Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
3FAD 327Web Series Production2+2+03530.07.2026

 
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Film Design and Direction (English)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the creative, technical, and managerial aspects of web series production for digital platforms. Students explore the structural characteristics of web series, serial storytelling techniques, episode and season planning, audience engagement, and platform-oriented content production strategies. Through practical projects, students experience the complete production workflow—from concept development and pre-production to production, distribution, and promotion while developing professional skills for contemporary digital media industries.
Course Content The course examines the evolution of web series, the digital platform ecosystem, serial storytelling structures, audience analysis, episode and season design, character development, the showrunner approach, pre-production planning, low-budget digital production techniques, production organization, post-production workflows, digital distribution, promotional strategies, and audience engagement. Throughout the semester, students work collaboratively to develop a web series project, producing a concept package, season outline, pilot episode draft, and essential production materials.
Course Methods and Techniques The course is delivered through lectures, visual presentations, case studies, project-based learning, collaborative teamwork, script development workshops, brainstorming sessions, discussions, practical production exercises, analysis of industry case studies, presentations, peer assessment, individual feedback, and digital content development activities. Emphasis is placed on developing students' creative development, production planning, and professional pitching skills through hands-on practice.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Associate Prof.Dr. Eda ARISOY eda.arisoy@ankarabilim.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Temel Kaynaklar / Core References Dunleavy, T. (2018). Complex Serial Drama and Multiplatform Television. Routledge. Mittell, J. (2015). Complex TV: The Poetics of Contemporary Television Storytelling. New York University Press. Landau, N. (2019). The TV Showrunner's Roadmap: Creating Great Television in an On-Demand World (2nd ed.). Routledge. Epstein, A. (2020). Crafty TV Writing: Thinking Inside the Box. Holt Paperbacks. Batty, C., & Kerrigan, S. (Eds.). (2018). Screen Production Research: Creative Practice as a Mode of Enquiry. Palgrave Macmillan.
Senaryo Geliştirme ve Seri Anlatı / Screenwriting and Serial Storytelling McKee, R. (1997). Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting. HarperCollins. Field, S. (2005). Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. Delta. Seger, L. (2010). Making a Good Script Great. Silman-James Press. Yorke, J. (2014). Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey into Story. Penguin. Truby, J. (2007). The Anatomy of Story. Faber & Faber.
Dijital Medya ve Platformlar / Digital Media and Streaming Platforms Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York University Press. Jenkins, H., Ford, S., & Green, J. (2013). Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture. New York University Press. Lotz, A. D. (2017). Portals: A Treatise on Internet-Distributed Television. Michigan Publishing. Cunningham, S., & Craig, D. (2019). Social Media Entertainment: The New Intersection of Hollywood and Silicon Valley. NYU Press.
Course Notes The course integrates theoretical knowledge with project-based practice. Throughout the semester, students develop an original web series designed for digital platforms, experiencing the creative development, script planning, production organization, and pitching processes. National and international web series are analyzed in terms of narrative structure, aesthetics, and production workflows, while platform strategies, audience engagement, and digital content production models are critically examined. Teamwork, creative problem-solving, and professional presentation skills are emphasized throughout the course.

Course Category
Social Sciences %40
Field %60

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 30
Assignment 1 % 10
Practice 1 % 10
Final examination 1 % 50
Total
4
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 3 42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 6 84
Assignments 1 6 6
Mid-terms 1 3 3
Practice 1 5 5
Final examination 1 10 10
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5 150

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Bilgi 
1 Explains the narrative structure of web series, the digital platform ecosystem, and the fundamental principles of serial content production.
2 Explains story development, season planning, episode structure, and audience-oriented content development approaches in web series production.
Beceri 
3 Develops an original web series concept for digital platforms by preparing a logline, synopsis, character profiles, and a season outline.
4 Plans and organizes the pre-production, production, and post-production stages of a web series project.
5 Develops appropriate production and presentation strategies for web series projects by considering the technical and aesthetic requirements of digital platforms.
Yetkinlik 
6 Works effectively within a production team by assuming responsibility throughout the creative development and production processes of a web series project.
7 Critically evaluates web series projects in terms of narrative structure, visual storytelling, target audience, and digital distribution strategies.
8 Develops and presents web series projects in accordance with the ethical, professional, and technological standards of the contemporary digital media industry.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Course introduction, semester plan, and assessment criteria. Evolution of web series, digital platform ecosystem, and differences from traditional television series. Review of the syllabus and selected web series Course syllabus, lecture presentations, sample web series, and academic readings.
2 Narrative structures in web series. Serial storytelling, episode structure, season planning, and audience behavior on digital platforms. Practice: Comparative analysis of series across different streaming platforms. Review of serial storytelling and digital platform examples. Articles, platform examples, lecture presentations. 3 Fikir geliştirme ve konsept oluşturma. Logline, tema, tür, hedef izleyici ve özgün değer önerisi. Uygulama: Öğrencilerin web dizisi fikirlerini geliştirmesi ve sınıf sunumları. Concept development. Logline, theme, genre, target audience, and unique value proposition. Practice: Developing and presenting original web series concepts. Logline ve sinopsis örneklerinin incelenmesi. Review of logline and synopsis examples. Konsept geliştirme rehberleri, örnek proje dosyaları. Concept development guides and sample project files. 4 Karakter geliştirme ve dünya oluşturma. Ana karakterler, yan karakterler, karakter arkı ve dramatik evren tasarımı. Uygulama: Karakter dosyalarının hazırlanması. Character development and world-building. Main and supporting characters, character arcs, and dramatic universe design. Practice: Preparation of character profiles. Karakter geliştirme örneklerinin incelenmesi. Review of character development examples. K
3 Concept development. Logline, theme, genre, target audience, and unique value proposition. Practice: Developing and presenting original web series concepts. Review of logline and synopsis examples. Concept development guides and sample project files.
4 Character development and world-building. Main and supporting characters, character arcs, and dramatic universe design. Practice: Preparation of character profiles. Review of character development examples. Character analysis forms and sample series bible sections.
5 Episode and season planning. Functions of the pilot episode, season arc, and dramatic continuity. Practice: Developing season outlines and episode breakdowns Review of pilot episode examples. Season outline templates and episode breakdown examples.
6 The showrunner approach and creative team management. Roles of producers, directors, writers, and creative teams. Practice: Formation of production teams and role assignments. Review of resources on the showrunner model. Lecture presentations and industry case studies.
7 planlama. Bütçe, çekim takvimi, mekân, oyuncu seçimi ve prodüksiyon organizasyonu. Uygulama: Pilot bölüm için ön yapım dosyasının hazırlanması. Pre-production planning. Budgeting, scheduling, location scouting, casting, and production organization. Practice: Preparing a pre-production package for the pilot episode Review of pre-production documents Budget sheets, shooting schedules, and production forms.
8 Midterm: Presentation of the web series project package, including concept, characters, season outline, and pilot proposal. Preparation of the midterm presentation. Assessment rubric and sample project presentations
9 Low-budget digital production techniques. Equipment, production organization, and production strategies for web series. Practice: Planning pilot scenes. Review of low-budget production examples Technical guides and sample production files.
10 Visual language and episode pacing for digital platforms. Duration, rhythm, audience engagement, and platform expectations. Practice: Preparing the storyboard and shooting plan for the pilot episode. Review of storyboard examples. Storyboard templates and visual analysis examples.
11 Post-production and digital publishing workflows. Editing, sound, color grading, subtitles, and delivery formats. Practice: Designing the post-production workflow. Review of digital delivery standards. Post-production guides and delivery specifications
12 Digital marketing and distribution strategies. Promotional campaigns, social media management, teasers, posters, and audience engagement. Practice: Developing a promotional strategy Review of digital marketing campaigns Promotional materials, case studies, and lecture presentations
13 Final project development. Final revisions of the project package and preparation of the pilot presentation. Review and refinement of the final project. Final project guidelines and assessment criteria.
14 Final project presentations. Jury presentation of web series project packages and pilot episode concepts, followed by overall evaluation and feedback Preparation of the final presentation. Final assessment rubric, presentation materials, and project files.

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12
All 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
In1 5 5 4 5 4 4 4 5 4 4 5 4
In2 4 5 5 5 4 5 4 4 4 5 4 4
Sk3 4 4 5 4 5 4 4 5 4 5 4 4
Sk4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4
Sk5 4 5 4 4 5 4 5 4 4 5 4 4
Co6 4 4 4 4 5 4 5 5 4 4 4
Co7 5 5 4 5 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4
Co8 4 4 4 4 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 5

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant