Bay Area Filmmakers Podcast » Beer 15

93 studios – 10 things web series actors should know

bayareafilm — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:48:57 +0000

Just read the great blog at 93 studios about web series acting.

Great article.
http://ninetythrees.com/screenings/10-things-web-series-actors-should-know/

Is Dr. Horrible a web series?

bayareafilm — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:19:21 +0000

Okay, so up until 10 minutes ago I hadn’t seen “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.” As a web series producer, I suspect that is some sort of faux pas seeing as, next to “The Guild” it’s the most recognizable web series.

After seeing it, straight through on Hulu, I have to wonder; is it really a web series? I mean, come on. 3 episodes! 3 Acts! 42 minutes! THAT IS A SINGLE EPISODE OF A TV SHOW. That’s not a series. Just because a character looks into a webcam and pines about their life, does not make it a “web series.” Sure, that technique unfortunately is part of most successful ones, it’s not the defining characteristic. The defining characteristic, should be that it’s a series. A series on the web. Three, a series does not make, to paraphrase Yoda.

As someone who has produced 13 episodes of a web series, I think I could spot that little inconsistency. As I write episodes of Beer15, I’m writing episodes. individual story lines that develop in 7 minutes Beginning-middle-end. Sure, when put into 3′s they just happen to make a 22 minutes story, and YES, the end result is a feature length story with a beginning middle and end. But THREE? Really?

What really is it? An Experiment? A short? Half a feature? Is it really anything other than a story that Joss Whedon decided to make. He even calls it what it is, “ONE WEEK ONLY! AN INTERNET MINISERIES EVENT!” on his own website. I suppose, if a regular web series is 90 minutes spread over 7 to 12 episodes, then 3 would indeed be a “mini-series”.

Why then, did it win all those Streamy Awards? Shouldn’t it have competed in the mini-series category and not the full fledged series category? Looking to the future of the web series, I sure hope recognition comes for all those people out there making full fledged web series, not just short 3-episode wannabees.

By the way. If you haven’t seen “Dr Horrible,” you should. It’s freaking awesome. It’s so well done, it puts a lot of web video to shame, and honestly just solidifies how completely cool NPH really is.

Writing and what makes a good story

bayareafilm — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:09:40 +0000

I’ve recently been writing the web series “Beer Rash,” which is the story of a small comedy band in college. The first three episodes were written as a short film, which was full of action and plot twists. Since sitting down to the write the rest of the story, I’ve found that most of the scenes are people talking. It didn’t work. The scenes didn’t pop off the page like the first three episodes. It wasn’t until I thought about other shows such as Entourage, EXIT Stage Left and Break a Leg.

It was at this point, I knew I had to add new story elements and situations for these conversations to happen in. It worked. Not only were the scenes working, but the story was filling out with back story, character development and excitement.

Now I get to shoot a Dungeons and Dragons Music Video!