The Media Resource Centre (MRC) today launched the guidelines for its inaugural web series production initiative, Let’s Make Web TV. The production initiative will provide three teams with $2500 cash plus $2500 in-kind equipment to make three webisodes.
A partnership with You Tube will give the initiative its own You Tube channel, where the teams will be supported as You Tube partners including marketing, audience development and monetisation support.
Prior to the launch of the Let’s Make Web TV, a full day forum attended by 60 emerging screen practitioners explored what makes both a successful web series, how to best market them and how to approach their monetisation. Speakers included Mike Jones (AFTRS), Wynston Alberts of You Tube/Google and Simon Britton (Media Wave).
At the forum, Simon Britton said “The MRC is leading the nation with Let’s Make Web TV. It is the first screen agency to provide support to launch emerging screen practitioners’ careers through web series”.
The MRC Director, Gail Kovatseff said “Increasingly emerging SA filmmakers are successfully moving directly to the web as a pathway. So it makes sense that the MRC shifts resources so it can support their first web series productions with cash, script development advice and equipment”.
At the Let’s Make Web TV, four teams of SA filmmakers working in web series provided case studies of their experiences. Dario Russo and David Ashby spoke on their mega hit, Italian Spiderman which gave them the exposure for SBS to support them to make Danger Five. Producers, Kirsty Stark & Ella McIntyre and writer/director Victoria Cox spoke on how they successfully crowd funding $25,000 to make Wastelander Panda, whose released prologue had over 100,000 hits in one week. Alex “Shooter” Williamson spoke on how he has capitalised on his brand building over 50,000 subscribers with more than million hits for his Loosest Aussie Bloke Ever.
Feedback for the forum, which was universally excellent, indicated that aspiring filmmakers were very keen for knowledge and support in this new arena:
- Let’s make Web TV seminar was by far the most useful, practical, informative & motivating event I’ve been to.
- The Let’s Make Web TV seminar was fantastic! Really invigorating and informative, we loved it.
It was great how altruistic the filmmakers were in sharing their experience and knowledge.
The Media Resource Centre is a member of Screen Network and funded by Screen Australia and the South Australian Film Corporation. The SAFC has provided cash support to the Let’s Make Web TV production initiative.
Guidelines and application forms will be available download from www.mrc.org.au from Wednesday 11 July.
Recent Comments