What is a webseries?

For the last five years I, and hundreds of others before and after me, have worked hard to pioneer a new form of entertainment. The potential for the web as a distribution channel for good video entertainment is vast, and even now largely untapped. And yet the webseries industry has grown to encompass thousands of shows and billions of views.

And yet, if someone asks you about webseries, where do you send them? The truth is, there is no one place for them to go.

Most of the public has no idea what a webseries is or where to watch one. Other forms of entertainment are immediately understood; if you are making a film or a TV show, you may find yourself explaining what the story is, but you wouldn’t have to first explain to them what a TV show is. “Film” and “TV show” bring with them pre-established definitions. And while some of those definitions may translate to the web, in general an enormous potential audience remains oblivious to what we do, how we do it, and where to find it.

Webseries as a whole don’t have a strong brand identity.

This project raises funds for the development, launch, and maintenance of WhatisaWebseries.com, a website with a single purpose: to answer the question “What is a webseries?”. It’s an encyclopedia with only one entry… a university with only one subject.

Designed on a model of “start at the top level, then drill deeper”, the site will provide a basic overview for quick familiarity, and then (for those inclined to learn more) offer information on every aspect of this new industry.

Whether you want a ten second summary or a comprehensive understanding of the space; whether you’re trying to explain webseries to your Mom or a potential investor; whether you’re a creator, an enthusiast, a journalist, an academic, or simply curious, whatisawebseries.com will provide the understanding you need on the level you need it.

Funders of this project will be helping to provide a publicly accessible identity for a rapidly growing industry. You’ll be helping hardworking and passionate artists and creators gain exposure for their work. If you yourself are a webseries creator, or even a fan wishing to promote a favorite show, funders who donate $50 or more towards the goal of $500 will be able to reserve ad space on the site.

The ONLY advertising that will ever appear on the site will be ads for shows. Whatisawebseries.com is being created to fill a need and promote the webseries industry, not to make a profit. This project allows funders who wish it to use their contributions to promote specific shows through the site.

Whether you’re a web series creator, a fan, or simply believe as I do that online and mobile distribution represents the future of how we will get our entertainment, its vitally important that a place exists to define, educate, and chronicle the webseries industry.

And the next time someone asks you, “webseries? What’s that?”, you’ll know exactly where to send them for the answer.

whatisawebseries.com