What MrBeast Can Teach Hollywood

For a long time, Hollywood has controlled the way entertainment is made. Big companies take all the risk and all the reward, while talent—like actors—get paid under a work-for-hire arrangement. This worked when creating movies required expensive equipment and big budgets to put anything on film. But times have changed.

Today, all you need is an iPhone and a good microphone to become a star. This shift has given creators like MrBeast the power to control their own content. They handle everything—from creating and distributing their work to managing their own studio. Instead of just being a lead actor, they take on roles as producer, director, and studio chief. This means they carry more responsibility, but it also means they keep more of the ownership of their projects.

MrBeast has built his empire with a deep sense of ownership. In an internal production guidebook, he shared how his channel is his “baby” and how he has “given up his life” for it. He pushes his staffers to take full ownership, ensuring that no project has the chance to fail. He warns against letting a bottleneck slow things down and encourages his team to fix errors instead of passing them along.

This level of dedication isn’t just about hard work. It’s about personal connection. Many YouTubers feel deeply attached to their channels because they’ve built them with their own blood, sweat, and tears over decades. Some of MrBeast’s former employees have even spoken about this culture while maintaining their anonymity to protect business relationships.

Now, BI and industry experts agree—traditional studios need to rethink how they share the rewards. Instead of treating talent as disposable, they should offer better developmental support and let them have a stake in their own success. Some Hollywood A-listers are already shifting towards new compensation models. For example, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon launched Artists Equity, a production company aiming to remake the old system. Instead of paying performers a big amount upfront, they offer a smaller paycheck in exchange for a bigger share of post-release profits.

This shift can create a symbiotic relationship where frustrated stars no longer feel the need to strike out on their own. Instead of losing top talent to YouTube, Hollywood could embrace these new models and compete in today’s creator-driven world.

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