The information on the slide came from an interview with Sarah Evershed from MWG Entertainment. It is regarding the industry and webisodes specifically.
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Focus:
• MWG is an internet studio that produces original, high-definition
web series for distribution via broadband, mobile and multiple
digital platforms
• We collaborate with top talent in the online media world to
create web series that target the underserved female audience
• Our content appeals to women who want engaging, smart and
compelling programming that they can identify with
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Types of Web Video:
Amateur – uploading for family viewing, vlogs, or displaying
emerging talent
Webisode –Evershed’s definition is “scripted episodic series
that is on a semi-regular basis with a minimum of 3 episodes”
Viral Video – usually only 1 video
Professional
Corporate
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Sarah’s Beginning:
“I’m excited to be part of the early generation of web video.” – Sarah
Evershed
Started as a reality TV producer (Tory & Dean in Love)
Was part of a video game documentary on Discovery (she was
an intern at the time)
Made content for Current TV for a 1 ½ years
Moved to L.A. to pursue production
Met with a contact from Smog TV regarding the job at MWG
Entertainment. Smog TV contact was someone she met
through Current TV.
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Webisodes:
MY TWO FANS is an episodic web-series following the life of an
average single female woman, KATE MAXWELL. Set in Los
Angeles, we watch as Kate rebounds from a broken heart with the
help of her two biggest fans: FRANKLIN and TEDDY.
ROAD TO THE ALTER is the story of one man’s journey through
Weddingland. In a series of interviews and on-location videos, all
shot in a mockumentary aesthetic, the audience is invited to watch
the planning, negotiating, and taffeta napkin selecting very serious
business. Our hero, SIMON, is the young groom trying to
negotiate this ride with all the reason he can muster. ROAD will
tap all the humor and insanity inherent in that oldest and most
sacred of human traditions, the wedding.
Currently in production: CAMERA OBSCURA.
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Job Responsibilities:
Sarah Evershed’sday holds these responsibilities:
Check emails Upload all content
Check social networking sites Makes sure sponsors are happy
Pulls analytics Create relationships with platforms
Maintain brand integrity Maintain relationships with platforms
Get sponsors Presentations to schools like the Art
Build pitches for shows for platforms Institute of California – San Francisco
like YouTube
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About MWG Entertainment:
MWG = the president’s initials (Max Goldenson)
Creating new webisode “Camera Obscura”
President wanted a female focused web entertainment site
President is passionate about women’s issues
VP of Development decides what projects to do and decides
the scripting
Evershed gets some creative say in “Camera Obscura”
4 people in the company
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Sarah’s Ai Experience:
Presented to the Digital Film & Video Production class about
MWG Entertainment on June 2, 2009
Presentation relates to general idea of class and to genre
research: the webisode
Met Marc Smolowitz (class instructor) during Marc’s last week
at Teletopia
Came to present to class because she knew Marc
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Competitors:
Jemini Division
Electric Farm
Evershed does not actually view them as competitors, however,
because there aren’t a lot of female focused webisodes out
there. Everyone is still trying to figure out a good business
model for making money, so once that happens, then the
competition will begin.
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Methods for Keeping the Audience:
Evershed believes that audiences want low budget, anti-
corporate web video (like Jemini Division).
She believes that great web video still makes people feel like
they could make webisodes as well.
Higher production quality + low budget = good web video
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Advice:
Make webisodes: no matter sponsor could fit into the video
what
Have a distribution plan in
Don’t feel tied down to raising place: does platform want solo
money distribution?
Have a well formulated plan Think about web content as
well. Give viewers more
You can make a name for interaction like blog, contests,
yourself because studios are games, etc.
searching for talent
Keep length to 3 minutes to
Keep audience in mind and stay maintain audience’s attention
focused on it
She suggests TubeMogul to
keep track of multiple platforms
Always think about how a