If you’re a new filmmaker or film student who has made a short film and now wants to create a feature film or TV series, it’s a tough journey. You need connections, persistence, and proof of your skills in writing, producing, and directing. A good next step could be creating a web series.
Here’s how you can start:
- Come up with a Strong Idea: Think of a concept that can be expanded into 4 to 12 short episodes.
- Write an Episode Outline: Create a summary for each episode, including a brief description (logline) of what happens in it.
- Write Episode Scripts: Develop the scripts for each episode. These can be short, ranging from 1 to 10 pages (each page roughly equals one minute of screen time).
This web series will help you showcase your talents and can be a stepping stone towards making a feature film or TV series.
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Important Pre-Production Elements.
Budgeting
- Estimate Costs: List all potential expenses, including equipment, locations, cast, crew, and post-production.
- Create a Budget Plan: Allocate funds to each category and keep some extra for unexpected costs.
Casting
- Create Character Profiles: Write detailed descriptions of each character.
- Hold Auditions: Advertise casting calls, review applications, and hold auditions to find the right actors.
Finding Locations
- Scout Locations: Identify places that match your script’s settings.
- Get Permissions: Contact property owners or local authorities to get permission to film.
Hiring Crew
- Identify Key Roles: Determine what crew members you need, such as a director of photography, sound technician, and production assistants.
- Recruit Crew: Reach out to professionals or students who can fill these roles.
Garnering Gear
- List Equipment Needs: Identify all the gear you need, like cameras, lights, and microphones.
- Source Equipment: Rent or borrow equipment from rental houses, friends, or film schools.
Scheduling
- Create a Shooting Schedule: Plan when and where each scene will be filmed.
- Coordinate with Cast and Crew: Ensure everyone is available on the scheduled dates and times.
By focusing on these pre-production elements, you’ll set a solid foundation for your web series.
Coming Up with an Idea
Just like with feature films and short films, having a strong, unique, and engaging idea is crucial for the success of your web series. A compelling concept and interesting story will keep your audience engaged and make your series stand out.
Crafting great stories can be challenging, but one effective way to avoid clichés is to write stories that are personal and have a clear identity. Drawing from your own experiences can make your narrative more authentic and relatable. For example, if you want to create a comedy series, think about the funny moments in your own life. Consider how you can expand these moments into a season’s worth of short episodes that are both personal and widely relatable. This approach ensures that your content feels genuine and can connect with your audience on a deeper level.
When crafting your story, try to avoid common clichés. Reviewing lists of clichés, such as those discussed in previous articles on CareersInFilm.com, can help you identify and steer clear of predictable plotlines. Unique and fresh perspectives will make your series more interesting and engaging for viewers.
Consider how your story can appeal to a broad audience. Even if your narrative is deeply personal, incorporating universal themes like love, friendship, and conflict can help it resonate with more people. Alternatively, you might target a niche audience with specific interests or experiences that align with your story. This approach can help build a dedicated fanbase who appreciates your vision and relates to your content.
By focusing on personal, unique stories and considering your audience, you’ll be better equipped to create a web series that stands out and captivates viewers.
The Logline
Once you have a seminal idea—a story that you not only want to tell but feel you need to tell—the first step is fleshing out your logline, followed by a webisode outline.
A strong logline clearly and impactfully illustrates your web series in a straightforward, no-nonsense way. For instance, consider the web series “Her Story,” which is succinctly described as a six-episode series about two transgender women exploring love and dating while living in Los Angeles. Another example is “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis,” which is summed up as a mock-interview series where Zach Galifianakis interviews real celebrities in the most absurd and awkward way possible, mimicking a public access TV show. Similarly, “The Line” captures the essence of fans of a fictitious movie called FutureSpace who get in line 11 days before the film opens and interact with various off-beat and nerdy characters, all competing to be the first to see the movie.
A strong logline serves as your elevator pitch, allowing you to clearly and quickly articulate what your web series is about. This is crucial when communicating your vision to cast, crew, locations, potential investors, producers, directors, and editors. Moreover, it ensures that everyone involved has a clear understanding of the project’s core idea.
In addition to writing a series logline, you will also need to write a logline for each episode. This helps maintain a clear focus for every episode, ensuring each one contributes meaningfully to the overall story.
By crafting precise and compelling loglines, you create a solid foundation for your web series, making it easier to pitch your concept and engage others in your project.
The Outline
When starting out, don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s wise to start with a manageable goal, such as a 4 to 6-episode season with episodes lasting 3 to 5 minutes each. This approach ensures you create enough material that could potentially be repackaged into a pilot episode for television.
For each episode or webisode, flesh out the content with 3 to 5 sentences that describe what it will be about, including characters, setting, and plot. Keep these descriptions concise and avoid over-writing. Each brief paragraph should show the development and cohesiveness of the entire series so that everyone—from executives to cast—understands the overall story arc.
For example, in a comic book-themed series I pitched years ago called “Store Front Super Heroes,” I provided succinct descriptions that outlined the characters, the setting of a quirky comic book store, and the episodic plots involving the humorous misadventures of everyday people who think they have superpowers.
Studying successful series’ outlines can provide valuable insights. Researching these examples will help you understand how to structure your own series effectively. Here’s a fantastic resource for studying successful series outlines, which can guide you in crafting your own.
Script Writing
When writing your web series script, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the screenplay format. Remember that setting, characters, and plot are the basic structure you should always keep in mind. If you need a refresher, here’s an example from a web series I wrote called “Sexcommunicated,” about a 20-year veteran priest who leaves the priesthood and starts dating in Los Angeles:
FADE IN:
EXT. SMALL HOME – NIGHT [SETTING]
It’s a two-story, modest home in a quiet Los Angeles suburb.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Various pots of steaming food percolate on the stove. The hands of DAVIN’s father reach in – one holding a spoon and the other holding a bowl. His name is FERGUS.
FERGUS [CHARACTER]
(proudly)
I hope you enjoy this. I started it this morning for me and your mom, but there’s plenty for all of us.
CUT TO:
THE KITCHEN TABLE
DAVIN sits there looking at his father as his father places the bowl in front of DAVIN.
DAVIN
Thanks, dad.
FERGUS calls out to DAVIN’s mother.
FERGUS
Shauna! Quit messing with that toilet and come down here. Dinner’s ready.
Fergus plops down in his seat.
FOOTSTEPS can be heard coming down the stairs. SHAUNA, DAVIN’s mom (60s), walks into the kitchen and stops. She has a plunger in one hand as she puts her hands on her hips.
SHAUNA
(to DAVIN)
What’s this shit I hear about what happened at church this morning? You yelled at that Lisa Burk girl – made a whole scene in front of Miriam Mahoney! [PLOT]
Davin is wide-eyed.
DAVIN
How in the hell could you possibly know that?
SHAUNA
Oh, I have my sources.
Fergus is just about to eat a spoonful of stew.
FERGUS
Miriam posted it on Facebook.
DAVIN
That old woman is on Facebook???
Shauna sits down.
SHAUNA
Oh son, everyone is online today.
DAVIN
I’m not.
When writing your web series script, remember that each page, when formatted correctly like above, equals approximately one minute of screen time. This can vary depending on how much description you include and if you have stunts or action sequences, but the general rule of thumb is one page equals one minute.
Therefore, if you write three pages, you have a three-minute episode. Try to avoid excessive description in your script, making it as bare-bones as possible. Focus on essential description and dialogue and try to avoid narration, as it can be seen as a cop-out and often leads to more telling than showing.
Finally, each episode—whether one minute, three minutes, five minutes, or ten minutes—should end on a cliffhanger that bridges one episode to the next. Since you’re writing a series, each episode should tell a story arc that connects, forming a complete story from beginning to end.
Success Stories: From Web Series to Television
Producing a well-executed web series can serve as a stepping stone to television, as demonstrated by several successful examples:
Children’s Hospital:
Created by comedian and actor Rob Corddry, this off-beat and eccentric series started online before transitioning to television. Originally consisting of 10 episodes in 2008, it eventually ran for 5 seasons on Adult Swim.
I Ship It:
This series, which follows roommates Ella and Tim as they start a band inspired by fandom culture, began airing on The CW Seed before transitioning to television on The CW. The show’s journey from online to TV demonstrates the potential for web series to gain recognition and expand their audience.
Broad City:
Initially airing online, Broad City gained popularity and caught the attention of comedian Amy Poehler, who helped bring it to Comedy Central. The series went on to enjoy critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base during its run on television.
Producing or directing a web series allows creators to showcase their ability to craft long-form content beyond traditional short films. While short films have their place, a successful web series can demonstrate a creator’s storytelling prowess and production skills on a larger scale.
Moreover, a well-received web series can attract the attention of established actors and industry executives, potentially opening doors to new opportunities and elevating a creator’s career to the next level.
Depending on where you are in your career development, a web series could be the ideal next step to showcase your talent, build your portfolio, and potentially transition to television or other larger platforms. With the right concept, execution, and dedication, a web series has the potential to be a significant milestone in a filmmaker’s journey.
Conclusion
In the world of filmmaking, a well-produced web series can serve as a powerful catalyst for success, paving the way to television and beyond. Through the lens of various success stories like “Children’s Hospital,” “I Ship It,” and “Broad City,” we’ve seen how web series have transitioned from online platforms to mainstream television, attracting audiences and garnering critical acclaim along the way.
Producing or directing a web series offers filmmakers a unique opportunity to showcase their storytelling abilities and production skills in long-form content. While short films have their merits, a successful web series demonstrates a creator’s capacity to engage audiences over multiple episodes, providing a platform to explore characters, narratives, and themes in greater depth.
Furthermore, the journey from web series to television underscores the potential for online content to catch the attention of established actors, industry executives, and networks, leading to new opportunities and career advancements.
From crafting compelling loglines and episode outlines to securing funding, casting talent, scouting locations, and navigating the complexities of permits and permissions, the process of creating a web series is both challenging and rewarding. However, with dedication, creativity, and perseverance, filmmakers can bring their vision to life and captivate audiences across digital platforms.
Whether you’re a budding filmmaker or a seasoned professional, a web series may offer a promising avenue to showcase your talent, build your portfolio, and propel your career forward. As you embark on your journey, remember the lessons learned from successful web series and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of digital storytelling.
