Ideas for TV channel programmes and dvd's

I just wish that the production companies would have people who know what they are talking about check the scripts and the validity of the clips that they use. I know that everyone on here has had a moment where they see a clip of something happening in the 1945 Pacific theatre used to illustrate Norway!

Back on to the subject, some of the post war stuff from the British Library needs airing again (excuse the pun) but possibly with a modern interpretation to put it in to context?

Next year, being the 100th anniversary of the start of the “Great War” perhaps a one off drama or series detailing what the youth of that generation endured in the air battles over the western front. A of remake of the Wings series of the 70’s wouldn’t be a bad thing. The worst case scenario would be a reality show putting modern youth through the same training etc. which would be better than nothing… but only just.

How about a series along the lines of “Last of the summer wine” where a group of old blokes wander around a Cambridgeshire air museum every day? 😀

I tend to agree with some of the other comments here. There are aviation programmes hidden away on some of the less watched digital channels but mainstream TV, both BBC and commercial, constantly chasing ratings, do not see aviation in general as a category likely to pull in the viewers. It is a scandal that the BBC does not because it should not have to justify programming with ratings, but it is obsessed with them.

I would love to see BBC OB’s from 2 or 3 of the big airshows but with good commentary as opposed to “Blue Peter” commentary, which there seems to more and more of for adult documentary. But I know it will never happen.

There is nothing real in most “reality” TV.

I’d hate to put anyone in the historic aircraft movement through that, I’m sure they…and the movement, would come out looking bad.

Now if a production firm wanted to make a “real” show without the phony drama and contrived situations, it would be neat to learn about the inside of a collection, like the Shuttleworth as mentioned above.

Personally, I’d like to see a series on the Ezell family that runs a very well regarded restoration shop in Breckenridge, Texas.
They’re very talented and incredibly nice.
I did a couple of televeision stories about them when they were restoring the Seafire. Nelson Ezell even flew it for our cameras.

The head on shot from a low pass is used by a well known poster here for his aviatar.

I’m afraid I have to agree with sconnor. Quality and historical accuracy is not what a TV company relishes. A ‘celebrity’ big name and as much stock footage (however inappropriate) as possible is the aim. Now add a deafening music background – all for our benefit of course as we have been dumbed down!

I was thinking of “A Year In The Life Of The Shuttleworth Trust”.

This would be a ‘people’ show with all/most of the staff (and some of the volunteers of the SVAS) participating. The aircraft and the land vehicles would form an important but background role.
.

I’d love to make a series like this, sadly the talented, dedicated and interesting people at the Collection aren’t what the commissioning editors are after, perhaps if they had spray tans, short skirts and went out on the town drinking heavily, then there would be some interest.

Alternatively if they “pimped up” some of the aircraft with in-cockpit big screen TV’s, sound systems, lots of chrome and custom paint jobs there would be interest as well.

I was thinking of “A Year In The Life Of The Shuttleworth Trust”.

This would be a ‘people’ show with all/most of the staff (and some of the volunteers of the SVAS) participating. The aircraft and the land vehicles would form an important but background role.

It could cover a 12 month period starting at the last airshow of the season, through the winter building up to the first airshow of the next season and continuing through the display year back to the last airshow of the season.

Six 30 minute programmes and what great publicity for the Trust and DVDs could be sold.

Roger Smith.

As someone who has been making Aviation Films for a number of years I can tell you that there is practically zero interest in historic aviation from the people that commission shows. They all want “people” shows now.

Even at DVD level, where Companies like DD video used to make documentaries, there is very little being made because sales are down so much and the budgets are no longer there.

The only hope is that someone funds a new historic TV or online Channel that appeals specifically to the audience and that is very unlikely to happen.

Aviation documentary’s I love em. Cant get enough. Though there are loads available on Youtube now.

I suppose these days its a sign of the times. It does cost the TV Companies a small fortune to make a good documentary. And these days, of interest only to the minority. For obvious reasons they do have to attract viewers to justify production costs.

And unlike the BBC. Commercial TV Can have a 1 hour slot where only 20 minutes of the programme is shown and the rest is adverts which as we know funds the production costs. The odd one here and there has been spoiled by modern day over rated special effects.

I’ve been touting our short film around now for a couple of year (yes I know most are now bored with it) and apart from the faithful few had no interest at all. I know it needs a lot of work and remaking as it was made primarily for a small target market, but I did hope that there may be a bit of interest for someone to expand it, it seems not, www.vimeo.com/14431980

As for house programs and Gok, who would be mad enough to get involved in that sort of thing :diablo:

To be brutally honest there have been a lot of programs on the subject of Aircraft and many repeatet over and over again on some of the smaller channels(Discovery and the like). I don’t think there is a mass market appeal for them. Money is the bottm line always so its clean,do your house up,sell it,gardening and cooking stuff that brings the punters. Oh I nearly forgot Gok Wan!

Aviation on TV. …UK RAF and Luftwaffe…especially….has just about dried up, for what is the biggest spectator event in this country, airshows, and interest in aircraft,,,WW2…not cessnas !…. the TV companies are not covering anything, there is a vast amount of subject matter to be dealt with, just reading my ideas alone had me drooling, but there is absolutley nothing on TV so it seems, and if it is, its a repeat , many times over repeat at that, or its USA aircraft.

Maybe they need giving ideas to. DIG1940 and Harry Harris were fascinating, but we can but hope there are more, but those are not enough. Lets have one on each and every RAF aircraft, people that flew them, daring missions etc etc.

Lets have some more ideas for this thread, then maybe we can send this lot off to the TV makers, and not the USA, they will bin them as its not USA.

DBenz

RAF/FAA .. 1946-1970 the forgotten years.. a program which covers the globe with stories, footage , interviews, recoveries , of the losses at home whilst transitioning from prop to Jet.

And the many conflicts we were involved in since WW2 , Mau Mau, Malaya, Palastine,Aden, Suez, Cold war etc etc , lots to learn about, and a subject that sadly those who were part of those historical times we are losing through age ,faster than we care to realise,and we might get to see rare footage of the likes of Brigand,Hornet,Lncoln,and maybe possibilities of recoveries of rare types .

Most of the people I have interviewed in the past couple of years have been in there 70s, and this was looking for aircraft losses from 1950 to 1970.. the last aicraft I have been looking at with the youngest crew to contact would now be aged 67 years old, and most remembering the 1950s in there 80s.

Thats my reasoning behind such a program . .. it also would show the massive amount of work our air services have done since WW2, which sadly , many only find those five years of WW2 of any interest ??. as Important as those dark days of WW2 are to all of us who enjoy our freedoms, I feel so much has been done since, and we are at risk of losing so many interesting stories and history if we do not try to record it. in some way or another 🙂

A series on aircraft manufacturing companies – a sort of Putnams but in video form.

They would cover the origins of the company, it’s products, the company’s impact socially and including ex employees with their memories.

For completeness the series would need to cover foreign companies and perhaps a production company might blanche at that???

Roger Smith.

Finding unexploded ordanance and defusing them, Now id like to watch another program like this i watched years ago.

Weapons show us the destructive power of these old 50 cal restored working today not a you tube pic.!

Restoring a classic from scratch actually building a under carriage leg not just seeing it working & same for the engines & constructing wings again not seeing them been fit. etc.

Just because you don’t look over there, doesn’t mean to say others don’t 😉

Your initial argument was where had all the Aviation programmes gone. Civil can be historic too, so there doesn’t really need to be a seperate thread there. The general discussion board catches all….

Kind regards,
Scotty

Perhaps, I come at it from an Historical Aviation interest, hence in here, trying to increase the choice of historical aircraft progs. I never visit over there and maybe others into historic wouldnt think to loook over there ?
What do other folk think ?

If someone wants to do similar for civil stuff, can they start one there ?

The other debate over historical TV progs is running well here so suggestions on such here seemed right, or is it that TV progs should be sited there ?

I cant get at the title to edit that now, else I should have named it Ideas for Historical Aviation TV progs and dvd’s

DBenz

Relevant to Forum?

Perhaps best for the General Discussion Board?

Kind Regards,
Scotty