The ONE thing Schitt's Creek does differently than any other show on TV
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- čas přidán 14. 10. 2020
- Am I a nerd? Yes. Is this video about super nerdy writer stuff? YES! Will this video make you a better writer? That's three yes's in a row people!
Check out other writing tips or just fun videos I make here: / jeffreyjoneshmm
So join me as I take a deep dive into that ONE thing the Rose family does better than any other show on TV... the inciting incident.
All clips used under fair use laws including:
Schitt's Creek
Top Gun
The Grinder
The Good Place
Music: Epidemic Sound
The Nylons - O Canada Remix
And a special thanks to Marieve Herington for her dancing skills and being so gosh darn Canadian.
Do you love Schitt's Creek? Did you agree about the inciting incident? Let me know below! And share other shows with an immediate inciting incident.
Yes, I agree!
It also does so many other things right yet different. One thing I noticed recently is that the camera is always moving when the characters are still, and I've noticed that it keeps what could be a visually boring scene interesting. You know how amateurs with cell phones will jiggle the camera around to the point of making you nauseous? (Think Blair Witch Project). Well, Schitt's does this on a micro level where you don't really notice it's being done, but it's genius, because when you have two characters dialoguing in a boring motel room it's easy for the scene to become flat and dull. But just a slight jiggling of the camera, along with shooting from interesting angles, makes what could be drab conversation much more interesting and captivating. The next time you watch the show pay attention to the tops of their heads and you will see that they get closer and further away from the top edge of the camera - which shows that the camera is moving. But if you don't pick a point of reference to gage it by, like the edge of your screen, you'd probably never notice it happening because it's subtle.
This may be a trick that has been used for years, I'm not in the industry so I don't know, but I've never noticed it before. Maybe it's not just SC doing it. Is this something you are aware of?
@@JaneSmith0709: The wobble? Yeah, quite a few shows and movies do it. I think a pan or slow zoom is the more common way to add depth to the scene but the wobble is the next best thing. The Raid constantly has that wobble both in and out of it's action scenes, and it adds so much tension and energy to a movie that's all about panic.
@@phantomkitten73 It has a name? I figured it did, thank you! It really keeps the scenes lively without overkill. You can only pan in and out so much before it gets obvious, right? I don't know why but this was the first show I ever noticed "the wobble" in.
@@JaneSmith0709: I don't know if that's an official name, but that's always what I heard it called, and it definitely fits.
I love cinematography because so many different techniques can have so many different effects depending on the context. In this show it adds depth and liveliness, and adds to the dry humor.
In another context it may increase the tension by creating a feeling of uneasiness, like nothing is stable. But in yet another context it might ruin a shot that's meant to be tense; it can accidentally remove us from a very intimate scene.
I'm just gushing because I love film. Have you seen The Haunting of Hill House? Incredible show.
@@phantomkitten73 No, is it on Netflix?
I loved that fact that Johnny and Moira really LOVED each other! They weren’t putting each other down, having affairs, etc. they were both so supportive of each other!
Same here! The unfaithful or out-of-love spouse is so overdone, and it doesn't leave a good vibe.
Well I love your name. Million Dollar Baby is one of my fave movies of all time.
"I'm sorry for not responding to like ONE TEXT, DAVID!!"
the way she moves her head and speaks this is ICONIC
I never thought of this, but you are absolutely right! This starts right at the pilot, when we don't open on their rich lives, we open on them being raided and losing everything. The inciting incident for the show is within the first minute. And it continues and it REALLY works for them
The pacing of a comedic sketch.
I WAS THINKING OF THAT ONLY, THE PILOT!
Compared to the other comedies i watched i liked that the side characters weren’t idiots and picked up on any kind of mischief, sarcasm or deception. It’s like they had personalities and opinions of their own that influenced the behaviour of the main characters. A lot of the times with the writing the main characters treated the other side characters like protagonist and that added weight. It was a joy seeing the main characters “act on”/influence/“react from”/develop/ inspire the world around them in Schitt’s Creek.
I agree with your points too. The writers gave the Schitts Creek watchers more benefit of the doubt and did more show than tell.
Yeah I love that take. And each of the side characters had a very clear want that would often collide off the main characters in real and fun ways.
Agree. The cold opens of this show are often my favorite part.
For me it's how the characters are able talk like grown ups and resolve miscommunication relatively easily. Nothing is ever blown out of proportion in this show. Comedies tend to exaggerate plot points and drag them on for far too long, making characters behave from questionably to horribly for the sake of comedy and/or drama. Schitt's Creek doesn't need that, because they have spent a lot of time carefully building up their characters, and that alone is a better recipe for powerful and/or funny moments than unnecessary conflict ever was. The characters, like real people, are emotionally affected by finer, subtler plot points, which also gives the show its distinct compassion towards human emotion that just feels so comforting to watch.
On the same vein, it's a show where every character is quirky in some way (especially the family), but they don't exploit that quirkiness by making the same joke again and again. They allow their characters to grow, even if that means they have to sacrifice some of the quirkiness for meaningful development, and they just find new ways to keep things funny, while also giving us characters that feel realistic and that we can grow attached to.
Likely reason for the late inciting start on sitcoms....habit from when we were tied to tv times. They couldn’t put important info in the first few minutes, in case people were late getting to their tv for their show.
Good one. Maybe this style is more appropriate for streaming rather than TV that’s why it works.
yeah I like that analysis Stephanie. Sort of how theater always starts 7 minutes late.
That makes a lot of sense - never thought of it that way!
You know, as much as people like to rag on poorly done cliffhangers; a good cliffhanger actually acts as an inciting incident for the next episode, so they don't have to spend even a minute setting up the conflict, and can ride off the tension of the previous episode.
The show Barry does this masterfully almost every episode.
You know, that's a great topic. Dead to Me did the same thing. Gilmore Girls is actually a great example as well. Talk talk talk CLIFFHANGER!
Always Sunny in Philadelphia also has insighting incident in the first few minutes... then shows the episode title. Very funny!
LOVE Schitt's Creek, love this observation! I think that in doing this the show allows just that little bit of extra time in each episode that a lot of shows seem to waste by needlessly long and complicated opening scenes.
Yes! It's why there can be so much quality content packed into 20 minutes (30 minus commercials). Genius.
That's what makes Schitt's Creek such a good show to binge
Great video! Very interesting! Love Schitt’s Creek and the Canadian connection. Section on your wife putting on the jacket and the celebration was hilarious. My gf and I from Ontario took a drive to the location of Rosebud Motel. It was such a trip.
Ya know, I didn't know there was an actual Rosebud Motel... but that totally makes sense! Thanks for commenting!
Really interesting analysis!
I'd like to really interestingly analyze your beautiful face!!! (This is my wife for anyone else who sees this.)
That's actually true, I never thought of that. I think that's why they have only 6 seasons. Other shows may want to drag the story out to add more seasons/episodes. The other reason is that they don't focus on unnecessary conflicts, drama or negativity.
The OH Canada clip caught me off guard lol, so good
Was it the money gun? I love the money gun.
@@hyphenjeff lmao yes! I love the misdirection.
I love Schitt's Creek Great stuff
Thanks Dawg!
Oh, wow, yes. Thanks for this expert analysis. So interesting. I don't know about storytelling and this is fascinating to me.
This very well analysed. I've always loved Schitts Creek, but have never noticed this before!
NO LAUGH TRACK, BEST IDEA EVER!!!
I’ve watched it from start to finish many times and never caught on to this, but you’re right! No other show compares to it
Superstore was great at hooking you early in the episode
I didn't watch a lot of Superstore but I hink you're right! That's a great one. I'm doing another ONE THING episode on The Bear next week. Can't wait to talk about it.
Aaahhh my two favorite shows - The Good Place and Schitts creek - unexpectedly in one video 😁
Since I binged this show and barely breathed between episodes, I had not noticed this.
Well then you watched it the right way!
Hi! Never even gave this show a second look as far as listing it for viewing, but you made this SCHITT'S review so much like the examples you put forth as reference, I am down to go and check it out just based on your presentation! Well done! I've also learned something new with your information about the inciting incident🤔 (don't worry, imma re-watch this vid until I totally understand)…going to go over to Netflix & binge-watch from S1E1 - PS: your Wifey's got some moves over there! Be safe and tale care😀
So what did you think?!
@@hyphenjeff 3 words...FAB-U-LOUS! Thanks for checking in - Stay safe out there😎
Excellent point that I never thought about. For Schitt's Creek it starts episode one with the door bell!
agreed, well done analysis
Arrested Development has nearly immediate inciting incidents.
And people love that show!
Really smart analysis.
Excellent analysis that was something I enjoyed was what could have been throw away jokes at the start turned into full plots. However, this would not work for every show. This method does work, and I’d like to see it done before, but I don’t think it beats a cold open. Brooklyn 99, the office, parks and rec (I know these are all Schur shows but they were at the top of my head) all use the hilarious cold open technique and I binge them to death - just the openings!
Brooklyn 99's cold open where the guys sing in the lineup? Brilliant. I should do an ep on how amazing their cold opens are.
It IS what’s called “class”! That’s what makes it different from other shows! It’s graceful in every way!
Six Feet Under. Most (every?) episodes start with the last minute(s) of the person destined to be a corpse for the family to preserve. Some corpse stories have a more profound effect on the episode plot than others. Exception is first episode, still a favorite: kitschy funeral advertisements, before they hit you with Nathaniel’s demise.
Now that I think about it, usually B-stories start this way in sitcoms. Think Friends or Seinfeld or himym- Phoebe or George or Barney bursts through the door: you’ll never believe what happened at work (or something of the like). B-stories start from the moment the character enters, but it’s rare - like you pointed out - for A-stories to start that way.
Love this breakdown Jeff! And I'm embarrassed to say I haven't seen Schitt's Creek 😬
Go for it. It will grow on you w/o you knowing.
Check it out! You'll fall in love with the characters and the town for sure
You must
It's Always Sunny does this!
I still need to watch it!!!
@@hyphenjeff yeah the plot would be introduced in the first couple of minutes...it basically had a cold open and then the title shows saying the plot "The Gang ______" which was part of what made it funny. But after it went onto streaming where you can see the title first, that part kind of lost the comedic effect it had. Kind of hard to explain until you see it.
After seeing this, what is interesting to me is that the show doesn't feel fast or rushed. Some shows have so much happening in the first episode that it could have been the entire season. Well done, Schitt's Creek team!
Agreed! Although I didn't love the first season. I skipped through to the second once it found it's groove
@@hyphenjeff Sure! I think a lot of shows take a while to find their groove. Schitt's Creek has so much heart and the character development is incredible! Always enjoy watching it 😃
Good stuff.
Great Channel
Spot on! Always Sunny is another one that uses this technique.
I had oddly enough not seen much Always Sunny. I watched the pilot years after it was popular and just didn't get hooked. But I should give it another shot.
@@hyphenjeff Please give it another shot!! THe first season is not good (IMO) but once Danny DeVito gets there its gold.
@@hopejanette I do love me some Devito.
Cold openings is the other route a show can take and though Schitts had this in it a little bit the cold opening wasnt totally detached.
Best show out there. So sad it’s over.
Totally agree
Loves it 1st, 2nd, and 3rd time watching!!!
Good stuff. Maybe why this works now bec. its more appropriate for streaming rather than TV.
I agree. As the formats change, so doth change the story. And that's a solid use of "doth" if I doth say so myself.
Think this works for pilot scripts???
My novel's inciting incident starts at the end of the first chapter, then we're off on a Nantucket Sleigh Ride!
A Nantucket sleigh ride?! That sounds like EXACTLY the type of adventure I want to end up on!
@@hyphenjeff Well if you like superheroes...I'm finishing up the draft before it goes to the editor for her to tear apart and hand back to me to fix! lol
Came from Reddit. Let’s go!
3:27
Arrested Development????
One of the best
Schitt’s is really good pudding
RIGHT?!?!
"so in this scene, pregnant joselin.." welp thats enought spoilers for today
Darth is Luke's father.
There ain’t Schitt on netflix.....so I am gonna watch schitt’s creek round two again
What kind of stuff do you watch? I'm happy to make some recos
@@hyphenjeff I was only joking; I was giving compliment to Schitt Creek series is a round about way. There is plenty of good stuff to watch on netflix.
Schitt's Creek maintained its tempo. Fast cut situation comedy, I was lured into series with Levy , O'hare and Chris Elliot. Levy and O'hare go back the 70's second city
television the roots SNL
schitt’s is the shit. the end.
Am I the only one who thinks it’s completely overrated?
Quite possibly.
Yes
It's something of a cult phenom. But it is good, can't deny it. For me it tapped right into my fondness for small town quirkiness. It took a while but I really started to enjoy these people. Although I loved Moira from the getgo.
This was a good show until the show started to make the episodes all about the annoying gay son. He really does not contribute much to the show other than over-exaggerating his gayness. He is always doing too much with his facial expressions. I just don't get it. Even my gay friends find him annoying because he is never happy and always complains about everything. When we watch the show we guess when the gay son is going to say " I don't know what that means" Another show destroyed just to push another agenda. Can anyone say the gay character is likable??? Look at him he does so much with his face that I am surprised he didn't dislocate his facial muscle. Waaaayyyyyyy tooooooo much gay stereotypes.
i don’t think the overexaggeration is bcos he’s gay, david and alexis obviously adopted their mother’s dramatic traits (have u seen moira? lol) + they come from a rich and pampered background. idk why you’re singling out david for always being dramatic/complaining a lot when the Roses do that almost every episode. sounds nitpicky tbh
You don't have to say "the annoying gay son" unless the family had another son who was straight; "the annoying son" (or David) would have sufficed. Your entire comment smacks of resentment, to be honest.
The thing is, every episode involves David in one way or another. And should. My gosh, the actor/writer Daniel Levy is a huge part of the show, he basically made it. So to expect them to shy away from the character would be unrealistic, and to say that the later seasons put him much more in the spotlight seems wrong to me. This sitcom balanced all the characters but focused mostly on the two siblings and the parents.
What "agenda" do you feel is being pushed by Schitt's Creek's writers?
I found David extremely quirky and self absorbed but naturally he is a product of his upbringing; you'd be a little odd and eccentric and prissy and bitchy if Moira had raised you, or if all you had was servants and "yes people" in your orbit. But it strikes me that you've missed something huge about the character: he is likable. Yes, he is flawed and girlish (clearly way too "gay" for your tastes) and fussy, but deep down he is lonely and needy and loving and fun. Anyone who watched the show would agree that the character is not a prancing, mincing fay thing--- he's a complicated guy. He's a lot of things: fashionable to the extreme (there's Mom again) and insecure and borderline misanthropic. And I was delighted when they brought in a love interest for him, a guy who was masculine-- to counterpoint David's persona--- and who loved David not just with his faults but _because_ of them.
The dramatic and exaggerrated facial expressions are funny. Very funny. And they're just one interesting part of the character as a whole. I believe you missed the boat, regarding his appeal and his funniness. You might need to watch an older sitcom with a gay character who fits your mold better than David Rose does.
"I was saving that for during my run DAVID" "😯...well I was saving it for during your run" uggghh, your like a dirty little racoon 🦝"
Great stuff.