CFP Cineaction issue #94   Long Form Drama/Short Subjects



“Long Form Drama” is a term coined to describe the recent shift of  

interest towards television series of high quality that many consider  

to have replaced the cinema as a locus of serious adult entertainment.  

Unfolding over multiple episodes, hours,and even years, these TV shows  

are seen to provide a content, often dark and difficult, and an  

innovative style that strain against the conventions of cinema as well  

as network television (they tend to be found on premium cable  

channels). Once considered a cultural wasteland—hence the pejorative  

nickname the ‘boob tube’ as TV came to be called in the nineteen  

sixties—television now attracts some of the best and most innovative  

writers, directors, and even actors. Additionally, we would like to  

include in this topic that body of theatrical film that unspools over  

three plus hours—a less commercially viable length once favored only  

by art film directors (and artists). Issue 94 welcomes papers that  

deal with all aspects of this phenomenon, from the general ((eg  

historical technical, industrial, artistic, etc.) to  the more  

specific ( eg in-depth analyses of shows and films that come under  

this category).



A second complementary topic is “Short Subjects”, an area of  

filmmaking rarely dealt with in critical circles. Most film writing  

and film criticism deals with feature length films, ignoring the large  

body of short films that have proliferated since the beginning of  

cinema. Culturally ignored and theatrically unfriendly, short films  

have been relegated to screenings at film festivals and art houses.  

However, the rise of the Internet as a venue for filmwatching,,and  

posting of one’s own films or favorites..has created an opening  for  

renewed interest in the subject. Again, we welcome all approaches to  

this topic.



Papers should be submitted to Susan Morrison, the editor of this  

issue. The deadline for submission is June 1, 2014.  It would be  

appreciated if a brief proposal be submitted as early as possible as  

an indication of intention to submit.

A style guide is available on our website  www.cineaction.ca

Please address all queries and submissions to the issue’s editor:



Susan Morrison

314 Spadina Road

Toronto ON

Canada M5R 2V6

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Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the

University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu