MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: ONE LIFE TO LIVE {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. This seminar, moderated by the Museum's television curator Ron Simon, celebrates the silver anniversary of the soap opera "One Life to Live" with an examination of the elements of the show's success. Panelists include Mary Alice Dwyer-Dobbin, senior vice president of daytime programming for ABC; Linda Gottlieb, executive producer of "One Life to Live"; Michael Malone, head writer for "One Life to Live"; Agnes Nixon, the creator of "One Life to Live"; Erika Slezak, who portrays Victoria Lord Buchanan; Robin Strasser, who portrays Dorian Lord; and Robert S. Woods, who portrays Bo Buchanan. Following a highlight tape of segments from "One Life to Live," the panelists discuss the following topics, among others: the creation of "Llanview," the fictional town where the soap is set; the importance of "One Life to Live" to ABC; the challenge of creating a daytime serial; the collaborative effort it takes to create a soap opera; how the actors deal with characters who have long histories; a typical day of work for the show's creative team; how soap operas changed when they when they ceased being shown live; and how the viewing audience has changed over the years. The panel then takes questions from the audience on the following topics, among others: storylines that were never resolved; how to get work on a soap opera as an actor and writer; production budgets; the importance of memorizing lines quickly; time constraints on writers; the actors' influence on story development; how fan mail affects story development; how medical matters are explored on the show; the social conscience of daytime television; and how storylines on one soap affect the storylines on other ABC daytime programs.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: July 8, 1993
- RUNNING TIME: 1:33:24
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:29553
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ron Simon … Moderator
- Mary Alice Dwyer-Dobbin … Panelist
- Linda Gottlieb … Panelist
- Michael Malone … Panelist
- Agnes Nixon … Panelist
- Erika Slezak … Panelist
- Robin Strasser … Guest
- Robert S. Woods … Guest