YouTubers Can Make Movies?!?!
A collection of thoughts I wanted to share about things I care about deeply.
Original Music by @MyKeyTheArtist
Below are filmmakers whom I believe approach filmmaking in exciting, different, radically independent ways:
Great Movies on YouTube (playlist will be updated) – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKtIcOP0WvJC6pYqGayL7RY3M3C2RHK9K&si=ieyVIlYEnEgBEzZY
Watch Don Hertzfeld’s films here – https://vimeo.com/donhertzfeldt/vod_pages
John Cassavetes Interviews
https://youtu.be/LuC7Ok8cRYY?si=xDYvz9ZZrWVbG4xB
https://youtu.be/ePptcNqXRJA?si=Td1NbAH7ygBTekrh
https://youtu.be/DFqBSl-6KWI?si=kckNi_sxbjtf2KHm
Louise Weard’s Movies – https://digital.louiseweard.com
Reckless Ben’s Documentaries on his YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/@RecklessBen/videos
No doubt there are many others, I can’t wait to find them. It could even be you!
@theghostsofgiants
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Kogonada went from Youtube to more traditional drama.
@colbydfeliz
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Just wanted to say the camerawork is really impressive here, Joel!
@DifferentStrokesApology
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
26:42 there is a Brian Regan interview where he discusses this concept. After a show he told someone on the street that he was "trying to be a comedian" and an audience member interrupted him and said "why did you say that, you just made me laugh in there, you should say I am a comedian" something like that.
@RyanTypeBeat
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Holy shit Pivot
@7dana474
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
I love the desert
@Vanque13
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Much love from western mass!
@nman97
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
That van looks like it could haul a crazy amount of DBs
@SecretSoundSociety
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Its easy to pay for advertisement if you own the platform running the ads, they can easily spread mindshare and hype something up before it releases and after
@Alex_Doscious
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
sooo, which one are you in that hock toowie? 9:57 dangit ralphie!
@DavidsWorldYT
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Joel the shot of you speaking inside the van after sunset is beautiful. I watched this whole video and found it very interesting.
@NefariasBred
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Where else would the new generation of filmmakers be found than on the internet?
@SirPickleworth
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
A side tangent but as a fellow young silver hair haver it's nice to see someone else rocking the grey hair. Thanks Joel, we out here!
@roo1080
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
This desert is so Paris,Texas coded
@JoshuaMutter
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Something that's been bumming me out lately is that I'm finding it harder and harder to discover good art that isn't being pushed by marketing/PR. Places like Reddit and YouTube aren't organically pushing such things into visibility like they used to, and I'm not aware of any spaces where I can go to get my fill. Sometimes I realise I'm scrolling through social media in the subconscious hope of finding something of value like I maybe had in the past before I realise it's not happening.
@jessestone117
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
8:58
@jessestone117
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
The intro is like the seven psychopaths of Joel Haver videos
@killmesoftly3215
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Yeah they can make movies, I'm just waiting on one that has rob bottin levels of practical effects and really good movie sets like silent hill lol kinda sick of all this pg13 horror😂i need to be disgusted by the monster or killer and stunned, almost overwhelmed by the gore/disgusting depressing setting😂 guess I'll have to wait to see if jacks bloodbourne movie is any good
@rosameltrozo5889
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
I really don't get Geese
@Boppo68
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
lazer team by rooster teeth movies from youtubers is absolutely not new alot of early artist were in school for it this was a great start for them
@kristoferhutter3873
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
2:27 To be fair, the only YouTube movies we had ten years ago that were actually released as feature length films by bit studios were like, Fred the Movie, and Smosh the movie. (Not counting short film personal projects directly on YouTube) It's only recently that really great YouTubers have had the opportunity to make actual fully fledged films. It's important to note too, that Smosh and fred both essentially sold the rights to their name in order to make those projects, and basically ended up making shitty brainrot. It was also trying to appeal to a much younger audience, sure some of these YouTubers still have a new group of teens watching them who will go see these films, but most of us are young adults, or in our mid 20s now. We really can appreciate these films, and then coming directly from the creative minds of people like Kane Parsons, Markiplier, and Curry Barker makes all of the difference, especially since they have full creative control over them.
@alextrebilcock5646
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Great video
@sausageskin
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Man discovers he exists and is unsure what to do (or not to do)
@Iamperson1965
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
I have a movie idea but I don't know… i could never find anyone to help me. I can do anlot but not everything and so it could never just be a movie and more always just a concept.
@LevMass
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Does Brigsby Bear count as a YouTuber movie? I have to believe it does.
@cenciende9401
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
I could only DREAM of $300 a day! Holy crap! BUT anyone creatively integral to a film should absolutely get more from the success of it beyond initial payment, just like actors often do
@Atticah
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Just do the ol easy change someones life movie documentary from a youtuber lol Aint nobody doing those videos anymore, so it's time for the movie.
@24601st
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
can't wait for this movie to premiere in theaters worldwide
@squip9260
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
I think a reason youtuber movies are looked down upon and them being successful is such a media shock is because youtuber movies like the smosh movie, logan pauls movies, and shane dawsons movies that were really bad and made for money put a bad taste in everyones mouth and made "youtuber movie" synonymous with garbage cash grab.
@stephenaelkinsactor
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
I've been a fan of yours for awhile now, so naturally I watched the whole thing :). I haven't graduated to making features yet. I recently had to release my agent and step away from acting professionally for financial reasons. But, I have an iPhone. I'm learning how to use DaVinci now and I have YouTube. As an actor, I was always frustrated because I never had opportunities to audition for the kind of roles I really wanted. With YouTube, I'll be free to write and film myself in those roles I always wanted (and I'm quasi-actively working on that now). I may unload semi trailers by day, but via the YT platform I can still get my big face out there in a manner which I strive to be seen. Thanks for the reminder.
@liamjames4433
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
not a single original experience, you and I are just products of the internet 26 from Australia and you have unlocked several core memories here
@HeyRooster42
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
RLM did Space Cop…
@ignitionnight
June 13, 2026 at 6:57 pm
7:45 Hawk-one-ah. I'm dead. Best/worst joke ever. Internet has officially peaked and hit rock bottom at the same time.