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An open letter to Kate Oates


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Old 10-08-2016, 18:39
James J
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Dear Kate,

Congratulations on your new job as producer of Coronation Street. While it's sad you’ve left Emmerdale, you've served it so well for three years and delivered memorable event TV like the storm and siege week and helicopter crash whilst maintaining the show's northern heart and community. You've lead the show to win its first ever BSA, win major plaudits in the social community and enjoy strong ratings, introducing strong new characters, overseeing great returns and strengthening long-neglected established cast members. No producer is perfect but you've hit the mark more times than most!

Alas all good things must come to an end and three years is a great length of time for a tour of duty on a soap. Congratulations on so deftly producing great work. But as they say, as one door closes another opens - enter Coronation Street. This show is, at its essence, sublime. But the tone of the show has been off for some time now, and fans need you to restore it to glory.

Using all the cast, interweaving plots & interconnectedness

I can’t remember the last time there was a decent shindig in the Rovers, bringing together so many characters for a celebration of some kind but giving several storylines the chance to simmer away beneath the surface. A great mixture of stories concurrently running and drawing in many different members of the cast is the recipe for a strong show. The show needs to be an ENSEMBLE! Give every character motivations, story arcs and development opportunities. Make sure storylines overlap and interlink as much as possible and give characters interaction with one another.

This show’s real strength is character driven, community stories. We don’t want issue-led or self-contained storylines, which Blackburn has perpetuated. The show should be something you can view holistically, a composite of interweaving things going on behind closed doors, and in the hub of the community. Almost every single character’s storyline should somehow connected to the others. These links provide a symbolic view of the community, and human beings in general, being linked together. The interconnectedness of all things.

The next changes involve scripting and storylining. Bring the community back together, return to depicting Coronation Street as a place you would want to live - somewhere where life can be exciting and varied and full of energy and a slice of life in a small setting, where everything is connected and linked and everyone plays their part in the drama and comedy.

Special episodes, storyline climaxes & location filming

Kate, there’s so much potential in how you can tell stories or offer a viewpoint on this magic Street. Why not experiment with an episode set in the early hours of the morning? Roy being unable to sleep, waking up Cathy and talking about a recurring dream he has been having; at the same time, Norris getting up at 4am and noticing a crime being committed at the end of the Street. A different perspective. Something new, a different vibe. Or how about an episode featuring only a small handful of characters - a four hander or perhaps an episode set solely in one location, like the Rovers.

There’s been a celebration of filler in supposedly climatic weeks, taking the focus off the big climax and making it feel run of the mill. An example of special episodes would be the tram crash week, which was all set on one night. This allowed for very deep storytelling. Rather than a climax airing in the Monday double, continue the climax scenes across the Wednesday and maybe even Friday episodes as well.

During Tony Gordon/Mad Maya climaxes the show was also one night set across the week of episodes. It’s like a rule has been instated saying this is not allowed anymore. In recent history we have experienced special episodes under Collinson such as the episode featuring Fiz, Tyrone and Kirsty; Peter's episode following him everywhere, the day in the life of an alcoholic, but with other characters featuring only when seen in his story; the episode after Carla's rape, featuring only Carla, Frank, and Peter.

Curly and Raquel’s two-hander in 2000 then Deirdre and Tracy’s when Tracy confessed to murdering Charlie in 2007. In 2002, Corrie aired an episode with 4 characters Audrey, Richard, Gail, and Archie, in which Audrey tried to prove to Gail Richard was mad, but Gail was convinced she had Alzheimers. Such a wonderful, focused episode. And of course the 2003 episode where he confessed his dark secrets to Gail only featured Gail and Richard, with a short scene of David and Sarah upstairs.

Give the fans a treat. When a big storyline comes to a head, we want to see more focus on it for its climax week. We want filler more or less removed from these episodes. In fact, filler shouldn't exist at all. We should feel all scenes are contributing to a depiction of a real story, and there are so many as we are all human beings whose lives overlap and connect together and life never gets too stale. We want fewer characters in some episodes so the ones that ARE in the episode get a decent amount of characterisation. But then on the whole we want a composite of characters all coming together, sprawled across the street with a butterfly effect and brilliant writing tying it all together.

Also, I know it’s probably expensive and tricky, but a bit more on-location filming wouldn’t go amiss either. Episodes set in Blackpool or Canal Street have always really been treats; it needn’t be all the time, but from time to time it’d be great to, say, see a group of characters go out clubbing or into central Manchester.

Cinematography, the new set & production

Corrie is well directed and shot but it lapses in quality in this regard. It would be great Kate if you could work with the teams to deliver more shots that wouldn’t be out of place in a glossy drama, yet still keeping the Corrie feel. A mixture of closeups and wider angled shots giving things a sense of pace. This has happened in the past on occasion but could be introduced into the show to prevent it becoming stale.

I remember under Collinson, episodes started with traditional camera angles but towards the end, moved into more close up shots of characters interacting as they climaxed. That sort of beautiful shallow depth of field making a blurry backdrop to really zone in on the character-driven dialogue. It gave this impression you were being sucked in gradually through the episode.

It would also be nice to see more of the amazing new set, which doesn’t seem to have been used to its fullest potential. Any chance you could continue work on ‘dirtying it up’? It lacks the griminess of the previous sets, which hampers realism. Furthermore, a little bit more attention to detail with the set designs would be great - for example the astroturf in the gardens looks pretty naff, and some of the interior sets could look more realistic. Audrey’s salon blinds always blocking the view of the street, for example, is a shame. Obviously some things are logistically not possible, but anything you can do in this regard would be fab.

The Street has become a bit of a ‘museum’ in recent years. The tram crash obliterated two buildings yet they were rebuilt almost exactly as they were before. The Rovers burnt down then came back identical to the old look. While the familiarity is lovely, nothing is bigger than the show - or street - itself. Times change, and the show should keep moving with the times. Why not shut down a few of the businesses and have them boarded up? The street is unrealistically teaming with businesses over residencies, with the Garage, Bistro, Kabin, Rovers, knicker factory, salon - all on one tiny street! It’s about time some redevelopment of the set happened to move or remove some of the businesses (perhaps to Rosamund Street) and establish a bit more realism.

Also Kate, it would be great if you had the old music restored, if not ordered a new set of opening titles showing the new set (the 2002 set style with modern techniques of CGI could create an amazing establishing shot of the Street in wider Weatherfield). If you liked the visuals of the titles, I’d still really encourage you to consider re-tweaking the theme music to the pre-2010 music. I made a mock up of the current visuals of the opening titles with the old classic music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWeqTeVztEk It's so much better (if I do say so myself)! Can you bring it back? Oh, and could you have a word with someone and restore the proper Trajan typeface for the writer and director credits over the starting scenes of the episode? Changing them to the generic ITV font cheapened things somewhat - Emmerdale didn’t change to the ITV font so why did Corrie? It’s little things like this which all add up!

Tone of the show, realism & representation of life

Corrie is at its best when it feels like its own little world. I’ve said this before but Corrie feels more real in a more contrived context - it’s a paradox. When all the characters are all linked in to elaborate ensemble plots which come to amazing conclusions, utilising all the cast.

The working class realist agenda hasn’t worked on a show that is perfectly realistic and representative in a slightly exaggerated, connected context. It’s great for the show to be a little camp and an exaggeration of real life; working class characters and character driven drama, compressed down into a beautiful representation of life. It lost this charm under Blackburn - and we need you to bring it back Kate!

Pacing, dominant threads & those pesky double episodes

When the show is on form, It's so refreshing to watch knowing storylines are constantly developing and things are moving and heading towards climaxes. This is something you’ve really mastered at Emmerdale, Kate, so I have faith in you’re ability to deliver this change of tone on the Street. When Corrie is at its best, stories are brought to peaks at just the right time and have a thrilling, rewarding aftermath.

If we must have these double episodes, can we at least have the second episode start at the same point the first ended? It would be nice if we could get back to the days where you simply can’t wait for the next episode, where the 30 minute wait is unbearable for some reason.

Spoilers, surprises & keeping the viewers on their toes

Kate, spoilers suck!

The Corrie episode spoilers are practically full scripts these days. Stop allowing the press spoilers to be so detailed! Make an effort to have genuine shocks and surprises. They needn't be ground-shaking plot developments. Just things left out of spoilers to get people talking!

Phew, that was long!

We all just want Corrie to be back to the point where characters interact with each other, storylines intersect and the camerawork/cinematography is sharp and a little glossy at times, a mixture of day and night shooting and a a good mix of episodes with most of the cast, and episodes with a more laser focus on one character group.

Please rescue Corrie, Kate. Bring it back to its best. Shake up the tone, shake up the character groups and plot some interweaving stories that affect everyone.

In you we trust! Congrats and good luck!
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:46
rhumble
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Can't stand her,, she ruined ED for me
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:46
James J
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Can't stand her,, she ruined ED for me
For the sake of balance
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:53
Pandora.
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Worst producer in years.
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:54
sorcha_healy27
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She started off brilliant but became over reliant on social media and sensationalism
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:55
thejoyof_pat
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Dear Kate,

If you want Coronation Street to continue being the success and amazing show it is, do the opposite of what this guy says.

You're fabulous.
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:56
James J
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Dear Kate,

If you want Coronation Street to continue being the success and amazing show it is, do the opposite of what this guy says.

You're fabulous.
That's quite mean, I spent quite a long time writing this post.
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:56
rhumble
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Dear Kate

Please resign from producing

Lots of love
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:56
soap-lea
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have you seen the pinned post at the top of the page? why not send it to Daniel by PM as requested

I should also say I don't agree with most of it but we all have our opinions.

ITV press office handle the spoilers and what is released rather than Kate Oakes
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:57
eastboy1980
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'We want' this, 'we want' that. Don't speak for all of us please.
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:57
soap-lea
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Dear Kate

Please resign from producing

Lots of love
that is nasty
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:58
James J
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'We want' this, 'we want' that. Don't speak for all of us please.
It's just a writing style but sure, slag me off like everyone else seems to be for trying to contribute something

have you seen the pinned post at the top of the page? why not send it to Daniel by PM as requested
I hadn't seen it, no.

I started writing this about a week ago.

Wish I hadn't bothered now. Hate this forum sometimes, a bunch of largely spiteful people. Mods close the f**ing thread
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:58
rhumble
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why is it nasty , she is a terrible producer , she ruined my favourite soap
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:59
sorcha_healy27
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She's overrated in my view. Blackburn and mcleod are getting alot of criticism but she's responsible for destroying so many characters in Emmerdale.
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Old 10-08-2016, 18:59
albiex
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Can't stand her,, she ruined ED for me
And me.

She's overrated in my view. Blackburn and mcleod are getting alot of criticism but she's responsible for destroying so many characters in Emmerdale.
Amen to that.
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:01
Pandora.
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Rhumble's not wrong though. She doesn't know how to tell a story - she's only good at scenes which can get the social media loons frothing at the mouth.
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:01
soap-lea
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It's just a writing style but sure, slag me off like everyone else seems to be for trying to contribute something


I hadn't seen it, no.

I started writing this about a week ago.

Wish I hadn't bothered now. Hate this forum sometimes, a bunch of largely spiteful people. Mods close the f**ing thread
did you post it because you wanted everyone to agree or did you post it so people would discuss?

if it's the former you probably are posting to the wrong forum and a blog might be better

but pm it to daniel I think thats just what he is looking for

p.s you have to click alert for mods to close
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:04
James J
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did you post it because you wanted everyone to agree or did you post it so people would discuss?

if it's the former you probably are posting to the wrong forum and a blog might be better

but pm it to daniel I think thats just what he is looking for

p.s you have to click alert for mods to close
No m8, I didn't write it for everyone to agree.

That doesn't mean I did write it for people to say "do the opposite of what this guy says" or tell me off for not noticing a pinned post that is not very visible or obvious, such that I didn't notice it.

What would be nice is if people actually quoted bits of the original and constructively debated with it so we could all have a nice chat about how Corrie could be improved

But no, that's not how it works round here is it?
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:04
thejoyof_pat
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That's quite mean, I spent quite a long time writing this post.
It's quite mean because I have a difference of opinion? Alrighty then.
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:05
sorcha_healy27
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No m8, I didn't write it for everyone to agree.

That doesn't mean I did write it for people to say "do the opposite of what this guy says" or tell me off for not noticing a pinned post that is not very visible or obvious, such that I didn't notice it.

What would be nice is if people actually quoted bits of the original and constructively debated with it so we could all have a nice chat about how Corrie could be improved

But no, that's not how it works round here is it?
I thought it was well written James if that's worth anything.
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:06
James J
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It's quite mean because I have a difference of opinion? Alrighty then.
Bore off, you know it's mean spirited to say my whole post is essentially rubbish, when it covers so many things. At least hone in on a few things and explain why it's rubbish instead of posting quickfire crap 5-second slagging off remarks. Bet you didn't even read it just leapt to write a response to make you feel better about yourself as a person or give you some sense of catty smug grandiosity or something.
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:07
James J
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I thought it was well written James if that's worth anything.
Thank you - but I wasn't looking for praise as people think. Contrary to the belief I seemingly just want to be arse licked, I was actually really excited to lay down a load of ideas for Corrie and discuss/debate them with likeminded fans
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:08
soap-lea
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No m8, I didn't write it for everyone to agree.

That doesn't mean I did write it for people to say "do the opposite of what this guy says" or tell me off for not noticing a pinned post that is not very visible or obvious, such that I didn't notice it.

What would be nice is if people actually quoted bits of the original and constructively debated with it so we could all have a nice chat about how Corrie could be impressed proved

But no, that's not how it works round here is it?
I was just telling you about the pinned post so you could PM it and actually ahve your thoughts heard

too long and faffy in my opinion to just quote bits but I am lazy and my Ipad doesn't like cutting and pasting.

personally I think the corrie issues are the writing and creative teams
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:10
sorcha_healy27
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Thank you - but I wasn't looking for praise as people think. Contrary to the belief I seemingly just want to be arse licked, I was actually really excited to lay down a load of ideas for Corrie and discuss/debate them with likeminded fans
I'm just not a fan of Oates to be honest although I will wait and see how she gets on in corrie for at least a year

It's just she started off brilliantly at Emmerdale but the last year has been an absolute fiasco imo.
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Old 10-08-2016, 19:10
Pandora.
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Well, this went well...
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