Local filmmakers are utilising one of the world’s most downloaded apps to overcome the challenges of the film industry.
The mostly Logan-based crew have just finished filming a ‘webseries’ – it’s name not yet released – that will be published in short, five-minute episodes to TikTok and YouTube, two online platforms that draw in audiences in the hundreds of millions.
Producer Michelle Kenney said short-form webseries were becoming increasingly more popular.
“Instead of trying to pitch to various places, which is extremely hard, we made the decision to go straight online,” she said.
“The vertical series on TikTok are becoming very popular – the same as YouTube Shorts. Because those platforms are popular, that shorter content is what people tend to gravitate towards.”
With the rise and fall of video stores and DVDs, Ms Kenney said the industry was now completely different to 20 years ago.
“Things would go on television or they would go to the movies, and then once they finished at the movies, they would go to VHS and then DVD.
“Then you had your hire shops. But I don’t even know if there are any still around – most of the ones I know have closed down.”
Nowadays, there is a chance the webseries will be picked up by a major network or producer.
“We’re happy to stay with these online platforms, but if a network goes, ‘Gee, they’re generating a lot of viewers’ and then they get interested, then of course we’re definitely open to discussions.”
But now the future of the project lies in the crew’s hands. It’s their job to complete post-production, build momentum behind the series’ release, and generate viewership.
The series is a murder-mystery based in a small country town that is “shrinking and dying”.
Director Andrew ‘Tank’ Stennett, lead actress Jenna Kenney, and supporting actress Natalie Baker are also Logan locals.
The production was funded by a government grant, with the cast and crew mostly volunteering.
“We want to do a second season, but we will be doing crowdfunding,” Ms Kenney said.
“The grant was fantastic and was able to pay for a lot of the costs, but at the end of the day it is very expensive to be able to pay everybody – it goes into the thousands and thousands.”
The webseries will arrive on TikTok and YouTube towards the end of 2025.
