This thesis consists of two main components: Part One, the critical component, is a written dissertation; and Part Two, the practical component, comprises the production bible and proof of concept video for an original web series entitled K-Noir. The project contributes to scholarship and practice in the creative industries field by exploring the burgeoning digital medium of fictional web series as a tool and pathway for actor/producers to take control of their creative output and advance their careers. It investigates how such practitioners generate stories, shape their artistic niche, build audiences, and develop online subcultures. Informed by an investigation into cultural policy, industry practice, and screen media consumption, the research provides unique insights into the production process of an original web series while expanding our knowledge of the digital media domain and its social and cultural impacts. Since the arrival of YouTube in 2005, scholarship has endeavoured to k