💡From Netflix to Free: Yes Theory’s Award-Winning Film.
This is Creators Corner, where we serve creator insights on a silver platter, no silverware needed. Here’s what we got for you today: Yes Theory’s Award-Winning Movie Is Now Free on YouTube! No more waiting in line for YouTube ad reservations. IN THE LOOP
The Creators Corner
This is Creators Corner, where we serve creator insights on a silver platter, no silverware needed.
Here’s what we got for you today:
Yes Theory’s Award-Winning Movie Is Now Free on YouTube!
No more waiting in line for YouTube ad reservations.
IN THE LOOP
Yes Theory’s Award-Winning Movie Is Now Free on YouTube!
Gif by streamys on Giphy
But Is It Actually Any Good?
Remember that time Yes Theory made a movie about a guy who trained for and completed a triathlon in Antarctica—like, the actual South Pole, not your local ice rink? Yeah, that one. Well, guess what?
Project Iceman is now free to watch on YouTube!
But before you dive in (figuratively, not literally—Antarctica is still freezing), let’s do a quick recap:
Project Iceman follows ex-management consultant Anders Hofman as he conquers the world’s most badass triathlon.
Yes Theory said “screw you” to a major streamer to keep their creative freedom.
They partnered with Cinemark for theaters, won awards, and now they’re giving it all away for free.
So why the sudden generosity? According to Yes Theory co-founder Ammar Kandil, it’s all about accessibility, baby.
“Sure, Netflix might give you a temporary buzz,” Kandil says. “But YouTube lets a movie live forever.”
Think about it: Tiger King was like a cultural supernova on Netflix, then vanished faster than Joe Exotic’s sanity. But Yes Theory’s 2019 documentary, Lost Pyramids, is still racking up views on YouTube three years later.
Kandil says that’s thanks to YouTube’s built-in hype machine—likes, comments, and subscribers keep the party going. And that’s exactly what Yes Theory wants for Project Iceman.
So, is Project Iceman actually any good?
We haven’t seen it yet, but here’s the thing: Yes Theory knows how to make entertaining docs. Their Lost Pyramids video is hilarious, heartwarming, and surprisingly deep (think Indiana Jones meets your most adventurous grandma).
Plus, Project Iceman’s got an undeniably badass premise. I mean, who doesn’t want to see a dude braving sub-zero temperatures to run, bike, and swim through the most unforgiving landscape on Earth?
The verdict?
Grab your popcorn (or a parka, if you’re feeling fancy) and settle in for Project Iceman. It’s free, it’s about a guy doing impossible things in Antarctica, and it’s made by the Yes Theory crew. What more could you ask for?
P.S. Yes Theory’s already cooking up their next film, What Do You Want to Do Before You Die? It’s about the origins of their whole “Seek Discomfort” thing and hits theaters in 2025. Mark your calendars!
Now go forth and conquer your own Mount Improbable!
P.P.S. Seriously, go watch Project Iceman. It’s free. And awesome. And did I mention it’s free?
Happy watching!
No more waiting in line for YouTube ad reservations.
Giphy
There’s a new self-service feature for certain YouTube ad formats that makes it easier to reserve ad setups, including:
YouTube Select Lineups
Select Shorts Lineups
YouTube TV Lineups
To remind you, reservation ads let you buy a rough number of impressions—a set amount for every 1,000 views.
The new self-service setup is now available for various YouTube ad types, depending on local market availability.
The bigger the better: Also, users can now view TikTok videos on larger devices, including tablets and foldable devices.
Here’s what to expect:
A clearer video feed to keep clarity.
Navigation bars at the top and bottom of the screen.
Landscape and portrait orientation.
Hopefully that means TikTok Ads will look better, too. And as a bonus, more devices probably means more eyes on your ads, right?
Meanwhile, in Google Search land, things are still a bit chaotic.
Ever since the November reviews update, Google Search ranking has been unpredictable… and traffic is dropping across the board.
The good news is, if you’re getting weird data, you’re not alone.
The bad news is… well, you know what the bad news is.
In other news, starting in February 2024, if you want to run ads in the European Economic Area or the UK, you must use a consent management platform (CMP).
Without one, your Search Ads won’t show at all… unless you go to the trouble of implementing a new parameter in your ad request.
But that could be complicated.
This new rule was originally meant to kick off in January but has been pushed back about two weeks.
So that gives you a bit of extra time to get everything in order. Phew.
I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.
IN THE LOOP
Money
More moola: A Coherent Market Insights report estimates the creator economy will grow to $528.39B by 2023 – that’s a compounded average growth rate of 22.5%. (Yahoo!)
Our Take: Expect a growing understanding that the behemoth creator economy isn’t all about influencers.
Buying believers: Edelman found more than 73% of Gen Z buy on beliefs and actively spread the word about brands with unethical practices. That should bolster independent cinema and impact-driven creators. (Rolling Stone)
Our Take: The essay brings a twist on content as a business with impact, not just creation.
Audiences
Age difference: Internet access can make a positive difference in the mental health of US adults 50 and older. This research found a broadband rollout significantly reduced depression symptoms by 5.7% of older adults. (Hidden Brain)
Our Take: Thinking of a digital content business targeting older people? Do it.
Cookie crumble: On Jan. 4, Google will start its third-party cookie demise, rolling it out to 1% of Chrome users. It plans to hit 100% by the end of 2024. (Google)
Our Take: Amp up the work to get your audience’s first-party data.
Tech and Tools
Bye ban: Only 38% of US adults now support a federal TikTok ban, according to Pew Research. It was 50% in March. (The Washington Post)
Our Take: Don’t expect federal legislation to ban the China-based app next year.
Add yours: Instagram rolled out a customizable “add yours” template so you can create meme-able Stories and invite your followers to use them. (Tech Crunch)
Our Take: Cool way to get your audience involved in your content
And Finally
No 24/7: Google Search Liaison says listing false 24/7 hours in your Google business profile to earn local rankings could backfire. (Search Engine Journal)
Our Take: If your content business isn’t open to the public, don’t add hours to your Google business profile (but do create one).
