The Digital Spin-Off by Mac + POLL

NOTE: This is an article written by SpoilerTV regular Mac.

We live in a new age of television and ways of sharing content, while back in the 90s and early 2000s cable stood for mostly R rated movies and some quality niche shows nowadays the perception has changed. Cable is the go to place to find popular and high quality shows, whether we’re talking ‘The Walking Dead’, ‘Game of Thrones’ or ‘Breaking Bad’. Cable has not turned out to become serious competition for the big 5 networks but rather has become the new leader in the market with NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC and CW trying hard to compete.

Not only cable has had a major push also a niche no one really thought would have a future has become a major player in the market: online streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Crackle have turned out to give the networks a run for their money. Even more: Netflix deals help some network programming (mostly CW shows) to remain profitable.

But what is it that made these two so successful?

The answer is fairly easy to give: high quality content, internet buzz and most of all exclusivity. Daring to go to lengths no network ever dared to go made these two giants so popular, untouched by parental guidelines and not forced to hold onto a tight airing schedule.

This article is not intended to show why cable or online streaming is ‘superior’ to classic network television because it isn’t. All three systems are fairly on par. Only that network TV is less willing to go to new lengths to promote their products in this digital age.

If you like to read straight up facts this is not the article for you, this is about a bunch of dystopian ideas that may or may not help studios pave the way into this new age of television. This is about a possible way for studios to produce extra content to their shows to create a sense of exclusivity, creatively expand their properties in ways they couldn’t do it with average show runtimes only and to at least utilize unused content that otherwise would remain on an archive for all eternity.

So here goes my first article, a mash of ideas of how to create a proper:

1.) The Digital Spin-Off

Once a new show on the rise AMCs ‘The Walking Dead’ managed to sneak up into our consciousness trough being a comic adaption but also trough releasing a digital spin-off on the youtube channel “Machinima” before premiering its second season. Webisodes were by far not a new trend at that time, Lost and various other shows released webisodes as well but the significant difference ‘The Walking Dead: Torn Apart’ posed was that it told a separate, closed and round storyline. Not incoherent scenes you didn’t understand if you haven’t watched the show yet but a full storyline set in the same universe as ‘The Walking Dead’. It gave possible new viewers more than an idea of what the show was, it gave them a full fledged show, after the final episode was released the audience that enjoyed the product moved on to the mother series. It gave new viewers a chance to witness an entire show for free before having to make a decision to buy the first season on BluRay or DVD.

A similar concept could more than benefit studios and networks these days. Especially given the fact that quite a few networks have started to launch their own digital networks like the CW Seed, a internet based station set to produce original television content. NBC is set to release original programing via Hulu. FOX’ digital Studio being an example, as well as their close collaboration with the youtube network WIGS. Last but not least: let’s not forget that the CW is currently in production for their first digital spin-off. Veronica Mars’ “Play it Again Dick!”

Now despite offering original content these new shows don’t really benefit any current going franchise though. The interest in such shows is sadly not going as expected either. So why not combine the digital content with ongoing franchises? Why not make the television content and internet content a joined synergy?

Not only would there be a definite viewer boost but also it could help a brand grow to new heights. Let us also not forget the money a production could save by combining the digital production with the production of the mother show. The beauty of a big television production is that there are different directors, different writers and a constantly rotating crew cycle. Work forces that could be utilized for said digital spin-off. Obviously I can only talk about the shows I know, the shows I have an idea about. So let us take theCWs show Arrow as a base for a possible digital spin-off. A show with a wide variety of recurring characters, characters portrayed by actors that reach from expensive to affordable. Heroes and villains on this show appear and leave when needed. A digital spin-off about one of the many already introduced heroes or villains would even happen in a smaller circle that one would expect when the word ‘spin-off’ is tingeling. Remember: a web series doesn’t follow the classic 40 minute rule. Episodes reach from 5-20 minutes, 20 being long already.
Long story short: a production adding another episode of 60 minutes to their schedule ment for digital distribution featuring actors, crew members and directors not needed the regular schedule could make up a 6 episode web-series to be released on the networks digital channel.

Obviously certain logistic issues arise: sets, equipment, stunt work, mask and writing.

These issues are by far not a deal breaker but not easy to solve either. Problems with the set should be solved thanks to being near to the mother production. Shooting times and set uses would have to be arranged but given the fact that ‘merely’ 60 minutes would have to be shot and the process would under perfect circumstances take about 1-2 weeks a added third week wouldn’t be too dramatic.

The equipment would actually pose the smallest issue, thanks to the fact that web content isn’t required to look 100% screen fit many web tv producers (it’s worthy to add that a fair share of television shows do the same) rather go with DSLR cameras like the blackmagic 4k. It doesn’t need to be a giant and hard to handle ARRI Alexa set up, sometimes a easy handheld camera set up can look equally as good if not even better and more stylized. Take it from someone that has worked a lot with DSLR filming: it is really effective if you’re working on a tight schedule and need to wrap many shots in a short amount of time. The light set up would pose an issue in itself, a three-point –light set-up requires 3 well hidden light sources. A heavy source to light out the main shot, a side light to highlight body details and a light source over the object (or actor) to integrate object and ambient.

Overall the equipment issue is not too heavy. But let’s talk about the two bigger issues: the mask and stunt work.

Every digital production is short on budget and lacks co-workers, at times people have to pull more than one duty to complete everything. The biggest issue being the mask and costume work. The only person on set with some idea of make up is usually the visual director but if the production is indeed paired with a mother show the personal is already there and only would need to be co-hired. And given the characters on a digital spin-off already having their costumes no new costumes would need to be invested in.

Bringing us to the last question mark that digital spin-off would open: the writing. How do you build a show like that? How do you reel new viewers in if it’s a spin-off? With a simple rule: you only tell ONE story over the 6 episode season. Build in 6 cliffhangers and introduce the needed backstory trough re-used flashbacks from the mothers how and/or introduce everything needed trough exposition. Additional issues like VFX can be solved through the beauty that is every editor’s favorite application: Adobe After Effects. Thanks to Video Copilot After Effects has changed from a basic ‘rough cut’ program to a full fledged production suite. Import of static 3D objects, baked animations and stock action visuals have turned the program into a little miracle for low budget productions.

“Sounds well but I still don’t understand WHY a studio would do that, what is their gain from something like that?” Is a question many, if not all of you, will ask. The black digits come through various factors, factors that would depend on the studios way of distribution.

A.) Site traffic, many sites manage to survive trough mere clicks and advertising.
B.) international fanbases, since most digital channels are only available in the US the international fanbase would be forced to buy the product off iTunes or another online video distribution application.
C.) Physical distribution, Warner Premiere might be dead but it did prove that Made For DVD content was a pretty solid business, selling digital spin-offs parallel to DVD/BluRay Box Sets or as parts of ‘Complete Collections’ should bring in quite a sum itself.
D.) Bringing in new fans, the content is free to watch and will attract interested people that otherwise wouldn’t have come to the main product. Now the show has a chance to prove itself worthy of a viewers time. Especially since the product can be watched any time.

Overall: a rather cheap additional production ‘leeching’ onto a main production only eating up a 1-2 episode budget could be done rather quickly. The benefit of such a product goes in more than one way: it`s pretty much a enlarged advertising campaign. If done right shows, studios and fans could only profit from that.

But in order to put this into perspective I’ll give you an example of a possible digital spin-off now based on Arrows ‘Suicide Squad’:

Writing process – 1.) the introduction (every character is introduced to a scene showcasing their abilities, the objective and background is explained, the villain is introduced) – 2.) the obstacle (each member makes his/her own way from A to point B only to then have a giant mistake happen to shake up the storylines events) – 3.) The mid-point (the obstacle causes a new status quo and character moments. Two member need to reach point B together) – 4.) The Showdown (other than in usual storytelling the showdown happens in the penultimate episode, ending the storylines main arc) – 5.) The End (focuses on tying every open end up, extracting squad members or whatnot)

The casting process – Michael Rowe, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Michael Jai White and Audrey Marie Anderson are actors that have either not been too long in the game or have done web content already. The fact that they were recurring on the mother show makes the casting easier. Also the fact that Arrow has a big villain gallery to draw villains from is a plus.

The shooting – basically 4 locations would be needed, the Squads base, an emptied out building complex, the inside of a car and a open street at night. Finishing off the shooting in a week with these four sets doesen’t even pose too much of an issue.

Basically: Imagine Arrows ‘Suicide Squad’ episode. Only 20 minutes longer with the 5 minute Arrow Cast member focus cut out. And that split into 6, 10 minute pieces.

Would such a new form of webisodes be a benefit for the studio?

If promoted right, sold right and treated like its own product the answer is yes. I can totally see “Suicide Squad” DVDs being sold right next to “Batman: Assault on Arkham”.

Would this way of releasing webisodes work for the digital channel?

Again, if promoted right on the network right next to the mother program I could imagine a big part of the fandom at least checking the free content out and ultimately benefiting the channel.

Does this also benefit the show?

Certainly, not only would it expend a shows universe and canon but also create double advertising. Fans of the one product would check out the other. Serialized digital spin-offs may very well help studios and networks to use current trends and benefit from it.


Other ideas -

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D : Deathlok (J. August Richard’s character Deathlok is hunted by Hydra operative Connelly, while on the run he discovers a secret Hydra base targeting the new branch of SHIELD)
Once Upon A Time in a Arendelle (the story of Elsa and Anna)

Supernatural: The Road So Far (Matt Cohen stars as John Winchester, who is hunting a demon in a local town who he is suspecting to be Azazel but the demon is attracting more and more supernatural beasts that endanger the small village)

The Originals: Bloodhunt (New Orleans 1919: Kol Mikaelson, freed from his coffin comes across a young witch that immediately gains his fascination but as he finds out that his malevolent brothers Klaus and Elijah have called a bloodhunt on the young woman he is hellbent to save the girl from the army of vampires chasing her)
Arrow: Birds of Prey (Caity Lotz and Jessica DeGouws characters hunt after the master assassin Brutale. An enemy they thought their friend Oliver had killed already but apparently has ties to the League of Assassins. With the help of a tech expert they close in on their deadly enemy)

So what do you guys think? Would you want to see such a thing happen? Would you watch it? Do you think it can work in nowadays television landscape.




Join me the next time when trying to figure out how to still monetize scrapped but already shot TV projects, how to re-invent pilot season and how to expand movie franchises onto the big screen.