House of Cards changed TV.
It was the second catalyst in the Netflix driven evolution of at home tv entertainment. If asked for indicators one need not look further then the urban dictionary, the “Netflix Effect” has its own definition: ‘When an online company takes so much business away from a storefront business that it is forced to shut down’. This cost-effective, low-tech business model was the first catalyst. Netflix’s popularity led to the bankruptcy of U.S DVD rental giant Blockbusters. For a low monthly fee Netflix subscribers can order DVDs online, receive them by mail, and keep them for as long as they want without late fees. The larger social implication of the success of this model is its application on other rental businesses throughout North America. However the more interesting sociological phenomenon (extensively talked about and documented on the internet) is that outlets like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon have fundamentally changed how we watch TV. Going is the era of weekly telecasts and network cable supremacy.
Today, more than 30 million Netflix accounts exist in America and it has over taken HBO as the number one paid subscriber television network. Netflix’s first round of online original content creation launched with House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Hemlock Grove won both critical acclaim and a diehard fan following. The huge success of these series has led to a renascence of video-on-demand television series created just for the Internet. Further the maturation of video-streaming firms, with shorter production time, tighter edgier scripts and lack of conventional airtime constraint has allowed online production studios to tap into A-list cinema talent for the small screen. TV shows just got better.
New online original content to watch out for:
Mozart in the Jungle
Written by Jason Schwartzman and Roman Coppola, the web series is based on the memoirs of oboist Blair Tindall. The show was picked up from Amazon Studio’s second pilot season (February 2014). The dramedy is one of seven projects green lit for release this year by Amazon. It explores the back stage tawdry exploits of the classical music scene in the big apple. Wonderfully cast with Gael Garcia Bernal and Malacom Mcdowell in the lead roles. Mozart in the Jungle is currently available on Amazon Prime.
Hand of God
Amazon Studio’s drops a series of pilots throughout the year and the ones with the largest fan following get picked up for full seasons. Hand of God is one of two shows picked up for development from the 3rd pilot season (August 2014). All pilot episodes are available online.
Hand of God stars Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy) as corrupt Judge Parnell Harris who after traumatic event believes that God has started speaking to him. The story follows a morally questionable man transform into a righteous vigilante.
Bloodline
Bloodline is the most anticipated upcoming series from Netflix. The psychological thriller from the creators of FX’s Damages will star Kyle Chandler (The Friday Night Lights), Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises) and Sissy Spacek. The series will center on a family of adult siblings whose secrets and scars come to light with the return of their black sheep older brother.
The writer is an image consultant based in Istanbul
