TOGETHER WITH

It's a happy Thursday for Roblox lovers. Fans of the game platform will soon be able to play an upcoming beta version in VR—if they’re willing to drop a cool $300-$999 on a Meta Quest 2 or Pro headset, that is.

SEEING RED

TikTok is joining forces with Redbox for a cinematic cross-country collaboration

Need a breather while grocery shopping? You’ll soon be able to stop for a TikTok break while deciding which Redbox DVD to rent for movie night.

The Byedance-owned platform has struck a deal with Redbox to bring its short-form videos to 3,000 rental kiosks across the U.S. (that’s about one-third of the 34,000 Redbox kiosks currently in operation). Renters interested in a particular film will be able to peruse a selection of TikToks to get an idea of the movie’s social media presence before making their final selection.

TikTok and Redbox (and frequent Redbox renters) aren’t the only parties benefiting from the new collaboration. Thanks to Crackle Connex—which shares Redbox’s parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment—advertisers will also be able to buy space next to the newly-introduced TikTok videos.

TikTok’s Head of Global Distribution for New Screens, Dan Page, hopes those high-traffic locations will help unlock “an effective and fresh approach to advertising” for the short-form app. TikTok’s own popularity could prove to be a significant boon for Redbox, too. The DVD rental service was acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment last year in a $375 million deal after peaking at 772.8 million rentals in 2013.

🔆 PARTNERED 🔆

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HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• Sports YouTube channel Breezy Golf is opening a bar and lounge at a Five Iron Golf location in New York City’s Herald Square. (Tubefilter)
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• According to Tumblr CEO Matt Mullenweg, the platform is losing $30 million per year. (Gizmodo)
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• AppleTV+ has snagged an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Commercial thanks to an ad starring Timothée Chalamet. (Deadline)
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• A Congressional investigation has determined that multiple major tax companies—including TaxSlayer and H&R Block—granted Meta and Google access to “sensitive filing data.” (Engadget)

DATA • STREAMERS ON THE RISE 📈

This speedrunning champ has three words of advice for up-and-coming streamers: “Just go live.”

Squeex didn’t become a speedrunning streamer because he wanted to grow an online fanbase or rise to fame. He started going live on Twitch, he says, because he “just loved watching it”—and because he’s always taken party games “a little too seriously.”

As a kid, that competitive spirit didn’t always make him the most popular playmate.

But on Twitch, Squeex’s serious approach to gaming has made him a speedrunning star. The creator has now been streaming on the platform for about seven years, and went full-time around 2021.

In that time, he’s attracted nearly 115,000 followers, collaborated with multiple creators, competed in speedrunning tournaments, and scored hosting and interviewing roles at major events like the Streamer Awards. Squeex isn’t planning to slow down anytime soon, either. The creator says he’s planning to make 2023 “a year full of traveling and a year full of working with other creators to see what we can do.”

But despite all that success, Squeex says his “philosophy on streaming” has remained the same over the years: he’s just trying “to do whatever I want.” Because if he’s having fun, he reasons, then his viewers probably are, too.

It’s a philosophy that Squeex recommends to other Twitch streamers—especially those who are just starting out on the platform. His advice to aspiring creators: “Stream because you like it. Don’t stream because you want to grow your channel.”

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

There’s some movers and shakers in the world of talent management

Underscore Talent is welcoming a brand-new partner. The talent management firm’s co-founders and co-CEOs, Reza Izad and Dan Weinstein, have jointly announced the decision to hire former TalentX Entertainment exec Maxwell Mitcheson:

Mitcheson previously worked at bicoastal talent agency A3 Artists before taking on the role of Head of Creator Management at TalentX Entertainment. He’s also served as an executive producer on several projects, including Facebook docuseries Sway Life and upcoming Wattpad adaptation The QB Bad Boy and Me. That experience will be a vital asset at Underscore, which often helps clients with the development of fresh content.

The firm will also benefit from Mitcheson’s extensive industry connections. The exec is bringing talent manager Mallory Llewellyn to Underscore with him, in addition to several notable creators. Talent managed by the Mitcheson and Llewellyn includes Noah Beck, The Herbert Family, Instagram beauty guru Foinika Kay of ExteriorGlam, and makeup influencer Mireya Rios. Those stars will join Underscore’s current roster of 200+ creators, which counts kid creators Vlad and Niki, TikToker CelinaSpookyBoo, and makeup star Tati Westbrook among its ranks.

WATCH THIS 📺

A surfboard-stealing otter is on the loose in Santa Cruz

Per Gizmodo, a five-year-old otter is currently “stalking the waters off the coast of Santa Cruz.” The serial thief has been caught on video wrestling surfboards away from humans, and she’s apparently getting bolder with each attempted robbery. According to Santa Cruz residents, “otter 841” has becoming “far more pugnacious” over the last week.

Concerned viewers can take a look at footage of the (alleged) crimes here. But be warned: a mastermind as cute as otter 841 might just lure you the dark side.

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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen. Drew Baldwin helped edit, too. It's a team effort.