Movies | August 09, 2009 | 5 comments

Webisodes give TV lovers an extra dose, Producers headaches

source: http://www.thestar.com/article/678419

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"If you can't beat 'em, stream 'em. That's how some TV producers view the Internet, using the Web to draw in viewers who either can't get enough of their favourite show or might otherwise forget it's even on.

Rescue Me sat out over a year-and-a-half between Seasons Four and Five (currently in progress on Showcase). To keep their fans involved, co-creator and star Denis Leary and other cast members shot stand-up rants – as their dysfunctional New York firehouse characters – which served as two or three-minute long Rescue Me webisodes. (They were posted on crackle.com.) Battlestar Galactica also entertained fans with a webisode miniseries between seasons of that show, and other sci-fi shows have been quick to make the quantum leap to web TV. Toronto-born executive producer Brad Wright says he'll be steering the new Stargate Universe in that direction.

Wright and others get the word loud and clear at events such as Comic-Con that fans demand and expect extra web content. Stars and producers from such non sci-fi shows as Fox's Bones told critics at press tour that they were mobbed by fans who can't get enough of their adventures.

Meeting that demand for web content isn't always easy. For one thing, it costs money. Joss Whedon, executive producer of Dollhouse, saw his series limp into a second season at a reduced overall budget after not-so-stellar ratings. The Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator is all for spreading his content out over several platforms, but this year he simply doesn't have the budget for it.

Hollywood unions, too, are just figuring out how to divvy up web TV production. The Canadian-born creator of Bones, Hart Hanson, says webisode plans for his show are still up in the air. "Our actors were so nervous," he says, especially around the time of the writers' strike, when future media platforming was such a contentious issue. "The trick is figuring out what is promotional and what is extra value that they should be paid for," he says.

Web TV work considered strictly promotional – studios make no money from it and therefore, neither do the talent – falls outside those restrictions. It is, however, no less a drain on an actor's time."
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5 comments // Webisodes give TV lovers an extra dose, Producers headaches

  • AnnanAmos
    • 0
      AnnanAmos  

    • Webisodes, like any other promotional item are a way to keep consumers interested. If you don't hold their attention, they go away - and the producers or studio or whoever, don't get as much money, which is especially important during a recession - like we have going on right now.
      Restaurants have been doing promo giveaways like crazy these days. It makes sense, as during recessions (obviously) spending on extraneous items like going out for dinner tends to drop off a bit. There have been some huge ones - Mars candy runs a promo where a certain number of customers (a few hundred thousand) can download a coupon for a free item of Mars candy every few Fridays, Arby's has Free Arby's Wednesday's as a promo right now, and then there was Marion's Pizza that ran a promo where they charged 1965 prices for a day, etc, etc.
      It more or less guarantees that appetites will be stoked enough for when the show comes back from the break, and people will want to watch, and therefore advertisers will want to buy ad time and the TV studios will make money. Although, I grant that TV/movie/recording producers aren't going to get a lot of sympathy from me - it's like crying with two loaves of bread under their arms. The people that don't get credit are the people you don't see - the production crew. They do the real grunt work, and get the least amount of money out of everyone involved. Still, I loved the webisode/shorts from Rescue ME - they were hilarious, and I've liked the new season so far. Great show.

    • 2 years ago
  • TajM
    • 0
      TajM  

    • I enjoy 'The Office' webisodes simply because I'm just one of those lame fans who can't get enough... but on the other hand, I'm looking forward to webisodes of Chuck during its extended-interim period...
      However, what about the advertisements that flock online streamed episodes? (Wasn't that a cause behind the writer's strike?) Don't they tend to carry the production load?

    • 2 years ago
  • smurph25
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