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This article was taken from the February 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Want to find the future of TV? Skip the Golden Globes and head online. YouTube and Vimeo are the breeding ground for the next generation of TV talent, producing the kind of polished, innovative shows to compete with anything on prime time. And networks are taking notice, with shows such as Broad City, Children's Hospital and UK series The Specials (currently in development on the Oprah Network) having all started out online. Here's what WIRED's watching.
High Maintenance Already a cult hit, this innovative drama follows a nameless pot dealer ("The Guy") as he meanders in and out of the lives of ordinary New Yorkers. Created by former casting director Katja Blichfeld and actor Ben Sinclair in 2012, the show has had five short series (a fifth resumes this month). "I love that we don't have to adhere to a time limit in our episodes, or feel pressured to appeal to the masses," says Blichfeld. Formerly independent, in 2014 the show signed to Vimeo's On Demand service, and charges viewers $1.99 (£1.28) an episode. "There's this expectation that if you get your content online, that content should be free," says Blichfeld. "As long as that expectation exists, the web series is not going to flourish as a medium."
Be Here Nowish Made by Brooklyn-based Natalia Leite and Alexandra Roxo, this Kickstarter-funded series follows two sexually adventurous New Yorkers who move to Los Angeles in search of a new-age awakening. It's bold, raucous and unlike anything on the BBC. "We created it because we felt that there was nothing that represented the world we live in," says Leite. "We were surprised to see how many people connected with it."
3some This British spin-off of creator and star Lisa Gifford's play of the same name follows three friends whose relationship is changed by a drunken night. It's free, but Gifford, 40, is exploring alternative revenue models for the second series. "We now understand our audience through YouTube analytics and feedback. This is allowing us to talk to brands about sponsorship, branded content and product placement," says Gifford.
Whatever This Is Another New York-based series, Whatever This Is follows two young adults trying to break into the media. What separates this show is the writing (creator Adam Goldman, 29, was also behind the acclaimed The Outs) and format. "We made six 30-minute episodes for a fraction of the cost of one episode of traditional TV," says Goldman. "It's poignant when dealing with issues like homophobia and racism. Traditional channels aren't receptive to stories about queer people or economic problems."
Flat 3 This Auckland-based series focuses on three room-mates and has won fans for its smart/awkward brand of comedy. The creators are in discussions with a domestic TV channel and recently joined YouTube network BuzzMyVideos. Despite the acclaim, the show is far from profitable. "It's 18 months since we started and we've made $10!" laughs co-creator Perlina Lau. "This is just the beginning of sustainability."
Video Game High School Creators Freddie Wong and Matt Arnold have more than seven million subscribers to RocketJump, their YouTube channel. Originally lasting a few minutes, episodes in the most recent series of six were an hour long. The pair are now working on a sci-fi series, Dimension 404. "It's an amazing time," says Arnold. "The web has liberated film-makers and other artists in an unprecedented way."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
