MJA for Episodic and Serial Writing
The task for this month was to create a web series and create a pilot for it. This was definitely a different avenue for me as I am used to television writing. I did enjoy the challenge of creating something that had substance yet, had a very visible time constraint. I really liked the examples that I was provided because it allowed me to see how other creators took the time constraint and were able to use it to their advantage with what they were able to pack into each and every episode.
This meshes with my goal of being able to say things succinctly, because in real life I tend to go on long tangents and monologues about any and everything. As a writer, I cannot do that. This was a very rewarding and challenging month for me. Another goal I have is to be able to write for different styles. I do not want to put myself in a box of just being really good at television writing but no proficiency in writing webisodes, film, or video games. My ultimate goal is to be a well-rounded writer.
This is different from other writing experiences I had previously in that what you put on the paper matters because you do not have a lot of time and space. Time and space are important, because I had to fit in the plot, three-act structure, good dialogue, and it all had to flow successfully.
I think writing and making a web series would be a cool thing to do, but as of right now, I’m not sure if it is something I would want to do full time. I would like to do this part time, definitely, as I really enjoyed coming up with the ideas, writing, and letting the story progress in my head and on the paper. With the pilot webisode for class, I definitely want to try my hand at filming it.
