Monique Sheidler

Amazon pilots like “Sea Oak” saw high ratings from viewers.

ARTS

Amazon’s TV pilots showcase strong female representation

By Monique Sheidler | Nov. 16, 2017

Last Friday, Amazon released three new shows as a part of their biannual pilot season program. The way the pilot season works is they release a bunch of pilot episodes for new shows, after which the viewers are able to rate and review them. The ones with the best ratings get picked up for a series order. This winter, they released three new pilots — “I Love You More,” “Sea Oak” and “The Climb” — showing a push for female representation both on and off the camera.

“Vandal” spoofs true-crime tropes like dramatic voiceovers.

Photo Courtesy of Netflix Media Center

ARTS

‘American Vandal’ combines true-crime, mockumentary genres

By Monique Sheidler | Oct. 12, 2017

When I first saw the trailer for “American Vandal,” I felt personally attacked. The show is a parody of the true-crime documentary series genre, following two aspiring filmmakers/high schoolers as they investigate an act of vandalism at their school. As a die-hard fan of anything true-crime, I felt protective of the genre and not ready to watch anything making fun of it. But I bit the bullet and binged the entire series in one sitting. Calling it a parody may not even be correct; instead, it is a love letter to the true-crime genre.

Monique Sheidler

Amazon’s TV pilots showcase strong female representation

‘American Vandal’ combines true-crime, mockumentary genres

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