Top Five Don’ts of Creating an Independent Webseries by John Gardiner

I’ve been in the trenches of production and development of web-series for a few years now. I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to get things going and more importantly keep things moving when it seems like everything is against you. Here’s a quick list of the five things I think very important to avoid while maintaining a series.

5. Don’t Blame the Money
There are more and more studio web-series with huge budgets and name talent emerging. Rather than shooting on the RED and getting a Shot-Maker why not focus on the character or find a creative way to do something better. What you lack in finances you have to makeup for in creative problem solving. Take a moment and compare District 9 ($30 million) with The Phantom Menace ($115 million) and remember that Lucas had 5x the budget. Remember more money won’t make you a better filmmaker or creator, actually the opposite. As my good friend Ma$e would say, “Mo Money Mo Problems.”

4. Beware of Friends

Remember when you where in school and you had to do a team assignment. You ran across the classroom so you could have your cool friend be on your team. So there you were with the other members of your team slaving away at the replica of the Globe theater and he’s making plans with the hot girls from class. Doesn’t he know stellar academic achievement is cool? Anyway, you end up trying to make excuses for him to the other team members and the whole project suffers.You look like a tool from everybody’s perspective and now no one likes you. Even if they mean well, not everyone is cut out for your grueling production schedule, the trick is spotting that early and learning to avoid confusion before it happens. You’ll be better friends for it.

3. You Don’t Know Everything
This one I can’t take credit for. I do believe I got this from a book. Though I can’t remember which. It was an anecdote about a Grip telling a first time director how to block a scene. At first the director was offended, then he realized, that Grip, has made 100+ movies in the time it took for him to write the screenplay, he may know a thing or two. Regardless, your name is on it so you’ll get the credit if it’s right and if he’s wrong you can always fire him.

2. Don’t Panic when it takes longer than you think
I fell victim to this as many have and will. It’s just a web-series a few days you’ll knock out production and be on with your life. Correction, you’re basically doing a series of short films that may or may not add up to a feature film length adventure. And most likely you’re doing it with very little money and a non-professional cast and crew. Check out this show, one of the first and best webshows out there started more than two years ago, just now getting their finale finished. Things happen, terrible and unexpected things. You’re name is going on this thing, make it worth your while. Put some TLC into this thing and do it right. Hey it took James Cameron 15+ years to do Avatar. Do you want Avatar on your resume or this garbage?

1. Don’t be Dishonest
It’s the Boy Scout in me coming out. I always find it strange when another politician lies about something. Why! The truth is going to come out. This goes for just about everything else in life. Don’t get me wrong a few white lies about a how a duvet cover looks isn’t the end of the world. But misleading someone who’s equally passionate about your creative endeavor can become disastrous. Same goes for your fans. If you have a good connection with your audience let them know what’s going on. Personally I’m terrible at keeping people up to date, thanks twitter for trying to help. Shows like this and this are pretty darn good at it.

______________________________________________________

Top 5 Tools For Webseries Creators is written by John Gardiner creator of Absolution webseries.