Screenwriting : Netflix, completion rates and the writer by Geoff Hall

Thanks for sharing, Geoff Hall. I think it's strange that Netflix is so focused on binge watching instead of the number of views a show has. Because as Neil pointed out in the article, "Parents don’t necessarily let kids sit and watch six hours of television at a time." And many people don't have time to binge watch a show.

I like to write cliffhangers at the end of my pilots. By cliffhanger, I mean something happens and the viewer has to wait until the next episode to see how things play out. I think most shows I watch have cliffhangers at the end of every episode. They probably do this on TV networks and channels so people will come back the following week for the next episode. They probably do this on streamers so people will binge watch.

Dan MaxXx yes, Dan, I’ve had that discussion with writers about this before on Stage 32. You would think that some level of transparency re viewing figures for their investors must occur. But we the viewing public are not subject to such openness. And yes, a way of not paying cast and crew, when they cancel. But, this article has left me feeling rather skeptical about Netflix.

Maurice Vaughan cliffhangers. I was in two minds about this, maybe three, because it seemed so forced or manufactured. Then I wondered what they meant by cliffhanger. For a series like the X-Files and their standalone episodes, there would be nothing to ‘carry over’. If it is akin to a climatic tentpole film’s crescendo ending, then that would seem to warrant destroying the whole world that you’ve been meticulously building. I guess this is a way of just me saying I’m not sure.

Geoff Hall, I feel cliffhangers shouldn't be used if they're forced or manufactured. "For a series like the X-Files and their standalone episodes, there would be nothing to ‘carry over’." In that situation, I think curiosity of what the next standalone episode will be works instead of a cliffhanger.

Maurice Vaughan yes, I agree. But the intent of Netflix seems to be to move away from story to ‘product’. Yes, I do know that we are in this business to make product, but in articles, the CEO at Netflix seems to be responding to their downturn in fortunes and not considering the art form. And yes, I know they are a business, but they are also in the business of storytelling.

He has also been cited as saying that ‘scripted’ programmes have had their day, but then talks of a business plan to cash in on the box office success of Top Gun: Maverick. Perhaps he is in panic mode, or has just lost the plot?

It's unfortunate that Netflix is favoriting quantity over quality, but it makes sense from a business perspective. If COMPLETION = BINGE, then the faster a series is viewed, the faster success is determined and more "content" (I hate using that word) can be created for more probable success. Thus the more "content" Netflix has, the more success they will have. It's an endless loop. So it's a numbers game for Netflix, where more means more money. And you can see it effecting their platform. There are far more series and films on Netflix than consumers can watch, and far less that are worthy of watching to the end. So if a series is abandoned by the consumer, especially in mid-binge, it actually helps Netflix determine unsuccess quicker so they can invest in the next thing. And the cycle continues. But the consumer is the one that pays for it. And thus the industry is dilluted. It's a breeding ground for oversaturation, lack luster storytelling, and makes it harder for great stories to be seen. I see it as a catch 22. It's great that we have the means to get our stories told and seen, but without moderation and curation, we are just throwing them into the streaming ether. And I don't know about you, but I want my stories to be seen as the worthy stories that they are, and not just consumed as "content."

I agree with you ,Geoff Hall. I think when networks, streamers, and channels focus on making movies and shows that have great storytelling, they get more viewers because the movies and shows are worth watching. Have you ever seen a movie/show that had bad storytelling and afterward you felt upset or disappointed? I have, and it made me not want to watch that network, streamer, or channel for a while. But I think Netflix will turn things around and focus on "story." And hey, why not focus on "story" and "product"?

I'm with you, Chris Clemente. "I want my stories to be seen as the worthy stories that they are, and not just consumed as 'content.'"

Chris Clemente I agree.

Maurice Vaughan I agree. So that makes a consensus then, Chris and Maurice!

Cliffhangers or not, if a series story and characters attract me, I usually watch it over several days or weeks. Am too busy in the real world, to sit and binge watch a series in two days. Also, am not a screen addicted slave. Interacting with real people and Nature are more important, at least to me. And yes, Netflix will keep losing audience over low quality mass production.

Jairo Rincon I liked this on your profile bio, Jairo: "...a misanthropic fantasy about inexplicable human evil."

I think as writers we should be concerned with "completion numbers" for our own works! I don't want a viewer to watch/read only half of my film or pilot.

Geoff, Joined Stage 32 on Jan. 2021. But just beginning to interact now. Thanks for your comment about my "misanthropic fantasy novel." Have written some 70 pages of it, but still doing research and documenting it. Am using places where I lived or visited for locations within the story, mostly in Europe, including Lincolnshire. Originally planned as a novella, am still undecided about extending it to a full-length book. If and when I finish it, would like to discuss a potential collaboration about co-writing the script. In addition, just finished a dystopian short story. Over 80% advanced with a love story novella. And 10% advanced with a sci-fi trilogy along the line of Lord of the Rings and Dune in the depth of its story world. All this, in addition to my day-to-day work as an international energy projects business development consultant. Please check my LinkedIn profile under Jairo J. Rincon S. Cheers.

Jairo Rincon hi Jairo, thanks for sharing your creative story. In the early days I wrote a couple of novellas, ‘Diss’ and ‘Apokalyptika’. Even then, I had a penchant for dystopian realities! I will check out your profile on LinkedIn. Cheers, Geoff

Now done with the sci-fi short story, will continue working on my love story novella.

This article is really interesting, but there's a lot of stuff changing right now, and that will be changing in the next couple of years that will have a huge impact on this, so I wouldn't let it impact how you write or where you want to write. Is Netflix becoming age adverse? IMO, no, they're just refusing the bend to a growing trend that Disney+, Hulu, Prime, HBOMax, etc. all use which is releasing episodes weekly so that the only conversation of those shows lasts longer. Will Netflix embrace the weekly, more "old-school" model? I don't know, but I do find it odd that this article doesn't even get into it. And, as Dan MaxXx pointed out, Netflix just lost a good chunk of money to writers, primarily Eric Heisserer. There are also union talks coming up for streamers in the next year or so that will hugely impact how residuals operate. And we also don't know how a paid-ad tier will impact how they write their shows (will they be between eps, or mid-ep commercials, will they write towards breaks etc.). It's a bummer that how shows are written would be defined by numbers, but network television has "sweeps week" and uses cliffhangers to drum up excitement, too. I find it all incredibly interesting :)

I do binge watch certain things. Also, I have always loved a satisfyingly entertaining TV series, from way before binge watching was an option.

So yes, you do need a cliff hanger of some sort towards the end of each episode. Thing is, a cliff hanger doesn't have to be highly dramatic (although it can be). It just has to be something to pique the viewer's curiosity enough to watch the next chapter. In many successful shows, a lot of that is character-based, by extension relationship-based, and often provided by B-plots.

Wow, Emily J! Thanks for the info. A lot to think about. I'm interested in seeing how things turn out for Netfilx as well as other streamers. Your comment reinforces what RB and others on here have said about the importance of writers knowing the business side of the industry.

Christiane Lange Hi Christiane, I suppose it depends on your definition of 'cliff-hanger' which for me is more dramatic than your pique-hanger. The former has a lot of angst and tension, whereas to pique someone's interest is hopefully what we do as writers with every project. If I haven't done that, then I've failed.

Emily J Hi Emily, yes there are a number of holes in the article and that is one of them. I'm not a fan of ad-breaks, for me that would spoil one of the main reasons I wanted to go with a streamer. Ah well, we don't control the market and all we do control is our writing.

I agree that the current (and future?) the trend of discovering and binge-watching a show in a very short period of time put the "cliffhanger" to the test. Not to mention the short attention spans of today's viewers AND the chance that they've been burned with networks canceling "their show" after a cliffhanging season-ender in the past.

Interesting. I'm not sure what Netflix would make of my viewing habits. I might have the odd mini-binge then not go back to the series for weeks if not a month!

I'm like that sometimes, Mark. Haha

Mark that sounds like my viewing habits. But if I’m really enthused by a series, then I’ll watch one episode an evening, till I’m done.