Writing A Web Series
- Emerson Pipes
- Nov 3, 2020
- 4 min read
I want to write realistic and refreshing queer stories- in fun but informative ways.
Research:
‘In a web episode, you have 15 seconds. That’s about how long people take to click on something else. So don’t waste time with long titles, elegant zooms and other nonsense. Get into the story, a character, a joke, a man on a toilet, something that is interesting or engaging. That’s not to say that you can’t show something beautiful, but it’s good for it to be tied to something that can elicit an emotion.’
‘The sweet spot for episodes on the web is between 3 to 4 minutes...Plus, watching content on mobile phones is better when it’s shorter. Ideally, you have a short, narrative idea, or perhaps a joke that the piece is structured around.’
‘ I’d say, keep the production simple and doable. Why do so many web series take place in a park? Because it’s an easy place to shoot. Taking that a step further, think about what you have available to you, like locations and even cast, and incorporate those things in your script. ‘
‘It’s no surprise that people will come back to your material because you’ve written great characters. This is true in every medium. But on the web, characters and actors have to jump off the screen quite literally. It’s wise to write for actors who you know or who are accessible to you, and even sit down with those actors and do some table reads. Because you know what? Those same actors will have to also engage people on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and whatever another social medium is currently hot. And without this cross-promotion it will be challenging for your series to get out any further.’
‘Keeping an audience engaged with a series for eight weeks is no joke. If you want them to keep coming back, it’s important to have other content like behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, gag reels, or written materials, like a side story or a backstory for another character.’
https://nofilmschool.com/2017/09/5-things-know-making-your-first-web-series
‘This one applies to the editing process regardless of what type of project you are making, but it bears repeating that you should be prepared to kill your script/darlings when cutting. Some people make web series with standalone episodes, but Let Me Die a Nun was more like a traditional television serial in that it had a narrative arc across all six episodes. Even so, during the edit, I realized that some scenes made more sense in other episodes rather than the ones they were written for.’
‘In trying to promote anything, I’ve found that you have to be both a little shameless and a lot less precious. You almost have to dissociate from what you’ve created and look at its molecular components and consider what aspects are going to appeal to which people—and then do your best to get the series in front of them.’
‘Even though a web series’ final resting place is the internet, I still think there’s nothing like getting a bunch of people in a room to watch the finished product.’
https://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/how-to-write-a-web-series-podcast/
‘To create a Web Series that is attainable and that is affordable, you need minimal actors and one or two locations.’
Main point:
Keep it short- eps should be 3-4 mins long. (short intro)
Have Interesting character + interesting actors
Keep it in the budget, work to your limit.
Extra content is important: Behind the Scenes, bloopers, extra scenes, side stories or back story for smaller characters.
Actor engagement- have actors give interviews, live streams, engage with fans.
Don't be afraid to promote- get it out there
Get feedback- screen the series to a group for feedback.
Things to avoid- story wise
Issue of consent - no kiss/touching/groping without consent to tr temp the other. Rape culture in queer and mostly BL media. There should be communication between the partners.
Turning people - the idea odd turning someone gay, its weird but I would prefer to avoid it. If a character is straight and is clear straight they shouldn't be ‘turned’ but if there is a blur of the lines it should be done well.
Forbidden love - the fetishization of MLM relationships in the media, it's not as bad but still a problem. Having openly gay and an open and accepting environment is key- if there is Homophobia it is done realistically and not over dramatised.
Jealousy - it's not a characteristic if a character is jealous it should be taken seriously if it is affecting the relationship. Talk things through and work on the problem. It can be more playful but shouldn't just be a trait of the character.
Sex is not the end game - many shows have sex as the end game, the last ep being sex and the entire thing is building up to that. There’s nothing wrong with a slow sexual build but there should not be a need to show sex. For example, the main couple could kiss and say they are happy, sex isn’t show maybe implied but that’s it. Maybe in a second season sex is shown more. It should depend on the relationship- it's not a necessity.
Top and Bottom - falling into the top/bottom-sub/dom stereotypes can be boring, the tall hot guy is a top and shy boy is bottom blah, blah blah. While this can be true in sex, this shouldn’t define the relationship. Don't make one partner the guy and one the girl if they are a queer couple who may not fall into those stereotypes.
Topes people don't like:
The first thing to do after a relationship starts is sex.
Bottoms only have sex to give pleasure to the top.
Men who accept themselves as gay never want relationships and are fulfilled by sleeping around with sex friends.
Hiding same-sex relationships from family/friends.
Teacher/student relationships
Tropes people like:
Enemies to lovers- slow burn with character redemption acrs.
Best friends to lovers -
When it is raining, they share an umbrella.
Group trip with the couples
"I won't stop until you love me" trope
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