Your Favorite Drama on the Web.

Image Source: Google.com

Image Source: Google.com

You are the typical busy city people leading a hectic life who don't have much time for T.V. Or instead, don't even own one because laptop is sufficient enough. How do you catch up with your favorite shows such as The Office or Scrubs? With websidodes, you can now view your shows on the internet.

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Webisodes

So what exactly is webisodes? According to Carlson (2008), webisode is a minidrama produced in relation to an existing television series which is presented on the network's website. Mostly, it focuses on lesser known or unknown characters and plotlines from the main series.


Webisodes Format & Style

Corbett (ABC, 2007) stated that normally the webisodes lasted 5 minutes as audiences tend to have short attention span when reading or viewing online compared to television. Besides, webisodes allows people the freedom of shift time as you can choose to watch whenever you like it unlike tv which has a fixed time. Also, webisodes is a great platform for advertising.

For example, 'I can believe is not butter' is a butter substitute for cooking and the parody was featured in the websidoes 'Spray of Her Life' which mainly targets at women. After it was aired, the butter was instantly popular and the company earned big bucks from it. (Graham, 2005)

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The Product

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Featured in the 'Spray of Her Life' soap-drama parody.

Webisodes Narration

Baker (2002) will share his 7 top tips in writing websiodes series:

• Short and Sweet - short attention span as you have less than 10 seconds to hook the attention
• Style and Look - without it, people will not be bothered to watch.
• Your audience knows your protagonists (the good guys) and antagonists (bad guys) by the time your first webisode wraps.
• You need a compelling cliffhanger - suspend at the end of each episode
• Find interesting and creative idea for your story.
• Keep it visual. Keep the dialogue to minimum.
• Write it 30-35 slots per story which translated to about 4 or 5 pages with each lasted around one minute only.
  

Appeal to Audience

Corbett from ABC (2007) stated that kids nowadays 'watch' their computer more than their television. Therefore, the targeted audiences are young adults and therefore the producers ought to relate the interesting issue such as sex, drugs, dramas to attract the attention. Besides, engage viewers online with extra content, forums, messenger, and advertising and get them to participate in the show by allowing them to vote at the end of the show.

Image Source: doublexposure.com

In Malaysia, the show "Double Exposure" is Malaysia's first reality show on the web and it allows audience participation by letting audiences guess who will be voted out and he or she who guess correctly will win prizes like Sony Camera. (Sony Double Exposure, 2008)


Conclusion

Webisodes is the current trend among the younger generation today and it brings benefits which could be maximized for better usage. Television is no longer the only medium we can watch our dramas from.


Reference:

ABC News, 2007, Webisodes for Kids, last viewed at 12th June 2009, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/2124198.htm

Baker, S 2002, The Stan Lee Resurrection- How to Write Webisodes, last viewed at 12th June 2009, http://www.stanleereturns.org/articles.php

Carlson, M 2008, Webisodes Cure Mid-Season Blues for 'Heroes', 'Office' Fans, last viewed at 12th June 2009, http://www.buddytv.com/articles/heroes/webisodes-cure-midseason-blues-25422.aspx

Graham, J 2005, USATODAY- Webisodes Return, Now as Advertising, last viewed at 12th June 2009, http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/business/2005-10-23-webisodes_x.htm

Sony Double Exposure, 2008, last viewed at 12th June 2009, http://www.amc.com.my/dxposure/Default.aspx