When writing a web series the screenwriters are usually careful with who they share their script, until they have it protected. But when is it right to protect your idea? How to go about it?
The US Copyright Office only takes finished work, but we usually show our treatment, sinopsis and scripts for our web series way before the there is a final draft! There is a way to protect it.
When making a Web Series or any kind of Web Show, I see many producers ignoring one of the most important elements in your infrastructure: THE WEBSITE! Without a website, your web series will not really go to far! So here go.
This quick guide will help create and host your own WordPress website and have it up and running in just a few minutes.
Follow the instruction and you will have a nice website to show your web series to the rest of the world. READ MORE »
When we make a web series, we also have also do a lot of graphic work to promote it. And we not always have access to designers, or to Adobe Photoshop or the possibility of investing $699 in software just to make a poster, some postcards and website elements.
To top that, I have been having problem with Photoshop lately, crashing and slowing down the computer more than it usually does. So decided to find a real alternative to photoshop, and I found it!
Let me introduce you to Pixelmator (sorry PC… for Mac only) A super powerful tool! It is easy to use, fun interfase and super awesome icon (hey that in important too!) It does everything I need done in photoshop, without sucking my computer power nor my pocket power. (screenshots in the article) READ MORE »
When making a web series, it is very important, the most important, to get your main characters right! Casting your web series with an actor to embody that character is one of the most important decision as a director or producer and can make the rest of the job easier or harder.
There are different shows that need be casted differently: Variety shows with hosts, reality shows with participants, and fiction web series with actors. In this post we will be focusing the the fictional web series, because I consider it to be the most complex and important. Will touch on the other kind of shows in a later post. READ MORE »
The idea, the spark that makes web series, TV and film so magical, usually starts in one single brain… maybe two in some cases. But also truth, film, video, visual storytelling in general, don’t become a reality without a team of people that work hard to make it happen. That is what this post is about. The team that you will need to bring together as soon as you have your web series screenplay ready.
I have said many times on twitter, in this blog, in Facebook, and over coffee and beer with my friend: Blip.tv is the most producer friendly distribution and advertisement partner for almost all web series producers (maybe not the exact words, but more or less).
Today (June 1st 2011), from their brand NY office, Blip.tv co-founder announced they have created a distribution partnership with The Collective (I didn’t know who they where either).
So the web series from The Collective (Fred, iJustine, The Annoying Orange, among others.) will be distributed and sold (to advertisers) by blip.tv, and this will include the youtube channels (if have not used blip.tv or are not familiar with it, blip.tv distribute to many other sites, including YT).
This is a great news for any web producer, and not just the once that work with The Collective, because it is starting to legitimize a medium that has been somewhat just observed from the outside by investors and advertisers to see what happens.
Here is the video of the announcement. What do you think? Does it make you happy?
Making a web series is a long and demanding project. Very similar to a TV Pilot and a feature film. Just like them, the web series starts in development. This series is intended to guide you through the process if you have never done it, and to serve as a reminder if you have done it before.
At first I tried to make this a single post, but I realized it was becoming long and bulky, so I had to break it down into several installments. This will also be the first piece of a new section I will open next week: Web Series 101. READ MORE »
I have been working on this post for a week already and I want it to be perfect. It is a post that breaks down the development process of a web series. How to go from idea to web series screenplay. How to craft a budget, and how all this is part of one same process: web series development.
I am even considering breaking it into a series of posts. Maybe it’s easier for the reader!
There is a lot of debate about the length of a web series episodes. It ranges from people that have tried 1-minute episodes to people that make shows that are 1 hour long! I guess it depends on who is making the web series.
The truth is most people agree that somewhere between 5 minutes and 10 minutes is a good mark. Certainly the most successful web series are close to that mark.
The argument for a short episode:
If your show is comedic, targeted to a younger audience, or meant to be watch on the run, then shorter episodes are very good for that. A bit size. If you are doing a show on tips to do something, short is also better. The key about short content is to design it for people and platforms where they are not going to invest much of their attention spam. So make a killer first 10-15 seconds, and make sure to keep people engage for your minute by keeping that energy and stimulation up!
The argument for the long format:
The only way that a long format can stick, other than coming from a big TV network and be available on Hulu, is to have a very well defined audience and for that audience to be willing to sit through an hour or 45 minutes of content. Interview and educational shows that are targeted to a very specific niche. Those web series episodes can hold up to 45 minutes, even an hour. The best way to go about it is to break your show in three of four segments that change the speed of the show. Will help keeps the viewers engaged.
The truth is that it will depend on the story and your interest as a producer. Some things need 25 to 45 minutes to be said. And that is fine. Somethings can be said in 2 minutes. Start from your guts and follow what the audience asks from you.
Looking for a quick reference guide to your web series marketing strategy? A little map that can help you navigate your promotion efforts for your web show? Should you just put it up in YouTube and wait for people to come?
NOO!!! you need to promote it, you need to market it, you need to announce to the world that it exist, that it is awesome, and that they have to watch it! But how to go about it? What do you need to do!?
Get my WEB SERIES MARKETING – THE CHECKLIST for FREE!!
I have created this Checklist with 15 actionable items that will move you forward to getting you web show in front of your audience. To get your free copy sign up for my awesome newsletter in the form on the side bar. Twice a month I will email you with important tips on web show and web series creation, production and distribution.
The Checklist mostly actionable elements for your “Online Marketing Priorities”, few more for your “Offline Marketing” and “Other Marketing Elements” that will be very helpful to have in place!
It also has a space where you can add your own elements, because I believe that not all web series are the same, so your show might have to add some other actions or not take ones that I have included. It will depend on your needs!
Remember, to use the sidebar form to get your FREE copy of WEB SERIES MARKETING – THE CHECKLIST.
Hope you find the information valuable. Would love to know what you think.
@perezkaram
