Internet makes creating your own series more possible

by Chris Mailloux

Creators now have a chance to publish their series when they want and how they want.

Websites like Youtube and Vimeo give people the opportunity to post their series online and build up a fanbase.

It used to be if you wanted to make a television series, it would actually have to air on television. Now television series are being developed for sites like Netflix, Yahoo and Hulu.

Over the last year Joel Boyce has been working on a web series called Cooked and said he enjoyed the freedom to be vulgar while filming the series for web instead of mainstream television.

“It’s an interesting time with the technology, web series are booming right now and that’s where a lot of people are going,” said Boyce.

Boyce related it to how print media had to change the way they produced stories with the introduction of online.

“Most people are on their computers, they’re on their tablets, their laptops, their phones and they can be out anywhere at any time watching a show,” said Boyce.

With the ability to publish a show when you want it opens up the potential for an almost unlimited amount of entertainment.

“It’s kind of cool but it’s really overwhelming when you think of the shows that are out there,” said Boyce.

Boyce also said that it’s also a good time for them to release Cooked since there are more networks out there to help them find an outlet for the series.

One of the benefits of having so many outlets for series on the web is it increases the chance of fan favourite shows being brought back.

Arrested Development was cancelled in 2006 by Fox but was later brought back in 2013 by Netflix. Community was cancelled by NBC and revived by Yahoo for its sixth season.

Shaun Mazzocca is the lead actor on Cooked and said he really enjoyed seeing these shows being revived.

“Now there’s a chance for them to have a different way of getting that content out with their fans,” said Mazzocca. “Even if it’s not through mainstream networks.”

Just recently on April 10, the Netflix Original series Daredevil released all 13 episodes of its first season at once.

The series not only shares a connection with the already established Marvel Cinematic and Television universe but is also going to be connected with three other shows that will lead toward a crossover miniseries called The Defenders.

Another television series that expanded its universe with a web series was hit AMC television show The Walking Dead

“It’s like the wild west, man, everybody’s trying to figure this thing out and it’s awesome,” said Mazzocca. “I love it, I think it adds layers to something that a lot of people can get on board with and you can see who your hardcore fans are too.”

Mike Poirier is one of the hosts of The Comic Book Syndicate and organizers of the upcoming SyndiCON. Poirier said it’s easier for people to create shows now and the benefit of a web series over a television series is for web it’s easier to get a more accurate response to your product.

“If you’re ideas are really good and put it up on the internet,” said Poirier. “You’ll find out very quickly how good or bad it is based on your audience’s response.”

Poirier also said the downside is when you put your work online there is much more content out there on the web.

It’s harder for newcomers to get a bigger audience compared to television.

Now everyone can watch any series through their phones, tablets, video game consoles, laptops and more devices. People can watch television anywhere at any time as long as they have the wifi and capable device.