NOTE: The following contains spoilers for AVENGERS INFINITY WAR. If you do not wish to be spoiled, please see the film first and then read this. Unless you have the Time Stone, then you can do this in whatever order you want.
AVENGERS INFINITY WAR FINE CUT 3 NETWORK NOTES
Hello all! Thank you for turning around the notes so quickly. We know we gave you our notes past the deadline but what are you going to do, stop us? I honestly don't know how you could have made this show any worse, but somehow you managed. No previously on? No flashbacks? No bites?! Where's the chyron pass we need? (We didn't ask but you should anticipate our wishes by now) This is sloppy and borderline-unprofessional. Until we get what we need, time-coded notes will just have to wait. To say we are in damage control mode is an understatement. This cut needs A LOT of work.
ASGARDIAN SHIP
Wait, we're in space? And Thanos and his minions have taken over? And Thor is hurt and laying on the ground? Wow, guys. What the heck. First of all, we need a Previously On. Let's set everything up at this point. Thanks, Thor, Heimdall, Loki, the Guardians, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, the big bang, all of it. We need CONTEXT. And we are lacking that. Secondly, we don't immediately start a scene right on story. We need some preamble first; then get into story. Does Thor and Heimdall have a fun witty chat about a non-story subject? Is Korg having fun on the ship? Is Valkyrie drinking a mimosa? Comb through your footage and let's put in a humorous beat before Thanos arrives. Starting the show like this is just careless. It's like you're assuming that the audience has watched all other 18 episodes right before this and can pick it up! That may work in scripted, but not here!
Thanks wants the Space Stone from Loki. This is a great opportunity for a great big intro package for Thanos. Have him lead it off with a bite like "I'm Thanos, known as the Mad Titan. I have a lot of power and a bunch of unruly adopted children. Kinda like the Brady Bunch but more homicidal. I'm looking to collect the Infinity Stones so I can wipe out half of life in the galaxy because I think it's way overpopulated. I'm just thinking about the greater good, you know?" Get him to say this in his own words, please. (And make it funny!)
Wait, speaking of Loki, he should get an intro package too to reintroduce him to the audience. In fact, all of the main players should get an intro package. You can't assume that the audience is paying attention and can remember all of these characters. Make sure all 20 characters get good, thorough intro packages. But remember, the locked cut is only 43:30, so make sure they all fit and we get a good tight, compelling story. I now your crew can do it!
When Loki gets killed, this is a great opportunity for a bite. How does he feel about dying? Does he wish he got along with Thor more? Is he a kleptomaniac? Comb through your interviews and see what you have. If not, just do a pick up!
HULK CRASHES BACK TO EARTH
I can figure out we're in New York with all of the landmarks, but a lower third here would really help us out. In fact, please add a wild line of Tony Stark saying "I love jogging in New York, don't you, Pepper?" so any viewers who are looking at their phones and not at the screens can follow along.
When Tony says to Hulk "Stop it, you're embarrassing me in front of the wizards", does he have a bite explaining what a wizard is? Some members of our audience may not know so let's cover our bases here and put it in. Telling the audience everything that's going on is the heart of what we do; storytelling!
Per S&P, double check to make sure we can send a teenage Spider-Man to space. We don't want to be in violation of any Jackie Coogan laws here. Thanks!
SCOTLAND
Whoa, Vision and the Scarlet Witch are a couple? Who saw that coming? This definitely needs a big background package. Get them in a joint interview where they can playfully banter about being romantic while on the run from the world's law enforcement agencies while also telling us why they are on the run and what their powers are. Refreshing the audience's memory is essential to storytelling!
THE GUARDIANS FIND THOR
I think it's funny that Quill is jealous of Thor's muscles and good looks. I say "I THINK" because there's no bite in here to tell me! Ugh! Add a bite from Peter about how he's envious of Thor. Either that or add a bite from Groot along the lines of "I am Groot. I AM groot. i am GROOOOOOT." (Please get that verbatim)
VISITING THE COLLECTOR ON KNOWHERE
Wow, the Collector has a lot of interesting items in his collection. Are they cleared? Please have your clearance coordinator double check to make sure we can show all of those artifacts. If not, that whole scene will have to be blurred.
The Guardians have a great face off with Thanos and he double tricks them using the Reality Stone. Wait, he's collecting stones? I forgot! Please put in a flashback to Thanos explaining why he needs the stones and how he got the other stones already. This will be beneficial just in case someone is just tuning in now and they won't be lost! (Please also add in another flashback like this 12 minutes from now for the same reason)
VORMIR
Please add a disclaimer that people should not push their loved ones off a cliff to get a rare item. (That behavior gets a slide on "Antiques Roadshow" but it's PBS so no one cares).
As Gamora is plummeting to her death, please add a bite about how she's feeling at the time. If she doesn't tell me she wants to live, how am I supposed to know how to feel? Just listen to her scream? NOT ENOUGH, GUYS.
FIGHT IN WAKANDA
Please make sure all of the Wakandan soldiers have signed a release.
We really need a thorough chyron pass here. In fact, every time a character appears on camera during this scene, please put their chyron up. Also, make add some sound ups of characters using other people's names so those suburban moms in Overland Park, KS can follow along while they do dishes.
During the key battle, please add in bites from Captain America, Okoye, Black Panther, Black Widow and others telling us why this fight is important and how they are feeling about it. We really need to set the stakes here. Sure, it's been said that if Thanos gets all of the Infinity Stones he will wipe out half of all life in the universe, but unless the Winter Soldier tells me in an interview that Thanos must be stopped, then how am I supposed to know that this is important? Let's spell this out guys. Here, I'll spell this out for you: S-T-A-K-E-S A-R-E E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. Got it? Good.
END
As half of the universe starts drifting into oblivion, let's get some bites in there about how people are feeling about blinked out of existence. Spider-Man has a nice sound up, but what about T'Challa? Get a pick up of it, if you have to.
Please get the next cut to us with notes responses by tomorrow at 4pm EST. Thanks!