The biggest YouTuber of all time is changing things in a small eastern North Carolina town. So how much of an effect can an online celebrity have in a real life city?
My son has worked as a videographer and production assistant on several MrBeast projects. He reports that as fun-filled as many of his stunts appear, there is a dark, contentious atmosphere during many of the productions. I think there is such a thing as getting too big, too fast in any industry, but a YouTube "creator" in his early twenties with the adulation of a population the size of the US? That generates a whole other level of hubris.
As a mother who enjoys watching Mr. Beast's videos with my two children I find his content wholesome without being nerdy. There's no cussing and the videos are action based and exciting. One thing in particular, I didn't hear you discuss, about Mr. Beast is his philanthropic work. My favorite videos are the giving away of the surgery or basic needs like shoes to hundreds sometimes thousands of people. He could easily give to just local charities ( and he does) but he gives globally and uses his platform to educate people and particularly young kids who are his audience. While my kids dream of being part of Mr. Beast's inner circle of friends I dream of being part of Mr Beast Philanthropy. There's truly something for everyone and that's what makes his content so relatable and why he's so successful.
Thanks for the story I found it fascinating and informative.
Thanks! For what it's worth, there's been a lot of discussion about MrBeast's particular brand of stunt philanthropy. As in: He could just give away money in private, but instead he makes videos about it to get attention, which seems sort of hollow, but if he didn't do that, then he couldn't make even MORE money to give away. It's circular logic, but despite the method, he DOES help out a lot of charities. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/12/magazine/mrbeast-youtube.html
Yeah I've heard the argument but that in itself is also a problem...why is there any argument surrounding donations and awareness going to a nonprofit? He uses his platform to make the money and to educate people in the different causes. I'd be interested to hear what the "Mr. Beast effect" for those charities has been. I may be wrong but I think there was at least once where he challenged his viewers to donate or to share information or something like that and the charity blew up. Seems like his spotlight could do a lot more than even his donation. In sales (at least the sales I was in) it is said that an educated customer is your best customer. He is educating a large number of future donors and there's nothing hollow about that. One of the biggest hurdles for nonprofit is getting their message out there. If your cause is worthy the donors will give, they just need to hear about it first.
It would be weird, in my opinion, if Mr. Beast didn't make videos on his philanthropic work. That is the nature of the beast after all. I think people just want something to complain about or for something to knock someone (especially Mr. Beast) down with. We are jealous creatures and unfortunately our society rewards the hate. I'll end where I started...why is there any argument surrounding money and awareness being raised for charity? Unless it's for a nonprofit that tortures puppies or something messed up like that the haters need to move on.
One thing I need to stress is that the dark side of tension-filled acrimonious productions mentioned in the episode and by Stuart W. In his comment are in NO WAY unique to Mr. Beast and his organization. It’s not like he’s a bad person to work for and all other productions are friendly. Almost every single shoot with a sizable production budget is like this.
I speak from experience. For many years I was an advertising producer shooting with well-know directors in New York and LA. I’ve seen production people quit on the spot because the pressure was too great. And many people burn out quickly in the industry.
Jeremy even hit on this in the episode. With union filming in established production centers there are many protections that came about because of years of abuse. The creator economy hasn’t developed these formal protections yet. I highly doubt Mr. Beast’s workforce is unionized.
I am in no way defending Mr. Beast nor accusing him of anything. I don’t know enough about him, the way he runs a set, or his management style. My point here is simply that big-budget filming, the likes of which Mr. Beast does all the time, is inherently an incredibly high-stress, combative, and burn-out prone environment, even on the best productions with the nicest directors.
My son has worked as a videographer and production assistant on several MrBeast projects. He reports that as fun-filled as many of his stunts appear, there is a dark, contentious atmosphere during many of the productions. I think there is such a thing as getting too big, too fast in any industry, but a YouTube "creator" in his early twenties with the adulation of a population the size of the US? That generates a whole other level of hubris.
As a mother who enjoys watching Mr. Beast's videos with my two children I find his content wholesome without being nerdy. There's no cussing and the videos are action based and exciting. One thing in particular, I didn't hear you discuss, about Mr. Beast is his philanthropic work. My favorite videos are the giving away of the surgery or basic needs like shoes to hundreds sometimes thousands of people. He could easily give to just local charities ( and he does) but he gives globally and uses his platform to educate people and particularly young kids who are his audience. While my kids dream of being part of Mr. Beast's inner circle of friends I dream of being part of Mr Beast Philanthropy. There's truly something for everyone and that's what makes his content so relatable and why he's so successful.
Thanks for the story I found it fascinating and informative.
Thanks! For what it's worth, there's been a lot of discussion about MrBeast's particular brand of stunt philanthropy. As in: He could just give away money in private, but instead he makes videos about it to get attention, which seems sort of hollow, but if he didn't do that, then he couldn't make even MORE money to give away. It's circular logic, but despite the method, he DOES help out a lot of charities. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/12/magazine/mrbeast-youtube.html
Yeah I've heard the argument but that in itself is also a problem...why is there any argument surrounding donations and awareness going to a nonprofit? He uses his platform to make the money and to educate people in the different causes. I'd be interested to hear what the "Mr. Beast effect" for those charities has been. I may be wrong but I think there was at least once where he challenged his viewers to donate or to share information or something like that and the charity blew up. Seems like his spotlight could do a lot more than even his donation. In sales (at least the sales I was in) it is said that an educated customer is your best customer. He is educating a large number of future donors and there's nothing hollow about that. One of the biggest hurdles for nonprofit is getting their message out there. If your cause is worthy the donors will give, they just need to hear about it first.
It would be weird, in my opinion, if Mr. Beast didn't make videos on his philanthropic work. That is the nature of the beast after all. I think people just want something to complain about or for something to knock someone (especially Mr. Beast) down with. We are jealous creatures and unfortunately our society rewards the hate. I'll end where I started...why is there any argument surrounding money and awareness being raised for charity? Unless it's for a nonprofit that tortures puppies or something messed up like that the haters need to move on.
I really enjoyed this podcast, thanks Jeremy.
One thing I need to stress is that the dark side of tension-filled acrimonious productions mentioned in the episode and by Stuart W. In his comment are in NO WAY unique to Mr. Beast and his organization. It’s not like he’s a bad person to work for and all other productions are friendly. Almost every single shoot with a sizable production budget is like this.
I speak from experience. For many years I was an advertising producer shooting with well-know directors in New York and LA. I’ve seen production people quit on the spot because the pressure was too great. And many people burn out quickly in the industry.
Jeremy even hit on this in the episode. With union filming in established production centers there are many protections that came about because of years of abuse. The creator economy hasn’t developed these formal protections yet. I highly doubt Mr. Beast’s workforce is unionized.
I am in no way defending Mr. Beast nor accusing him of anything. I don’t know enough about him, the way he runs a set, or his management style. My point here is simply that big-budget filming, the likes of which Mr. Beast does all the time, is inherently an incredibly high-stress, combative, and burn-out prone environment, even on the best productions with the nicest directors.
Yeah, this was a really important thing that Drew brought up. His co-reporter on the piece, Taylor Lorenz, wrote a story about MrBeast's working conditions during her time at The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/04/technology/mr-beast-youtube.html
I'm amused every time I drive by the buses (https://maps.app.goo.gl/EuM19Soj86q2RrEw5) from his jet car jump video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rri83pDN6kc