Comments on: Rant: Rumors of the Death of Web Series Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

By: Horatio

Horatio — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:15:19 +0000

Heya----

I think its a valid point that the internet has allowed for a variety of niche (seems to be the word for this debate) shows---I think the point being made by Baranovsky is that a show can be both niche and well...good. For example, Project Runway would appear to interest only Fashion Designers and people into it, but actually attract so many people because of the quality of the production. Whereas, Project Rant, which you used as your example of a quality niche show---lost my interest about 30 seconds in at the unoriginality of its production value, the uninteresting nature of its host, and its irrelevance to my life ...and believe me, I like a good rant.

Might I suggest using a different example of the many you noted? Because I disagreed mostly based on that link.

By: the wild musings of a web celebrity » Blog Archive » Quick Update from Busy Jew

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:46:06 +0000

[...] to be a quick one — this is partly because I have almost no time to write and partly because Liz Shannon Miller is too busy carving Yuri-shaped pumpkins and then eating them (for their soul) rather than [...]

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Yeah, it’s definitely harder out there to get new series produced and noticed, but those with real passion will weather the tough times.

–Andy
http://www.MastersofHumility.com
home of SWIMKATA! and 24: THE INTERNS

By: » Blog Archive » Waxing Websodic: Everything’s Fine, Nothing is Working

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:09:53 +0000

[...] were some great comments and one, especially, caught my eye because, well, it was on the front page of NewTeeVee (I’m exaggerating, of course, they only have one page — but such is the curse of the [...]

By: Scott Jensen

Scott Jensen — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:53:55 +0000

I really wish that NewTeeVee would focus more on the business side of web-series. More how-to articles. Going and interviewing those doing web-series and sharing what they've learned. What mistakes they have made, what they've learned from them, and what they're doing not to repeat them. How they can do something that looks expensive on the cheap. What they wish they had known before starting out. What advice they'd give to those thinking of starting their own web-series. How they have been able to get corporate sponsors. I would really enjoy reading such articles. :-)

By: Tina Cesa Ward

Tina Cesa Ward — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:55:40 +0000

Are these hard times for web series creators? Yes. Of course. We’re not alone. But what makes us different from everyone else that’s fallen on hard times is our potential to be part of something that given time seems inevitable to succeed.

I tend not listen to skepticism. Had I listened I would not be working on “Anyone But Me”. Our series does not cost $200 to produce. Far from it. But our intention for “Anyone But Me” has always been to take the web series in a direction of higher quality. Of course the cost makes survival a little harder. But not impossible.

We’ve completed our first season. And are now the most watched scripted show on two different major video content sites. And when we launch our second season we will no doubt be greeted by the same skepticism we endured the first season. But the great thing is we’ll be a little closer to the inevitability of success.

Hang in there everyone.
Tina Cesa Ward
http://www.AnyoneButMeSeries.com

By: Greg Martin

Greg Martin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:38:47 +0000

Great rant, thank you Liz. I completely agree that media going niche is a good thing. As you said, this allows unrecognized groups to finally be recognized with content developed exclusively for them. From a brand standpoint, supporting niche web content can be a very important part of any campaign mix. Remember the 80/20 rule, right? Finding the property that is the best fit for the brand and the right platform to begin building a relationship with the consumer are critical services that need to be offered by all future new media departments.

This just means that as the world moves from a large mass of different cultures to niche communities with common passions, we all just need to work smarter. Content Creators need to work harder finding brands that are TRULY the right fit for their particular series (not just someone with a checkbook). And Brands need to work harder to find these niche audiences and understand their consumer's wants, needs and passions at a much deeper level.

By: Chris Prine

Chris Prine — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:58:42 +0000

Totally agree, Liz, especially with the part about Sandwich of Terror being a good show... ;)

Seriously though, what does this tell us? There are a lot of great shows, out of a huge amount of shows. We're going to be relying a lot more on sites that review (like this one) and select content. Otherwise we'll spend our nights wandering the wastes of Youtube, being mildly amused by cats and crotch hits.

Though according to Yuri, you guys aren't reviewing shows up to his standards. So... I don't know how to please him. Maybe he should lower his standards?

Most of what's on TV is crap. What's the difference?

By: mickeyfick

mickeyfick — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:28:24 +0000

Check out HARD TIMES, my no-budget quality web series (until reviewed otherwise!)

http://www.youtube.com/livingboyproductions

By: Jeff Calwell

Jeff Calwell — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:48:33 +0000

Oh wait. Was that clip supposed to be funny? I hope that was just a random advertisement and not a comment on the livelihood of web tv.

=/.

By: Brock LaBorde

Brock LaBorde — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:52:05 +0000

Nice rant. I'm raving about this rant.

By: Brady Brim-DeForest

Brady Brim-DeForest — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:43:53 +0000

Liz, couldn't agree more. Like I said in my response to Yuri's post today:

"Most of the early adopters of any medium won’t ever make a buck. 99% of them will probably give up or fail. But a few (mostly those that mix perseverance with hard work, talent, and a little bit of luck) will succeed. They are the ones who will inherit the future of television."

You guys got me all riled up. I'm going to have to write something now.

By: Brent Friedman

Brent Friedman — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:54:15 +0000

There is definitely still some life in web series, at least from this writer’s vantage point. My company, Electric Farm Entertainment, currently has two multi-platform web series in post-production. The first show, WOKE UP DEAD, will be digitally distributed domestically by Crackle, internationally by Sony. The second show, VALEMONT will be digitally distributed domestically by MTV, internationally by Content. Both shows premiere this Fall and will be accompanied by interactive websites, games, ARGs, etc. And we have several more projects in development using this same approach. Old Media working cooperatively with New Media has proven to be a successful formula for our company. Hopefully, other producers can emulate our model — or create their own! — because I truly believe that web series are still in their “nickelodeon” stage of development, and evolution of the medium will only come through the diverse efforts of many pioneers.