Comments on: Is There a Future for Original Web Series?

By: Harvey E Harrison

Harvey E Harrison — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 02:47:24 +0000

My 94-year-old mother quoted Winston Churchill [she said] to me yesterday,affirming this as her view as well: “I’m an optimist. It’s stupid to be anything else.”
I think I’m coming around.
Chris: excellent piece as it was catalyst for the entire range of expressions about original online creative works.
Our site Burning Shorts has a single purpose for its existence: to turn optimism into presentation of the Great New Artists. Since it “looked” thrilling: LG15 was real/NOT real ambiguous, and early ’06 was stirring. That’s when we started.
Our larger project is digital media, beginning when Richard Garriott was in high school and Pop Owen would zoom literally into space, when I could hang with Nolan Bushnell … THAT’s when I started. More at the Catalyst site.
And, for we early ones [Margo, Al, are you out there?] 30 years ago, we surfed giant waves of optimism … and it turned out infinitely BIGGER than anyone could have dreamed and ENTIRELY differently from what anyone I saw predicted. As far as I know, Chris Crawford continues to toil … what a speaker!!!
My partner and I did the first original online series property for Disney Channels … the timing has to line up perfectly …
And it won’t, but it will line up in some other amazing wave to ride.
Hence, Burning Shorts and keeping Catalyst going since the former’s subscription list [NO fee] is largely Hollywood creative professionals, and the latter is to advance each Great Talent of this new shape of digital media …
What you are discussing here is my entire professional life commitment. Not much, but it’s enough for me to invest.
Respectfully.

By: Trenches’s 3-Year Quest Toward Crackle Distribution

Trenches’s 3-Year Quest Toward Crackle Distribution — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:03:06 +0000

[...] when Stage 9 began closing down in January 2009, Felux found out about it not from executives there, but by reading the news. Because a great deal [...]

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:07:21 +0000

I think people are missing the very narrow point in all of this. To use words like "untested" and "unproven" simply means that we have to bring in other concepts like "innovation" and creating something not as a means to an end, but because we have something to say -- and on the internet there's no one to stifle you.

People are so concerned with something being profitable or securing their "big break" that they've forgotten what it means to be an artist.

Who cares if people are paying you? Are people watching? Are you having some impact in their lives?

If you want to make money, go make money in business, it's much, much easier. Make art for the sake of making the art. Spend all your own money. So long as you're living as an artist, that's all that matters.

By: Laurent

Laurent — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:40:43 +0000

We have the same issue here in Singapore, we got seed funded by the Government Media Authorities but going for the next round or finding advertisers is incredibly difficult. You can have a good business plan, you can be alone in your market (here in S.E.Asia, there is close to nothing). So we have to do side projects, productions for TV or other things to survive. I don't think viewers realize how much money you have to put as an independant studio to shoot broadcast quality stuff for the web. But to have investigate other possibilities, producing shows for brands or investing in product placement is the only viable option we have at this time.

By: Webisodes are Dead, Long Live Webisodes! « @ the intersection

Webisodes are Dead, Long Live Webisodes! « @ the intersection — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:19:57 +0000

[...] forward to the present where some have already started questioning the long-term viability of webisodes, as the likes of ManiaTV (an early entrant in the space) and the aforementioned [...]

By: Former ManiaTV Owner Tries for a Do-Over

Former ManiaTV Owner Tries for a Do-Over — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:28:48 +0000

[...] to mid-tail competitors like Ripe Digital and 60Frames, both of which shut down; and advertisers aren’t as interested in original programming for the web as they once [...]

By: When It Comes to TV Content, Is YouTube Screwed? « Klickabletv: digital media news

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:16:53 +0000

[...] programming as a survival strategy for the likes of YouTube. Over the weekend we wondered what the role of original web series was anymore as so much emphasis is placed in creating web extensions of offline brands. « [...]

By: Chris Albrecht

Chris Albrecht — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:25:07 +0000

Nalts, the irony is not lost on me. BUT, the nice thing is, a subscription gets you access to more than just articles from me. :)

By: nalts

nalts — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:44:50 +0000

Chris- I find it ironic that the rest of this article is behind a subscription service. So few original shows have found a fan base willing to pay subscription. But I think there will be loads of original web programing as ad dollars move online. In the meantime, the trick is a) creating for the medium, b) keep prices low, c) great writing/acting, d) faster cycle time (it's killing me to wait for the next GUILD!

By: Fraser

Fraser — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:29:04 +0000

I think it is funny that whenever people measure the success of web series they forget to include Homestar Runner. The Brothers Chaps have created the most sustainable and web series on the web- it has been around longer than any other worth mentioning, and will probably be around a lot longer then any other series around right now.

There IS a future for original web series, if the costs are kept reasonable, and the content is of consistent quality.

By: When It Comes to TV Content, Is YouTube Screwed?

When It Comes to TV Content, Is YouTube Screwed? — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:50:14 +0000

By: Chris Albrecht

Chris Albrecht — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:15:35 +0000

Wow. Lots of great discussion here. Thanks, everyone!

By: DavidS

DavidS — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:12:56 +0000

At least for the time being, I don't see any way for these shows to make it unless they are sponsored by existing linear TV networks (or perhaps other offline media), are promoted on linear television (via on-air spots, bugs, crawls) and have access to the networks' PR apparatus so that they can get in the press.

There may be the occasional viral hit here and there, but given just how much competition exists (even after the current shakeout is complete), the highly transaction-oriented nature of media consumption behavior on the web, the near-impossibility of cutting through the clutter without access to off-line promotion, most importantly a complete lack in interest among advertisers, I'd argue that the prospect of profitable online series production will remain elusive.

Finally, I'd add that many online series producers were just too far ahead of the curve. It was inevitable that any rational producer would turn to old media.

By: Chris Prine

Chris Prine — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:58:01 +0000

So the short answer is... yes.

By: Day Spa Gift Certificates

Day Spa Gift Certificates — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:54:19 +0000

Here’s the problem, the established players that people look to for contact are only there because they planted their flag first. First is not best.

By: Rich Mbariket

Rich Mbariket — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:04:07 +0000

Hey Chris,

I am the Founder of http://www.webseriesmagazine.com. I can’t disagree. It is virtually impossible to earn a living creating original web series. I wrote an article about this titled ‘The Challenge of Monetizing your Web Series’ highlighting some not so cool facts about the web entertainment business and to let content producers know what they’re up against financially.

‘The Challenge of Monetizing your Web Series’ can be viewed for $2 at http://www.scribd.com/doc/16900037/The-Challenge-of-Monetizing-your-Web-Series