When YouTube Stars Make a Movie, Superfan Marketing Is Baked In

A straight-to-DVD or video-on-demand movie might raise suspicion. But in the maturing world of digital-first talent and production, it's the only logical way.

YouTube stars Grace Helbig, Hannah Hart and Mamrie Hart just made the leap from small screen to slightly less-small screen in Camp Takota, a feature film released on Feb. 14. For $10, fans can download or stream the movie, with extras including a behind-the-scenes documentary, movie posters and t-shirts packaged at incremental price tiers. And like many in the music, comedy and gaming worlds before them, its producers felt empowered to bypass traditional studio distribution because legions of rabid fans were already baked into the balance sheet. Read more...