Webseries, Short Films, Online Streaming, Turkish Dramas, Korean Dramas – it’s all happening ‘Year’! 2020 you delivered some cutting edge entertainment! Though Covid had us struggling to keep to exam schedules, Ramazan schedules, holiday plans or even Eid meet ups, the entertainment industry was the swiftest to adapt to an online world map that changed overnight.
If Stay home, stay safe was the 2020 mantra, then the internet responded with open arms! The ball rolled from the super intense Bird Cage on Netflix last Christmas and it never stopped. We witnessed blockbuster series and shows as we lived through Money Heist, The Queen’s Gambit, Zee5 Churails and struggled to filter out the best dramas to watch on local TV channels (some, not so best though).
BUT
There were 3 Firsts that stood out, more equal than the other entertainment options and more connected to global audiences than ever before. While we fervently wish for a Covid Vaccine to solve all our stay at home problems, we have to say, the online entertainment ride was so worth it! Here’s 3 Firsts that have catapulted our viewing options into 2021 with infinite choice and many blissful hours on the couch!
1. Online Streaming Apps
Zee5 in Pakistan
Zee5 gave us 2 block buster Pakistani series & we watched with love, anticipation and pride.
Did they give local channels competition? For one thing, production quality broke sound barriers, for another, the shows were not necessarily bound with the pressure of commercial success, stretched story lines (30 episodes say kum nahi), or zabardasti ki saas bahu intrigues.
Original content with relaxed censor control dished out entertainment that many related to, and many paid for. Now that was a first too. The promise of quality productions means we are okay to pay for it, just like Spotify! (of course the desi jugaar worked here too, but we won’t speak of that now).
Not just that, but … cutting edge entertainment on Zee5 showed us that Pakistani stars are a marketable commodity and can even help build bridges where none existed! So do we have a local streaming platform in the pipeline?
HUM TV aap sun rahe hain? We might just find out in 2021!
2. Web Series
The age of Webseries was never so happening!
As Pakistan TV & Tiktok Stars crossed over to Web Series on YouTube, a local streaming platform might just be on the horizon!
The Webseries format has liberated writers to write and actors to perform without being dictated by commercial success. Story writers can tell a story and float their content to be judged by audiences. Success means the story connects with the audience because you know what, they had a choice to NOT view it, but they did, because – the content spoke to them! Isn’t that what every writer wants?
Unfortunately, some illustrious & talented writers have given up writing for local channels because they are bound by unnecessary commercial pressure. Well, you know what, now everyone has a choice.
The field is wide open, let’s play!
The audience is undoubtedly the winner here and we look forward to more organic content coming through in 2021!
ARY are you listening?
3. Short Films
Short Films are belting out engaging content in bite size chunks!
With fast & furious taking on our life mantra on Instagram Reels, Tiktok videos and all things new & improved, … Short Films are ahead of the game with Seeprime as a leading platform in the genre!
The challenge of engaging with an audience in under 30 minutes, wrapping up a story in under an hour rather than 30 episodes is clicking with audiences like never before! Not just that, but the stories are riveting, thought-provoking and refreshingly original!
Jab short film saath ho tau Tea time ka maza dobala… Peak Freans that’s a new market for you… go for it!
If that’s not all, Pakistanis have gladly switched over to Turkish Drama Watch & K Drama fans are the next rising from the ashes scene that have our radar! Pakistani TV Channels, you need to contemplate, and hard, is the pie big enough for everyone or do we need a different flavour?
Where has 2020 lost the game?
Well, undoubtedly, a huge downer has been the inability to not bring cinematic content for big screen viewing pleasure. The Pakistani Film Industry was just about to take off, and then we had Covid – tough luck there! This means an entire industry has suffered a huge setback although viewers might still gain as more films continue to release on Netflix, and other streaming platforms overnight!
There is perhaps, no match for an in-cinema experience though some countries have moved towards a Drive In option as well, why not? If only we could connect those blue tooth head phones, we’d have all the experience we need!
When last we checked, popcorn and nachos are still making the cut in Covid – so go ahead 2021, have a go at us, we’re not ready to give up just yet!
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Shazia likes to pen her thoughts when she feels passionately about a life experience, a person or an event. She is mother to 3 lively boys and along with her husband, attempts to settle in her new country by taking German lessons so she is able to soak in the culture, language and spirit of the region.
“Wake up in the morning, take a deep breath and exhale! Keep on living with a passion that inspires others! “
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