Web Series vs TV Series

[Al Lougher]

I was in TV advertising for 20+ years - then in 2006 / 2007 branched off to web content / branded content. In that time the road is littered with content producers who started up and blew through their cash without ever reaching the break even point. They are gone. Equally gone are the websites & services who have tried what you are suggesting - I have worthless contracts / agreements with probably 2 dozen such sites… The ones that are hanging on are struggling, there only seems to be room for one or two that can get enough traffic to make a go of it.

Reality seems to be for the consumer clicking through the web - the web is free. Consumers generally won't pay for content -yes there are always a few exceptions- but for the most part good luck getting people to hit the 'Pay' button in great enough numbers to cover your budget. So unless you have the rights to a much loved 90's sitcom that you want to revive, or a stellar cast of 'A' level actors and a Hollywood director with loads of trophies… The web isn't the land of milk and honey that many would portray it as.

That's what I was afraid of

 

[Michael Dalton]

Nice.

Yeah, I heard they were shooting canon for Hemlock Grove, and usually around ISO 3200. You wouldn't know it from the amount of rigging we were doing, but for where it;s going, ususing that prosumer level of camera is perfect.

And Ted I totally agree that the business model is changing. There are a few New Media Funds out there, but for the most part their still mostly based in TV with a significant web component to complement it. I personally have Google Adsense set up, but it's not an exact science and there no information of what exactly their rates are.

The business model that I've seen that seems to be working pretty well is what the guys over at RoosterTeeth have set up for their various web series, mainly Red vs Blue. They use a system whereby Sponsors get early access to new episodes, as well as extra content, extended versions of episodes, stuff like that. They also supplement that revenue stream with a store and advertising. From the sounds of it, it seems to be working out pretty well.

And I may take you up on that Red offer one day....

I think the future ultimately is in web stuff as the structured TV world is declining. However said, there are few people in web based with real budgets out there, and the quality is all over the map. There is a standard quality to TV (mostly). I guess it is much like the indie world. At the end of the day, your success is because of your talent or your business skills. As more resources come on-line for the web based productions, we'll may see a huge shift of TV producers to the web chasing the money. There will always be room for the talented, but I suspect those with knowledge on how raise money, and run a sound business plan will rule the day.

 

[Michael Dalton]

Gotcha. See, what I'm interested in more is specific to a narrative series that has a budget not as low as most that I see (around $2-3K/episode) or as high as say Hemlock Grove ($3mil/episode) but something around the $20K/episode mark. Something with high production value, and also fits a specific genre ie horror/sci-fi. Is something like that possible to fund through say branding (logos, ads etc.) and additionally monetize through subscription? From what I can find just seems pretty hard to fund any series over $3K/episode unless you already have a huge fan base.

Al, even 20k is hard to sustain quality. There is only so much "free" or low paid work out there. If your dealing with 20 or 30 people who are getting the bare minimum under tight deadlines, people will loose focus, not show up, and move on. At the end of the day, it's better to have money and pay people to stick around. Especially Actors. I produce natural histories shows for TV, with no crew but myself and a host. I did a series for 15k per episode starting out, and I could not make a show anymore for that. You just get tired of the grind, and need to earn a living. A lot of people helped me out on that series, but it was something I could do once, not as a business model. Netflix is not the web, it serious funding, akin to TV.

 

[Michael Dalton]

I don't think I'd even go that route. I've been looking more into stuff like Vimeo VOD, or content through iOS/Droid platforms such as building phone/tablet apps that not only includes the episodes, but other content only accessible via subscription. We'd work directly with brands to built their content in through pre/post rolls, logos, or what have you. Additional revenues from merchandising, DVD sales etc. Of course the question is how do you find those sponsors to begin with in order to start creating content. I'm talking roughly $10K/10min episode.

Good list of VOD stuff here: http://douglashorn.com/wordpress/distribution/vod-options-for-independant-film-and-video - author seems to think Vimeo and apps are the future.

This will be interesting to watch. I don't thing the near future favours the producer much as we wait for legit alternative to TV kicks in. Itunes does not favour the producer, rather a select groups of distributors approved by Itunes, and of course iTunes.

My new business model for shows includes; domestic TV rights in Canada which usually covers my budgets, International TV which can still be lucrative IF you get national networks (discovery and Nat Geo are starting to pay pretty low, DVD or point of sales (again tough but if you choose you subject matter right can be good) stock footage, and then new media sales.

 

[Jack Cooper]

"Product Placement" example.....(someone is having fun shooting this stuff)...

 

[Glen Powell]

"Product Placement" example.....(someone is having fun shooting this stuff)...

I always say that I shoot for free - and get paid to deal with the client...

 

[Jack Cooper]

So true Glen...I know a couple of folks that add a PITA premium on the invoice (usually the A/P department doesn't realize that is the charge for a client being a Pain In The A$$)

 

[Jack Cooper]

Part 2 --- for those who are interested