Our Security

Symbol

Submit..

Help Support..

INTERVIEW: Examiner.com Talks With Jace Hall..

08_jace-hall-show

WEBSITE: Examiner.com

WRITTEN BY: Michael Langston Moore

DIRECT LINK: http://www.examiner.com/x-11484-Boston-TV-Examiner~y2010m3d30-Exclusive-interview-with-Jace-Hall-executive-producer-of-the-ABC-series-V

Michael Langston Moore: What can viewers expect from the second half of V this year?
Jace Hall: Simply put, I think viewers can expect some great entertainment along with some compelling food for thought.. A wider platform for social commentary, a thoughtful examination at the universal nature of survival of family and species, a series of oh – my – god – holy – wow – didn’t – see – that – coming moments.. More visceral drama with awe and wonder and excitement..

People should expect to be presented with great main characters that won’t always make the right choices.. As we all know, in life, happy endings are far from guaranteed for everyone.. That being said, the show is definitely not going to be a dark, fugitive, purely resistance story.. Certainly there will be some dark elements, and the stakes are always incredibly high, but the show also aims to be rewarding with great fun and depth of discovery..

MLM: How important is it to stay faithful to the original mini – series in hopes of hooking older viewers, but also be fresh and original enough to rope in a 2010 audience?
JH: Obviously the original mini – series has a special place in many people’s hearts.. It’s been a part of many people’s childhoods ( My own included ) and it is important to recognize that audience’s desire to see certain elements of the core concept remain intact in some form.. However, the truth is that great storytelling, compelling characters and a fascinating premise are the fundamental key ingredients to generating interest in virtually any drama audience demographic – that stuff is the ultimate audience desire – so really it is not so much about balancing ” old series and new series “ as it is just about focusing on telling the best story possible.. Our desire is not to tell a story that has already been told, but instead try to bring something new and fresh to the table so that there is something there to be explored and discovered..

MLM: What are the challenges that you encounter in producing a show that not only is based off a previous program, but is a sci-fi story that incorporates CGI and green screen effects?
JH: Well, the challenges always revolve around the triangle of ” Time, Money, and Quality..” You can always have 2 of the 3, but never all three! The concept of V allows for some incredible opportunities in terms of visual effects, however there is only so much time available to realize these opportunities, so it gets to be very important to pick and choose things that are going to greatly enhance the story we are trying to tell and avoid having visual effects just for the sake of having visual effects.. Obviously, when you watch the show, V leads on the technology front with things like virtual sets and such, but it is always important to remember that we are focused on making a story about people, characters, families.. The visual effects are there to support this primary goal..

MLM: What are your thoughts on some in the media claiming V is an allegory on President Barack Obama and, essentially, the ” Obamania ” that swept the nation two years ago?
JH: Great Science Fiction writing can seem to carry many allegories for many subjects depending on a person’s point of view.. I think that anytime Science Fiction can inadvertently spark a meaningful discussion about what is happening ( Or not happening ) in real life it is always a good thing.. Everyone has their various opinions and this show seems to act as conduit to help opinions get expressed from all sides.. That’s good television..

MLM: You created your own web series called ” The Jace Hall Show..” What is it that about and how did it begin?
JH: The Jace Hall Show began with the simple realization that 99% of all video game culture depictions in the mass media are grossly artificial and play toward the worst stereotypes possible.. I realized that much like Hip – Hop, Internet / Gamer culture and lifestyle has permeated many levels of our general society and has become far more relevant that is currently being acknowledged.. The bottom line is either you play video games or you know someone who does.. It’s that simple..

This realization led me to understand that aside from things like sports, movies, music etc.. there was something else acting as a common bond in our society and there was basically no programming addressing it – THUS, the Jace Hall Show was born..

I would describe the show as ” Curb Your Enthusiasm “ meets ” Attack of the Show..” The show generally follows the Gamer – meets – Hollywood cross – culture antics of host me ( Jason Hall ) – an avid gamer, accomplished TV and videogame producer and founder of HDFILMS.. It is a weekly, short form online program that fuses celebrities, videogames, internet culture and humor, featuring exclusive behind – the – scenes footage and interviews with the hottest game developers, actors, musicians, athletes and more..

The show’s format essentially re – invents the very concept of the ‘ television talkshow..’ and I aim it straight at the gamer and internet youth audiences.. It’s been very successful on the internet garnering millions of viewers and there has been some discussion here about possibly taking to television – but I’m not sure if TV is ready for it yet!

MLM: You have a deep love for video games, which is evident from your web series and personal website.. How did you come up with the idea for creating music videos for video games? And when did you begin to add celebrities such as Seth MacFarlane and Randy Jackson to your online productions?
JH: Well, to be honest I didn’t come up with the idea for creating music videos for video game culture, I just try to crank it up a notch and perhaps provide a more commercial look and sound to my productions.. The goal is to make it as approachable as possible and encourage discovery..

As far as celebrities go, they have always been a part of the production of The Jace Hall Show.. There are many reasons for this.. For one, a lot of them are my friends and it is just cool hang out and chill.. Secondly, they either play video games or at least participate in the lifestyle or culture in some way and having them on my show further proves the point that this ” gamer / internet “ thing is nearly ubiquitous.. Thirdly, my show offers celebs a rare opportunity to just be themselves without having to promote something or act a certain way.. It’s a way for people to get to know them as ” people “ and not ” things..” It’s all good, clean fun..

MLM: You are both a television producer and video game producer.. How is producing a television show for ABC different from producing a game for the XBOX or Playstation? What challenges do you routinely run into?
JH: Oh wow, these things are quite different actually.. To explain all the differences is a book in itself! Fundamentally, the differences are driven by the different business model demands.. In television, you have an advertising based medium and that has very specific needs.. With video games, you are talking about a packaged product that sits on a shelf and sells for $60 – that’s a whole different world right there.. Also, each medium’s ability to move a viewer emotionally are quite different in capacity.. Really the only thing they have in common is that they both can tell compelling stories..

MLM: What can you tell me about your EP titled ” Video Games Aren’t Bad For You?”
JH: It’s a Hip – Hop style taken to the next level.. I call it G – Hop.. Very catchy, mainstream sounding beats fused with an expression of sensibilities surrounding the internet and gamer culture.. As you know, rappers from the street grow up in the hood, witnessing violence, drugs and crime, so they talk about that in their rhymes – and that is legit.. By that same token, people like me grew up playing video games with friends, phreaking, hacking, using the net, watching technology make the world change, and so I decided to finally make some music that speaks to that experience – my experience – and THAT is legit.. I’ve made games, lived the lifestyle, and have been part of the rise of this new culture.. I wanted to talk about it a little, because there are a lot of us out there.. I compose all the beats and music and lay the vocals down myself..