Should I Make a YouTube video?

http://sitcomgeek.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/should-i-make-youtube-video.html

Interesting read, particularly as it goes against the grain of a lot of the advice I have received.

it's a great idea if you have the time and the money. And of course a great script or else you're buying very expensive polish for a turd.

People will watch for 10 minutes, more enthusiastically then they'll read 10 pages.

I disagree with the blog. It can really help you to hone your writing technique, understand the differences between writing for different formats, learn from working with other creative people, and also make very handy contacts. It can help you to develop ideas, crystallise characters, and the internet's a good place for honest feedback (not always the kind that's easy to take, but still helpful).

I don't think you necessarily need a lot of money. ShootingPeople, Mandy.com and other similar online resources are great places to find people who have the gear, want to get into the industry, and just want to get making something. You'll naturally incur costs if you write for grand settings, but if you keep it lo-fi it can be very cheap to do.

It should be okay if you don't expect too much and it will help your writing and give you something of a show reel. I remember reading something from a writer who said he tried to sell this one skecth for a long time but no one was interested so he shot it himself and after seeing it in action someone bought it straight away.

Interesting. Whilst we're on the subject, this is another blog I enjoy:

http://yourscreenplaysucks.wordpress.com/

American chap writing primarily about screenplays, but some interesting ideas. His book is pretty good too. (Before anyone accuses me of doing that stumbling thing - I have no connection to him whatsoever).

I agree in part of what he is saying but only a little part, if you are a writer a proper one, then spending lots of money and time on making a YouTube video could be a distraction and to get it to look professional you would have to spend a lot of time and have some decent equipment and people at hand and then it still turns out crap.

For the amateur writer or the hobbyist YouTube can be a great way to see what you have written down and thought of yourself made into a video. And getting there can be fun and good learning experience for when you are writing and maybe even inspire you to make more, as long as you don't spend too much money or time on it and the sound and lighting is ok, it's a tool not to be overlooked I think.

The idea that there is only three really good YouTube vids seems a bit off; (Even if one of the chosen three is by my writing partner!)but I can understand some of where he's coming from. It probably is a better shopfront for performers, or writer/performers, rather than writers.

Stott, Bussell, Ricketts put together a rather good little sketch show called Missing Scene you might find the discussion around it to be of interest. I'll look for the link, but one thing I think Bussell made painfully clear. Is even when everyone's working for free, it's still expensive. So if you're thinking about putting some money into such a project, get value. And for pity's sake make sure the actual script and central idea is worth it. Showcase and critique are a graveyard of over ambitious, over produced shows, podcasts etc where the central idea sucked and the script was awful. And some poor sod hears the penny drop that they've just wasted a thousand pounds and more importantly hours on something that's actually going to do them more harm than good.

Get the script right, that is the whole of the law.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ September 5 2013, 9:35 AM BST

The idea that there is only three really good YouTube vids seems a bit off; (Even if one of the chosen three is by my writing partner!)but I can understand some of where he's coming from. It probably is a better shopfront for performers, or writer/performers, rather than writers.

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I am guessing one of the three was Back to Class or the window one, didn't know you were working with James now Matthew?

MarcP you need to get back to class.

I put stuff up on YouTube... it's really pro. Honest

Quote: Marc P @ September 5 2013, 9:54 AM BST

I am guessing one of the three was Back to Class or the window one, didn't know you were working with James now Matthew?

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I tried, but he turned me down.

(It's Thank You Hater, the Isabel Fay one)

Was that really a YouTube sampler? I mean it's a highly produced, professional product by a highly succesful performer.

The fact that it's awesome seems not to be the point.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ September 5 2013, 9:59 AM BST

I tried, but he turned me down.

(It's Thank You Hater, the Isabel Fay one)

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I know I loved that vid!

Quote: sootyj @ September 5 2013, 10:01 AM BST

Was that really a YouTube sampler? I mean it's a highly produced, professional product by a highly succesful performer.

The fact that it's awesome seems not to be the point.

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She made it for YouTube, yeah, but spent more than your average internet vid and got great people to work on it.

Quote: Marc P @ September 5 2013, 10:03 AM BST

I know I loved that vid!

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Not bad is it? (for a girl)