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qLife : Money : quarterlife web series budget?

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Franchise: May 16, 2008 - 07:01 AM PST
Grigori Said:
Franchise Said:
How are the strikes treating you actors? I heard there was some SAG conflicts. Was I wrong in so hearing?


Ironically, it's empowering many of my friends. They have been doing other things, writing, editing, producing--taking on other aspects of the biz. Which to me is making lemonade out of lemons.


Savage! Thanks for the info.
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Grigori: May 14, 2008 - 09:12 AM PST
Franchise Said:
How are the strikes treating you actors? I heard there was some SAG conflicts. Was I wrong in so hearing?


Ironically, it's empowering many of my friends. They have been doing other things, writing, editing, producing--taking on other aspects of the biz. Which to me is making lemonade out of lemons.
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Franchise: May 14, 2008 - 08:32 AM PST How are the strikes treating you actors? I heard there was some SAG conflicts. Was I wrong in so hearing?
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Grigori: May 14, 2008 - 12:36 AM PST
John_O Said:
Grigori Said:
If it could have been made for less...why not make it for less? I guess I'm agreeing with CEO of Next Now Networks Herb Scannell "that Internet video only works if it's dirt cheap or less.


I'll tell you what. The next time you are up for a part and you are offed money, or the next time you are offered a job of any kind, please, by all means, offer to do it for less.


Good advice John_O. Point taken. I have taken less in the past--I will continue to do so for passion projects! Which I believe quarterlife was to those that worked hard on it.

It's a good web series -- does it have to be the Bentley of all web series. Maybe not. But as you said, those that worked on it, took a pay cut to do so & that's remarkable!

But let's face it --at that level those that work for a fraction of their normal pay rate can afford to work a passion project for less can't they?
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Franchise: May 14, 2008 - 12:12 AM PST
John_O Said:
Grigori Said:
If it could have been made for less...why not make it for less? I guess I'm agreeing with CEO of Next Now Networks Herb Scannell "that Internet video only works if it's dirt cheap or less.


I'll tell you what. The next time you are up for a part and you are offed money, or the next time you are offered a job of any kind, please, by all means, offer to do it for less.


Witty
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John_O: May 13, 2008 - 09:51 PM PST
Grigori Said:
If it could have been made for less...why not make it for less? I guess I'm agreeing with CEO of Next Now Networks Herb Scannell "that Internet video only works if it's dirt cheap or less.


I'll tell you what. The next time you are up for a part and you are offed money, or the next time you are offered a job of any kind, please, by all means, offer to do it for less.
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sixysummat: May 13, 2008 - 10:44 AM PST
Grigori Said:
Speaking of George Lucas [I heard a nasty rumor]--I hope him and his company leave Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" alone and don't attempt to remake it. That's just cinematic blasphemy!


Oh, my aching heart!!! I agree that would be sad. The whole re working of most classics are just that. Would anyone think of remaking "Goodfellas"? OH! Let me shut up, because someone might get a stupid notion.....
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Franchise: May 13, 2008 - 10:13 AM PST
John_O Said:
Franchise Said:
I posed a similar question to John_o I think. The answer was that not even $5 million would cover the expenses for a few episodes. The industry is much too expensive especially with a decrepit economy. How bout we invest solely in independent films for a while until we can get back on our feet.


I don't believe that's what I said. Quarterlife was an expensive web series but not by comparison to a television show or movie. It was the equivalent of a six hour long, low budget feature.


Sorry for misquoting ya John. Glad you straightened it out
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dex2988: May 12, 2008 - 08:23 PM PST I can say that qL doesn't work for me as a television show. It was the first web-based series I've ever watched, and it played out way better online than on NBC for me. I still enjoy watching the first season online, but the network presentation disappointed me. I also wasn't happy at all with episodes 31-36. It felt like episode 30 was a real high water mark and then the rest just didn't work.

If I'm not alone in having this opinion, then maybe that has something to do with the apparent lack of funding for season 2? Or are new episodes being worked on as we speak?
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Grigori: May 12, 2008 - 08:18 PM PST
John_O Said:
Grigori Said:
Have you watched Girlfriends?
I watched WNG if that's the show you're referring to and not the CW's canceled sitcom. [laughter] I found them to have an original spin to their personal story and it was very entertaining. Now WNG's cinematography was adequate for a web series. I didn't see boom mics in the shots [ahem] --I was MORE impressed with the back story of the writers, creators of WNG. Basically like you said, amateur filmmakers that worked on weekends for FREE, but in their case it seems to have PAID off BIG time for them to a degree. I was more impressed with the cinematography of "Satacracy 88" & IFC's web series "Getting Away With Murder" and "Sam Has 7 Friends" & "Prom Queen". But for the reported budget of qlife SHOULD HAVE BLOWN ALL THESE WEB SERIES OUT THE WATER! Have you seen these other web series? Not to mention GIRLTRASH! has a cheap, gritty look and feel but storyline is just unprecedented has a HUGE following.

[/quote]

Oh no! That myspace show "Girlfriends" just didn't hold my interest. I watched 1 three minute webisode and quickly left. I think that was a low blow on my part [boom mic]. You're right, $50 million dollar budgets you can find boom mics creeping--but the series should not have that type of amateur error with that reported budget. That's just my opinion. That's all. I would expect that from WNG or other shall we say "less expensive" series online. I just think if you're going to stick your neck out--it might get hit by a comment like that. Talk about an Elephant's memory!

But it's easy to sit back and Monday morning quarterback--quarterlife isn't? Don't get me wrong -- qLife is a definite leader of web series for it's content & it's forums. You should be proud of your work. I've complimented your work on qLife, plus other films I've seen of yours. But tell me this...I'm not sure why the people vs the budget should NOT set a apart qL with those other web series? For me personally it's the CONTENT! Not the budget clearly. Not the execs behind the series. Not the actors. In certain terms --qL measures up and surpasses much of what's online. If it could have been made for less...why not make it for less? I guess I'm agreeing with CEO of Next Now Networks Herb Scannell "that Internet video only works if it's dirt cheap or less.

Speaking of George Lucas [I heard a nasty rumor]--I hope him and his company leave Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" alone and don't attempt to remake it. That's just cinematic blasphemy!
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John_O: May 12, 2008 - 07:58 PM PST Also, Marshall isn't an upstart filmmaker trying to make a name for himself. Marshall is an established, respected, industry professional who produced a show on a budget that was a fraction of anything he or his peers are working with. The people who worked on the pilot and series were mostly established professionals working below their normal pay scale on a labor of love. For every Satacracy 88's there are hundreds of cheaply, poorly made attempts at web shows, some by experienced pros.
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John_O: May 12, 2008 - 07:44 PM PST edit
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John_O: May 12, 2008 - 07:40 PM PST
Grigori Said:
Have you watched Girlfriends?I watched WNG if that's the show you're referring to and not the CW's canceled sitcom. [laughter] I found them to have an original spin to their personal story and it was very entertaining. Now WNG's cinematography was adequate for a web series. I didn't see boom mics in the shots [ahem] --I was MORE impressed with the back story of the writers, creators of WNG. Basically like you said, amateur filmmakers that worked on weekends for FREE, but in their case it seems to have PAID off BIG time for them to a degree. I was more impressed with the cinematography of "Satacracy 88" & IFC's web series "Getting Away With Murder" and "Sam Has 7 Friends" & "Prom Queen". But for the reported budget of qlife SHOULD HAVE BLOWN ALL THESE WEB SERIES OUT THE WATER! Have you seen these other web series? Not to mention GIRLTRASH! has a cheap, gritty look and feel but storyline is just unprecedented has a HUGE following.


I thought you were referring to the Myspace show Girlfriends. I revised my post. First off I remember you pointing out that a boom mic was visible in a scene and apparently that is a point of contention with you. For the record you can find boom mics creeping into shots in $50 million studio films (less so now with CGI) so I'm not sure what that's about. Second, the budget doesn't make a film good or bad so I don't know why Quarterlife SHOULD HAVE BLOWN ALL THESE WEB SERIES OUT THE WATER! based on budget. Quarterlife should blow them out the water based on the people creating it. If you don't think QL measures up to other web based series either in story, acting, production value or cinematography, then there is nothing I can do about it. I guess that's a pretty squarely aimed criticism of my work and others and I'll take it as such. Personally I'm proud of my work on the show and I'll leave it at that. People tend to get obsessed over budgets and money and it's all relative. Marshall produced the show in a certain way so that he and others could work within certain parameters. Could it have been made for less. Of course. So could any show or movie. When George Lucas was asked to direct Apocalypse Now he wanted to shoot it on 16mm film in a newsreel style. Would it have been the same movie? of course not. Would it have been good? Probably.
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Grigori: May 12, 2008 - 07:22 PM PST
John_O Said:
Grigori Said:
How Cheap Must Web Video Be... Man, other web series don't COST as much as qLife series. My friends over at Satacracy 88, have a shoe-string budget compared to qL and they won an EMMY last year. "We Need Girlfriends" {WNG) had basically no budget [$200 ea webisode]WNG--then CBS came along and purchased it. I just find this stuff fascinating! Why does qL cost so much? Is it due to shooting in Los Angeles? I see why "Ugly Betty" left LA for NYC.


The reason web series are cheap is because they are cheap. If everybody works for free then it doesn't cost much. Same with student films. If you don't spend money then it doesn't cost money. The reason web series look a lot alike is because they are made by amateur or young filmmakers with little or no equipment, crew or resources and for the most part they look like it. Especially the actors. Satacracy won an Emmy because it was a well made show and for one year only it was competing against only other web series. From now on they will be competing with every show on television. The reason shows on the web are done cheaply is because nobody knows how to make money with a high budget show on the web. Marshall and Ed took a huge risk and stuck their necks out to try to force the industry to push forward and find ways to create revenue on the web. And for the record, you can shoot any sized show or film at any budget in Los Angeles. In most cases if you want to shoot a small budget film, Los Angeles is the best and cheapest place to shoot it. It's one thing to shoot a short film or a micro budget feature, but it's really tough to go the long haul on a series and not make a living wage. You just can't make a living working for free. Trust me, I know.

The access to cheap equipment hasn't produced an onslaught of undiscovered talent, in my opinion. It may allow a small handful of talented filmmakers to gain access to an industry they otherwise might not have found a way into, but for the most part it has produced an onslaught of amateur, unwatchable films. In 2005, when I was at Sundance, they had 3,700 short film entries and 500 features and they were lamenting the fact that it has been getting harder to find good material.

Have you watched Girlfriends?
I watched WNG if that's the show you're referring to and not the CW's canceled sitcom. [laughter] I found them to have an original spin to their personal story and it was very entertaining. Now WNG's cinematography was adequate for a web series. I didn't see boom mics in the shots [ahem] --I was MORE impressed with the back story of the writers, creators of WNG. Basically like you said, amateur filmmakers that worked on weekends for FREE, but in their case it seems to have PAID off BIG time for them to a degree. I was more impressed with the cinematography of "Satacracy 88" & IFC's web series "Getting Away With Murder" and "Sam Has 7 Friends" & "Prom Queen". But for the reported budget of qlife SHOULD HAVE BLOWN ALL THESE WEB SERIES OUT THE WATER! Have you seen these other web series? Not to mention GIRLTRASH! has a cheap, gritty look and feel but storyline is just unprecedented has a HUGE following.
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John_O: May 12, 2008 - 07:15 PM PST Edit.
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John_O: May 12, 2008 - 06:47 PM PST
Grigori Said:
How Cheap Must Web Video Be... Man, other web series don't COST as much as qLife series. My friends over at Satacracy 88, have a shoe-string budget compared to qL and they won an EMMY last year. "We Need Girlfriends" {WNG) had basically no budget [$200 ea webisode]WNG--then CBS came along and purchased it. I just find this stuff fascinating! Why does qL cost so much? Is it due to shooting in Los Angeles? I see why "Ugly Betty" left LA for NYC.


The reason web series are cheap is because they are cheap. If everybody works for free then it doesn't cost much. Same with student films. If you don't spend money then it doesn't cost money. The reason web series look a lot alike is because they are made by amateur or young filmmakers with little or no equipment, crew or resources and for the most part they look like it. Especially the actors. Satacracy won an Emmy because it was a well made show and for one year only it was competing against only other web series. From now on they will be competing with every show on television. The reason shows on the web are done cheaply is because nobody knows how to make money with a high budget show on the web. Marshall and Ed took a huge risk and stuck their necks out to try to force the industry to push forward and find ways to create revenue on the web. And for the record, you can shoot any sized show or film at any budget in Los Angeles. In most cases if you want to shoot a small budget film, Los Angeles is the best and cheapest place to shoot it. It's one thing to shoot a short film or a micro budget feature, but it's really tough to go the long haul on a series and not make a living wage. You just can't make a living working for free. Trust me, I know.

The access to cheap equipment hasn't produced an onslaught of undiscovered talent, in my opinion. It may allow a small handful of talented filmmakers to gain access to an industry they otherwise might not have found a way into, but for the most part it has produced an onslaught of amateur, unwatchable films. In 2005, when I was at Sundance, they had 3,700 short film entries and 500 features and they were lamenting the fact that it has been getting harder to find good material.

We need girlfriends was made by too extremely talented guys making something that played to their strengths. It could easily have been a low budget feature or a cable television show. There are programs made for channels like Comedy Central and Adult Swim that are made for next to nothing as well.
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John_O: May 12, 2008 - 06:21 PM PST
Franchise Said:
I posed a similar question to John_o I think. The answer was that not even $5 million would cover the expenses for a few episodes. The industry is much too expensive especially with a decrepit economy. How bout we invest solely in independent films for a while until we can get back on our feet.


I don't believe that's what I said. Quarterlife was an expensive web series but not by comparison to a television show or movie. It was the equivalent of a six hour long, low budget feature.
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Grigori: May 12, 2008 - 04:46 PM PST How Cheap Must Web Video Be... Man, other web series don't COST as much as qLife series. My friends over at Satacracy 88, have a shoe-string budget compared to qL and they won an EMMY last year. "We Need Girlfriends" {WNG) had basically no budget [$200 ea webisode]WNG--then CBS came along and purchased it. I just find this stuff fascinating! Why does qL cost so much? Is it due to shooting in Los Angeles? I see why "Ugly Betty" left LA for NYC.
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Franchise: May 12, 2008 - 11:51 AM PST I posed a similar question to John_o I think. The answer was that not even $5 million would cover the expenses for a few episodes. The industry is much too expensive especially with a decrepit economy. How bout we invest solely in independent films for a while until we can get back on our feet.
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crimsonladybug: May 11, 2008 - 08:42 PM PST That sounds right Jacy. I remember seeing something about it, somewhere not too long ago. Followed by the suggestion of holding a PBS-esque telethon
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jacy: May 08, 2008 - 08:25 AM PST Seems to me that somewhere along the line that question was asked and the answer was that the information could not be disclosed. Maybe it was in "When the Show Goes Dark" and the community was discussing the amount of money needed to bring the show back for a second season????
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Grigori: May 07, 2008 - 10:29 PM PST I hope I’m not out of bounds for asking this. But I’m very curious. After watching qL entire series, and anticipating what will become of season 2. I'm curious about the cost of each webisode? Or should I be more specific the complete web series.

To my surprise I don’t think anyone has asked this question before. If they did, I totally missed it.

I searched the forums, put in keyword "budget", "quarterlife web series budget", etc., but came up with no HITS...so anyway, if anyone [that worked on the series] would be willing to offer approximate numbers?

qlifer
 
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