IN THE entertainment industry TV is regarded as the poorer cousin of films. For actors, it used to be a stepping stone to bigger and better things. But things have changed.
With the face of television transforming, with superlative shows across all genres raising the bar, Hollywood actors aren’t the only ones finding that the grass is as green on the other side. Of late, the crème de la crème of directors/ producers (think Oscar-winning talent) are milking the opportunities on the small screen.
Martin Scorsese is at the fore-front of the list. The man behind Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino, The Departed, Gangs of New York and The Aviator has thrown his creative weight behind the first episode of the debut season of Boardwalk Empire.
It cost a staggering $18 million (R148m) but, given Scorsese’s eye for detail, where authenticity is as cru-cial as the casting and performance, the expenditure comes as little surprise.
Scorcese is listed as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, so HBO knew it was getting its money’s worth from the director, who shares the co-executive producer title with Mark Wahlberg and several others.
Steven Spielberg, who beat Scorsese to the top spot in Total Film magazine’s leading director poll, has also been making serious waves on the box.
In a career spanning more than four decades with box-office blockbusters such as Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, The Color Purple, Schindler’s List, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can and Munich, he has also satiated the sci-fi appetite of fans by producing Terra Nova and Falling Skies. Let’s not forget his partnership with Tom Hanks on the award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers.
Others joining the bandwagon include director and producer Jon Turteltaub, who entertained with National Treasure and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and was nabbed by CBS to direct the thriller Jericho and the crime drama Suspect Behavior.
And James Mangold, who is the man behind Walk The Line and 3:10 to Yuma, has been delighting the fairer sex with Men In Trees – it’s like the TV substitute for Under the Tuscan Sun.
Frank Darabont, the director of one of my favourite films – The Shawshank Redemption – as well as The Green Mile and The Mist, developed, executive produced as well as directed the first season of The Walking Dead.
With Hollywood’s hierarchy of directors/producers seeing the merit in exploring (and exploiting) both mediums, it can only mean that the TV industry is going to be laden with outstanding entertainment – and that is great news for TV addicts.
l Boardwalk Empire is on M-Net on Wednesday at 9.30pm.