Hollywood’s traditional gatekeepers are witnessing one of the most significant shifts as the line between YouTube creators and cinema blurs. With the theatrical releases of ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession,’ it is apparent that YouTube creators are the future of the movie industry because of their unique advantages—they already have a ready-made fanbase to bring to cinemas.
While speaking in an interview with Discussing Film, ‘Backrooms‘ director Kane Parsons stated recent events may spark a “wave” of YouTubers venturing into Hollywood. As the film industry hunts for fresh voices, these digital archives are no longer viewed as amateur content but as the blueprint for the next generation of studio filmmakers.
Kane Parsons Expects More Creators To Enter Hollywood
During the interview, Parsons shared his belief that the success of internet-native filmmakers could encourage more creators to transition from YouTube into the film industry. Parsons suggested that recent projects by YouTube creators may inspire others to pursue similar opportunities.
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“I can’t speak to the trend, but I bet there’s going to be a little bit of a wave following what’s happened this year,” he said. The rapid development of Parsons’ career serves as a prime example of the power of social media. For those not in the know, the 20-year-old started off as a content creator and eventually gained popularity.
The filmmaker rose to prominence through his viral ‘Backrooms‘ videos on YouTube, which ultimately led to a feature-film adaptation backed by major Hollywood producers. It looks as though the industry is finally becoming more interested in creators from other media.
Why ‘Backrooms’ And ‘Obsession’ Signal A Shift In Hollywood?
The comments from Parsons hint that Hollywood may be open to accepting directors who started out on YouTube. The success of movies such as ‘Backrooms‘ and ‘Obsession‘ indicates that people are ready to support independent creators who have made a name for themselves online. Furthermore, another reason more internet-born creators are venturing into Hollywood is the success of ‘Obsession.’
With this project, director Curry Barker managed to build up quite an impressive fanbase through YouTube. Together with his partner, Cooper Tomlinson, the filmmaker gained worldwide recognition for ‘Milk & Serial.’ Produced for just $800, the 2024 horror film hit the theaters for free.
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Within a few months, Barker developed the plot, wrote, directed, and edited it. In fact, Barker starred in the film, proving to the world that he can do more than shoot simple YouTube clips. With ‘Obsession‘ now in theaters, movie fans view Barker’s entire online portfolio as a prelude to a Hollywood filmmaker rather than some amateur content.
As the horror movie performs well commercially, many critics and industry observers view his extensive online catalog not as amateur internet content but as the foundation of a filmmaker who spent years refining his craft before arriving in Hollywood.
Studios increasingly sought after internet-born creators in search of IP and fresh faces. Parsons’ own journey from YouTube horror content producer to director of a major Hollywood film reflects this trend even better. If the success of ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ continues, one can only expect many more YouTubers to enter the movie business soon.
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