Who says there are no new ideas in Hollywood? Pt. 2
In my so-so review of HBO's new vampire show "True Blood," I praised its opening-title sequence, which is as evocative as the memorable sequence that opened every episode of Alan Ball's previous series, "Six Feet Under." Both were created by Digital Kitchen, a group that has 10 of the past 26 nominations in Emmy's Outstanding Main Title category.
An alert reader pointed me to this essay, which argues that "True Blood's" title montage borrows key images from the trailer for the film "Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus."
Dave Skaff of Digital Kitchen responded to that site:
"The accusations are not at all unfounded insofar as 'Wrong Eyed Jesus' was one a myriad of other influences - features, docs, material found online, in print, somewhere in the deep recesses of our collective cobwebbed psyches. That's how creativity works - we put these pieces in the blender, press the eviscerate button and then see what comes out in the pour. ...
"The tone of the 'True Blood' title - in audio, coloration, dynamics, editorial style, etc. - is so obviously different from the WEJ trailer as to make accusations of plagiarism obviously nitpicking. It's tantamount to claiming the opening of 'The Sopranos' is ripped from 'Night Court' - look it's New York!"
Well, yes and no. "True Blood's" main title uses other arresting images not found in that trailer - time-lapse photography of rotting animals, a Venus Fly Trap attacking - but those cribbed from the "Wrong-Eyed Jesus" trailer are among the most vivid in both artful editing jobs. And I'm not sure their tones are "so obviously different."
When I discussed his new show's title sequence with Ball, he was rightly proud of it, and one reason he gave was that it didn't feature any clichéd shots of vampires. Now we know why - there were no vampire pic's in the "Wrong-Eyed Jesus" trailer.
That said, I still think it's a cool main title. Just maybe not as original as I had first believed.
And you? Do you think this is a case of artful theft, or just much ado about nothing?
- "True Blood:" 9 tonight; HBO.
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David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place.
I actually liked the first episode, although it seemed liked Alan Ball mihgt have had nothing to do with it - those creative types! The lead is a bit annoying, but the rest of the cast is likeable. Tonight will be the big decision - do I delete my TIVO season pass or continue on.... Oh, the drama in my living room!
i noticed they were trying to insert a recurring "lesson" in the first episode, which is "Don't be prejudiced;" seemed a little out of place, but okay...