Top 5 Web Series Clichés
So you want to make a web series, but you’re plum out of ideas? Don’t worry, just borrow from what everyone else is already doing! Here are five clichés great ideas that you can totally use to get unstuck from your creative rut.
1. Use Webcams
Your show is online, and so is your character, thanks to your webcam! So meta. Sure, this method of storytelling has lost all its novelty, but what better way to dispense with showing us any action than by having the main character describe the action in their vlog?
Steal from: lonelygirl15, Dorm Life, quarterlife
2. Lovable Nerds:
Shunned by Hollywood for the lack of washboard abs and any semblance of a tan, the Internet provides the ultimate opportunity for the bespectacled, awkward masses to shine (though even in web series, the nerds still have to be cute). Tap into tech-tinged web audiences’ sensibilities with your Facebook story lines and encyclopedic knowledge of the Marvel Universe and watch those playcounts soar!
Steal from: The Guild, We Need Girlfriends, Galacticast
3. Gangsta Raps:
Alright, technically this isn’t about web series in particular, but if you’re a sketch comedy group, an easy way to get a larff is to do a crazy rap song juxtaposing urban beats with prim and proper settings. Also a really good idea: Billy Joel spoofs.
Steal from: Tea Party, Star Wars Gangsta Rap, Everyday Normal Guy
4. Person. Camera. News.
News shows are easy to create, that’s why so many people do them. The best part is, you don’t have to do a lot of original reporting. Just plop yourself in front of a green screen and re-hash the week’s events.
Steal from: What the Buck, Loaded, EPIC-FU
5. Straight Spoofs: Inventing characters, coming up with plots, developing a story arc…blech, that sounds like work. Instead, ride the phat coattails of someone who already built a pop culture phenomenon by tweaking a word or two (No Country-Time for Old Men, it’s about lemonade — genius!), or going through an existing script scene by scene and replacing the characters (it’s Office Space, but with Han Solo — genius!).
Steal from: 2/8 Life, Phake TV, The Superficial Friends
And once you’re done “creating” your new series, be sure to copy a business plan and steal someone else’s money get venture funding!
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LOL, OMG, Chris you’re killin’ me here. Did you, with one fell swoop, destroy the dreams of millions of webseries wannabes worldwide? Could it be that all we do is regurgitate old formulas anymore?
You did forget a few, including:
Mark Schoneveld on March 7th, 2008 at 2:39 pm - Permalink
Well, I suppose that’s included in #4. But still…
Mark Schoneveld on March 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm - Permalink
I’m relieved to find I’m not a part of that list. :)
Brian Hogg on March 7th, 2008 at 2:43 pm - Permalink
[...] NewTeeVee: Five things that everyone else making web series is already doing. [...]
GigaNET Friday: Recession, Cliches & Democracy - GigaOM on March 7th, 2008 at 3:30 pm - Permalink
Right on!
But it’s really remarkable how well those things WORK!
And don’t forget the mockumentary! Another way to avoid actually showing any action (and more naturalistic than a voice-over). Plus, any and all bad acting can be reconciled with the style!
Robb on March 7th, 2008 at 3:56 pm - Permalink
Right on, Robb.
Chris Albrecht on March 7th, 2008 at 4:12 pm - Permalink
LOL – great!!! Don’t forget as part of that business plan – you must launch simultaneously a site with social networking and a YouTube channel – your own dedicated YouTube channel!!
Frank Sinton on March 7th, 2008 at 8:43 pm - Permalink
Hi Chris… my sentiments exactly. Please take a run at THE VENICE WALK
http://newteevee.ning.com/profile/thevenicewalk
?viewAsOther=1
or @
http://www.myspace.com/thevenicewalk
and thanks for linking to the following newest reviews:
TILZY.TV
http://www.tilzy.tv/news/2008/2/Venice-Walk-Aint-
Your-Mamas-Sweathogs.htm
UNICORN.COM
http://www.unicornsightings.com/?p=7
and thanks in advance for opening up the discussion of Web Series Content to include discourse from this rebel/ dad with four teenagers, who knows the attention span of young adults is far underestimated by the childless-executive mandate of the arbitary “3 minute content factor” (perhaps that’s their own limitation) … and our teenagers have more aesthetic appreciation and taste than Lonely Girl #85,674 can ever challenge them with.
I promise more banter to follow, including an “In Your Face” email Rebuttal to Director of Content @
“60 Frames”:
Warmest regards,
Bob Hegyes
http://imdb.com/name/nm0373811/bio
robert hegyes on March 7th, 2008 at 11:15 pm - Permalink
Come on. Stop giving away secrets.
Tim Street on March 8th, 2008 at 9:03 am - Permalink
thank you for this. there is nothing new under the sun.
quirk on March 8th, 2008 at 4:41 pm - Permalink
[...] Web Video NOT Funny Wow, NewTeeVee’s Chris Albrecht is on a tear. First, he has this rather tongue-in-cheek guide for those looking to make their own funny web [...]
Funny Web Video NOT Funny « MyMediaMusings on March 9th, 2008 at 9:17 am - Permalink
Phyew! Good thing it’s so easy to build a community, integrate viewer contributions, organize meetups around a show, stay on top of the latest trends, and define a cutting-edge brand. News shows ARE easy!
Steve Woolf on March 10th, 2008 at 2:16 am - Permalink
hmmm why can’t you suggest something original!!! EMPHASIS!!!!
Like my web series’? Please check them out http://www.youtube.com/zexkstudios
Zexk Studios on March 27th, 2008 at 6:26 am - Permalink
I think my new web series fellows your rules pretty well!!
Haha
everything you wrote is so true!
http://www.youtube.com/user/RobertCrostonFilm
Bobby Buccellato on April 22nd, 2008 at 7:53 am - Permalink
[...] the C-Spot doesn’t fall prey to all top web series cliches, there’s enough of them in here to make you look elsewhere, and to realize just how hard it [...]
You Can Miss The C-Spot « NewTeeVee on May 31st, 2008 at 10:27 pm - Permalink
Well I will agree to disagree while agreeing that it’s disagreeable to post that and just agree that you guys need to check out our new site so you can make a new prognosis… check it out, plenty of ‘original’ ahem… web series content here. Openfilm.com
Rio on July 10th, 2008 at 9:42 am - Permalink
What about a Teen Drama Scripted series? We are currently making one that will be airing in November and would like to see if there were some others we could network with :D
mickey on August 5th, 2008 at 9:51 pm - Permalink
[...] yes, a character directly addressing her web audience, that’s sooooo lonelygirl15 (and nearly every other web series that’s followed), but with one key difference. Rather than reaching out to an unknown audience, Anna is sending [...]
Gemini Division: Rosario Dawson’s Intimate Sci-Fi Confessional - NewTeeVee Station on August 18th, 2008 at 10:35 am - Permalink
[...] feels old. You have to let the camera play a role in telling the story. The web cam shot is a cliche gimmick that hit its peak with lonelygirl15. It’s 2008, let’s mix in a hand [...]
JakeZim.com » Blog Archive » Why Gemini Division is a Step Back For Web Video on August 18th, 2008 at 5:33 pm - Permalink
Here is a new webseries http://www.lovelesstheseries.tv/
anita on August 24th, 2008 at 9:27 pm - Permalink
Love all these articles about web shows!! Back in 1998 I filmed a little series called Jamie’s Way, and now we’re doing it all over again with Life After Lisa. The web series is the future of TV- I knew that ages ago!! I’ll watch yours if you watch mine ;) Love, Elena
PS We’re still casting- looking for our stars!!
Elena Moscatt on August 31st, 2008 at 7:20 pm - Permalink
I too am so happy to see this article. there’s so much of the same stuff out there. When we sat down to do our webseries we were worried that our plots were too involved. http://www.crewingup.tv
Melissa C Banczak on October 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 am - Permalink
I have to say that I do enjoy 2/8 life, that show cracked me up :-P
We have some pretty sweet stuff happening around our way, come check us out at valleypeaks.tv !
David Gordon on December 27th, 2008 at 4:20 am - Permalink
Omg. This is so true, I’m in the web industry, and tired of seeing the same’ol. I know lonelygirl was popular, but seriously. It’s been done. Try something new fellas! This new web series Karma Kula looks promising. And of course the farscape series isn’t bad. But I just haven’t been too impressed by Sci Fi’s Gemini Devision at all.
Karma Kula: Mystic Warrior - web show on February 3rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm - Permalink
I GUARANTEE our show is one of the most original online shows out there: SPELLFURY
Travis Gordon
spellfury.com
Travis Gordon on March 24th, 2009 at 7:47 am - Permalink
Yes, these are more or less common ‘Formats’. As a professional in the industry, I completely agree. However I would like to hear suggestions of new ideas for content. The creators of the mentioned shows feel as if their ideas are original, unique, funny and or interesting – you can’t convince them otherwise. So, I guess re-hashing all that’s overdone in format is only highlighting the problem with the format. Now, what are good ideas for shows?
Valerie on March 27th, 2009 at 10:49 pm - Permalink
hahahaha its so true. my first web series included like half of those. ah clichés… they make me feel warm inside.
Andrew Christoffel on June 26th, 2009 at 9:17 pm - Permalink