Yes, that sounds absurd. But consider: MrBeast’s popular videos have a distinct filmography. His early videos ("Counting to 100,000") are raw and lo-fi. His middle videos have complex narrative arcs ("$500,000 Squid Game in Real Life"). His current videos are cinematic productions with budgets rivaling Hollywood.
The filmography of Alfred Hitchcock teaches us about suspense, framing, and the "McGuffin." The popular videos of Zach King teach us about misdirection, digital masking, and the six-second hook. Both require vision. Both require editing. Both require an understanding of the human gaze.
In the modern digital landscape, the way we consume visual media has split into two distinct, yet increasingly overlapping, orbits. On one side, we have the storied tradition of filmography —the chronological catalog of a director’s or actor’s cinematic journey. On the other, we have the chaotic, viral energy of popular videos —the TikTok dances, YouTube vlogs, and Instagram Reels that dominate our daily feeds.
Yes, that sounds absurd. But consider: MrBeast’s popular videos have a distinct filmography. His early videos ("Counting to 100,000") are raw and lo-fi. His middle videos have complex narrative arcs ("$500,000 Squid Game in Real Life"). His current videos are cinematic productions with budgets rivaling Hollywood.
The filmography of Alfred Hitchcock teaches us about suspense, framing, and the "McGuffin." The popular videos of Zach King teach us about misdirection, digital masking, and the six-second hook. Both require vision. Both require editing. Both require an understanding of the human gaze.
In the modern digital landscape, the way we consume visual media has split into two distinct, yet increasingly overlapping, orbits. On one side, we have the storied tradition of filmography —the chronological catalog of a director’s or actor’s cinematic journey. On the other, we have the chaotic, viral energy of popular videos —the TikTok dances, YouTube vlogs, and Instagram Reels that dominate our daily feeds.
