Steven Kane is challenging one of the biggest points of friction in contemporary television. Speaking at Seriencamp, the Halo showrunner took a strong stance against the streaming data army taking over from creative storytelling.
Kane took a pro-human stance. Warning that there is a “risk” when commissioners want to let the data drive the creative. He notes that this comes at a moment where data is the current hot topic. Using the example of, “I used to use a map but now I just put the GPS on.” He argued that big streaming platforms are so focused on how the fan feels that they’re “afraid of taking chances.”
Critics have accused streaming services of programming by algorithm
For years critics have accused streaming services of programming by algorithm instead of Hollywood know-how and intuition. According to industry insiders, even if an idea is highly original, executives will often counter with, “our data does not support [it].” That kind of friction can quietly kill bold ideas before they’re ever made.
Some creators are worried that too much reliance on analytics will be too formulaic and predictable. The data provides a snapshot of what tastes look like in the current moment. However, that doesn’t always point to the next big thing in cinema. Consequently, he worries about making creative choices purely based on past evidence instead of future possibilities.
Data shouldn’t be solely relied on
But Kane is not saying data shouldn’t be used. He noted that showrunners “have to have the authority to be the author but also can’t be blind to the data.” That data is useful, but we need to be mindful of the “messiness” of storytelling.
He explained the evolution from the days when “Nielsen had people writing in notebooks how long they were watching” to the modern era, where analytics track whether people are looking at the screen at any given moment. The size of that transformation is part of the problem.
But he’s been quite candid about the pressure of adapting video game IP. He compares the pros and cons of adapting books versus video games. Saying this comes with a lot of stress because of the fandoms.
Kane’s key message at Seriencamp, apparently, is that creatives and commissioners don’t want to “lose the humanity behind the storytelling.” That’s the refrain he keeps returning to. Data can delineate the landscape but it can’t draw the map.
