Web series hosting - where to go?

We're in the early stages of planning a new film, but are toying with the idea of adapting it into a web series and are not sure about hosting sites, so throwing this open for those with more experience in the area.

Our films deal with social realism, and contemporary societal and criminal issues in the UK. The new project involves stark violence, and includes sex, nudity, drugs, bad language, and would no doubt have an "18" cert slapped on it. Although we will not be going to the levels of disturbing visuals seen in torture porn, there will be heavily implied violence, some on-screen violence involving physical attacks, threats with weapons, drug use, prostitution, street gangs as well as a great deal of aggression and offensive behaviour. This will be set in urban England in the present day. For a representative comparison, think along the lines of Harry Brown, Irreversible andNil by Mouth for the nature and starkness of on-screen violence, as well as the effects of violence and actions by the characters.
However, there will be compelling plot twists as well as a sub-plot creating a mystery element, hence our desire to adapt to a series.

We take our target audience to be men and women, age range of 18-40, particularly those who are interested in the "gritty" sub-set of film making, and true to life British urban youth culture. Whilst it would appeal primarily to a UK audience, we believe there is value in attempting a wider European and US audience as well.

For those experienced in creating web series, what would be the best sites for reaching our target audience?
 
what would be the best sites for reaching our target audience?

You seem to have two concepts a little confused. You're asking about hosting and then asking about great sites for reaching your audience.

They're separate topics. One involves your choice of where to host your content, the other involved your marketing.
 
You seem to have two concepts a little confused. You're asking about hosting and then asking about great sites for reaching your audience.

They're separate topics. One involves your choice of where to host your content, the other involved your marketing.

Nope, the same concept. A hosting site where are target audience are most likely to be found.
 
Youtube. Pretty much every audience is likely to be found there, though that won't help them find you or you find them.

So what am I missing in your question?

Maybe you're looking for some sort of content aggregator? Something similar to the Machima group/channel (don't remember what they're called) where they have a built in audience and they bring your channel in under their umbrella with the advertising deal etc.

or something different?

Are you looking for a distributor with hosting? I don't get what you are asking. Are you looking for some hosting company that will build your audience for you?
 
Youtube. Pretty much every audience is likely to be found there, though that won't help them find you or you find them.

So what am I missing in your question?

Maybe you're looking for some sort of content aggregator? Something similar to the Machima group/channel (don't remember what they're called) where they have a built in audience and they bring your channel in under their umbrella with the advertising deal etc.

or something different?

Are you looking for a distributor with hosting? I don't get what you are asking. Are you looking for some hosting company that will build your audience for you?

No, for a web series hosting site which hosts similar themes to what we are producing.
 
Ok, now I think I get (at least one version of) what you're looking for, at least within the YouTube system. Outside that, I have no idea if it exists.

YouTube did a presentation in my area about the realities of Youtube, marketing, gaining an audience, what content succeeds and so on. I just had to look up my notes to find out the name of the kind of entity you're looking for and it seems I didn't write it down.

There's some entities out there that have a deal with Youtube. They're some sort of curators, but not quite. They get a higher ad revenue share and are able to restrict advertisers, sell to particular advertisers and command a higher rate, especially for content that targets particular markets in high demand. These entities must be approved by Youtube itself. I do remember Machima is one of them, so if you look up what they're called (something like a reseller/curator for other industries), that'll be what you're looking for. I suspect Rocket Jump is another, though I think Rocket Jump is part of a larger thing since it picked up a big (financing/output?) deal with a well known distributor.

Whether something exists for your target audience is beyond my knowledge. To be honest, I don't really know what you're making. I want to say it's drug porn, but I'm fairly sure it's far from what you're making.

If I were you, I'd go looking at other web series that are like yours. Look for banners of a group introducing that content (or in the credits). Go look them up and start asking questions.

I've was involved with a web series a couple of years ago. I know how hard it is to make it work with specialized content that doesn't target the younger or tech savvy market segment.
 
Ok, now I think I get (at least one version of) what you're looking for, at least within the YouTube system. Outside that, I have no idea if it exists.

YouTube did a presentation in my area about the realities of Youtube, marketing, gaining an audience, what content succeeds and so on. I just had to look up my notes to find out the name of the kind of entity you're looking for and it seems I didn't write it down.

There's some entities out there that have a deal with Youtube. They're some sort of curators, but not quite. They get a higher ad revenue share and are able to restrict advertisers, sell to particular advertisers and command a higher rate, especially for content that targets particular markets in high demand. These entities must be approved by Youtube itself. I do remember Machima is one of them, so if you look up what they're called (something like a reseller/curator for other industries), that'll be what you're looking for. I suspect Rocket Jump is another, though I think Rocket Jump is part of a larger thing since it picked up a big (financing/output?) deal with a well known distributor.

Whether something exists for your target audience is beyond my knowledge. To be honest, I don't really know what you're making. I want to say it's drug porn, but I'm fairly sure it's far from what you're making.

If I were you, I'd go looking at other web series that are like yours. Look for banners of a group introducing that content (or in the credits). Go look them up and start asking questions.

I've was involved with a web series a couple of years ago. I know how hard it is to make it work with specialized content that doesn't target the younger or tech savvy market segment.

Ah, that's great info, thanks. Out of interest, where did you hear about the presentation that you attended? I don't spend a great deal of time dealing with distribution issues or hosting companies (more my brother's area).
"Drug porn" - interesting label, I shall have to remember that one ;) it's more of a modern organised crime thriller, although the narrative isn't linear: it's split between the viewpoints of different characters, and explores social issues and life for various characters, which is why we've decided we simply couldn't make a feature of it - there would be too many themes and character developments occurring to make sense unless it was serialised.
 
Ah, that's great info, thanks. Out of interest, where did you hear about the presentation that you attended?

The state Government entity called Screen QLD hosted the event. I found out about it on Facebook. I've been to a few of their presentations they've hosted of various quality.

I don't spend a great deal of time dealing with distribution issues or hosting companies

There really aren't a lot of options. The options that give you significant money are even less... rarer than hens teeth so to say. Even Youtube admitted that you better be doing it because you like making the content because the money is unlikely to be significant enough, especially not enough to pay cast and crew even meager wages.

There are success stories (Take for instance Dr Horrible's Sing along, or name like that). I've heard lately that Harvey Weinstein signed Freddy Wongs company Rocket Jump with a 8 figure deal.

Currently there seems to be two feelings about web content. It's the way of the future, though there's currently not a lot of money in it, except for the fortunate few (There are people pulling in millions, Rayw had a spreadsheet a while back with the top content owners and what numbers they were pulling. Go look for it if you're interested).
 
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