YouTube Stars Zoella, TomSka, NikiNSammy Lead “The Creators” Documentary

Three channels within the UK’s YouTube community are the subjects of a new documentary. Zoella, TomSka, and NikiNSammy star in “The Creators,” a film that explores the ups and downs of life as a content creator on YouTube.

All of the subjects in “The Creators” make videos on YouTube, but their back stories, daily routines, and goals vary significantly. Zoella, who shares fashion, beauty, and makeup tips with her 7.5 million subscribers, deals with the anxiety associated with her widespread online fame; TomSka, whose animations and live-action sketches made him one of the first YouTube stars, fights a constant battle to stay on top of a changing landscape; and NikiNSammy, a pair of identical twins who have only been making videos for a year, look for the best ways to grow their audience.

The doc explores both the advantages and disadvantages of its stars’ chosen profession. When TomSka discusses the outpouring of love received by his deceased friend Edd Gould

, we see the incredible supportive power of the YouTube audience. Later, though, “The Creators” shows a darker side of that audience, as Zoella discusses fans who have lingered outside her house and left notes on her car’s dashboard.

“The Creators” is directed by Academy Award nominee Nanette Burstein and produced by Hungry Man and Anomaly in partnership with YouTube. While Google’s video site has a hand in the film, “The Creators” is far from a puff piece. Instead, it is an even-handed and nuanced look at the online video community. Even if you aren’t subscribed to any of the featured creators, the doc is still worth 30 minutes of your time.