The first webisode I ever saw was back in 2004 and it featured Jerry Seinfeld and Superman in what essentially was product placement for American Express. The four minute story was directed by Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Diner) and was reported to have a budget around $1 million. If you haven’t seen it check out A Uniform Used to Mean Something as a great example of a well made webisode.
Most webisodes aren’t as well done as that one, but then again most don’t have Jerry Seinfeld, Superman, Barry Levinson and a million dollars. But there are some good ones out there that are getting deals and I thought I’d point out some examples to show you where this is all heading and to once again show you other opportunities for screenwriters and filmmakers.
Goodnight Burbank (Which calls itself “The World’s First Character-Driven Comedy Created for the Internet.”)
Sam Has Seven Friends – 80 webisodes 90 seconds each were self financed in 2006 that eventually at one time was getting 10,000 downloads a day on iTunes. It eventually got the attention of former Disney CEO Michael Eisner who made a deal and then hired the producers to create the webisode Prom Queen for his company Vuguru. (Eisner alone being in the game should be an indication of where webisodes are heading.
Wall Strip (“Where pop culture meets stock culture.”)
According to Tim Street who I heard speak at NAB in Las Vegas this week there are plenty of crappy webisodes out there but the good ones have an opportunity for acquisition deals. So don’t focus on all the junk out there but on telling good stories. And if you get your websiodes produced even if you don’t get a deal you are building production relationships and honing your craft.
[…] The first webisode I ever saw was back in 2004 and it featured Jerry Seinfeld and Superman in what essentially was product placement for American Express. The four minute story was directed by Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Diner) and was reported to have a budget around $1 million. If you haven’t seen it check out […] Original Source… […]
What do you think? Webisode’s are going to be the future.
Websiodes will certainly may be a part of the future of the Internet. There is said to already more videos on You Tube in its first five years than the 50 year history if TV. Of course, those are all webisodes and most aren’t that well done, but I think it points to a trend that will continue to grow.
People already watch videos on their computer and I think the quality of the content as well as the quality of the videos will continue to improve. Of course, in the future there will be a bluring of the differences between Internet,TV, and even movies.