BTG: History, Behind the Scenes Articles & Photos

[Liberty City]

 

 

via LaQuanda Plantt, production coordinator for Beyond the Gates.

[dc11786]

As the person who mentioned they wanted the references to the modern political landscape had the election outcome been different , I will say I thought waiting to launch until they could make minor reference to the outcome would have added weight to material. Specifically, I was thinking about how Martin Richardson would talk about his desire to be president one day and how that dream might be impacted by the win. Or in this case, the loss. Nothing groundbreaking. No "Special Guest Star" appearance. No grand storylines. Just characters communicating to each other about what would have been a significant historical event.  That's something I would have found meaningful. I am not everyone and I respect the fact that you wouldn't want that. Today has been a tough day for many so I will also just say that I am sorry if my point of view offended anyone. 

I could go on about this conversation, but I don't think most people want to hear it. Not today. If you do, feel free to PM me if you want further explanation. I hope to continue to have engaging conversations about the show.  

[te.]

Getting aside from any concerns over audience rejection, I think this is kind of the issue with characters as politicians on soaps - they can run for what they want and win... and then what?

On Scandal, the focus started at the very top - Olivia was a problem-solver for the President. So there were nowhere for the character to "go". If the son has the ambition to become President one day, then that would inevitably mean climbing the ladder and getting further and further away from his community. For that reason alone it wouldn't surprise me if the politician storyline eventually gets jettisoned - not because of real world politics getting in the way. 

Edited November 7, 2024 by te.

[Chris B]

I apologize! You have a right to your opinion as much as anybody. Lord knows we have all had suggestions that people haven't all agreed on. 

This was a problem on Knots Landing. They brought William Devane on as their new lead and his first season he was running for Senator which the character won. Once he won there was really nowhere for the story to go so they came up with a way to get him to quit. They revisited the story later on with his "brother" but ended up killing the character off. Like you said, it can make for an interesting story initially, but there isn't anywhere to go once they win unless the show is explicitly a political show. 

[te.]

This is why I suspect that the politics angle will fade within the first year or two - unless they're actually going to invest in sets and a set of characters to represent it, it's just going to fade into the background. But since the show since based on this "community" and high-level politics tend to take you away from your community, the character will either disappear or have him quit for some reason. 

[Sapounopera]

First of all, thank you for your lovely message.

I think that we are all adults here. It is more or less easy to understand what a poster is refering to, when we read the past few messages. If we don't, their comment probably had nothing to do with us. 

I think this is the first time that someone wants some kind of clarification.
And I have seen several people post -not-very-specific- things.
Sometimes I could understand what they were refering to, other times not so much. 

We are allowed to communicate our thoughts in different ways, right?

This board is about soap operas, it is not  soap opera lol. 

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me. 

[Maxim]

You're welcome. I wouldn't have said anything if you were not the one asking why everyone is rude to that member (quite frankly... the only rude thing I've seen posted to that member is... your question to them... and that was - are you a know troll. LOL.)... or speaking about SON police. These two moments combined... left a strange vibe, just like the alleged racism you choose not to clarify. 

And just as you can drop hints, say that people are rude and policing... you can expect that someone else might have an opinion on your way of communicating. You shall not be surprised if someone asks - Who are talking about? I'm not Nostradamus to know WHO or what you are referring to... Maybe I'm not as smart as you... and I don't read between the lines like you do... so maybe I need a little clarification.  And yes, the forum is not a soap opera, that's why asking people - are you some kind of troll so that people are so rude to you...  and talking about SON police.... is incredibly off-topic and derailing.  Both things you opened. And I get that I followed the path of off-topic after you. I am only human.

Of course we are allowed to communicate the way we want (while also following the forum rules of course), but just as you can express your feelings, I can do that too. And forgive me, but yes... when it comes to things like saying you read a racist comment here... but then refusing to specify... I'm still feeling terribly uneasy about that. Sorry, but that's my gut reaction. It is your decision to leave that... unanswered. I just find it strange that someone will tell all of us about alleged racism they saw in the topic... and then go silent about it. That's all. I didn't understand what you were referring to... and I wanted to find out. Sorry if that was wrong of me.

I don't know what else to say. 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Maxim

[Contessa Donatella]

At this point I would just add that I, too, am, were, whatever, bothered by his saying that a racist comment had apparently been allowed to go unchallenged. What the heck is the point of saying that and not pursuing the actual, original line of thought? I don't get that. 

[Liberty City]

Please register in order to view this content

 

 

 

[vanguard]

I can't wait to finally see a trailer or two to see what look the show will have. Will it resemble the soaps of years past or will it look like some primetime show? Maybe even the cinematic look of a movie?

[Liberty City]

Judging from what Michele Val Jean posted in the production bay, it looks like a mixture of British soaps and TOLN's productions of AMC and OLTL.

[Maxim]

I can't wait too. And I believe we'll see something impressive, polished... and just... I have this gut feeling we will be wowed. 

[Khan]

It's heartbreaking to watch all these joyous moments unfolding BTS, knowing that, within the next five years, BTG either will be history, or be just another, lily-white soap opera with the Black characters either sidelined or off the canvas entirely.

(Don't look at me like I'm talking foolishness.  You see what's happening with this country and you know what that means for shows like BTG.)

[Contessa Donatella]

I might be wrong but I would expect that the NAACP would like a word.

[Vee]

I'll admit it has crossed my mind that CBS will be concerned they have backed the wrong horse. But if it makes money, and gives CBS points with enough key demographics, who knows. I choose to remain optimistic about this show as a business, if not about the country.