Latest news with #BeastGames
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Making of ‘Beast Games': Behind the scenes of Prime Video's record-breaking competition series
"What if we brought together more contestants than any competition show ever, offered the largest cash prize in history, designed the craziest games imaginable, and built it all on the most massive sets ever seen?" That was the spark behind Beast Games, according to host, cocreator, and executive producer Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson. The record-breaking Prime Video competition series assembled an astonishing 1,000 contestants to face off in intense physical and mental challenges — all for a jaw-dropping $10 million grand prize. More from GoldDerby How 'Rebel Ridge' became the Emmy frontrunner for Best TV Movie TV Documentary panel: 'Brats,' 'Chef's Table,' and 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band' 'Road Diary' director Thom Zimny reflects on 25 years with Bruce Springsteen and capturing fans as 'music hits their soul' "I've always wondered why $1 million was the artificial ceiling [for winning a competition series]," Donaldson says. "Shows get paid a lot more than that." However, the creator admits Beast Games lost money. "My goal with Season 1 wasn't to make money, it was honestly just to make the greatest competition possible. We went a little overkill." One of the show's most significant expenses was the construction of an entire custom-built city, designed by production designer Stephen Leonhardt. SEE'Beast Games' production designer Stephen Leonhardt on redefining reality TV with the most complex sets in TV history "Nobody's done anything like it — and that's what was both so exciting and terrifying about it," says Leonhardt. "We had the same amount of time you have to put together a set for a regular television show, except instead of trying to set up an existing house for a reality cast of 30, we had 500. Just the logistics — how are we going to deal with people going to the bathroom — were overwhelming and only comparable to huge events. It was the mix of a TV set and a full Coachella festival." Leonhardt also notes that much of the industry is geared toward cutting costs. "Every call you get is about doing the same show for less than you did it before. Suddenly, we have these guys who just want to swing for the fences. How can you not get excited about being a part of that? They said, 'We're going to have the highest-budget sets in the history of television.' At first I wondered if I was being taken for a ride, but when I realized they were serious it was thrilling!" For over 20 straight days during preproduction, the set design team had a role call of over 1,000 employees. "They may not be the biggest sets ever made, but they were definitely the biggest sets ever made in that timeframe," Leonhardt says. With 380 million-plus subscribers and more than 2 billion monthly views, MrBeast is the most-subscribed YouTube channel in the world. Beast Games cocreator and executive producer Sean Klitzner credits Donaldson's understanding of digital audience engagement for the show's success "It's learning and understanding what Jimmy has spent tens of thousands of hours studying – the psychological connection an audience member will have with a piece of content," Klitzner explains. "It takes years to understand that. Once you get into that realm, you're able to ask, 'How do we translate your style and your vision of creating content to television?'" Casting 1,000 contestants to compete on the show was a massive undertaking for casting director Katy Wallin. "We put together a strategic plan to go out and find 1,000 amazing people — diverse, all ages, all types — and in my three decades of casting, it was one of the best experiences of my career. It was so challenging in the most positive way." Wallin says she sought out people who were "unforgettable, passionate, and interesting": "This is not a scripted show, so we're not releasing a breakdown and putting actors in roles. These are real people competing in a contest on the biggest show in the history of television. They have to have a really good 'Why?' If we use Jeffrey Allen as an example, who won the show, he had such heart and positivity about him. It wasn't really about [the money], it was about changing the course of his son's life by finding a cure for something. We look for those layered people who are unfiltered and really open to sharing the experiences of their life that will transcend on a show like this." SEE'Beast Games' editor Mack Hopkins on the scene that was inspired by 'Dunkirk' Meanwhile, the enormity of production posed challenges even in post-production. Co-creator and editor Mack Hopkins refers to the show as "the most advanced edit mankind has ever attempted." With 1,000 contestants and more than 1,100 cameras capturing footage, watching every moment was impossible. Yet, serendipity played a role in shaping the story. "The contestants who got first and second place in this show happened to — by an actual miracle — be standing next to each other in Episode 1. We were given — by the grace of God — dialogue exchanges between first and second place in Episode 1! As a person who was trying to tell a story through this whole process, it was unbelievable and I could not believe that happened." In the full panel video above, watch the team behind Beast Games discuss in more detail their favorite episodes, the most memorable contestants, biggest challenges, and jaw-dropping moments. This article and video are presented by Prime Video. Best of GoldDerby 'The Better Sister': Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks on their 'fun partnership' and the 'satisfying' killer reveal TV Documentary panel: 'Brats,' 'Chef's Table,' and 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band' 'Road Diary' director Thom Zimny reflects on 25 years with Bruce Springsteen and capturing fans as 'music hits their soul' Click here to read the full article.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
World's richest influencer is a billionaire; donates all earnings, still richer than Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Shah Rukh
The term billionaire was first used for John D Rockefeller, the American oil tycoon who revolutionised the American economy during World War I. Since then, countless businessmen have attained the status. Of late, even celebrities have begun to breach the $1-billion mark. In the 90s, Steven Spielberg became Hollywood's first billionaire. And three decades later, a 27-year-old has upped the ante by becoming the first content creator to enter the exclusive club. James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson, better known by his internet alias MrBeast, has become the youngest self-made billionaire in history. Celebrity Net Worth recently reported that the 27-year-old is now worth a billion dollars. In 2022, Forbes estimated MrBeast's net worth at $500 million. However, since then, Jimmy has seen a massive upswing in his work and fortunes, including several new projects, chiefly a reality show called Beast Games. According to reports, MrBeast is the only person in the billionaire list under the age of 30 who has built his fortune independently. MrBeast's $1-billion wealth dwarfs not only other rival content creators like PewDiePie ($40 million), but also some of the richest actors in the world. Tom Cruise ($900 million), Shah Rukh Khan ($877 million) and Johnny Depp ($100 million) are all below him in terms of wealth. MrBeast began his journey as a creator on YouTube in 2012, uploading videos under the username MrBeast6000. His initial videos were about gaming and streaming. His breakthrough came with a viral video in 2017 that got him millions of views. Following this, he dropped out of college to focus on his YouTube career. He adopted a strategy of reinvesting his earnings into the channel, leading to exponential growth. In 2024, his channel became the most subscribed in the world. Jimmy also diversified by investing in fast food chains, cryptocurrency, and a chocolate brand. He also began his own game show called Beast Games. It streams on Amazon Prime Video. Court filings in 2024 revealed he earned over $220 million in 2023, with projections of $700-million earnings for 2024. The content creator is also known for his charitable actions. In 2024, he committed himself to donating all of his YouTube revenues after subtracting operational costs. So far, he has raised over $60 million for various causes and given away over a hundred cars. He has also sponsored over 1,000 cataract surgeries for the underprivileged.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TV Production Design roundtable panel: ‘American Primeval,' ‘Beast Games,' ‘Étoile'
For our Meet the Experts: TV Production Design roundtable, Gold Derby gathered together two production designers and a set decorator to discuss their beginnings in the industry and which moments they're most proud of throughout their careers. Joining us were American Primeval set decorator David Hack, Beast Games production designer Stephen Leonhardt, and Étoile production designer Bill Groom. Watch the full group panel above. Click each person's name to watch their individual interview. More from GoldDerby 'Sentimental Value' hailed as a 'masterpiece,' the 'best movie' at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival 'The Daily Show' editor Cathy Trasborg on letting Trump supporters 'reveal themselves' in the edit: 'We just let them play out' 'Beast Games' editor Mack Hopkins on the scene that was inspired by 'Dunkirk' "The Hudsucker Proxy," Leonhardt says without hesitation when asked for examples of the best production design in film and television. "That was right at the time in my life when I was deciding what I was going to do professionally," he says of the Joel and Ethan Coen's longtime production design/set decoration team of Dennis Gassner and Nancy Haigh's work on the film. "The way that they built that clock into it; it's not a subtle statement, but a bold statement, and I think that always spoke to me," he explains. " I'm not a student of film. When I watch TV show or go to a movie, I just try to enjoy it and am not looking at it for the production design," Groom admits. " The scenery is not there to be noticed. It's there to be forgotten," he adds. " I will tell you the movie that did influence me the most is Bullitt with Steve McQueen, and that's because when I was in college, it was the first movie I had ever seen. I grew up in a fundamentalist Midwestern religion. Seeing movies was a sin, and so I didn't go to see a movie until I was in college, and that movie has a moment when the hitmen burst into a hotel room and the witness they're protecting is shot. I remember in that moment, first time I'd ever seen an image that big, 40-feet wide, I was doubled over in my seat," he recalls. "I had to go to the lobby to get some fresh air and then I managed to make my way back in. I think that's when I realized the impact that the image could make." For set decorator Hack says Doctor Zhivago is his gold standard in film, and on television he has really loved the attention to detail and craftmanship on Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone prequel 1923, lauding Emmy-nominated production designer Cary White's work as " very beautifully done and executed for a streaming show." Every artist working in a film or series art department wants to create the most amazing sets, but must always ensure the physical spaces inhabited by the characters are also practical and authentic. "It's not necessarily about making something look amazing, but to make it look right," Groom says. " Sometimes, my favorite sets I've done are just the simplest ones, like a great location with the perfect piece of furniture in it." Leonhardt agrees, suggesting that "it's about being a spoke in a wheel, the way it works, and that form has to follow function. So the first question is never actually, how should it look, it's what does it have to do? And you have to answer those 'what does it have to do?' questions and what, what it has to do at some point has to do also with the audience experience," he explains. "How are people watching this going to feel? How are they supposed to feel? Is it scary? Is it intense? All of those things. But in the end, you have to answer what it has to do and then how it's supposed to look usually falls into place," he says, adding that "so many of the questions about how it looks are answered by what must it do." "Well, for me as a decorator, I see myself as a conduit," Hack says. "These really aren't my dreams. I'm trying to tune into someone else's dreams and make it come true. I try and serve people like Stephen and Bill who come up with a design that they want to achieve," he reveals. This article and video are presented by Prime Video and Netflix. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'Étoile' editor Tim Streeto on reuniting with the Palladinos for the Prime Video ballet series 'The Daily Show' editor Cathy Trasborg on letting Trump supporters 'reveal themselves' in the edit: 'We just let them play out' 'Beast Games' editor Mack Hopkins on the scene that was inspired by 'Dunkirk' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Beast Games' editor Mack Hopkins on the scene that was inspired by ‘Dunkirk'
Beast Games editor Mack Hopkins wears many hats on Prime Video's blockbuster competition series starring Jimmy 'MrBeast' Donaldson. Hopkins is a cohost and cocreator on the series, which was recently renewed for two more seasons. However, Hopkins, who started his career editing and creating content for YouTube, has his sights set on further horizons. 'My whole life is built around wanting to direct and edit movies, and so my entire style was forced into a box when we went with YouTube,' he says to Gold Derby during our Meet the Experts: TV Editors panel. Hopkins says he grew up watching movies with his father and was first inspired by the television series Star Trek to move into editing and filmmaking. More from GoldDerby 'Sentimental Value' hailed as a 'masterpiece,' the 'best movie' at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival 'The Daily Show' editor Cathy Trasborg on letting Trump supporters 'reveal themselves' in the edit: 'We just let them play out' Emmy odds check-up: 'The Pitt' prognosis is positive as it creeps up on 'Severance' 'My end goal has always been traditional stuff, to be honest. However, I found that YouTube was the best way to reach the top when I was younger. I dropped out of film school to do my first YouTube channel because I thought that maybe there was something to bring to the table with all of this knowledge and graphics and sort of like traditional style, and I think it ended up working out. So now, if Jimmy wants to make a movie, I will be the guy that has helped him before, and it's super awesome that we're in that situation now.' Beast Games takes some inspiration from Squid Game. However, it's historic in the competition reality space: 1,000 contestants — the most extensive cast for a reality show — compete for a $5 million prize, the largest single cash prize in reality television history. According to Hopkins, the 10-episode series captured so much footage of its contestants and gameplay that it would take two years to watch. 'So being there in person gave me a pretty accurate depiction of how things felt on set without having to scrub through footage,' Hopkins says of the advantage he had as an editor by being an on-air contributor. 'I witnessed things happen, and they made me, as an artist, feel a certain type of way, and so being able to recreate this general vibe of what actually occurred on set and actually what made me feel a certain way in the edit was really cool.' Hopkins also brought his knowledge of film and his love of the medium to the edit room. For one sequence, when the contestants were required to build structures out of blocks, he noticed the entire room of 1,000 people grew silent and immediately thought of Christopher Nolan. 'The block scene is just straight out of Dunkirk,' he says. 'There's a bombing scene in the film, and it is a very slow riser. There's one part where the riser hasn't reached its peak, and there is silence. Everyone's looking up, and there's this stopwatch — an organic ticking going on. And that is what the scene I'm talking about is. It's just a straight inspiration from Dunkirk. There are a lot of references in the show just based on movies, because that's what my inspiration is. Whether it's Tron with the sets or Terminator 2: Judgment Day, those are the starting points for almost everything creatively in the show, on a post-production standpoint. Everything comes from movies.' This article and video are presented by Prime Video. Best of GoldDerby 'Étoile' editor Tim Streeto on reuniting with the Palladinos for the Prime Video ballet series 'The Daily Show' editor Cathy Trasborg on letting Trump supporters 'reveal themselves' in the edit: 'We just let them play out' 'I was terrified — she has an Oscar for "Million Dollar Baby"': Melanie Lynskey on her epic 'Yellowjackets' fight with Hilary Swank Click here to read the full article.
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Hershey Gets Warning From MrBeast
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Hershey has been sent a warning by YouTuber MrBeast over their chocolate bars, saying in effect the iconic U.S. chocolate maker is trolling his viewers. Newsweek reached out to a Hershey spokesperson via email for comment on Wednesday. Newsweek also reached out to MrBeast's lawyer for comment. The Context MrBeast—whose real name is James "Jimmy" Donaldson—is one of the world's most popular YouTubers, with 396 million subscribers on the platform. The 27-year-old got his start in 2012 by posting gaming videos, and in 2017, he went viral for filming a video of himself counting to 100,000. Today, Donaldson focuses his channel on extreme challenges, giveaways and philanthropic endeavors. In 2022, Forbes suggested the Kansas native could "be the first YouTuber billionaire," with an income of roughly $54 million annually. In addition to his successful YouTube channel, Donaldson launched his Amazon Prime Video series Beast Games last year and has food brands including Feastables, Lunchly and MrBeast Burger. In March, Feastables announced their new Peanut Butter Cups. The Hershey Company was established in 1894. According to the company's website, their "portfolio of brands has expanded beyond the beloved and iconic HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bar" and includes Kit Kat, Reese's, Twizzlers, SkinnyPop, Rolo, Milk Duds, Jolly Rancher and many more. Jimmy Donaldson is seen at Prime Video's "Beast Games" Special Tastemaker Screening at the Television Academy on May 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. In the inset photo illustration, Hershey's chocolate bars are shown on... Jimmy Donaldson is seen at Prime Video's "Beast Games" Special Tastemaker Screening at the Television Academy on May 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. In the inset photo illustration, Hershey's chocolate bars are shown on July 16, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. More Eric Charbonneau/Amazon Prime Video via Getty Images; Photo Illustration byWhat To Know On Tuesday, Donaldson took to X, formerly Twitter, to call out Hershey over their packaging, which appeared to be similar to Feastables' color. "When I search Feastables on Target I get this Hershey ad that conveniently uses our Feastables blue color," he wrote. "They also buy pre roll ads on my YouTube channel and Beast Games." "Stop harassing my fans Hershey, they don't want you," the content creator concluded, alongside a crying face emoji. At the time of publication, his message racked up more than one million views. When I search Feastables on Target I get this Hershey ad that conveniently uses our Feastables blue color.. They also buy pre roll ads on my YouTube channel and Beast Games. Stop harassing my fans Hershey, they don't want you 😭 — MrBeast (@MrBeast) May 20, 2025 What People Are Saying In the comments underneath the X post, Donaldson responded to several fans. X user @DirectedbyAlexg wrote in a note with 33,000 views and 129 likes: "I bought a huge pack at Sam's club yesterday way better then Hersheys." In response, Donaldson said in a remark with 32,000 views and 347 likes: "There's a reason the new cups have a 4.5 star rating after 2,000+ reviews. ;)" @HabibiCapital_ added in a message with 47,000 views and 630 likes: "Thank you for focusing on ethical sourcing of chocolate still with a delicious taste and affordable price. U a real one fr [for real]." Donaldson replied in a comment with 45,500 views and 492 likes: A red heart emoji. @danielcberk shared in a line with 41,600 views and 103 likes: "I love Hershey but it's because I haven't tried Feastables yet. Would love to try Feastables and evolve my allegiance." Donaldson said in a post with 39,600 views and 278 likes: "Try the new cups!" What Happens Next On Tuesday, Donaldson posted a giveaway on his Instagram, which was tied to his birthday on May 7. "One more day to enter my birthday giveaway (pinned on my page) 10 lucky winners will be getting $50,000 each!" he wrote, alongside several photos of himself holding a giant Feastables Birthday Cake bar. "I will be announcing winners on my story throughout the week starting May 26th!"
