Troma Now is composed of a rotating selection of feature film titles, as well as self-described bonus materials, Troma Classics, and the latest offerings and lost gems from the Troma Archive. You can subscribe at the film production and distribution company’s website for $5 per month.
Of the agency’s three new signees, Taylor is the one with the most well-established presence on YouTube. Thanks to her collection of music videos, song parodies, and comedy sketches, she has more than 1.3 million subscribers. Her popularity has afforded her the opportunity to participate in several brand campaigns, and Abrams plans to seek out more projects for her as part of their partnership.
Alexander and Paege, on the other hand, are younger entertainers who are part of YouTube’s “emerging” class. The 15-year-old Alexander, who first gained fame as an actor on the TV show The Borgias, has attracted an audience with his vlogs. 16-year-old Paege prefers DIY projects and videos in which she shares life hacks with her viewers.
All three YouTube stars will retain their representation deals with other companies. According to a press release, Taylor is represented by Matthew Saver of Matthew Saver Law Offices and Andrew Graham at Big Frame; Alexander is represented by Scale Management, Joan Green Management, and SMGSB; Paege is managed by Scale Management.
The Chosen’s availability on Netflix was secured thanks to a deal between Supergravity and the streaming video platform. The horror flick joins several other films led by YouTube stars that can also be viewed on Netflix. Camp Takota, starring Mamrie Hart, Hannah Hart, and Grace Helbig, is on there, as is Cameron Dallas vehicle Expelled.
Both Camp Takota and Expelled delivered strong sales through on-demand platforms before arriving on Netflix, and The Chosen is no different. Its rise to the top of the iTunes horror charts demonstrates the appeal of its young star. “The Chosen has already exceeded our expectations by hitting number one on the iTunes horror charts,” said Supergravity co-founder Max Benator in an email to Tubefilter. “We’re stoked to now have the film widely available on Netflix as well. This movie is a perfect example of how a digitally distributed film can find success through a wide array of consumer offerings.”
There’s nothing like discovering your new favorite band. When that happens to me, I jump right in and listen to their entire catalog. Be it one song, one EP, or several albums, the whole of the popular and extended tracks of said new favorite band will be on repeat for days, long after friends and family members grow irritated of my singing the same songs over and over again.
But, eventually I move onto something else, unless I strike audio gold twice. Maybe it’s a different rendition of my said new favorite band’s big single, or maybe it’s a b-side they never intended to release, or better yet a cover of one of my new favorite band’s deep cuts by a burgeoning or established artist. All that stuff is great to listen to once discovered, but how do you find all this peripheral, ancillary, and companion content to your new favorite band’s works? Brooklyn’s The Wild Honey Pie is a good place to start.
The entity is a collective of filmmakers, producers, writers, and artists creating video, live events and interactive content who have perfected the art of taking your next favorite band and then showcasing that band for you in a million imaginative ways. A few of those million imaginative ways include themed events where fans star as extras in music videos for their favorite bands. It’s unlike any music concert, festival, or similar event you’ve seen or experienced and it’s probably easier to convey that by showing you an example.
Here’s MC Talib Kweli performing his biggest hit and a fresh take on a punk rock classic to cap off a Wild Honey Pie weekend, adult summer camp adventure in the heart of Texas for the music fans who feel nostalgic for their more youthful days when they’d spend the hotter months of the year in bunk beds in cabins in the woods.
Were you not a fan of summer camp? No problem. The Wild Honey Pie brought in Alt-J for this performance shot beautifully three years ago at the famed Electric Lady Studios in NYC. And few bands are getting as much buzz right now as Misterwives. Wouldn’t it be fun to hear new takes on some of their hits during a weekend mountain adventure with the band? Well The Wild Honey Pie has just the musical experience for you. The group’s next event is On the Mountain, their third of the Mountain series (you can check out the trailer for their last Mountain event here) and they’re pulling out all the stops.
This December 4-6, The Wild Honey Pie is heading to the beautiful Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont for a fantastic weekend featuring Of Montreal, Dan Croll, Marian Hill, The Golden Pony, Matt FX, plus a supergroup comprised of members of Wild Child, PHOX, Snowmine, Sun Nectar and more.
Similar to how The Wild Honey Pie intrigued and enticed local brands to collaborate on its Welcome Campers event, (which almost felt like it was shot to be a companion piece for Wet Hot American Summer), the organization is using its increasingly hip name to secure partnerships from the likes of Otter Creek Brewing and more beloved local vendors for the upcoming Vermont adventure.
The interview is split into a number of “conversations” between Couric and the Swedish gaming star. In the first section, PewDiePie marvels at his rapid rise to YouTube success and tries to find a fitting way to describe his job to the former CBS, NBC, and ABC newswoman.
If you’re only vaguely familiar with PewDiePie’s histrionic, over-the-top YouTube videos, you might think he presents himself as a goofball when talking with major media outlets. Instead, as he has proven multiple times, he is an eloquent, thoughtful interviewee, and that allows his discussions with journalists like Couric to be fascinating videos, both for his fans and viewers with a more general interest in the YouTube community. You can check out his Yahoo interview here.
Discovery Communications has a new way to deliver digital content to viewers. As part of a “TV everywhere” effort, the science and nature-based brand and owner of Discovery Digital Networks will launch its own streaming app dubbed Discovery Go on December 2, 2015.
Available for both iOS and Android devices, Discovery Go lets users watch live or on-demand content from various Discovery TV properties. Some of the included networks are the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Destination America, American Heroes Channel, Velocity, and Discovery Life. Most of Discovery Go’s content will be exclusively available to pay-TV cable subscribers, though some content will be available for free to non-subscribers, as well.
Discovery Go users will be able to search for content to watch by browsing specific show titles or owned Discovery networks included in the streaming app. Users will also have the option of searching across 14 genres like Survival and History. Additionally, Discovery Go app users will be able to choose playlists curated by Discovery, as well as create and save their own playlists.
DeadlinereportsPaul Guyardo, Discovery’s Chief Commercial Officer, considers Discovery Go complementary to the network’s TV brands. Guyardo said the streaming platform is “an important first step in providing viewers with access to our award-winning content anytime, anywhere on practically any device.”
Amazon is letting Prime subscribers grab a sneak peek of one of the platform’s most popular original series. The streaming video service released the debut episode of the second season of Transparent on November 30, 2015, almost two weeks ahead of the show’s full premiere on December 11.
Jill Soloway, creator of Transparent, tweeted about Amazon’s early-release decision a few hours before the episode debuted on the streaming platform at 8 PM EST. The debut episode is available exclusively to Prime subscribers, a move which could be Amazon’s way of thanking Prime members for their choice to subscribe to the yearly service. The early release of Transparent season two’s first episode could also be Amazon showing non-subscribers the perks of Prime membership, especially as the streaming giant looks to potentially add video service bundles for Prime subscribers.
Soloway previously described Transparent season two as a transitional period in the show’s storyline, which stars Jeffrey Tambor as a family patriarch transitioning from a man to a woman. “Season two is wild! Now that the bubble wrap is off, it’s time for the whole family to transition,” Soloway said, as reported by Variety. “Our Pfeffermans realize they must give up their disguises, unspoken arrangements and secrets. By exploring their shared history and legacy, they come to understand that you can’t go forward without knowing where you come from. Ultimately, everyone will open their hearts, advertise their desires, and test those notoriously wobbly boundaries as each Pfefferman tries their hardest to come out — as themselves.”
Amazon debuted Transparent back in September 2014. The show received rave reviews from critics and viewers alike, so Amazon renewed the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winningTransparent for a second season. Transparent has also already garnered a third season order from Amazon even though the second season hasn’t yet been fully released just yet.
The full second season of Transparent will drop on Amazon Prime Instant Video on December 11.
Amazon Studios is moving forward with a new original series. The digital studio branch of the e-commerce giant has greenlit the drama series Trial, from executive producer David E. Kelley and starring actor Billy Bob Thornton (who seems to be having something.
Written by Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro (The Practice), Trial tells the story of a down-and-out lawyer seeking redemption. Thornton (who seems to be having a TV moment thanks to his great acting in Fargo) plays this lawyer who, as explained by Deadline, has one chance to obtain justice “in a legal system where truth has become a commodity, and the scales of justice have never been more heavily weighted toward the rich and powerful.” Directed by David Semel (Madam Secretary) Trial also stars William Hurt (Broadcast News), Maria Bello (Prisoners), Olivia Thirlby (Juno), and Molly Parker (House of Cards). Kelley and Shapiro will executive produce alongside Ross Fineman (Lights Out).
“Billy Bob Thornton, William Hurt, and David E. Kelley are world-class talents who have achieved longstanding success in captivating storytelling,” said Roy Price, VP of Amazon Studios. “We are excited to bring this series to our members next year.”
As you may have heard by now, controversial “prankster” Sam Pepper is making headlines again. More than a year after one of his invasive “social experiments” led to backlash from the YouTube community and a string of sexual abuse allegations against him, Pepper has made his way back into the news by faking a murder for one of his videos.
Pepper collaborated with fellow social media personality Colby Brock on the prank. The target was one of their friends, Sam Golbach. Late at night, a masked assailant staged a kidnapping of Brock and Golbach, bound them up on a rooftop, and simulated a cold-blooded execution of Brock. As Golbach descends into hysteria, Brock stands up, alive and well, and reveals the whole setup as an elaborate prank.
The reason I described Pepper’s latest nonsense is to dissuade potential viewers from seeking it out. I will not link to Pepper and Brock’s respective channels, and I will not embed the video in this post. My reasoning is simple: Sam Pepper lives off views, and the sooner those views dry up, the sooner he goes away.
It should be clear to most readers why simulating murder and inducing untold emotional distress are not OK, even if Golbach is willing to defend the video. Plenty of YouTube stars–including Andrea Russett, Jack Harries, and Hannah Hart–have linked to a change.org petition that hopes to banish Pepper from YouTube.
The best response, however, comes from Ethan Klein of h3h3productions, who reminds viewers that Sam Pepper’s channel has been flailing ever since his incident last year. Klein breaks down Pepper’s new video and declares it to be fakery, while also urging people to stop talking about it. “What is the point of talking about these guys and feeding the troll?” he asks. “Who is actually being pranked? Is it me? Is it you? Let’s stop feeding the trolls here.”
Even this article feels like much more attention than Pepper deserves. The bottom line is that you shouldn’t watch his videos, you shouldn’t share any nonsense he posts on social media, and if he tries to pull any other shenanigans to save his dying channel, you should ignore them completely. I know I will.
Logan Paul has joined the ranks of digital stars who have recently signed with prestigious talent agencies. The 20-year-old creator, known for his six-second comedy videos on Vine, has signed with entertainment and sports talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Paul’s CAA deal gives the Vine star full representation in all areas. The talent agency will work to create more opportunities for the actor, comedian, and digital creator, including opportunities in film, television, publishing, endorsements, touring, personal appearances, and more. Paul joins several other digital creators already signed with CAA, including Jenna Marbles, Yousef Erakat (fouseyTUBE), and Hayes Grier.
Thanks to his Vine stardom, Paul has teamed with various brands and organizations like Dunkin Donuts and the Truth Campaign for digital marketing campaigns. The Viner has also broken into the world of acting, with roles in the upcoming films Liked, Viral, and Legendary Entertainment’s The Thinning. Paul was also the 2015 Streamy Award winner for Best Short-Form Comedy.
Paul currently boasts over 8.8 million followers on Vine. The digital star’s Facebook page also saw 300 million total video views in the month of October alone.
November 28th marked the one-month anniversary of YouTube Red, a $9.99-per-month premium subscription option launched by YouTube. The service’s age, however, is more than just a cosmetic milestone. Users who signed up for it at launch have now completed their one-month free trials, and as a result, Red is now raking in big money for YouTube. According to TechCrunch, the iOS version of the YouTube app is now one of the ten highest-grossing apps in the App Store.
The App Store’s Top Grossing chart counts revenue from both paid downloads and in-app purchases. Since the YouTube app is free, and Red is the only available in-app purchase, the video site’s #8 ranking on the Top Grossing chart (ahead of popular mobile titles like Boom Beach) can be entirely attributed to revenue generated by Red subscriptions.
Ironically enough, it is the iOS version of YouTube that is seeing a good influx of Red revenue, despite the fact that users who download that version of the subscription service must pay an additional $3 to account for Apple’s cut of the sales. The higher price tag could explain YouTube’s place on the Top Grossing chart, especially since the Google Play version of the app has not appeared to generate as much revenue. TechCrunch also suggests that many Android users already have a subscription to Google Play Music, through which they also received a Red subscription upon the service’s launch.
No matter the reason why iOS users have downloaded Red, the service’s early returns are a positive sign for YouTube. TechCrunch consulted with several mobile marketing experts, who suggested that YouTube is making at least $12,000 per day from App Store revenue–and perhaps as much as $50,000. We’ll have to wait a few months to see how many of those purchasers hang onto their Red subscriptions–and how many lose interest.
[Editor’s Note: Tubefilter Charts is a new weekly rankings column from Tubefilter with data provided by OpenSlate. It’s exactly what it sounds like; a top number ranking of YouTube channels based on statistics collected within a given timeframe. You can check out all of our Tubefilter Charts – with new installments every week – right here.]
Scroll down for the Tubefilter Chart.
It’s another installment of the Top 100 Most Subscribed YouTube Channels Worldwide and a different international pop star is in the very top spot.
Chart Toppers
For the third month running, PewDiePie is not in first place on the Most Subscribed YouTube Channels Chart. That honor now belongs to Adele. The 25-year-old British popstar who’s currently turning the music business on its head had a great month in terms of online video, too. Adele’s music video release of “Hello” – her latest single in four-or-so-years – helped her channel to more than 1.3 million new subscribers during the 31 days of the month. In a distant second place is Justin Bieber. The Bieb’s first several music video releases in the past several months attracted a LOT of new Beliebers to his YouTube channel, which racked up nearly 823,000 new subscribers in October.
In third place is Rclbeauty101. The 20-year-old beauty and lifestyle guru from Philadelphia added another 598,000 subscribers to her channel in the month. Fernanfloo is up next in the #4 spot. The El Salvadorian gaming sensation scored nearly 568,000 subscribers on the month
And rounding out the Top 5 is PewDiePie. YouTube’s most popular channel ever ended the month having added more than 552,000 members to its Bro Army.
Top Gainers
The honor of one of our our Top Gainers this month goes to Madeyewlook.
No one on YouTube had a better October than Adele (whose channel witnessed an incredible 1,950% month-over-month increase in its subscriber acquisition rate), but if you don’t count the pop star that reintroduced herself to the world with a simple hello, Madeyewlook had one of the best months on YouTube. The channel that’s home to the online video offerings of Lex – a 22-year-old licensed esthetician and self-taught makeup artist and body painter – saw a sizable uptick in its subscriber numbers thanks to Halloween and a series of horror-and-social-media-inspired makeup tutorials. Her American Horror Story and Snapchat Filter how-tos helped account for a 173% month-over-month increase in her channel’s subscriber acquisition rate, almost 245,000 new subscribers, and the #64 spot on the worldwide chart.
Channel Distribution
The Top 100 Most Subscribed YouTube channels in the month amassed in aggregate a total of 31,129,582 new subscribers. Here’s a look at the distribution of a few of those channels broken down by the most-represented YouTube Multi-Channel Networks on the chart:
VEVO: 20 channels in the Top 100 Most Subscribed, with Adelethe top channel in the network at #1.
BroadbandTV, Collective Digital Studio, Fullscreen: 8 channelsin the the Top 100, with BroadbandTV’s Rclbeauty101 at #3, Collective Digital Studio’s Roman Atwood at #16, and Fullscreen’s whinderssonnunes at #9.
Machinima: 5 channels in the Top 100, with HolaSoyGermanat #8.
Divimove, NBCU, WMG, XMediaDigital: 2 channels each in the Top 100, with Divimove’s elrubiusOMG at #6, NBCU’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at #47, WMG’s Ed Sheer at #80, XMediaDigital’s Get Movies at #56.
And here’s a look into the distribution of the this month’s Top 100 by country of origin:
The United States:49 channels in the Top 100.
Brazil, Great Britain: 9 channels each in the Top 100.
Canada: 8 channels in the Top 100.
Spain: 7 channels in the Top 100.
Chile, India, Netherlands, Russia, Sweden: 2 channels each in the Top 100.
Australia, Denmark, El Salvador, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Thailand, Ukraine:1 channel each in the Top 100.
OpenSlate is a video content analytics platform that tracks more than 225,000 YouTube video channels and measures their ability to attract, engage and influence an audience. By providing one consistent measure of quality – the SlateScore™ – OpenSlate helps marketers, producers and agencies hone their online video marketing strategy.
