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OUAT – Are Spoilers Ruining ABC’s Once Upon A Time?


Note: We will be discussing this topic tonight on the Once Upon a Time Fan Podcast at 7PM PT http://live.onceuponatimepodcast.com

ARE SPOILERS RUINING ABC’S ONCE UPON A TIME?

Spoilers are known to people as spilled out information about movies and TV shows. In fact Webster’s dictionary defines a “spoiler” as:

 “information about the plot of a motion picture or TV program that can spoil a viewer’s sense of surprise or suspense; also :a person who discloses such information”

But in the context of news and the internet, what is considered a spoiler? Are interviews with tidbits from the stars of the show considered spoilers? Or casting news? How about filming pictures and sneak peeks? Are they considered spoilers? How about east coast viewers tweeting about a show after its aired? Are they spoiling it for west coast viewers? Or how about people living in the UK, where the first season is still currently airing. If they watched the ComicCon panel a couple of weeks ago where many things were revealed, was that a spoiler for them?

 The term “spoilers” is a very tricky and broad term and unless you live in a bubble and have no communication to the outside world, you are definitely prone to see spoilers the second you open a news website, twitter or any other social networking site. Some people find it thrilling and exciting to read or hear about future events and some don’t. The basic question here is – “Can we avoid leaks or spoilers in this very modern and technologically advanced era?”

 Once Upon a Time is filmed in real place called Moncton Street in Steveston, British Columbia where people live and have ongoing day to day businesses. Steveston locals get the thrill of watching filming and seeing first hand a general view of what an episode may be about. So we can say, technically speaking, the residents of Steveston are spoiled with information. They don’t get the same surprise factor we get when we watch it for the first time. However, the town of Steveston is very protective of the show, in fact the official twitter account of Steveston has tweeted several times pleading with people not to post spoilers and filming pictures.

Also many fans visiting Steveston to watch filming have been allowed to take pictures but have been requested repeatedly by the cast, crew and residents of Steveston to delay posting spoiler pictures until the episode has aired. Some people have honored this request and others have not. During the Comic Con panel, Ginnifer Goodwin even said that she was apprehensive about filming that very revealing finale scene out in the open where Snow and Charming remember each other’s identities.

 “(We were thinking) what were to look like “Snow” and “Charming” that we can yell. And then we can, you know ADR with the proper names later on.”      – Ginnifer Goodwin.

 Another angle to look at is if certain websites/blogs/podcasts decide to implement a “no spoiler tag” or “spoiler tag”, does it really matter? Going back to the fact that we are living in a modern era where technology is very accessible.

 The questions we need to ask ourselves are – Can we really prevent such information from leaking out? How are we to protect ourselves from spoiler information and at the same time still be part of the internet social stream?  

 The bottomline is, with technology quickly taking over the world, these are very hard questions to answer. Or possibly can never be answered.

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Want more Once Upon A Time? Check out the Once Upon A Time Fan Podcast at http://ouat.roneyzone.com

 

OUAT – Trouble in Storybrooke? Evil Critics .vs The Power of Hope (and Twitter)

I love ABC’s Once Upon a Time. So much so, that my wife and I have taken our love for the show (as well as our pining over the ending of Lost) and created a podcast about it. All was going well, when I checked my Twitter account and saw some Tweets from fellow Oncer (That’s a Once Upon a Time fan, people), @xAngelTashax (“Just read some totally Heart crushing #OUAT #OnceUponATime Articles. I think i’m gonna cry.”) about an article in The Hollywood Reporter featuring some not-too glowing reviews about OUAT.

Here is the article that I’m referring to: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/once-upon-time-ginnifer-goodwin-jennifer-morrison-252502

It upset @xAngelTashax so much that she Tweeted Ginnifer Goodwin, “@ginnygoodwin I just read that you get embarrassed to read your lines for #OnceUponATime is that true?” and Ginnifer tweeted back, “@xAngelTashax not a bit. entirely untrue.”

As sad as reading articles like this, it is so cool to see the community (and even the cast members) coming together. Critics will be, well – critics. It’s what they are. They speak their truth and send digitized text salvos out to get headlines like d-list celebs. Critics will always be critics, but the Oncers have hope and goodness on their side, and remember what Snow White said, “Good will always win”.

With the dark curse of jaded critics gathering around, Oncers can use the power of community, hope and goodness to fight the dark clouds that might roll in.

Here is a plan of defending and protecting the show we love;

Guard against apathy. Realize that with budget woes in Hollywood, decisions made in boardrooms (without you), ratings and ad revenue generation at stake, it is a battle even to keep a show you love on the air. The minute you think, “This show will be on forever,” it could be gone. I don’t need to read of a list of shows that people love, and are now off the air. I don’t want that, and neither do you, so let’s continue our battle plan.

Enjoy Once Upon a Time. The one thing I’ve learned is that nothing lasts forever, and what that really means is to live and enjoy in the moment. OUAT is a great show, and instead of me just enjoying it, I talk to my wife about all the twists, the theories, the great writing and incredible acting. Talk to other fans about the show. When you share it with someone else, it can be shared on to someone else.

Find like fans online. Whether you love Facebook, Twitter, forums, etc, find other OUAT fans to share your passion. You can fuel each other through the rough times (especially the breaks between weekly episodes).

Blog, Podcast, draw, etc – Creatively show your fandom. Talking and communicating is great, but find what your good at and express your fandom creatively. I’ve seen some incredible graphics created, blogs, websites, on and on, but there is still more room for you. Like I mentioned, my wife and I host a podcast (http://onceuponatimepodcast.com) to share our love for the show and to gather other fans to listen and share their love for the show, too. It’s so much fun.

Spread the good word of OUAT to the uninitiated. If you mention OUAT to someone, and they respond that they “just don’t get it,” take some time to explain it to them to see if they would interested. You never know, maybe you will help someone who didn’t get it, to join us on Sunday nights, as well.

Use electronic tools to let the cyber world (and especially the studio big wigs) that you are watching OUAT. Checking in with @getglue (a Social Networking iphone app) to let your FB and Twitter followers you are watching OUAT, but you will also see other OUAT fans as well. Tweet and update your status that you are about to watch OUAT. Use as many electronic tools as you can to let everyone know that you are watching.

Finally, use all these electronic tools to connect with and encourage everyone involved with the show how much you appreciate it. The read and sometimes they respond. The coolest thing is how the Smartphone you use has made connecting with your favorite directors, writers and actors much easier. Here is a list of OUAT Twitter handles to get you started:

Once Upon A Time Podcast
http://twitter.com/#!/ouatpodcast

Catherine Lough Haggquist
http://twitter.com/#!/catlh

Josh Dallas
http://twitter.com/@joshdallas

Once Upon A Time
http://twitter.com/#!/OnceABC

Lana Parrilla
http://twitter.com/@lanaparrilla

Jessy Schram
http://twitter.com/#!/jschramer

Lee Arenberg
http://twitter.com/@leearenberg

Mig Macario
http://twitter.com/#!/MigMacario

Ginnifer Goodwin
http://twitter.com/@ginnygoodwin

Jamie Dornan
http://twitter.com/@JamieDornan1

Raphael Sbarge
http://twitter.com/@RaphaelSbarge

Jennifer Morrison
http://twitter.com/@jenmorrisonlive

Adam Horowitz
http://twitter.com/#!/adamhorowitzla

The Evil Queen
http://twitter.com/@TheEvilQueen108

Faustino Di Bauda
http://twitter.com/#!/FaustinoDiBauda

Once Upon A Time
http://twitter.com/#!/OnceStorybrooke

Once Upon A Time [search] http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23onceuponatime

I’d like to thank David for the above list. David write this awesome OUAT quiz that you should check out: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11110169.htm