We made last week’s new episode longer by combining scenes from multiple episodes after reading your feedback on the first one; which had the overwhelming message of “too short!”.
Conventional wisdom says that webisodes should never run longer than 5 minutes, the ideal duration being 3-5 (otherwise you may loss interest or people won’t bother watching if they feels it too long of a commitment). YouTube’s maximum duration allowed is 10 minutes. Now that we’ve done it, made a longer episode, we’d like to hear what you think.
Please feel free to use the comments section below to discuss why you voted the way you did.
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Here’s what I think. It all depends on what you need to say. I’ll admit that I’ve watched web series episodes that were 15 minutes long. It really all depends though.
I think that you guys are good with the length that you had, but you could go a little longer. You give the viewers insight into the characters, but you still leave us wanted more.
I feel that you do a really good job with the show.
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Truthfully, I do not know if I would have watched the second episode if I didn’t know someone involved with production. I felt like I had no connection to the characters, we were thrown into their lives at a defining moment without so much as an introduction, then as abrubtly as it began it was over. It felt like we were watching the middle of an episode mid-series. The second episode however was much more engaging, there was a definitive begining, middle and end. It felt much more finished and was a far more satisfying experience on the whole.
Having said that I love the show, I love the story that’s being told and I’m excited to see Rose and Nathan’s relationship evolve.
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So here are my thoughts. It depends on how often they are released. If they are closer together.. 1 or 2 a week short is fine. ever other week.. the longer the better.
So those are the variables that matter to me concerning the length.
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As we’ve discussed; I feel that a story like this one depends on the audience warming to the characters and developing affection for them. The characters require the longer running time in order to make it fit. I felt that the length of the second episode was just about ideal.
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I think 5-7 minutes are good. what is more important to the most people watching webseries is the rhythm of the release dates. there should be some kind of regularity, one episode per week or every other week seems to be the best.
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I just read that YouTube increased the video time limit to 15 minutes.
If there is a continuing storyline (like in this web series), I’d rather watch fewer, longer than many short episodes. When I take time and sit down to watch an episode, then I don’t want it to be over so quickly. That’s why I prefer a duration of at least 10 minutes.
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Yes Dorothea! I’m really glad they’ve extended the duration on YouTube. I only wish they did it a week sooner, I feel bad that I had to rush the end credits. I’d rather they were just a tad slower, I felt disrespectful to my cast and crew, and all the people I wanted to thank. But I had to squeeze it down to the ten minute mark.
Episode three, is nearly done. And it happens to run about ten minute, maybe a few seconds longer if you include end credits!
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