[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]I begin to sweat as I hover my mouse over the blue button. The white letters spelling “publish” taunting me. Just click it, I tell myself as I feel my brow begin to sweat. I push my finger down and jump at the click of the mouse like a gunshot. A year of self-doubt, endless days shooting and just so many hours of editing have come down to this. My first web series episode has been uploaded, how did I get here?
“Four and three and two and wo-one” blasts through my earphones as I spend another night in with Abbi and Ilana. I decide I’ll watch another episode; my assignment’s not due for another couple of hours. My mind goes back to the first episodes of Broad City. A YouTube channel and a couple of minutes of shaky low quality video of absolute hilarity.
I look over at the camera, mic and lighting rig my parents bought me before I started uni.
“For you to film the next big thing,” my father said when he gave it to me. I wonder how he’d feel if he knew it hasn’t been used outside of class work. That’s it, I’m going to make a web series. Just one question, where do I start?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][heading]
The Idea
[/heading][vc_column_text]I sit down at my desk ready to smash out a script. Staring at my blank document reminds me I don’t have an idea.
“What story do I want to tell?” I ask myself. I’m nowhere near interesting enough to have it be about my life. Maybe what I want my life to be like, I glance at the assignment brief I’ve been ignoring for four weeks. Being able to move due dates would be fantastic. TIME TRAVEL! It hits me, a student who can control time. I decide to roll with that.
However this begs the question, who will watch it?[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][image_with_animation image_url=”4854″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][heading]
The Audience
[/heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Why not everyone? Even I know that seems unrealistic. Maybe people like me? Beyonce might not have time to watch it though. I think to what it’s about, a uni student, so they may be a good start. A uni student who can control time, so I guess uni students interested in science fiction/fantasy are who I’ll be aiming at.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][image_with_animation image_url=”4877″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In”][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_column_text]As I think I’m on my way to creating the next cult web series I look over at the stacks of two minute noodles in my cupboard and remember one important thing, I’m broke.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][heading]
The Funding
[/heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Well, I might as well give up now. My enthusiasm drops as I think how difficult it will be paying to sustain my life, make a web series and drink every weekend.
Surely there has to be a way I can do this. I head to my go to problem solver and pray these blue, red, yellow and green letters will help. As I trawl through Google for an answer I find an article that peaks my interest. This interest doubles and my eyes gawk when I read that there are grants of up $300,000 to create a web series.
As I continue writing the script with its’ elaborately choreographed battle scenes, explosions and car chases, I begin to ponder if I have the capacity to do this on my own.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][image_with_animation image_url=”4872″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][heading]
The Team
[/heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The answer is no, I do not. As I so gracefully find out on my first day of attempting to film, write, star, direct and produce a series alone is not possible. So I find myself on the uni film making society’s Facebook group. I begin to type an open call.
“Male seeks actors to film mysterious online project…” no this sounds dodgey.
“Ever wanted to live the life of a uni student that can control time? Well you’ve come to the right place I am creating the next viral web series and am looking for actors and production crew to help me do it *must be willing to accept payment in the form of noodle flavour sachets.”
Turns out it’s not that hard to get talented people to work free for the experience. Now we film.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][image_with_animation image_url=”4873″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][heading]
The Shoot
[/heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]It appears having at least one animal in every scene isn’t such a great idea. However apart from that and a few odd requests from some extras, production’s going well. A couple of mishaps but nothing we can’t fix in post.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][image_with_animation image_url=”4874″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][heading]
The Edit
[/heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]A bird flying into you main actors face during a monologue, not something you can fix in post. I’m working with some amazingly talented people but I’m sensing some long hours ahead.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][image_with_animation image_url=”4875″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][heading]
The End, Almost…
[/heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]So here I am, feeling slightly relieved but mostly terrified as I post the first episode. Now I just have to get people to watch it. I share the link on my Facebook page and kindly asks my friends to do the same.
I hop into bed and think back over the process. It doesn’t even matter if no one watches I’ve had a smile on my face the entire time. I refresh the page, 3 views, I’m on my way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][image_with_animation image_url=”4876″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In”][/vc_column][/vc_row]