Length Matters
When STBD began, our first "season" consisted of 5 episodes averaging 10 minutes in length, released once per month.
In an effort to get episodes out more often, we switched things up in Season Two: 2 episodes per month, 5 minutes apiece. Then our audience weighed in, letting us know that 5 minutes wasn't enough to make the story feel "full." So we adapted again.
In Season Three, we kept to the 5 minute length, but sped up production again: episodes were released at least weekly. (For a brief stretch, they were even released daily, and then we [meaning I] burned out.) And, still, the frequency of release didn't offset the length issue for our audience -- even with twice as many episodes, 5 minutes just didn't feel like "enough" of an experience.
So, this season, we switched to 10 minute episodes, released weekly -- or 4 x the amount of production we were pumping out in 2003!
And yet, there are STILL fans who suggest we make the episodes EVEN LONGER.
The Problem with Length
Forget for a moment that we're creating 40 minutes of original content on a shoestring budget each month and giving it away for free. Further complicating the issue are the logistics of planning. 12+ hours a week spent editing an episode is nothing compared to conceiving of the scenes, writing the scripts, scheduling the actors and actually shooting the footage.
If we moved to a 22-minute approach, similar to traditional sitcoms, we'd be looking at twice as much work per week. (Plus, traditional sitcoms have the offsetting benefit of those 8 minutes of commercials to pay the bills...)
Add to that the bandwidth issues, the conversion / upload / download time and the doubled stress on data management and storage, and you see a hydra of reasons why we shouldn't EVER go longer than 10 minutes.
And yet...
In Praise of Length
There are times when even 10 minutes doesn't feel like "enough" time to tell a story.
When we pace episodes, or compare our arcs to those of like-minded shows, we're inevitably at a disadvantage. Sex and the City has an extra 10 minutes of context / subtext / tension to build toward a payoff. STBD has to pack as much as possible into only 10 minutes, which means something -- plot, character, nuance, dialogue, action -- will suffer.
That's not to say that length is a cure-all. How many 3 hour films have you sat through, lamenting their decision NOT to edit it down to 90 minutes? (Return of the King, anyone?) But having more space to play would certainly open up our options in terms of storytelling.
The question is -- and again, let's temporarily forget the cost and logistics -- would longer episodes help us to BUILD an audience, or would the additional investment of time drive them away?
What's the perfect length?
Labels: audience, logistics, somethingtobedesired, stbd, video production, web series, web video
posted by STBD @ 10:38 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
There are time where I wish it was a LITTLE bit longer....but over all I think 10 minutes is a perfect length. Yes, 5 was tooooo short. 10 i think is a safe number. I think some people may enjoy a 22 minute episode but I really think it would push some people away. I think the people that want longer episode wanna see you crack. So keep it @ 10 and keep up the great work.
I've seen this issue come up soo many times, and I still don't have an answer.
I keep with the mantra of "Make it as long as it needs to be". Which is different from today's big budget cinema, which feels that making project overly long means the audience is getting better value.
If your audience can handle longer segments, then by all means do it! Other serialized shows may not warrant the added length, but it seems like your viewers want it so have at it.
Sex and the City depends on narration to drive it. Listening to Carrie's thoughts move the show from scene to scene. Something To Be Desired is shot from a group perspective, not an indivudual one.
I think you would have to poll your audience to find out what they feel could be different about the show, or perhaps what they feel they would be gaining by the show being longer. Would that allow the storylines to develop further during each episode? If that's the case, speeding up the pace of the show without making it longer might give them a different perception. The same thing could also be achieved by keeping the pacing the same as it is now, but showing fewer storylines in each episode.
Another idea would be to shoot STBD in sections with one section being shown each week during the season, but with the intention of perhaps three sections making one complete episode in the archives.
I always thought girth was more important.
Say what you will about Jesus, Justin , but leave the Rings out of this...
Post a Comment
<< Home