A web film is a film

Film

A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

 made with the medium of the Internet

Internet

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...

 and its distribution constraints in mind. This term aims to differentiate content made for the Internet from content made for other media, such as cinema or television

Television

Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...

, that has been converted into a World Wide Web

World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...

-compatible format. Web films are a form of new media

New media

New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...

.

Forms

There are broadly three forms of films that can be encountered on the Internet:

Form	Description	Defining Features	Example
Traditional Promotion	A digitised version of films shot with the same production methods and technology used for TV/Cinema Film A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects... .	Often 35mm or high definition digital footage. (Usually highly compressed when on web.)	Cinema Trailers online, for example the trailer for Lord of the Rings
Films Not Made for, but Distributed Via the Internet Internet The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...	A film taking advantage of the Internet Internet The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...  for distribution.	Often large files and/or designed to be downloaded not streamed. Highly compressed versions of pirated films.	The short film 405 The Movie
Web Films	Films made with the medium of the Internet Internet The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...  and its constraints in mind.	Made in harmony with Internet & computer technologies such as streaming or Flash or After Effects.	The short film 'Distance Over Time'

See also

• film
  Film
  A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
  
  
• Pluginmanifesto
  Pluginmanifesto
  The pluginmanifesto is a document written by Ana Kronschnabl that looks at the challenges for filmmaking for the internet and other reduced bandwidth platforms...
  
  
• Internet documentaries (category)

External links

• web-film.at - website about web film-making and web film production
• plugincinema.com - website about web film-making
• cartwheelmedia.co.uk - Cartwheel Media - London web film production
• pluginmanifesto.com - a manifesto for web film-making
• iFilmConnection.com - a site dedicated for films and documentaries.
• webfilmtheory.com - PhD - thesis devoted to Webfilm Theory.