Amid all these gee-whiz gizmos, however, studios risk placing more emphasis upon technology than scripts, placing more stress on digital methods than method acting. A syndicated series about a mythical Arabian sailor serves as one example of fine digital effects being no substitute for solid writing. When style takes precedence over substance, we all suffer from a lack of essential quality. Consider the batch of new TV series. Digital effects permit producers of these and other shows to add magic and excitement to programming that in previous seasons could never have afforded such special treatment.
Viewers clearly enjoy the cleverly rendered realism, never before possible with prior techniques.
Even cartoon series for kids benefit from digital tools that streamline the tedious job of creating and shooting one cell after another. Yet be alert to danger here. A strong story. An actor in a flat role, be that actor living or digital, talented or not, is still going to come across flat. Weak acting and weaker scripts remain the bane of television.