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Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
YouTube takes over Hollywood
Content creators are no longer staying confined to their homespun setups. As Trump's proposed policies keep Hollywood on edge, YouTube stars have been moving to the forefront to expand their businesses. As per The Hollywood Reporter, popular digital creators like Dhar Mann, Dude Perfect, and Alan Chikin Chow are aiming to establish a media legacy by investing in large-scale studios to film their content. Mann, who uploads short films to raise awareness on heavy topics like bullying, wasn't always filming inside of an airplane fuselage near the Burbank airport. The creator began his journey on the platform in 2018, despite having no film background. Recalling his humble beginnings, Mann said, "In the early days, when we were shooting out of my apartment and we needed different film sets, my dining room was a restaurant, my bedroom was a patient room for a hospital, every single thing in my apartment was used for production sets." Now, all his apartment contributes is some furniture for his current property — a campus made of three buildings and more than 100,000 square feet of land, homing multiple sets for restaurants, schools, shopping malls, etc. Having employed a staff of nearly 200 people, Dhar Mann Studios shoots some 8 films simultaneously. "These are real film-level sets. We use the same equipment; we have the same types of resources that the same production companies are doing on TV," he said. "Well, now you're seeing that on YouTube." In the same city, an upcoming episode of Alan's Universe required a pastel-coloured classroom to be transformed into a science lab, where actors reacted to a chemical reaction happening offscreen. The YouTube show is developed by Chow, who observes the takes from the camera's lens. "We used to make eight-minute videos. They were very vignette-y; they were not super story driven. I would not say that the earlier episodes are something that you could see on 'real television'," said Chow, who partnered with Roku this year to make his series available beyond YouTube. The anthology series follows love, friendships, and overcoming the brunt of high school life. Despite being a modest webseries in its earlier stages, Alan's Universe has upped its production quality by expanding to a professional setting. "Because of this space, because of the cameras we have, because of the level of storytelling and the detail that we put in our writing, I can definitely say that what we're making now is something that you could have seen as a Disney Channel Original Movie back in the day," he said. "There's no difference, really. The level of quality storytelling, detail, world building, is all there." Both Mann and Chow were able to build their empires, thanks to the revenue generated from YouTube, enabling a new age of media production. They confirmed that their businesses attract investor interest, a development which abides by a common industry practice. MrBeast, known for his high-budget content, is looking to raise $200 million at a $5 billion valuation for his business, while sports comedy creators Dude Perfect saw a $100 million raise in an investment round in 2024. Building a legacy For Mann, who has two daughters to look after, it's not just about what his flair for content creation earns him now. He admitted that he and his content creator friends also seek to secure a contingency plan for their families. "All the friends that I have that are creators, they're now buying houses, they're getting married, they're having kids. A lot of those folks are trying to think of, how can I still have a career? I built this amazing YouTube channel, but how could I have some sort of exit event, which allows me to live my life, buy my house, send my kid through college, but also allows me to not lose what I've built," he said. "They want to make more money while still being in control of their business creatively, and not have some media company that has never run a YouTube channel take over and may not understand how digital content works." Validating Mann's insights, YouTube's sales executive Brian Albert said, "I think everyone has come to recognise that our creators are truly next-gen media companies. They're writers, they're producers, they're directors, all wrapped in one." In Hollywood's footsteps Much like the rise of Hollywood, YouTube personalities and their businesses are showing promise outside the Los Angeles sphere as well. According to The Hollywood Reporter, advertisers are now leaning towards creator content to not just improve quality but also to target younger consumers. At an advertising event hosted by Spotter in March, Samir Chaudry of Colin & Samir acknowledged the shift in the media landscape. "YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said that creators are the startups of Hollywood, and today, a lot of these startups are starting to look more and more like studios," he said. YouTuber Kinigra Deon moved from LA back to Birmingham Alabama to launch a scripted entertainment studio of her own. She said at the event, "In 2021, I moved back to Alabama, not to escape from Hollywood, but to build my own Hollywood." As content creators seep into the spaces once reserved for Hollywood big-names alone, the industry has begun to take notice. Mann mentioned that many of his crew members come from Disney and Lionsgate, adding that Dhar Mann Studios CEO Sean Atkins used to be the president of MTV. Chow, too, has a casting director on his team who formerly worked for Nickelodeon. "Sometimes, we get pushback from people who are not that open-minded. I would always think, what is the difference?" Chow posed. "Our show was shot with a similar budget to a Nickelodeon show, and the build of the world and the scripts are just as good. I think it really comes down to people slowly starting to understand that this is the new era." For these longtime creators, their passion for the craft is also what drives them to make tough calls. Mann mentioned receiving an offer to sell his company last year, but he turned it down. He said, "I just realised, what would I rather do with my life? This is the most amazing career that I could ever dream of."
Business Wire
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Disney Drops Music Video for First Single ‘The Place to Be,' From This Summer's Music-fueled ‘ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires'
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney released the first single and music video of 'The Place to Be' from the upcoming highly anticipated Disney Channel Original Movie 'ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires.' The music video is available today on DisneyMusicVevo and Disney Channel Music YouTube. The single is also available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other digital platforms. 'ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires' — the latest installment of the music-fueled ZOMBIES franchise — premieres Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel and streams the next day, Friday, July 11, on Disney+. 'The Place to Be' is performed by the ensemble cast of 'ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires,' featuring Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner and Mekonnen Knife, with choreography by Dondraico Johnson. The upbeat pop anthem introduces Nova (Skye) and the Daywalkers and Victor (Barton) and the Vampires — two rival monster factions from the neighboring towns of Sunnyside and Shadyside. Daywalkers showcase their ability to harness the sun's energy, while Vampires command the power of wind and sky. Featuring nine brand-new original songs and two reprises of fan-favorite hits, the soundtrack for the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie 'ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires' is now available for pre-order, pre-add and pre-save from Walt Disney Records. Fans who pre-purchase the soundtrack will be able to instantly receive a download of the new single, 'The Place to Be.' ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires Original Soundtrack Track List: 'Legends In The Making' – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell 'The Place To Be' – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife 'Dream Come True (Intro)' – Performed by Freya Skye, Malachi Barton 'Don't Mess With Us' – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife 'Dream Come True' – Performed by Freya Skye, Malachi Barton 'Kerosene' - Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife 'My Own Way' – Performed by Freya Skye 'Possible' – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife 'Someday (Reprise)' – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly "Show The World" – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife 'Ain't No Doubt About It (Reprise)' – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly 'Together As One' – Performed by Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife 'Score Suite' – Performed by Tom Howe Can't get enough ZOMBIES music? This summer, the ' Descendants/ZOMBIES: Worlds Collide Tour ' will hit 43 arenas across North America, celebrating the music of 'ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires' alongside fan-favorite hits from the wildly popular Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants and ZOMBIES franchises. Additionally, the Music from ZOMBIES vinyl album is set for release on July 11 and is now available for pre-order. The 1-LP green vinyl features 12 hit songs from the 'ZOMBIES' franchise, including 'We Own the Night,' 'Call to the Wild,' and 'Someday,' plus 'The Place to Be,' 'Dream Come True,' and 'Don't Mess With Us' from 'ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires.' About 'ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires' A new adventure dawns for zombie/cheerleader power couple Zed (Manheim) and Addison (Donnelly) when their summer road trip takes an unexpected detour — landing them in the middle of a monster rivalry: Daywalkers vs. Vampires. Tensions flare when Zed and Addison find themselves acting as camp counselors between the two opposing supernatural factions. With help from Eliza (Russell) and Willa (Kinney), they must convince sworn enemies Nova (Skye), a radiant Daywalker, and Victor (Barton), a brooding Vampire, to try to unite their warring worlds before an even greater threat endangers them all. About the ZOMBIES Franchise A powerhouse in youth entertainment, the ZOMBIES franchise has consistently dominated with each movie release. The cable telecasts for the first three films ranked No. 1 among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 in their premiere years.* The movies have also garnered nearly a quarter billion streaming hours, becoming one of the most popular Disney Channel Original Movie franchises on Disney+.** The franchise's music has amassed over 5.7 billion streams across YouTube Music, Disney Channel YouTube and Disney Music Vevo***, while soundtracks for 'ZOMBIES' and 'ZOMBIES 3' hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Kid Albums chart****. This summer, the ' Descendants/ZOMBIES: Worlds Collide Tour ' will visit over 43 arenas across North America, celebrating the music from 'ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires' alongside fan-favorite hits from the wildly popular Disney Channel Original Movie franchises 'Descendants' and 'ZOMBIES.' 'ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires' brand extensions will include a cross-category product line of apparel, accessories, costumes, fashion dolls by Mattel and more. 'ZOMBIES,' 'ZOMBIES 2' and 'ZOMBIES 3' are currently available on Disney+. ABOUT DISNEY+ Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star, and in the U.S., eligible bundle subscribers can also access extensive Hulu and ESPN+ content on Disney+, including next day TV, Hulu and ESPN Originals, live sports events and studio programming. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ offers an unmatched collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney's long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service or as part of bundle offerings in the U.S. that give subscribers access to different combinations of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. For more, visit or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices. ABOUT DISNEY BRANDED TELEVISION Disney Branded Television encompasses the creative storytellers and production and content marketing teams responsible for Disney-branded television series, movies and other programming spanning live-action, animated and unscripted formats. The group fuels the Disney+ streaming platform and Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Jr. linear networks with content geared toward kids, tweens, teens and families, with stories that are imaginative, aspirational and reflective of their world and experiences. ABOUT DISNEY MUSIC GROUP Disney Music Group (DMG) spearheads The Walt Disney Company's global music ventures, encompassing recorded music, publishing, and live concerts. As the home of iconic labels like Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, DMG boasts an extensive portfolio that includes soundtracks from some of the most beloved franchises in entertainment—Disney, Walt Disney Animation, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, 20th Century Studios, and Disney+. A trailblazer in the industry, DMG has launched award-winning and chart-topping albums, including the Grammy®-winning Encanto, the Oscar®-winning Frozen, and the fan-favorite Guardians of the Galaxy mixtapes. Its rich legacy extends to celebrated compositions from WandaVision and The Mandalorian, iconic scores like Soul (Oscar® and Grammy® winner), Black Panther, Coco, and Moana, as well as hit video games such as Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Grammy® winner), and Star Wars Outlaws. Recent releases include Snow White, Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, Inside Out 2, and Deadpool & Wolverine, alongside television soundtracks for Shōgun, Agatha All Along, Only Murders in the Building, and Descendants: The Rise of Red. Looking ahead, DMG is set to unveil highly anticipated soundtracks for Thunderbolts, Lilo & Stitch, Fantastic 4: First Steps, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Zootopia 2, and ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires.
