ), web portals/web producers ( 14 ), data vendors and advertising media ( 15 ), and the sub-components thereof.  
         [0014]    The audience/viewer ( 10 ) component consists of the typical nationwide market, which receives data by way of transmission to television sets ( 16 ) via broadcast over open airwaves, encoded broadcast, and cable subscribers ( 17 ). Broadcast by way of transmission of signals over open airways and encoded broadcast is a unidirectional media. In contrast, audience members receiving the television transmission via cable and satellite network are increasingly choosing to utilize the broadband capability of the cable interface to enable bidirectional data exchange. A common mechanism for facilitating bidirectional transfer is the set-box ( 20 ), commonly known by one brand name WebTV. Of course, internet service providers (“ISPs”) ( 19 ) provide internet access to customers who do not have a set-box ( 20 ) applications. Presently, it is more typical for customers to access the internet by way of modem connected to standard or dedicated service line (“DSL”) telephone company line ( 18 ). Although internet access is the most ready method of obtaining audience feedback, alternate methods of obtaining audience feedback are provided and have the audience use specified toll-free 800, 877 or 888 number(s).  
         [0015]    Production staff ( 11 ) is made up of the producers ( 24 ), director ( 23 ), editor ( 23   a ), writing staff ( 21 ), web master/producer ( 22 ), and support staff, collectively the production staff. The web master/producer ( 22 ) acts as the liaison between the computer programming personnel that operate the web portals ( 14 ), the on-air staff, namely, the “writers”( 21 ), the director ( 23 ) and editor ( 23   a ).  
         [0016]    The web portals ( 14 ) consists of typically automated means to monitor the audience participation and feedback. Managers of the web portals ( 14 ) consider requests from data vendors ( 15 ) and production staff ( 11 ) in their development of monitoring function and in the manner of tracking audience characteristics. The web portals ( 14 ) also have the responsibility for designing webpages that present to the audience queries received from production staff ( 11 ) as well as advertisements received from the data vendor ( 15 ).  
         [0017]    A privacy monitor ( 25 ) is recommended to comply with federal child privacy protection statutes and other laws to ensure that audience loyalty and comfort is not sacrificed for myopic commercial gain.  
         [0018]    The data vendor/advertiser interface ( 15 ) seek to leverage the continuous, typically real-time, information that is available from web portals and other means of gathering audience feedback.  
       A. Show Production  
       [0019]    A.1 Overlapping Audience Questions: Audience buy-in will not be obtained without the production staff ( 11 ) being able to include, in as timely a fashion as possible, the feedback received from the audience. This requires a careful pre-selection of questions and understanding how responses to each type of question will be incorporated into the developing script.  
         [0020]    The preferred embodiment will present questions to the audience (“end user”) by way of a multi-tier system based on when each tier of questions can be integrated chronologically into the story. For example, responses to some of such questions can not and will not affect future shows airing as late as four weeks later (i.e., episode  4 ). It will not be apparent to the audience that a particular question can or cannot be immediately incorporated into the story due to this tiering of questions, and the segregation of questions between various character portals..  
         [0021]    Examples of the tiered-based questioning of this invention are: the Editor-Driven Query (EDQ), Director-Driven Query (DDQ), Writer-Driven Query (WDQ) and the Online Request (OR). The EDQ, DDQ and WDQ are designed to elicit responses that can be utilized in various shows that will air from two to four weeks from questioning. The OR is a story-driving vehicle that is solicited from audience email, chatroom discussions or BBS postings, and is designed to air within one week from posting. The EDQ, DDQ, and WDQ questions are drafted by the show&#39;s staff, whereas, the OR is storyline-content that originates within the audience&#39;s imagination and then later is culled and incorporated by the staff into the show&#39;s storyline. Further explanation of this multi-tiered system is set out in Table  1 , below.  
                   TABLE 1                           1.   EDQ - Editor-Driven Scene/Query:       1.1   Added to the show&#39;s production the second to last day of principal           editing.       1.2   Borrowing from the news show production style, this scene will           involve limited characters and simple locations.       1.3   Generally, short in duration       1.4   Can serve as a foundation to future plot changes.       1.5   Can be accomplished by shooting alternative endings in principal           photography (two weeks earlier) and placing the responsibility upon           the editor to actualize the story&#39;s direction during assembly.       1.6   A second means to accomplish the same event would be to shoot the           voted upon scene after the completion of principal photography,           during post-production. Although the story&#39;s direction is not           “actualized” by the editor per se, the onus to anticipate           the later addition of footage is still upon the editor.       1.7   Airs two weeks after audience dictation.       1.8   This type of question generally will be geared more towards character           choices, of the “yes or no” variant (e.g., should she or shouldn&#39;t she)       2.   DDQ - Director Driven Scene/Query:       2.1   Added to the Show&#39;s production during its preparation prior to           shooting.       2.2   Director-driven change, (e.g., prop selection, actor choices).       2.3   Can serve as a plant for future pivotal moments.       2.4   The answer to this question generally will result more in a noun or           adjective (e.g., manifesting itself in a prop or type of prop).       3.   DQ - Writer Driven Scene/Query:       3.1   Effect the basis of that episode&#39;s direction.       3.2   Primarily derived from staff&#39;s answer road map and character           algorithms.       3.3   A more complex answer that will generate a new subplot or           fuel a former one, carrying on through subsequent episodes.       4.   OR - Online Requests:       4.1   A vehicle that allows any audience member to participate in the           storywriting via volunteered content sent to the show through email,           chatroom discussions or BBS.       4.2   Such storyline must fit within the larger story context, and may or           may not be expanded upon in future episodes.       4.3   Can be added to the show at the end of its future-lock up to its           post-production.                  
 
         [0022]    Below are example questions for EDQ, DDQ and WDQs.  
                                                                         TABLE 2                           Example Audience Questions:       Story Recap: We are 8 weeks into the television season. Gwen,       a vivacious lawyer, and Bart, a NFL benchwarmer, recently have ended       their 8-month relationship, due to Bart&#39;s wandering eye and Gwen&#39;s       workaholic behavior.       Gwen&#39;s Fan Questions for Week 9:            1.   “Why does Gwen want to reconcile with Bart?”           So she can seek revenge on him after she&#39;s lulled him back           Because she is now really interested in experiencing the two-way,           “open” relationship he offered her before           She&#39;s pregnant       5.   “What is Gwen&#39;s favorite color?”           Red           Green           Plum           Blue            Bart&#39;s Fan Questions for Week 9:            3.   “Should Bart give Gwen a second chance?”           Yes           No            Those who answer “Yes” will then be prompted to answer the following       question:            5.   “Why should Bart go back to Gwen?           She&#39;s a convenient lay and keeps his house clean           He needs a front for his homosexual lover           Go back to her? He&#39;s just hungry and she offered to pay for dinner.           Besides, her “upper deck” is always entertaining.            Those who answer “No” will then be prompted to answer the following       question:            5.   “Then who is going to do Bart&#39;s laundry while playing           “French Maid?”           Bart should hire a real housekeeper           Gwen&#39;s friend Betsy           Tell me, does the team&#39;s new rookie look French to you?                  
 
         [0023]    Two days later, the audience answers are tallied and the most popular answers are as follows:  
       How Week 9&#39;s Answers Are Handled  
     Editor Driven Query (EDO) Scene  
       [0024]    Episode  11 &#39;s scene answering the EDQ “Should Bart give Gwen a second chance?” was shot two weeks earlier, with two endings.  
         [0025]    Scene “Answering Machine Dilemma”: Bart walks out of the shower into his living room, hearing for the first time Gwen&#39;s voice talking on his answering machine.  
         [0026]    Ending  1 —Yes, give her a second chance.  
         [0027]    Ending  2 —No, don&#39;t give her a second chance.  
         [0028]    Bart walks over to his telephone, picks up the receiver and says hello.  
         [0029]    Bart walks into his bedroom, leaving Gwen babbling into the machine.  
         [0030]    Two weeks later the audience votes for Ending  1 . The show is now in the hands of the Editor who is instructed to use Ending  1  for the “Answering Machine Dilemma” scene. The Editor discards Ending  2 .  
       Director Driven Query (DDQ) Scene  
       [0031]    While Episode  11  is being edited, Episode  12  is being prepared for principal photography. Episode  12 &#39;s scene answering the Director-Driven DDQ question “What is Gwen&#39;s favorite color?” is being prepped for shooting by the Director&#39;s team (which includes Wardrobe and Props). The Assistant Director is instructed that the answer to the DDQ is “Blue” and that she and the appropriate crew members should fill in scripts blanks accordingly.  
                                               INT. SOHO DRESS SHOP, DAY                                Gwen debates between a slinky black dress or a softer, more       conservative  ————  one.       After taking a deep breath, she sharply turns to the salesgirl and asks:            GWEN   Which one is sexier?       SALESGIRL   Girl, the black one.       GWEN   Then I want this one. (She holds up the  ———  dress.)       GWEN (cont.)   He&#39;s not worthy of eye candy . . . not yet.           Besides  ———  is my lucky color . . . and I need all luck           I can get.                  
 
         [0032]    This information about Gwen (that blue is her favorite color) will become part of her personal biography and weave itself into future episodes at pivotal moments (as well may her blue dress).  
       Writer Driven Query (WDQ) Scene  
       [0033]    While Episode  11  is in editing and Episode  12  is in preparation for principal photography, Episode  13  is with the writing team. Episode  13 &#39;s WDQs are “Why does Gwen want to reconcile with Bart?” and “Why should Bart go back to Gwen?”. The answers are, respectively: “So Gwen can seek revenge on Bart after she&#39;s lulled him back” and “Go back to her? This is just a free dinner with a view of her upper rack.” The writers than create a dinner scene involving Gwen&#39;s conservative blue dress, a disappointed, “viewless” Bart, and Gwen try to worm her way back into Bart&#39;s life and apartment. Bart shows no interest and the evening ends with the two of them waiting for the other to pick up the check.  
       A.2 Production Deadlines  
       [0034]    Traditional television shows (both episodic and situation comedy) require minimally 6 to 8 weeks from script writing to air date. Several elements of this process that materially impact the duration of product are:  
         [0035]    shooting on film (additional development time) vs. video (developed in camera),  
         [0036]    shooting on location (cast and crew movement, set decoration and location scouting) vs. on a set (stationary workplace), and single camera (found in location shoots and episodic shows, editing done else where) vs. multiple or three cameras (used with sitcoms and soap operas, allows for simultaneous editing).  
         [0037]    Television is a highly unionized industry and personnel carry out fast-paced, but regular working hours, generally with Saturday and Sundays off. Same day (or even same week) shooting and airing of televised material is relegated primarily to news, magazine and live shows and certain MTV programming. Table 3, below, outlines the most time consuming tasks associated with episodic and sitcom production.  
                                                               TABLE 3                           A. Traditional Episodic Schedule (excludes weekends)            1.   4-10 days writing a one (1) hour show.       2.   8 days prep (rehearsal, casting, location, scouting, etc.) of           show No. 2, while 8 days simultaneously shooting show no. 1 (single           camera, film) on location.       3.   28 days post-production to airing.            (6.5-8 weeks total)       B. Traditional Sitcom Schedule (excludes weekends)            1.   5-6 days writing a 30 minute show.       2.   1 day read through with actors       3.   2 days blocking with actors       4.   1 day dress rehearsal (shot - multi-camera, video)       5.   1 day live studio audience shoot (multi-camera, video)       6.   28 day post-production to airing            (6 weeks total)       Engendering an aura of anticipation and script control will require an       audience-driven storyline television show (i.e., interactive) to reflect       interactivity sooner than 6 to 8 weeks. To accomplish this requires:            1.   Double-teaming of certain production units (namely, shooting and           editing crews)       2.   Removal of synchronized weekends for the production as a whole           (i.e., each department will operate on it&#39;s own 5 day schedule as           dictated by the needs of the show&#39;s production).            It can readily be shown by way of reference to the timeframe examples       that a traditional production schedule can be expedited to accommodate       audience-enhanced feedback. Below is Table 4, outlining the activities       necessary to produce a single episode.                  
 
         [0038]    [0038]                         TABLE 4                       Production Schedule Outline for Episode 5       (4 weeks total, weekends included)                                Day 1   Episode 1 airs; Producer approval of Episode 5           Writer Driven Queries       Day 2   Writer Driven Queries for Episode 5 goes live       Day 3   Writer Driven Queries for Episode 5 close and are tallied       Day 4-8   Episode 5&#39;s script is written (5 days)       Day 8   Episode 2 airs; Producer approval of Episode 5&#39;s           Director Driven Queries       Day 9   Director Driven Queries for Episode 5 goes live       Day 10   Director Driven Queries for Episode 5 tallied;           information conveyed to Assistant Director to           implement during shoot       Day 7-11   Episode 5&#39;s shooting prep (casting, rehearsals,           location scouting, etc.) (5 days)       Days 12-18   Episode 5&#39;s shoot, on location (“principal           photography”) (6 days)       Days 14-19   Editing (Assembly to Editor&#39;s Cut) (6 days)       Days 15   Episode 3 airs; Producer approval of Episode 5           Editor Driven Queries       Day 16   Editor Driven Queries for Episode 5 goes live       Day 17   Editor Driven Queries for Episode 5 is tallied       Day 18   Editor Driven scene for Episode 5 is “written” (early AM),           then shot (PM) and delivered to Editor or Editor is           directed to edit in the audience selected ending shot           two weeks earlier       Days 20-24   Producers&#39;/Director&#39;s Editing/Cut (5 days)       Day 22   Episode 4 airs; Online Requests are culled from website&#39;s           email, chatrooms and bullet boards. “Impromptu” scene           shot to run with either opening or closing credits and           delivered to Editor for insertion in final reel.       Day 24   Picture Lock Episode 5; Website begins coding new           Merchandising       Day 25   Music and Effects mix       Day 26   Additional Dialogue Recording       Days 27-28   Final mixing; Titling (2 days)       Day 28   Producers&#39; viewing (late)       Day 29   Episode 5 airs. On website, new merchandising appears at           airing and emceed Chatrooms open; Webmasters answer           email live. Simulcast choreography allows changes in           televised storyline to appear in synch with changes on           website. At close of Episode 5, story&#39;s archival information           and other story-driven matter (video clips, music, question           tallies, etc.) updated.           Chatrooms emcees and Webmasters remain active after           airing.                    
         [0039]    The episode production portrayed in the above table is outlined in further detail in Table 5, which includes scheduling overlap for weeks 1-8.  
                                                                                                                                                                                               TABLE 5                           PRE-SEASON                           PRE-SEASON   PRE-SEASON   PRE-SEASON   PRE-SEASON           (3 months to Launch 1 )   (5-6 Weeks to Launch)   (3-4 Weeks to Launch)   (2 Weeks to Launch)       STAFF   (Jun-Aug)   (Jul 15)   (late Aug-early Sept)   (Sept)               Producers       Approve Road Maps               Approve questions for:               Ep. 2 - Editor Driven Query               (EDQ) 2                 Ep. 3 - Director Driven Query”               (DDQ) 3                 Ep. 4 - Writer Driving Query               (WDQ) 4         Writers   Storyline Road Map           Audience Queries Road           Map           “Prequel-mercials 5 ” scripts       Episode Aired       “Prequel-mercials 6 ” (Set 1)       “Prequel-mercials 7 ” (Set 2)       Web Team       Website live - platform launch   Questions Appear 8     Questions Closed/Tallied               coinciding with “prequel-mercials”   Ep. 2 - EDQ   Ep. 2 - EDQ                   Ep. 3 - DDQ   Ep. 3 - DDQ                   Ep. 4 - WDQ   Ep. 4 - WDQ                   Prequel-mercials (Set 1)   Prequel-mercials (Sets 1 &amp; 2)                   streamed in   streamed in                    WEEK 1            STAFF   WEEK 1/DAY 1   DAY 2   DAY 3   DAY 4   DAY 5   DAY 6   DAY 7               Episode   Ep. 1 (Pilot)       Aired 9         Producers 10     Approval of   Ep. 2   Ep. 2 Picture           Ep. 3 Dir/Prod   Viewing Ep. 2           Questions   Dir/Prod   Lock           Edit Begins   (late)           Ep. 3 - EDQ   Edit   Review &amp;               Ep. 3 Dir/Prod           Ep. 4 - DDQ   Review   comment on               Edit           Ep. 5 - WDQ   &amp;   Ep. 4 Script           Ep. 2 Dir/Prod Edit   comment               on Ep. 4               Script       Web Team 11     At time of Ep. 1   Questions   Ep. 3, Ep. 4   Ep. 2   Ongoing Web           airing:   Appear:   and Ep. 5   Coding   Interactive           New Mer-       Monitored   Begins (for   Programming           chandising       Strategy   merchandi-   Contest/games           Emceed chat   Ep. 3 -   Chatroom   sing,   Fan           rooms open   EDQ   for Audience   archives,   chatrooms,           Active   Ep. 4 -   Questions   video,   video           webmasters&#39;   DDQ   Closed/Tal-   music,   interviews           emailing   Ep. 5 -   lied 12  :   audio and   with cast           After Ep. 1 airing:   WDQ   Ep. 3 -   text) (after   Ongoing           Update archives       EDQ   Picture   Portal           Continue       Ep. 4 -   Lock)   Services           chatrooms and       DDQ       Character           email       Ep. 5 -       driven links           Update video,       WDQ       Customized           music, audio               pages           and text               Opt-in                           emailed                           newsletters                           Email                           services                           Show                           archives                           (clips, episode                           summaries,                           tally histories,                           etc.       Writers 13     Ep. 4 Tone   Off   Off   Ep. 4 Prod   Ep. 5 - Script/Qs   Ep. 5 - Script/Qs   Ep. 5 Script/Qs           Meeting 14  with           comments           Questions to           Director           Receive Ep.           Producers           Ep. 4 Script Lock           5 WDQ tally           Ep. 4 -                       Ep. 5 -           EDQ                       Script/Qs 15             Ep. 5 -                       Meeting           DDQ                       with           Ep. 6 -                       Webmasters,           WDQ                       re: last                       night&#39;s                       Strategy                       Chat vibe       Prep   Ep. 4 Prep   Ep. 4   Ep. 4 Prep   OffOff   Ep. 5 Prep       Team 16     Ep. 4 Tone Meeting   PrepEp. 4   Receive and           with Writer and   Prep   implement           Director       Ep. 4&#39;s DDQ                   tally.       Shoot Team   Ep. 3 Shoot 18     Off   Off   Ep. 4 Baton   Ep. 4 Shoot   Ep. 4 Shoot   Ep. 4 Shoot       A 17                 Pass 19         Shoot Team B   Ep. 3 B roll   Ep. 3 Shoot   Ep. 3 Shoot   Ep. 3 Shoot/B   Off   Off   Off           Ep. 3 Baton Pass 20             Roll (whatever                       needed)       Editors 21     Ep. 2 Dir/Prod Edit   Ep. 2   Ep. 2 Picture   Receive and   Ep. 3 Editor&#39;s   Ep. 3 Dir/Prod   Ep. 3 Dir/Prod           Ep. 3 Edit   Dir/Prod   Lock   edit in Ep.   Cut 22     Edit Begins   Edit               Edit   Ep. 3 Edit   3&#39;s EDQ           Ep. 4 Edit               Ep. 3       tally           Begins               Edit       Ep. 3 Edit       Post Team 23                 Ep. 2 - Music   Ep. 2 - Additional   Ep. 2 Final Mix   Ep. 2 Final                       and Effects   Dialogue       Mix                       (M &amp; E)   Recording       Ep. 2 Titling                           (ADR)                    WEEK 2            STAFF   WEEK2/DAY 8   DAY 9   DAY 10   DAY 11   DAY 12   DAY 13   DAY 14               Episode   Ep. 2       Aired       Producers   Approval of   Ep. 3   Ep. 3 Picture           Ep. 4   Viewing Ep.           Questions   Dir/Prod   Lock           Dir/Prod   3 (late)           Ep. 4 -   Edit   Review &amp;           Edit Begins   Ep. 4           EDQ   Review &amp;   comment on               Dir/Prod Edit           Ep. 5 -   comment on   Ep. 5 Script           DDQ   Ep. 5 Script           Ep. 6 -           WDQ           Ep. 3 Dir/Prod           Edit       Web Team   At time of Ep. 2   Questions   Ep. 4, Ep. 5   Ep. 3 Coding   Ongoing Web           airing:   Appear:   and Ep. 6   Begins (for   Interactive           New Mer-   Ep. 4 - EDQ   Monitored   merchandis-   Programming           chandising   Ep. 5 - DDQ   Strategy   ing, archives,   Contest/games           Emceed   Ep. 6 -   Chatroom for   video,   Fan chatrooms,           chat rooms   WDQ   Audience   music, audio   video interviews           open       Questions   and text)   with cast           Active       Closed/Tal-   (after Picture   Ongoing Portal           webmasters&#39;       lied:   Lock)   Services           emailing       Ep. 4 -       Character driven           After Ep. 2       EDQ       links           airing:       Ep. 5 -       Customized pages           Update       DDQ       Opt-in emailed           archives       Ep. 6 -       newsletters           Continue       WDQ       Email services           chatrooms               Show archives           and email               (clips, episode           Update               summaries, tally           video,               histories, etc.           music,           audio and           text       Writers   Ep. 5 Tone   Off   Off   Ep. 5 Prod   Ep. 6 - Script/Qs   Ep. 6 - Script/Qs   Ep. 6           Meeting with           comments           Script/Qs           Director           Receive Ep. 6           Questions to           Ep. 5 Script           WDQ tally           Producers           Lock           Ep. 6 -           Ep. 5 -                       Script/Qs           EDQ                       Meeting with           Ep. 6 -                       Webmasters,           DDQ                       re: last night&#39;s           Ep. 7 -                       Strategy Chat           WDQ                       vibe       Prep   Ep. 5 Prep   Ep. 5 Prep   Ep. 5 Prep   Ep. 5 Prep   Off   Off   Ep. 6 Prep       Team   Ep. 5. Tone           Receive and           meeting with           implement           Writers and           Ep. 5&#39;s DDQ           Director           tally.       Shoot   Ep. 4 Shoot   Off   Off   Ep. 5 Baton Pass   Ep. 5 Shoot   Ep. 5 Shoot   Ep. 5 Shoot       Team A       Shoot   Ep. 4 B roll   Ep. 4 Shoot   Ep. 4 Shoot   Ep. 4 Shoot/B   Off   Off   Off       Team B   Ep. 4 Baton           Roll (whatever           Pass           needed)       Editors   Ep. 3   Ep. 3   Ep. 3 Picture   Receive and   Ep. 4 Editor&#39;s Cut   Ep. 4 Dir/Prod   Ep. 4           Dir/Prod Edit   Dir/Prod Edit   Lock   edit in Ep. 4&#39;s       Edit Begins   Dir/Prod Edit           Ep. 4 Edit   Ep. 4 Edit   Ep. 4 Edit   EDQ tally           Ep. 5 Edit                       Ep. 4 Edit           Begins       Post Team               Ep. 3 - Music and   Ep. 3 - Additional   Ep. 3 Final Mix   Ep. 3 Final                       Effects (M&amp;E)   Dialogue       Mix                           Recording       Ep. 3 Titling                           (ADR)                    WEEK 3            STAFF   WEEK 3/DAY 15   DAY 16   DAY 17   DAY 18   DAY 19   DAY 20   DAY 21               Episode   Ep. 4       Aired       Producers   Approval of   Ep. 4   Ep. 4 Picture           Ep. 5 Dir/Prod   Viewing Ep.           Questions   Dir/Prod   Lock           Edit Begins   4 (late)           Ep. 5 -   Edit   Review &amp;               Ep. 5           EDQ   Review &amp;   comment on Ep.               Dir/Prod Edit           Ep. 6 -   comment on   6 Script           DDQ   Ep. 6 Script           Ep. 7 -           WDQ           Ep. 4 Dir/Prod           Edit       Web Team   At time of Ep.   Questions   Ep. 5, Ep. 6 and   Ep. 4   Ongoing Web           4 airing:   Appear:   Ep. 7 Monitored   Coding   Interactive           New Mer-   Ep. 5 - EDQ   Strategy   Begins   Programming           chandising   Ep. 6 - DDQ   Chatroom for   (for   Contest/games           Emceed   Ep. 7 -   Audience   merchandis-   Fan chatrooms,           chat rooms   WDQ   Questions   ing,   video interviews           open       Closed/Tallied:   archives,   with cast           Active       Ep. 5 -   video,   Ongoing Portal           webmasters&#39;       EDQ   music,   Services           emailing       Ep. 6 -   audio and   Character driven           After Ep. 4       DDQ   text) (after   links           airing:       Ep. 7 -   Picture   Customized           Update       WDQ   Lock)   pages           archives               Opt-in emailed           Continue               newsletters           chatrooms               Email services           and email               Show archives           Update               (clips, episode           video,               summaries, tally           music,               histories, etc.           audio and                       text               Writers   Ep. 6 Tone   Off   Off   Ep. 6 Prod   Ep. 7 - Script/Qs   Ep. 7 - Script/Qs   Ep. 7           Meeting with           comments           Script/Qs           Director           Receive Ep. 7           Questions to           Ep. 6 Script           WDQ tally           Producers           Lock           Ep. 7 -           Ep. 6 -                       Script/Qs           EDQ                       Meeting with           Ep. 7-                       Webmasters,           DDQ                       re: last night&#39;s           Ep. 8 -                       Strategy Chat           WDQ                       vibe       Prep   Ep. 6 Prep   Ep. 6 Prep   Ep. 6 Prep   Ep. 6 Prep   Off   Off   Ep. 7 Prep       Team   Ep. 6. Tone           Receive and           meeting with           implement           Writers and           Ep. 6&#39;s DDQ           Director           tally.       Shoot   Ep. 5 Shoot   Off   Off   Ep. 6 Baton Pass   Ep. 6 Shoot   Ep. 6 Shoot   Ep. 6 Shoot       Team A       Shoot   Ep. 5 B roll   Ep. 5 Shoot   Ep. 5 Shoot   Ep. 5 Shoot/B   Off   Off   Off       Team B   Ep. 5 Baton           Roll (whatever           Pass           needed)       Editors   Ep. 4   Ep. 4   Ep. 4 Picture   Receive and   Ep. 5 Editor&#39;s Cut   Ep. 5 Dir/Prod   Ep. 5           Dir/Prod Edit   Dir/Prod Edit   Lock   edit in Ep. 5&#39;s       Edit Begins   Dir/Prod Edit           Ep. 5 Edit   Ep. 5 Edit   Ep. 5 Edit   EDQ tally           Ep. 6 Edit                       Ep. 5 Edit           Begins       Post Team               Ep. 4 - Music and   Ep. 4 - Additional   Ep. 4 Final Mix   Ep. 4 Final                       Effects (M&amp;E)   Dialogue       Mix                           Recording       Ep. 4 Titling                           (ADR)                    WEEK 4            STAFF   WEEK 4/DAY 22   DAY 23   DAY 24   DAY 25   DAY 26   DAY 27   DAY 28               Episode   Ep. 4       Aired       Producers   Approval of   Ep. 5   Ep. 5 Picture           Ep. 6 Dir/Prod   Viewing Ep.           Questions   Dir/Prod   Lock           Edit Begins   5 (late)           Ep. 6 -   Edit   Review &amp;               Ep. 6           EDQ   Review &amp;   comment on               Dir/Prod Edit           Ep. 7 -   comment on   Ep. 7 Script           DDQ   Ep. 7 Script           Ep. 8-           WDQ           Ep. 5 Dir/Prod           Edit       Web Team   At time of Ep.   Questions   Ep. 6, Ep. 7   Ep. 5 Coding   Ongoing Web           4 airing:   Appear:   and Ep. 8   Begins (for   Interactive           New Mer-   Ep. 6 - EDQ   Monitored   merchandis-   Programming           chandising   Ep. 7 - DDQ   Strategy   ing, archives,   Contest/games           Emceed   Ep. 8 -   Chatroom for   video,   Fan chatrooms,           chat rooms   WDQ   Audience   music, audio   video interviews           open       Questions   and text)   with cast           Active       Closed/Tal-   (after Picture   Ongoing Portal           webmasters&#39;       lied:   Lock)   Services           emailing       Ep. 6-       Character driven           After Ep. 4       EDQ       links           airing:       Ep. 7 -       Customized           Update       DDQ       pages           archives       Ep. 8-       Opt-in emailed           Continue       WDQ       newsletters           chatrooms               Email services           and email               Show archives           Update               (clips, episode           video,               summaries, tally           music,               histories, etc.           audio and           text       Writers   Ep. 7 Tone   Off   Off   Ep. 7 Prod   Ep. 8 - Script/Qs   Ep. 8 - Script/Qs   Ep.8           Meeting with           comments           Script/Qs           Director           Receive Ep. 8           Questions to           Ep. 7 Script           WDQ tally           Producers           Lock           Ep. 8 -           Ep. 7 -                       Script/Qs           EDQ                       Meeting with           Ep. 8 -                       Webmasters,           DDQ                       re: last night&#39;s           Ep. 9 -                       Strategy Chat           WDQ                       vibe       Prep   Ep. 7 Prep   Ep. 7 Prep   Ep. 7 Prep   Ep. 7 Prep   Off   Off   Ep. 8 Prep       Team   Ep. 7. Tone           Receive and           meeting with           implement           Writers and           Ep. 7&#39;s DDQ           Director           tally.       Shoot   Ep. 6 Shoot   Off   Off   Ep. 7 Baton Pass   Ep. 7 Shoot   Ep. 7 Shoot   Ep. 7 Shoot       Team A       Shoot   Ep. 6 B roll   Ep. 6 Shoot   Ep. 6 Shoot   Ep. 6 Shoot/B   Off   Off   Off       Team B   Ep. 6 Baton           Roll (whatever           Pass           needed)       Editors   Ep. 5   Ep. 5   Ep. 5 Picture   Receive and   Ep. 6 Editor&#39;s Cut   Ep. 6 Dir/Prod   Ep. 6           Dir/Prod Edit   Dir/Prod Edit   Lock   edit in Ep. 6&#39;s       Edit Begins   Dir/Prod Edit           Ep. 6 Edit   Ep. 6 Edit   Ep. 6 Edit   EDQ tally           Ep. 7 Edit                       Ep. 6 Edit           Begins       Post Team               Ep. 5 - Music and   Ep. 5 - Additional   Ep. 5 Final Mix   Ep. 5 Final                       Effects (M&amp;E)   Dialogue       Mix                           Recording       Ep. 5 Titling                           (ADR)                                  
 
       The Audience Voice  
       [0040]    Currently, audience feedback can not be directly obtained. Separate advertiser survey companies or rating agencies typically produce reports (e.g., Nielson reports) that are used to monitor audience acceptance of a show. Such reports suffer from an inherent time delay, the fact that they are developed by third-parties and depend heavily on time-consuming diaries and integrity of viewer pool. Although such reports are insightful, they offer lesser value to the individuals engaged in writing, editing, producing and directing a television series (collectively the “production staff”) or other broadcast that must air new material within relatively short intervals.  
         [0041]    The method presented by the invention provides a novel solution to a critical deficiency in the current system. First, the invention allows the production staff to bypass the third-party rating agency and obtain viewer feedback. See FIG. 2 b.    
         [0042]    Second, the invention allows the production staff to obtain viewer feedback immediately after —and, for some purposes, during—show broadcast. Third, the production staff can purposely leave unplanned, certain future story events and, instead, write questions whose responses will provide direction for such events.  
         [0043]    For purposes of story development, audience feedback is filtered predominantly by method of whether the question responded to is an EDQ, DDQ, WDQ or OR. It is anticipated that one or more character webmaster(s) ( 22 ) will be assigned the task of gathering the feedback and communicating with the writers ( 21 ), editors ( 23   a ), directors ( 22 ) and producers ( 24 ), thereby serving as an enabler of audience choice.  
         [0044]    For purposes of advertiser interest/economics, audience feedback gathered from the website/portals and other real-time data is of premium value. While, as described above, such immediate feedback is valuable for determination of preferred character traits, for determination of preferred storyline development and for creation of a more dynamic means of storytelling; such immediate feedback can better enable marketers to market their product by having immediately available information on audience preferences, show/character popularity, audience buying-habits, and, or course, audience web-browsing habits. The method of this invention provides a planned means for advertisers to almost simultaneously garner feedback from a significant number of the actual audience members. Such valuable data was formerly only available by conducting focus groups, an expensive and less accurate exercise. To obtain such feedback from a significant percentage of the audience, advertisers and show producers had to wait for third party reports, which, due to presence of the third party polling agency, can be inherently inaccurate and only indirectly satisfy the unique demands of both the advertisers of the show developers. The most immediate manner in which audience feedback data can be obtained using the method of the present invention is by real-time monitoring of the character portals ( 14 ), over which the advertisers and show producers can exercise direct control.  
       Economic Activities and Advertising Advantages  
       [0045]    In the preferred embodiment, each main character will have his/her own portal ( 14 ), where their weekly audience questions will reside. On each character portal ( 14 ), online merchandising of the character&#39;s possessions (clothing, furniture, etc.) can be purchased. Character-driven banner and hyperlink advertisements will also reside on each portal ( 14 ). Chatrooms and fan email (designated character webmaster) allow for interactivity to continue when the show is not on air. Archives (text, video and audio/music) are available for audience member research and entertainment. The e-commerce rich portals will facilitate the collecting of detailed customer intelligence, therefore enabling targeted marketing by advertisers ( 15 ), if so desired. Several advertising and e-commerce vehicles crossing hardcopy, television and internet platforms, including:  
         [0046]    Advertising sales ( “prequel-mercials,” “webmercials,” other online advertising and print advertising in newsletter)  
         [0047]    Online merchandising commissions (third-party sales) and retail sales of TV show characters&#39;clothing, make-up, props found on TV set (furnishings, appliances etc.) and soundtrack music (MP3), etc., with parallel offline catalog  
         [0048]    Licensed merchandise sales (online and catalog)  
         [0049]    Affinity programs with online and offline retailers  
         [0050]    Banner ads, buttons and links/affiliate programs  
         [0051]    Traffic data aggregation and analysis  
         [0052]    Opt-in email and other offline direct marketing campaigns  
         [0053]    Fan club membership, subscription newsletters (on and offline) and other premium fan portal services. As an incentive for fan club membership, fans may be granted weighted voting rights.  
         [0054]    The “Prequel-mercial”—In order to simulate interactivity early in the TV season with an educated audience ( 10 ), a convergence of advertising, storytelling and interactivity can occur, namely by way of the “prequel-mercial.” Prequel-mercials are story driven commercials of 30-60 second duration that sell product and entice viewership. As part of launch, “prequel-mercials” can be used both for marketing the show and engaging future audience participation. Although primarily a story content vehicle, the expense of prequel-mercials can be subsidized by consumer item product placement. Also, this format can be used throughout the season for strategic storytelling and as a general advertising vehicle for show sponsors.  
         [0055]    Distinct Regional Subplots/Spin-Offs—Further anticipated by the invention is the creation of distinct regional subplots, spun-off from the main show. Such stand alone regional sub-stories will “air” online, via streaming media video, and will have story lines that are uniquely generated and modified by regional viewers and supported by local advertising.