The Web has exploded as a platform for people to watch all or some of their favorite shows and content, both premium and DIY. But there's been a lot of talk lately in the industry if calling your project a "Web series" is good for it long term. It depends on whom you ask -- and what the content is. Different Name, Same Game Aspiring writers and producers with long-term goals of creating for TV and film are producing "Web series" to get noticed. But how many use the platform efficiently as an incubator for developing and fine-tuning their content for multiple platforms? When you're creating premium scripted or un-scripted content is when you have to decide to call it a "Web series." Does that name take away from the project? Is your project a calling card for the content, much like a film festival entry, short film or interstitial video, which independent producers have been using for ages as a stepping stone into film or TV? Many big projects have started as short films or interstitials - for example, "Napoleon Dynamite," which was based on Jon Heder's short film "Peluca." "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia," the widely popular comedy on FX, was based on the short film "Charlie Has Cancer," which became its pilot episode. There are many independent and well-known producers now flocking to the Web, some using it as an effective incubator for TV, game, and multiple digital platform content development, and others who are using as a step to TV. Using the Web as a launching pad for trailers, sample episodes, or a half-hour pilot strung together of short episodes, can really show what the final product will look like. The Web offers real-time development where producers get direct & authentic feedback on their content, good or bad, increasing audience loyalty exponentially. Independent producers can now directly post their video content, get immediate feedback, build audience (if it is good), and possibly build a brand and following, enough to monetize, is a unique and direct opportunity. With over 2 billion videos viewed a day, YouTube gives producers a window to test new content through existing communities and channels, providing a raw opportunity never seen before. Develop for where you want to be One of my favorite quotes as a producer and entrepreneur is from Wayne Gretzky, who famously said, "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been." So produce your Web project based on where you want to take it. But remember: An independent Web series is like any other content being developed or pitched for film or TV. It's about the content. It's about the story. A good story transcends platforms.