Since the 1920’s, Hollywood, CA was the place to be if you ever dreamed of making it in the film or music industry. Every big name actor you can think of, from Al Pacino to Brad Pitt to Tom Hanks, made a name for themselves through Hollywood. However, February 14, 2005 would go down as the day that changed both industries altogether.
YouTube, founded by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, has quickly grown to become the best route to stardom. The technologic boom of the early 21st century definitely helped aid this now-famous platform. This website has the capacity to bring Hollywood straight to you without the inconvenience of traveling to Los Angeles.
YouTubers like Marcus Butler (Marcus Butler, MoreMarcus), Yousef Erakat (FouseyTube, Dose of Fousey), Grace Helbig (ItsGrace), and Zoella Sugg (Zoella, MoreZoella) have become hugely successful through their YouTube channels. Yousef Erakat and Jimmy Tatro have even gone on to star in big Hollywood films like “Boo! A Madea Halloween” (Erakat) and “22 Jump Street” (Tatro). Through their acting agencies and sponsors, YouTubers are able to land high-class movie auditions and roles because of the success of their channels.
Some YouTubers have also made it in the music industry through their channels. The most famous example of YouTuber-gone-mega-artist is Justin Bieber. From standing behind a small camera in his living room, Bieber now sells out arenas and stadiums worldwide, all because his current manager found a video he posted of him singing.
For so many, the American dream has been just that – a dream. The idea of becoming famous seemed way too far-fetched, until YouTube came along and made something so distant appear within reach. For example, Zoella Sugg never imagined that something as simple as make-up and DIY would allow her to reach a base of over 10 million fans. Having gone through the same stress all us college kids go through, Sugg decided to distract herself by posting blogs online. Those blogs quickly turned into vlogs on YouTube, and thus began her current success.
One of the pros to getting into the YouTube game is the interaction with fans. Normal Hollywood A-list celebrities don’t get half as much interaction with their fan base as YouTubers do. While YouTube might seem like easy work, it can quickly turn into a full-time job. Alfie Deyes (Zoella Sugg’s boyfriend), for example, puts out 13 videos a week! Stress levels can skyrocket if not handled in the right fashion.
Whether or not the traditional path to Hollywood can officially be overpassed, YouTube has definitely changed the acting and music game for everybody. By buying a simple camera and some equipment, you could possibly transform your whole life with this new platform of entertainment.