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The Making Of...
by
So I'm not a scientist and I've been feeling a little inadequate about
it. To deal with the shame, I've devoted myself to making good,
responsible television about them.
What I do here at WIRED Science is find and develop the ideas and stories that we turn into television and web content. Of course I don't do this on my own. There are a bunch of us working on this new project. It's a process. When things are going right, it's a creative process.
In this blog I will give you my view on some of the goings on behind-the-scenes of our show (that 'process' to which I just referred). Think of it as the conceit for an Aaron Sorkin television series without all the 'walk and talk'.
Sometimes I'll present some material that ended up on the cutting room floor, sometimes I'll tell you the origin story of a segment we aired, and sometimes I'll just give you my take on science, technology and our hot mess of a television show. It'll be like you know someone at WIRED Science!
Nice to meet me.
Okay, so now that we know each other, I encourage you to bother me like the rest of my friends. As we've discussed, I'm not a scientist, but I do have some scientist friends. Doctors, engineers, and (gulp) technocrats too. They're all very concerned about how their respective fields are represented to the public. Since I am the one doing the representing, they have a lot to say about how I do my job. (Like getting upset with me for saying that 'technocrat' is a dumb word.) To be fair, they have a lot to say about most things. Most of the time, they are thoughtful, reasoned opinions with which I agree. The rest of the time they fail to see that I am right. But I'm okay with that. And I'm okay with your having an opinion too. I encourage you to add your comments: weigh in on stories, make suggestions, wantonly flatter me, etc.
So watch the show, read the blogs, and think of something to say.
Tags: behind the scenes, tv show
19 Comments
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October 3, 2007 4:35 PM
Cadien
Nice to meet you, indeed. I am so looking forward to your brilliant takes on the making of the show about "the science," and I hope to learn something as well. Bravo, Damon. Bravo!
October 3, 2007 4:54 PM
Lee
What a great idea. So excited to have your insight as my vehicle into "the science." I guess "the Google" will no longer suffice. Can't wait to watch tonight and can't wait for your breakdown.
October 3, 2007 5:16 PM
Pablo Alan
Hey,
Well, I suck at science, and given the fact that our current administration says it isn't necessary anymore, I'm not too concerned.
On the other hand, you seem like a very nice chap, so perhaps maybe-MAYBE-I may be willing to open my mind up a little. BUT JUST A LITTLE!!! After all, I am a REAL American!!!!!
Cheerio,
Agent X
October 3, 2007 5:31 PM
Monica Guzman
I'm all about creative processes, even if science wasn't my strongest subject in school (ages ago, of course). I'm quite excited to see what you've got in store for us D, so spare no details.
-M
October 3, 2007 5:33 PM
Josh
Agreed, technocrat is a dumb word. But more amazing is that you know people who describe themselves as technocrats? Who? Please post their names and pictures, so they can be held up for public ridicule.
October 3, 2007 6:38 PM
Henry
Hopefully, the show won't start until after the Red Sox game is over. Any upcoming Wired segments about the physics of the gyroball?!!
October 3, 2007 7:21 PM
Justin
Technocrat, schmecnocrat... I'm glad PBS is making science interesting to those of us who just like shiny things with buttons and lights! Looking forward to checking it out.
October 3, 2007 7:33 PM
David McClure
Damon- Great season opener. Josh Davis' story on the botnet attack on Estonia was an especially well-produced segment. Great graphics, quick editing. In fact, I liked the variety and pacing for the entire show. I believe, if you increase the emphasize on tech-specific content details, the show will devel an audience. Avoid cursory treatments. Might be adviseable to lose one--or two--segment(s), and allot those minutes to greater depth in existing segments. Best, David Mc
October 3, 2007 9:04 PM
Miki Garcia
This is a really great show - thanks Damon!
October 3, 2007 9:12 PM
Morgen
After 60 years, the promise of what "television" should have been all along.
Don't change a thing!
October 3, 2007 10:43 PM
Rick Selley
Loved the show, can't wait to see more,BUT, the real jaw dropper was Bob Lazar. Was I the only one to recognize him? He is the guy who claims to have worked in area 51 and actually had hands on actual interplanetary vehicles. Just google him because that is the same Bob Lazar. That was truly a unexpected scientific discovery.
October 4, 2007 1:53 PM
flea
I just watched your WW 2.0 video - pretty interesting but hows this for a story lead....the botnet meets the botfly! Could get ugly.
...lookin forward to catchin the show on tv.
October 4, 2007 2:01 PM
Corpania
You brainiacs rock.
Awesome show!
Hardwick is all around great and Ziya did an excellent interview/demo.
I really appreciate the illustrative graphics.
Especially for the botnet hacker segment.
One criticism is that you telegraphed the punchline to the "cool whip" segment in the open/tease.
But overall, it's great and every remotely-intellectually curious person should watch.
Keep 'em coming!
October 4, 2007 7:54 PM
Brian A
This show is truly amazing. What I want to know is why this guy 'Corpania' writes "facetious pedantic dilettante" on a science based blog. Shouldn't he do that on the "Prententious language" blog?
October 4, 2007 10:37 PM
Dustin
Loved the show! Finally something on TV for us liberal arts majors who strive for tech geekdom. I'd love to see a discussion on the botnets that might answer a few questions I have without getting too technical. Do these botnets have the ability to take over PCs and Macs alike or are they just another intrusion that exploits the crappy underpinnings of PCs? If they can hijack a Mac how do they do it? Is it a java based thing? What about smartphones, PDAs, iPhones and new browser enabled iPods?
Does anyone know if botnets are really just foot soldiers for the Borg?
Keep up the good work, Damon, and thanks for having a blog on the show for our questions!
October 5, 2007 12:39 PM
MaryAnn
I thought the show brilliant and amazing...and informative! I never thought of myself as a science buff, but I see I could easily become one, and in this day and age one really needs to stay "wired". Keep at it. I plan to make it a regular.
October 5, 2007 7:47 PM
ochlocat
hey.
as one of damon's "scientist" "friends", you should all know that i wear my Ph.D. like a flasher wears a trenchcoat, so if any of these threads stray off the topic of Science, that thing's coming off like the bell just rang at a midcity magnet school.
you have been warned.
October 5, 2007 9:50 PM
robert
i watched the show this week...thought it was great...!
October 12, 2007 1:53 PM
BBK
Another good show this week!
I like man-made shiny things with buttons and lights as much as the next person and I know this is Wired so it's to be expected, but after high-tech seemed to have such a dominant starring role last week I was happy to see low tech things like plastic toys, plants, and brilliantly minimalist building materials.
The architecture segment reminded me of an exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum earlier this year called Design for the Other 90% (http://other90.cooperhewitt.org/). It featured innovative cost-effective designs for better access to food and water, shelter, energy, transportation, education, and healthcare. Similarly amazing, potentially transformative stuff.
I look forward to more Wired Science...
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