Paramount and Studio71 Kick Off Multi-Film Distribution Deal With Matthew Espinosa’s ‘Be Somebody’

Studio71, the MCN arm of German mass media company ProSiebenSat.1, announced today that it will partner with Paramount’s Worldwide Television Licensing & Distribution and Acquisitions division (PWTLDA) to distribute several films starring digital influencers.

PWTLDA oversees sales and licensing for all Paramount Pictures content across broadcast, cable, and SVOD platforms, and also sources content for multi-platform distribution. Studio71, whose creators boast 4 billion views per month and which counts over 1,200 channels stateside, is headquartered in Berlin and Los Angeles.

The first fruits of the partnership will arrive in the form of Be Somebody, a scripted feature starring Matthew Espinosa initially announced last December. In the film, Espinosa — who has more than 20 million followers on social media and more than 1 billion loops on Vine — will play a teen pop star desperate for a more normal life. So he runs away from his sold-out tour to a small town and meets a rebellious street artist.

Directed by Joshua Caldwell, Be Somebody also co-stars Sarah Jeffery

and Allison Paige. According to its website, where merch is already on sale, the film is looking to schedule screenings via Tugg. It will also be distributed via on-demand and digital platforms (including iTunes and Google Play), on June 10. For additional details and an early look at the film, check out the announcement video from Espinosa (above).

“Studio71 is known for creating crossover opportunities for digital stars and we are excited to be working with them on Matthew Espinosa’s feature film debut,” said Syrinthia Studer, SVP of marketing and acquisitions for Paramount Home Media Distribution, in a statement. “We look forward to combining our distribution prowess with Studio71’s tremendous reach to build an expansive audience for this terrific new content.”

“Studio 71 is excited to work with a major studio like Paramount who recognize this talent and can help leverage the exposure to a much wider audience,” added Gary Binkow, chief content officer of Studio71.