We have finally made it to Week 3 here in California. Today we met with John Cook, the Emmy-winning sound mixer for shows such as Mr. Robot, Parks and Recreation, The Office, and Veep and Ted Miller, head of television and a top agent at Creative Artists Agency. Sound mixers are incredibly underappreciated. Sound is a background player, affecting the viewers and their emotions without calling attention to itself (unless that’s the goal, of course). The mixers can build up an unnatural soundscape that sounds so natural in an obscenely short amount of time. It’s definitely a skill that I wish that I had.

Agents are in a totally different ballpark. Instead of melding into the background, an agent’s job is to be everywhere and know everyone and everything. They are on top of their game at all times in order to figure out what is best and negotiate deals for their numerous clients. CAA covers all types of entertainment creatives, whether it be writers, directors, talent, sports, e-sports, producers, etc. If you can create something meaningful and special, they will consider representing you.

A main topic of discussion during our time with Ted was where television was headed. And the thing is, no one knows. In 1997, the DVD-distributing company Netflix was founded. No one could have imagined that years later, it would become one of the world’s most dominant streaming services. In 2016, Netflix was present in 75% of streaming households in the U.S. Other streaming companies such as Hulu, AmazonVideo, HBO, YouTube, etc. are following close behind.

The world has become less and less patient with the advent of the internet and streaming. People no longer have the patience to sit through commercials. They will fast-forward or simply record the show to watch at a later time. They are in a now, now, now mindset. Streaming services have streamlined this need by, for the most part, cutting out commercials all together. Shows are often uploaded onto streaming services a season at a time. You no longer have to wait a week for the next episode. This has created ‘binge-watching’, where the viewers watches multiple episodes (or even seasons if they really commit) in one sitting. The shows play automatically in chronological order so the viewers does not even have to get up before indulging in the next episode.

The age of television is not going to end anytime soon. The means of consumption are just going to continue being modified until we land on something that can’t be beat. The question we are struggling to answer is which means is best right now. Every streaming site offers a mix of both acquired and original material. But the viewer must buy a subscription to each one individually. Cable television offers streamlined content through hundreds of channels all for one price. However, people don’t necessarily want to pay for the extra 200 channels they don’t watch, so which one does the viewer choose? The answer varies for each household.

There is one question, however, that streaming services ask that we do know the answer to.

“Are you still watching ____?”

Of course.

-Addie