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调查显示，大部分人在看电视时有同时 “刷手机” 的习惯。业内人士指出，这种 “second-screening（看电视、电影等主屏幕的同时用手机、平板电脑等 “第二设备” 浏览内容）” 的做法正潜移默化地改变热门电视剧的制作思路。比如，通过反复强调关键剧情或者精简人物对白，以适应观众从节目中获取信息的习惯的改变。本文浅谈电视剧创作如何应对这种观看习惯的变化。

词汇：TV drama 电视剧

1 OK, I'm not proud of it, but sometimes when I'm watching TV, I might not actually be watching. Sometimes I'm just more tempted by my phone. Be honest, do you do the same? If you do, then we're not alone, lots of us watch TV with our phones in our hands. How is TV changing to accommodate this?

2 Let's start by looking at the data. Studies have investigated different countries across the world and many of them reported that most people use their phone while watching TV. While the classic stereotype is that it's younger people who find it hard to put their phone down, the data actually shows that second-screening is common in most age groups under 55. Younger age groups are more likely to be looking at social media or food delivery apps, while older age groups prefer banking, e-commerce and travel.

3 How are producers dealing with this? A number of screenwriters have reported being told that they need to make programmes easier to follow for distractedviewers. Reports say that showrunners have asked for more exposition in dialogue, repetition of plot points and increased use of voice-over to make things clearer for those who aren't looking. Some critics and viewers have complained that this could be making series less complex and dialogue less natural.

4 Second screens are not the only reason that these things happen. Television drama writing developed from radio drama writing, which has to use dialogue to compensate for the lack of visuals. When books are adapted for TV or film, one challenge is how to tell the whole story with less narration. All this means that exposition has often been a feature of TV writing. As series became more prestigious and cinematic since the early 2000s, this clear signposting of plot points had become less common.

5 Of course, TV viewers and TV programmes are not all the same. There is space for both casual and more complex programmes. Maybe the most important thing is for us to remember when to put our phones down.

测验与练习

一、将标题和段落配对。

Paragraph 1 _______
Paragraph 2 _______
Paragraph 3 _______
Paragraph 4 _______
Paragraph 5 _______

a. Exposition on screen
b. A widespread trend
c. Changes in the programmes we watch
d. Films on our phone
e. Should we take control?
f. Do you second screen?

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. A majority of people surveyed use a second screen while they watch TV.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

2. Older people prefer to order takeaway food while they watch.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. What does 'this' refer to in the following sentence? Some critics and viewers have complained that this could be making series less complex and dialogue less natural.
a. viewers asking for changes
b. showrunners asking for changes
c. distracted viewers

4. Books and films tell stories in the same way.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

5. TV stories became less clear in the early 2000s.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

Many of us are 1) _______ while we watch the latest series. It's not just the youngest generations that are 2) _______ by their phones; most people under 55 do this while watching TV. 3) _______ say that they have been asked to change scripts. 4) _______ have asked them to make plots easier to follow for distracted viewers. Many series now have more direct 5) _______ in dialogue, as well as more use of repetition and voice-overs.

dialogue
tempted
showrunners
scriptwriters
exposition
adapted
second screening

（答案见词汇表后）

词汇表

tempt 诱惑，引诱
second-screening 第二屏幕，看电视、电影等主屏幕的同时浏览手机、平板电脑等 “第二设备”
screenwriter 编剧
distracted 分心的，注意力分散的
viewer 观众
showrunner （节目）制作人
exposition 详细阐释，清楚的解释
dialogue 对白，对话
plot point 情节转折点
voice-over 画外音，配音
critic 评论家，批评家
visual 视觉画面，视觉效果
adapt 改编
narration 解说，旁白
prestigious 精品化的
cinematic 电影般的
signposting 指引，标注

答案

一、将标题和段落配对。

Paragraph 1 f) Do you second screen?
Paragraph 2 b) A widespread trend
Paragraph 3 c) Changes in the programmes we watch
Paragraph 4 a) Exposition on screen
Paragraph 5 e) Should we take control?

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. a. True.Studies have investigated different countries across the world and many of them reported that most people use their phone while watching TV.

2. b.False. Younger age groups are more likely to be looking at social media or food delivery apps, while older age groups prefer banking, e-commerce and travel.

3. b.'This' in that sentence refers back to showrunners asking for more exposition, repetition and use of voice-over.

4. b. False.When books are adapted for TV or film, one challenge is how to tell the whole story with less narration.

5. a. True.As series became more prestigious and cinematic since the early 2000s, this clear signposting of plot points had become less common.

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

Many of us are second screening while we watch the latest series. It's not just the youngest generations that are tempted by their phones; most people under 55 do this while watching TV. Screenwriters say that they have been asked to change scripts. Showrunners have asked them to make plots easier to follow for distracted viewers. Many series now have more direct exposition in dialogue, as well as more use of repetition and voice-overs.