Nestled among the industrial park close to the Burbank airport, a part of an old airplane body has found new life, having been reimagined within the vicinity of Disney and Warner Bros. studio lots.
This part of the aircraft has been transformed into a movie set, serving as the backdrop for video creator Dhar Mann to film his unique, self-penned productions. These works embody his belief in motivating, elevating, and spreading a bit more optimism throughout society.
The airplane section is now a movie set where popular video maker Dhar Mann shoots original videos that follow his philosophy of inspiring, making people feel good, and adding positivity to the world.
On a chilly April afternoon in Burbank, Mann guides a group of golf carts through his expanded campus, consisting of three buildings and over 100,000 square feet, housing various school sets, restaurants, a shopping mall, city streets, courthouse, jail, as well as “rich” and “poor” homes. At any given instant, around eight filming sessions are taking place, ensuring that his staff of almost 200 stays busy.
In the beginning, when we were creating scenes outside my flat and required diverse filming locations, my dining area became a restaurant set, my bedroom transformed into a hospital patient room, practically every item in my home served as a production prop,” Mann reminisces, pointing out that some of his apartment’s furniture is still used on these sets today.
His current studio isn’t just any ordinary workspace; it boasts an entire collection of automobiles (which includes several police vehicles) and even a piece of an aircraft as well.
Here, you’ll find authentic movie-quality sets. We employ similar equipment and resources as those used by TV production companies, but now, this high-quality content is accessible on YouTube,” he explains, further noting that his company manages to produce at approximately one hundredth the cost of traditional productions.
Just a stone’s throw away on a secluded street in Burbank, a vibrant classroom has been metamorphosed into a science lab. A director guides actors donned in white lab coats and safety glasses to respond to an event happening off-camera (they’re performing a giant “elephant toothpaste” experiment for the scene). This scene is destined for an upcoming episode of Alan’s Universe, a scripted series created by the renowned YouTuber Alan Chikin Chow, who closely observes the takes from behind the camera operator.
Within his studio structure, Chow’s K-pop influenced color scheme of pinks, purples, and blues permeates every space and setting, extending from a corridor adorned with lockers, resembling a high school, to bedrooms and bathrooms that, despite their vibrant hues, carry the familiarity of any teenager’s space.
In a conference room within his building, Chow explained that their previous videos were around eight minutes long and had more of a vignette style rather than being heavily story-driven. He admits that the early episodes might not have been suitable for traditional television viewing. However, he emphasizes that due to the improved space, equipment, storytelling, and attention to detail in their writing, the content they’re producing now is comparable to a Disney Channel Original Movie in terms of quality. There’s no significant difference between the two, with both offering high-quality storytelling, detail, and world-building.
Chow and Mann are emerging as skilled content creators in a growing network across the U.S., particularly Los Angeles, who are utilizing their extensive social followings and YouTube’s monetization opportunities to establish genuine production studios. This is a fresh studio system being developed alongside the existing one.
Chow and Mann represent a new breed of professional creators flourishing in cities like L.A. and beyond, using their social media influence and YouTube’s revenue options to set up legitimate production companies. A modern studio setup is arising alongside the traditional one.
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel a thrill when I see the attention my favorite creators are getting from Wall Street and Madison Avenue. Chow and Mann have both shared that they’ve experienced significant investor interest in their ventures, which seems to be a growing trend within the sports creator sector. Just look at Dude Perfect, who raked in an impressive $100 million last year through investment, or MrBeast, aiming for a massive $200 million with a whopping $5 billion valuation for his business. It’s an exciting time to be a fan!
My creative friends who were once single and carefree are now settling down, buying homes, getting married, and having children. They’re grappling with the question of how to balance their careers with these new life responsibilities. They’ve established successful YouTube channels, but they’re also seeking a way out that allows them to enjoy their new lives, provide for their families, and not relinquish what they’ve built. Essentially, they want to increase their earnings while maintaining creative control over their businesses, without handing the reins to a media company that may not fully grasp digital content creation.” – Mann explains. “They desire a means to make more money, maintain control of their business creatively, and avoid having a media company without YouTube experience take over and potentially mismanage their digital content.
In the meantime, advertisers are actively reallocating their funds towards content created by influencers, recognizing not just the rising standard of production, but also its significance to a younger demographic.
Brian Albert, a top YouTube executive, states that it’s become clear to everyone that these creators are cutting-edge media companies. They not only write the scripts, but also produce and direct their work, making them multi-talented.
Towards the end of March, on Manhattan’s western side, as the sun dipped over the Hudson River, several prominent creators convened at an advertising gathering organized by the creative agency Spotter. The YouTube figures Colin and Samir presided over the event, reflecting upon how the entertainment industry has evolved beneath their feet.
On stage, Samir Chaudry remarked that YouTube CEO Neal Mohan described creators as the fledgling businesses of Hollywood, and he noted that many of these emerging enterprises are increasingly resembling established studios. Meanwhile, marketing professionals from firms such as Uber and Shopify gave attentive nods in agreement.
More and more, similar to the expansion of Hollywood, these production companies are thriving beyond the boundaries of the Los Angeles metropolis.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at how MrBeast has transformed Greenville, North Carolina into a bustling hub for his extravagant, unscripted productions. But let me tell you something equally exciting: Kinigra Deon is crafting her own scripted entertainment studio in Birmingham, Alabama, and I can’t wait to see the magic she weaves!
In 2021, I returned to Alabama, not to flee Hollywood, but to create my very own version of it, as I shared with the audience at the Spotter event.
Right smack in the heart of Frisco, Texas, just a stone’s throw north of Dallas, the brilliant minds behind Dude Perfect have crafted an astounding 80,000 square foot kingdom, complete with an indoor turf football field (equipped with goalposts), a colossal basketball court (adorned with motorized nets for those intricate trick shots), a gaming zone, gym, and offices. To make things even cooler, there’s a secret slide hidden behind a bookshelf that offers a fun-filled escape route to the lower floor. And guess what? They’re also building a permanent stage set for their popular YouTube variety show, Overtime. As a fan, I can hardly wait to see all these incredible creations in action!
On a recent tour of the facility, a group consisting of YouTube executives, marketing personnel, local authorities, and several families, were shown around the premises by the Dudes. In an entertaining twist, they utilized a device to create enormous smoke rings in the air above the visitors, all while providing guided tours.
Or:
During a recent facility tour with YouTube executives, marketers, local officials, and their families, the Dudes entertained the crowd by producing large smoke rings using a device, and led the group around the site.
In a conference room near their basketball court and golf green, member of Dude Perfect, Coby Cotton, remarks that “People’s anticipation for a YouTube channel can vary significantly as they enter this place.
Notably, Dude Perfect additionally owns the structure adjacent to their current location, and they’re thinking about transforming it into a versatile production studio for fellow content creators. Included in these plans is the establishment of a cutting-edge virtual production setup.
Andrew Yaffe, who is the CEO of Dude Perfect, stated that this is only part one, but it’s a significant aspect as well because others will be able to create and record content in it.”
“According to Andrew Yaffe, CEO of Dude Perfect, while this is just part one, it’s an essential element since others will be able to produce and film content in it.
Currently, sports figures such as Tom Brady are venturing into space to create content for their personal social media channels or collaborate on videos, and Cotton anticipates this trend will intensify.
Since Dallas is a popular destination for major athletes and celebrities due to concerts or competitions happening throughout the year, we anticipate that Dude Perfect will be an appealing spot for them to visit casually, perhaps even bringing their children, create some content, similar to how they might consider a late-night talk show.
If studios symbolize the growth of the creator economy, nearby offices symbolize its maturation. During a tour of his Burbank facility, Mann pointed out that many of his crew members came from companies like Disney and Lionsgate, and that Sean Atkins, the CEO of his company, used to be the president of MTV. Meanwhile, Yaffe joined Dude Perfect after working at the NBA, where he managed its digital initiatives as its EVP.
In this version, I attempted to make the sentence structure simpler and more conversational while maintaining the original meaning.
In the face of the disruptive changes affecting conventional media industries, creator studios have emerged as attractive destinations for seasoned media professionals.
Chow points out that we have a casting director who previously worked for Nickelodeon, and she was in charge of The Thundermans. Occasionally, we encounter resistance from individuals who aren’t as open-minded. I would often ponder, what’s the distinction? Our casting director hails from Nickelodeon, our production shares a budget similar to Nickelodeon shows, and the quality of our world-building and scripts are just as impressive. I believe it boils down to people gradually realizing that this is the new era.
As the CEO of Dhar Mann Studios, Atkins was among those individuals who had chosen to depart from conventional media at MTV and Discovery. Prior to joining Mann’s company, he served as the president of JellySmack, a creator-centric firm.
Atkins compares the present situation to the initial stages of cable television and unscripted programming, where one entity often held an advantage in terms of operation, creativity, and cost. These early players typically climbed up the value ladder over time, he notes. What sets today’s creators apart, according to Atkins, is their unique mindset. They grew up in a world where they had to handle everything, giving them a distinct perspective.
I admire Mann greatly. He shares an inspiring story. Last year, he was presented with an opportunity to sell his company, but instead of cashing out, he put his faith in himself and the future of creator-driven content on platforms like YouTube. This decision has proven to be fruitful, as YouTube alone has distributed over $70 billion to video creators since its inception. It’s truly amazing to see someone bet on their vision and succeed!
Mann remembers that money lay there, and it struck him: what did he truly wish to spend his life doing? This career presented an opportunity beyond anything he had ever imagined.
Originally published in the May 7 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine, you can access it by clicking here to subscribe.
Read More
- Ludus promo codes (April 2025)
- DEEP PREDICTION. DEEP cryptocurrency
- CXT PREDICTION. CXT cryptocurrency
- Mini Heroes Magic Throne tier list
- DOT PREDICTION. DOT cryptocurrency
- Best Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered sex mods for 2025
- Fortress Saga tier list – Ranking every hero
- Tap Force tier list of all characters that you can pick
- Call of Antia tier list of best heroes
- Cookie Run Kingdom: Shadow Milk Cookie Toppings and Beascuits guide
2025-05-08 15:55