Page 31 - Aruba Today
P. 31
PEOPLE & ARTS A31
Wednesday 10 February
With restraint, YouTube rolls out original programming
DERRIK J. LANG This image provided by YouTube shows a scene from YouTube Red Original’s “Lazer Team,” which nel to instead be dropped
AP Entertainment Writer was the most funded original film in Indiegogo’s history. It’s been selling out hundreds of theaters into frightening scenarios
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mi- for fan screenings since Jan. 27, 2016. conceived by “The Walking
chael “Burnie” Burns hears Dead” creator Skybound
a discrepancy. Associated Press Entertainment.
Before greeting moviego- “It is very different, but it’s
ers at the debut of his film, also very similar to what
the writer-actor is eaves- I do,” said Kjellberg, who
dropping on all the big- has more than 42 million
budget movie trailers play- subscribers. “I play horror
ing ahead of his much games, and this is basically
smaller crowdfunded con- just taking that into the real
coction, “Lazer Team.” world. It felt like a natural
Suddenly, a roar from a extension.”
monster in one of the pre- Meanwhile, “A Trip to Uni-
views literally rattles the corn Island” profiles Singh’s
theater’s walls. highs and lows as she stag-
“I bet the sound budget for es a world tour showcasing
that was bigger than the her acting-and-dancing
whole budget for my mov- abilities — all while keep-
ie,” the bearded Internet ing up with her YouTube
personality says with a grin. channel. The documen-
Despite its modest price tary doesn’t shy away from
tag, there’s a hefty amount showing the emotional tolls
of enthusiasm for the $2.5 it took on Singh.
million sci-fi comedy about “It was such a different pro-
In this Sept. 17, 2015 file photo, Lilly Singh arrives at the 5th An- went viral with “Red vs. This image provided by YouTube shows a scene from YouTube
nual Streamy Awards at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Ange- Blue,” a digital series in- Red Original’s “Lazer Team,” which was the most funded original
les. spired by the “Halo” video film in Indiegogo’s history.
game franchise. “They’re
Associated Press just taking YouTube to the Associated Press
next level.”
In addition to “Lazer
Team,” YouTube Originals
is launching with a docu-
mentary profiling YouTube
comedienne Lilly “Super-
woman” Singh embarking
on a world tour, the dance
flick “Dance Camp” star-
ring young Internet person-
alities and a reality series
centering on top YouTuber
Felix “PewDiePie” Kjellberg
a group of dolts bestowed streaming site, “Lazer This image provided by YouTube shows YouTube Red Original’s cess for me,” said Singh,
with alien technology. Team” and the other You- “Scare PewDiePie” with actor Felix Kjellberg. who has more than 7.8 mil-
“Lazer Team” was the most Tube Originals will only be lion subscribers. “I’m used
funded original film in In- available with a YouTube Associated Press to shooting and editing all
diegogo’s history, and it’s Red subscription, which my videos. It was very diffi-
been selling out hundreds also provides ad-free ac- living out his nightmares. “We’re working with top cult for me to let go of that
of theaters for fan screen- cess to the site and a music “We’re fishing where there’s creators to do something control and allow a direc-
ings since Jan. 27. Howev- service for $10 a month. fish,” said Susanne Dan- they normally wouldn’t do tor and editor capture me,
er, many more devotees of For their leap into premium iels, the former president on their channel.” but that’s the beauty of it.
Burns and his Rooster Teeth programming, YouTube of MTV who now serves as For its first show for YouTube You get to see me from a
production company will isn’t attempting to imitate the global head of origi- Red, the site enlisted Kjell- different point of view.”
be able to watch the mov- Netflix, Hulu or Amazon, nal content at YouTube. berg to swap playing scary Besides selling $10 subscrip-
ie beginning Wednesday which offer films and shows video games on his chan- tions, the move into pre-
on YouTube. rivaling traditional Holly- mium content is also an
The streaming site is at- wood content. While its first opportunity for YouTube to
tempting to make some crop of movies and series keep top talent from stray-
noise of its own with a crop don’t look like they were ing. Several high-profile
of films and shows that will filmed with a webcam in YouTubers, such as Colleen
be exclusively available someone’s basement, You- “MirandaSings” Ballinger-
with YouTube Red, a sub- Tube Originals also don’t Evans, Freddie Wong and
scription service the San have the scope of a Mar- “Awkward Black Girl” cre-
Bruno, California-based vel movie or an episode of ator Issa Rae have recently
company launched last “Game of Thrones” either. been tapped by the likes
October. “They’re not trying to do of Netflix, Hulu and HBO for
Unlike the millions of oth- something entirely differ- projects.q
er videos posted on the ent,” said Burns, an online
video pioneer who first
