Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone. Got away with it, this time.
Posts: 23,587
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Post by Bo Rida on Apr 21, 2017 13:48:22 GMT -5
Often when this topic comes up, someone will reference some promo they like as a grand example of unscripted promos, and in reality that very promo they mentioned was itself scripted. So one problem here is that fans have a heuristic that "I liked a promo, therefore it was unscripted." Yeah, I always figured The Rock and Angle did their own stuff but so much of it was scripted word for word. I guess the difference is they had good writers, strong characters, could deliver it well and improvise when necessary. These days the writers seem to struggle to get a characters voice, that weakens the character and often they've clearly been told they're not allowed to deviate from the script when the segment begs for some improvisation. It can works the other way too, I hated Bryan’s stupid comments about Cena not being a real wrestler so figured it was a line forced on him but apparently it was his idea.
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Post by sportatorium on Apr 21, 2017 13:53:49 GMT -5
Pretty much post attitude era when they became ultra-corporate, scripted promos bubbled to the surface. What's interesting to me is how it makes wrestlers who aren't great at promos worse.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2017 13:58:57 GMT -5
I honestly think House shows should be a litmus test. If you can cut a promo that pops the crowd at a house show, you get more leeway on TV.
If you don't? You get the script.
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Post by HMARK Center on Apr 22, 2017 8:10:36 GMT -5
The other big problem scripting creates is that the entire show "speaks with one voice"; WWE's directorial and booking styles are already very monotonous and repetitive, but then the supposedly diverse array of colorful characters who populate their fictional world all kind of speak the same way, too, thus making things even more monotonous. Unscripted promos are, of course, chaotic by nature and sometimes don't work at all, but they at least vary up what the audience is watching and hearing.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2017 8:14:05 GMT -5
The other big problem scripting creates is that the entire show "speaks with one voice" This is the big objection I have to scripting promos. In its own right I don't mind that, though I do feel like they should be relatively loose scripts and not, "You changed a single word so Vince is going to scream at you backstage," but man, WWE writers are just such giant hacks when it comes to dialogue because everyone speaks in exactly the same way with the exact same sentence structure and clumsy terminology.
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Post by Kevin Hamilton on Apr 22, 2017 8:16:14 GMT -5
It ensures they can make the WWE brand the driving force. If you make all these guys talk alike, you can place the individual pieces in whatever role you want. If a guy leaves, not a problem, next man up since the structure is in place.
It's much less about creative control from a publicly traded company sense, and more just ensuring that WWE itself is the star.
They're not nearly as concerned about advertisers and such like people are thinking, as they are with making the corporate entity of WWE the draw over individual guys.
Same reason for all the buzzwords and branding.
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Post by Heinz Doofenschmirtz on Apr 22, 2017 9:10:24 GMT -5
The other big problem scripting creates is that the entire show "speaks with one voice"; WWE's directorial and booking styles are already very monotonous and repetitive, but then the supposedly diverse array of colorful characters who populate their fictional world all kind of speak the same way, too, thus making things even more monotonous. Unscripted promos are, of course, chaotic by nature and sometimes don't work at all, but they at least vary up what the audience is watching and hearing. Part of the problem is also the writers may have a certain rhythm and pattern to how lines should be delivered but the wrestlers just can't get that style. Hollywood writers like Aaron Sorkin and David Mamet have amazing dialogue when read by the right actors who just get the rhythm but sound like shit when the actor doesn't get it. I think they need to bring in improv actors to work with the group at the Performance Centre. It builds confidence, it teaches people how to do 'bullet point' promos, and gives them tools for when things go off the rails.
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Apr 22, 2017 9:16:28 GMT -5
I just know that it really hurts some people. For example, Randy Orton's not a good promo and relies heavily on the script. But when he forgets a line, he's atrocious and just gets stuck there.
I think the best route would be to give them talking points. Make sure they touch upon certain subjects, but don't handcuff guys.
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Post by Super Duper Dragunov on Apr 22, 2017 10:08:15 GMT -5
Considering NXT is training people in actually giving promos--which leads to a lot of people coming up to the main roster and faltering because they're now reading scripted material and it's dire--and all the fringe side content Vince doesn't care to micromanage like Youtube interviews and Talking Smack, I feel like the whole "here is your promo read this verbatin" thing is probably a Vince idea that nobody can shake him from. Yup, they all "talk" like Vince McMahon. The same language, use of certain words, everything. The announcers do it too. I'm pretty sure HHH has a hand in Seth Rollins' promos though, we can all attest to how much he sounds like him. Also the most Bobby Roode promo. I really wish they'd just give wrestlers bullet points, say "don't cuss", and let them interpret it.
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Post by Hit Girl on Apr 22, 2017 10:38:27 GMT -5
Part of the problem is that no one has a definable character anymore, so they have nothing distinct to say.
Back in the day, you'd have this:
Earthquake = He'd talk about the devestation he would unleash when tremors and aftershocks would destroy his opponent.
Rick Martel = He'd reference how gorgeous he was and how he would spread Arrogance across the ugly WWF.
Boss Man = He'd say that he's law and order and his opponents are going to serve hard time.
Rick Rude = He's the sexiest man alive, and after beating his opponent he's going to steal men's wives and give them a Rude Awakening.
And now.....you........have.......Randy.....Orton......talk.....ing.....like.....this.....to con...vince....people.....he's.....cold.....and.....cal...cu....la....ting, and sending the viewers to sleep....or....you've got....heheheh....Bray Wyatt....repeating Disturbed lyrics....hehehehe.....over and over again, before losing one feud after another, or...WHAT...quite frankly....WHAT....you've got superstars....WHAT....talking about championship opportunities....WHAT...and cramming as many buzzwords into their promos....WHAT.....with regular pauses......WHAT.....giving the WWE Universe.....WHAT.....a chance to say....WHAT?
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Sicho100
Hank Scorpio
Easily Confused.
Posts: 5,964
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Post by Sicho100 on Apr 22, 2017 11:11:39 GMT -5
To an extent, I actually understand Vince's desire to heavily script everything. At the end of the day, it is his baby. It's his vision, and it's his reputation on the line. So, I see why he would want to try to heavily script everything, so that no one screws up his vision.
Of course, the obvious solution there is to have fewer in-ring promos, and more backstage pre-tapes. Then, even if someone says something he doesn't like (or if they screw up), Vince can tell them to do it again. Plus, then the crowd can't shit on the promos, so, win-win.
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Post by HMARK Center on Apr 22, 2017 11:38:08 GMT -5
It ensures they can make the WWE brand the driving force. If you make all these guys talk alike, you can place the individual pieces in whatever role you want. If a guy leaves, not a problem, next man up since the structure is in place. It's much less about creative control from a publicly traded company sense, and more just ensuring that WWE itself is the star. They're not nearly as concerned about advertisers and such like people are thinking, as they are with making the corporate entity of WWE the draw over individual guys. Same reason for all the buzzwords and branding. Agreed, though of course the great irony is how such an approach has really dragged business down. It worked for ECW, a company where there was a lot of roster turnover over short periods of time, to have people chanting for the company instead of just for individual wrestlers, but it sure doesn't work in a setting like WWE.
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Post by häšhtå.gdālėÿ on Apr 22, 2017 13:41:24 GMT -5
It really should be case by case.
Baron Corbin? Let him rant freestyle.
Dolph Ziggler? Script him to the punctuation.
Kalisto? Don't even give a microphone.
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