RSSMust-See Web TV: The Guild
While the much hyped and poor Quarterlife series crashed and burned in its attempt to jump from Webisodic series to TV prime time, another project has become a real viral online hit. The Guild is a ten-part sitcom series by a gamer and indie filmmaker Felicia Day. The show, which is distributed on YouTube and at www.watchtheguild.com, is a clever look at online gamers but told in a way that appeals to a wider audience. The three-minute episodes are funded entirely by PayPal donations by fans, more than half of which are women. So there, Hollywood digital wannabes. The Guild is a superb example of excellent Web-only content organically grown from the makers’ experience, not manufactured by middle-aged producers trying to look as if they understand digital youth. With over 6 million “hits” (who uses that term anymore?) to its video episodes, this is a genuine online video phenom worth watching both as a model for the platform and as a funny show.
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Just because “quarterlife” was yanked by NBC, does not mean it was not an online success. The show making it to primetime at all is a significant achievement. Thousands of the 3 million plus viewers from NBC made their way to the “quarterlife” website as well as thousands from the Bravo airing. Here they had an opportunity to watch the entire first season and become valued and active members of the community.
I have to say that I did find the rest of your post interesting and have made the effort to check out “The Guild” website. I look forward to viewing ther episodes and wish them well.
I love to read about new web projects, but I have to say that it makes me very uncomfortable to hear such high praises for one online effort at the expense of another.
Jackie,
I didn’t mean to say that quarterlife was not a success online, but it was a dismal failure on TV. But what I did mean to say was that quarterlife was just poor. Sorry, we disagree.
Steve,
I’m 58 years old and don’t consider most of the content depicted in any webseries. What I research is the business model. I suppose my point was, that until other series shows up on a major network exactly as they were shown online, it is just unfair to make the kind of comparison that you made.
As a reader here, I prefer the posts and articles that provide information such as your link to “The Guild”. There are so many talented young people struggling for recognition and they are hard to find.
Hopefully one day, a truly worthy online show will actually discover the business model that will pay for itself and provide income and even profit for those involved.
I don’t care if that door is opened by the Michael Eisners, Marshall Herskovtizs, or the “Genuine” folks you spoke about. When this happens, it will benefit all who have been the warriors. Each show will have to stand on its own merit, but until that time why not embrace the trailblazers like “quarterlife”?
This particular show is only one of the many that I have followed. Where you see poor and failure…I see a leaning curve and an effort that continues to forge ahead.
I do agree with Steve that “The Guild” does have a interesting platform and is indeed funny.
Here is another favorite of mine: http://www.averagebetty.com