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Hi, this is your Visionary Muse, Rhonda Abrons here with Tip number one on How to Create
a Web Series.
Tip #1 -- The Story is Everything
What genre will your story be set in?
I remember, back when I was a first round script reader for the HBO Green Light Project,
I never got the full story on how that happened, but you can skip last minute editing room
category decisions by getting real clear on what your genre personality is up front.
Is your personality:
• Drama • Science Fiction
• Reality TV • Action
Now, you may think you are all about comedy, when really you are scifi.
Or visa versa.
Or even something you never fully realized about yourself.
Take my genre personality test and get a better perspective. Passion makes the story. For
instance, if you're trying to do a documentary in a drama mode, 'cause that's what you've
been told documentaries should be, but what you really are is an action/adventure personality,
your project will be tedious at best and at worst fall flat.
Next, you have to turn that story into a script.
That's right. It's not the pretty actors, cool special effects or your brother's awesome,
original music that's most important for your web series. The story you choose to tell is
the foundation that can make or break your production's success.
Your amazing story will decide what cast, crew and even the distribution channels that
will be attracted to your web series. Are they interested because of your story? Or
are they only showing up for a paycheck?
The elements that help shape your story are:
1. Genre 2. Script
3. Locations
What genre will your story be set in?
I remember, back when I was a first round script reader for the HBO Green Light Project,
the final script chosen for production was originally shot as a "coming of age drama."
In editing it became a "coming of age comedy."
I never got the full story on how that happened, but you can skip last minute editing room
category decisions by getting real clear on what your genre personality is up front.
Is your personality:
• Drama • Science Fiction
• Reality TV • Action
• Comedy
Now, you may think you are all about comedy, when really you are scifi.
Or visa versa.
Or even something you never fully realized about yourself.
Take my genre personality test and get a better perspective. Passion makes the story. For
instance, if you're trying to do a documentary in a drama mode, 'cause that's what you've
been told documentaries should be, but what you really are is an action/adventure personality,
your project will be tedious at best and at worst fall flat.
Next, you have to turn that story into a script.
A script basically lays out what you or your actors will say and do. A well written script
can also steer the director and editor to your story's vision.
The Almighty script
• Script Basics • Scenes
• Action Scenes
There are many excellent sources on script writing, so I'll quickly cover a few overall
script basics. Scripts specify Location, Dialog and Action of the scenes in your Story.
One page double spaced in Courier font equals about one minute in time on the screen. So,
an hour web series will be anywhere from 50 to 60 pages.
Scenes can average anywhere between 30 seconds to five minutes in length. Approach each scene
as a mini script. This means your scenes should have a beginning, middle and cliff hanging
or dramatic end. Well crafted scenes can also make separating an hour show into seven webisodes
a much easier task.
Keep in mind that action scenes take up more time on the screen than dialog. If your script
is heavy on action, this will make your story run longer than the actual page count.
Once you have a story and a script, locations become clearer. Or you can do it in the early
Quinton Tarantino method of crafting your story around freely available locations.
The Story in Locations Locations have the power to give a low budget
production a high production value look. Search for interesting locations that seem to have
their own story built in. In order to set your story in the appropriate location you'll
need to check into:
• Permits • Location Agreements
• Free Locations • Clean up
Acquire any necessary permits for shooting in your area. Get signed permissions. This
signature MUST come from the OWNER of the property, not the renter or the next door
neighbor.
Your permission form should include the fee if any, to rent the location, the date and
amount of time you plan to use the location and any other special considerations mutually
agreed upon.
Make sure you and your team honor your end of the deal and that you clean up after shooting.
Leave everything the way you found it or better.
Even if your best friend or a relative owns the location, it's a good idea need to follow
these same guidelines - especially if you want to stay best friends and continue being
on speaking terms with your relatives.
That's it for Tip #1. Look for "How to create your own web series tip #2 -- Choosing Your
Team."
Remember to click here to get your Genre personality test because foresight is hindsight.
Yeah, meditate on that one.
See you next time!