😱 Creator Sells Horror Pic for Millions

A year ago, Curry Barker was making $800 YouTube horror flicks. Now his feature Obsession just sold for a reported $15 million after a standing-ovation premiere at Toronto. The 25-year-old Alabama native built his following on sketch comedy and DIY horror (Milk & Serial) before leveling up into the festival spotlight.

@popculturebrain

This 25-year-old YouTuber just sold a movie for over $10M (Source: THR) #youtube #youtuber #currybarker #obsession #horror #film #movies #... See more

The deal with Focus Features beat out bids from A24 and Neon, thanks to Focus’ global distribution muscle. For context, that number tops A24’s seven-figure pickup of Talk to Me, another YouTuber-made horror hit. Considering Obsession cost under $1 million to make, the upside here is staggering and it positions Barker as a fast-rising name in horror.

Jason Blum, Roy Lee, and Steven Schneider already bought his next script (Anything but Ghosts) before Obsession even premiered. Barker now has momentum, a stacked lineup of producers, and the internet buzzing. It is proof that digital creators can leap from YouTube budgets to multi-million-dollar deals.

^{For the full article from Aaron Couch at The Hollywood Reporter, click here.}

⏳ The TikTok Ban Countdown

The September 17 deadline is almost here and TikTok’s future is still hanging in the balance. With 170 million U.S. users and a $24 billion creator economy tied to the platform, even a short-term shutdown could send shockwaves through brand deals, affiliate campaigns, and the Creator Rewards Program.

Why It Matters for Creators

• Income streams are at risk: TikTok remains a top driver for brand deals and affiliate sales.

• Diversification is urgent: Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and email lists help reduce over reliance on one platform.

• Audience control is key: creators who collect first-party data like emails or SMS signups are less vulnerable to platform changes.

• Brands will shift budgets: if TikTok falters, expect rapid reallocation to competing platforms.

No one knows if the September 17 deadline will mean another extension, a forced sale, or a ban. What is clear is that creators who prepare now by spreading content, capturing audience data, and experimenting with new revenue models will be in the best position to ride out whatever happens next.

^{For the full recap from Katie Salcius at Forbes, click here.}

🍁 Unpacking Fall Aesthetics

@_emilyrangel_

Pumpkin coffee cake 🎃🍂 A fluffy moist pumpkin spice cake with a touch of brown butter layered with brown sugar streusel and a maple glaze,... See more

The internet has turned fall into its own entertainment season. Cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice, golden leaves, and rainy-day reads have moved from lifestyle blogs and YouTube routines into TikTok trends that rack up billions of views. Creators like Chasitey Pounds and Caitlin Covington have built entire careers around bottling up that autumn feeling, proving that comfort content is as marketable as comedy or drama.

How You Can Capitalize This Season

1. Lean into nostalgia: Back-to-school vibes and cozy routines resonate across generations. TikTok hashtags like #fallaesthetic and #autumnaesthetic now top 7 billion views combined.

2. Highlight comfort cues: Visuals of coffee, blankets, and candles generate higher engagement because they trigger emotional calm. NielsenIQ reports the pumpkin spice market alone produced $800 million in sales last year.

3. Play the scarcity card: Audiences know fall is short. That urgency drives higher watch time and encourages binge-style scrolling during September and October.

4. Experiment with evergreen fall: Audiences keep watching cozy content year-round. Posts that simulate autumn energy even in summer can still go viral, making fall a 12-month strategy.

5. Tap into meme culture: Annual moments like “Christian Girl Autumn” or Starbucks’ PSL launch resurface every year, giving creators reliable content anchors with built-in audience familiarity.

What makes fall aesthetics so sticky is their ability to feel both personal and universal. A latte on a chilly morning can be filmed in Vermont or Los Angeles and still trigger the same response. For creators, that means fall content is less about the season itself and more about packaging comfort.

^{For the full article from Kenyatta Victoria at Ebony, click here.}

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~ Brian F.

Content We Referenced Today

1. A Year Ago, He Was Making $800 YouTube Movies. Now He’s Sold a Horror Pic For Millions - The Hollywood Reporter

2. Countdown to the TikTok Ban: What Creators Can Do - Forbes

3. Unpacking the Internet’s Obsession With Fall Aesthetics - Time