BlackBoxTV
BlackBoxTV is a commercial YouTube channel and production studio founded by director Tony E. Valenzuela.[1] It was launched on August 17, 2010[2] and relaunched on April 13, 2012[3] as part of YouTube's $150 million original channel initiative.[4] The channel, which has collaborated with Wes Craven,[5] Guillermo del Toro[6] and Anthony E. Zuiker,[7] is home to BlackBoxTV Presents, which Variety called "the longest-running scripted drama online" in March, 2016.[8]
BlackBoxTV | |||||||
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YouTube information | |||||||
Channel | |||||||
Years active | 2010-present | ||||||
Genre | Horror | ||||||
Subscribers | 902,697 (August 2018) | ||||||
Total views | 134,318,617 (August 2018) | ||||||
Associated acts | Joey Graceffa Bree Essrig Shane Dawson | ||||||
Catchphrase(s) | Turn the dark on | ||||||
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Updated 24 August 2018 |
History
The channel originally launched in August, 2010 with one scripted series - BlackBoxTV Presents, a horror anthology featuring a cast of YouTube creators including Philip DeFranco, Justine Ezarik and Shane Dawson.[9]
In October, 2011 it was announced[10] that BlackBoxTV was among 100 entities YouTube had partnered with as part of a $150 million investment in television-style programming.[11] The channel relaunched on April 13, 2012 with four new series: Silverwood, Black Friday, True Stories and Anthony E. Zuiker Presents, produced in collaboration with CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker and Collective Digital Studio.[12]
In 2014, Legendary Entertainment partnered with the channel to produce Versions of Elloise for the “YouTube Space House of Horrors: A Legendary Halloween short film contest.”[13] The film was selected among ten finalists by Guillermo del Toro.[14] Also in 2014, Alpine Labs (formerly Ketchum Labs)[15] partnered with BlackBoxTV to distribute the reality competition series Fight of the Living Dead.[16]
Programming
Year | Title | Featuring | Notes | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010–Present | BlackBoxTV Presents | Bree Essrig Nikki Limo |
Horror anthology series in the vein of The Twilight Zone created by Tony E. Valenzuela.[17] | Current |
2012–2013 | BlackBoxTV: Silverwood | Brea Grant Drake Bell |
Eleven-part scripted horror anthology series set in the remote mountain town of Silverwood, California.[18] | Concluded |
2012-2013 | Black Friday | Various | Weekly news magazine hosted by rotating correspondents exploring genre pop culture.[19] | Concluded |
2012 | True Stories | Jessica Rose | Unscripted reality series focusing on the scary and supernatural, including sleepovers in real haunted houses and exploring frightening places.[20] | Ongoing |
2012–2013 | Anthony E. Zuiker Presents | Bill Bellamy Goran Višnjić |
Scripted anthology series featuring 10- to 15-minute episodes developed by Anthony E. Zuiker.[21] | Concluded |
2013–Present | BlackBoxTV Pranks | Jesse Wellens | Hidden camera series featuring staged pranks and hoaxes based on horror films.[22] | Concluded |
2015 | The Fourth Door | Joey Graceffa | Twelve-episode scripted supernatural drama series also starring Monique Coleman. | Acquired by go90[23] |
2015-2016 | Fight of the Living Dead | Meghan Camarena Iman Crosson |
Reality competition series where 10 YouTube creators try to survive a simulated zombie apocalypse.[24] | Acquired by YouTube Red[25] |
2015–Present | BlackBoxTV Presents: Horror | 360 | Monique Coleman Lenne Klingaman |
Virtual reality anthology featuring fictional characters and urban legends from the world of horror. | Ongoing |
2017-2018 | Find Me | Madison Lawlor | VR/360 narrative series produced in partnership with Collab and the Los Angeles Times featuring visual codes and puzzles for viewers to solve.[26] | Ongoing |
360/Virtual Reality
In October, 2015 the channel launched BlackBoxTV Presents: Horror | 360, a virtual reality series for mobile devices and VR headsets. The 11-episode first season included collaborations with Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.[27] On September 26, 2017[28] the series won "Best Immersive Series" for excellence in 360 and VR filmmaking at the 2017 Streamy Awards.[29] In September, 2016 Collab announced[30] it had signed a deal with BlackBoxTV to represent the channel and fund two 360 video projects.[31] In 2017, the channel debuted Find Me, a scripted virtual reality series, mobile app and game produced in partnership with Collab and the Los Angeles Times.[32]
Audio Series
In 2018, Serial Box acquired the rights[33] to produce Silverwood: The Door, a scripted audio series and eBook that will expand the BlackBoxTV: Silverwood universe.[34]
References
- Young, Aaron (January 13, 2017). "This movie shows how creepy Iowa's Villisca Axe Murder House is". USA Today. Retrieved August 15, 2018 – via Gannett.
- Miller, Liz Shannon (August 17, 2010). "Sxephil, iJustine and Shane Dawson Spill Secret Fears for Black Box TV". GigaOm. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Knowingly, Inc.
- Shen, Maxine (April 13, 2012). "CSI's Anthony Zuiker is back with BlackBoxTV Web fears". New York Post. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via NYP Holdings, Inc.
- Lyons, Dan (November 7, 2011). "Google Plans to Turn Existing TV Industry Upside Down". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via The Daily Beast Company.
- "Wes Craven on BlackBoxTV". BlackBoxTV. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- Graser, Marc (September 2, 2014). "Legendary, YouTube Launch Halloween Film Contest with Guillermo del Toro". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
- Hale, Mike (September 4, 2012). "A Yahoo Series About Cyberterrorism". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via The New York Times Company.
- Young, Aaron (March 17, 2016). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Digital-Content Marketplace Event". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
- Miller, Liz Shannon (August 17, 2010). "Sxephil, iJustine and Shane Dawson Spill Secret Fears for Black Box TV". GigaOm. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Knowingly, Inc.
- Szalai, Georg (October 28, 2011). "YouTube Announces TV Initiative With 100 Niche Channels". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group.
- Lyons, Dan (November 7, 2011). "Google Plans to Turn Existing TV Industry Upside Down". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via The Daily Beast Company.
- Humphrey, Michael (October 17, 2012). "YouTube PrimeTime: The Collective Explains How A Digital Studio Works". Forbes. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via Forbes Media, LLC.
- Graser, Marc (September 2, 2014). "Legendary, YouTube Launch Halloween Film Contest with Guillermo del Toro". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
- Yamato, Jen (October 27, 2014). "Guillermo Del Toro To Pick Finalists In YouTube Horror Hunt: Video". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Deadline.
- Johnson, Ted (July 21, 2014). "Alpine Labs Names Jamie Denenberg Partner and Chief Strategy Officer". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
- Bramlett, Matthew (August 4, 2014). "Ketchum Labs and BlackBox TV Teaming Up to Terrify YouTube Stars and Explore Haunted House". TheWrap. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via The Wrap News, Inc.
- Young, Aaron (March 17, 2016). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Digital-Content Marketplace Event". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
- Baldwin, Drew (April 13, 2012). "Anthony E. Zuiker Debuts Original Series on BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.
- Hallam, Scott (April 4, 2012). "BlackBoxTV YouTube Channel Launching on Friday, April 13th". Dread Central. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- Baldwin, Drew (April 13, 2012). "Anthony E. Zuiker Debuts Original Series on BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.
- Shen, Maxine (April 13, 2012). "CSI's Anthony Zuiker is back with BlackBoxTV Web fears". New York Post. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via NYP Holdings, Inc.
- "Extreme photo booth prank a step too far?". The Telegraph. April 13, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013 – via Telegraph Media Group, Limited.
- Coggan, Devan (October 25, 2015). "YouTube: The Fourth Door web series trailer starring Joey Graceffa". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Meredith Corporation.
- Robinson, Will (August 9, 2016). "YouTube: Fight of the Living Dead trailer features YouTube stars, zombies". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Meredith Corporation.
- N'Duka, Amanda (5 August 2016). ""YouTube Red Making 'Lazer Team' Sequel, Picks Up 'The Thinning' Digital Film- TCA"". Deadline. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
- Sprague, Mike (December 14, 2017). "Check Out Episode 1 of the New VR/360 App Narrative Series Find Me". Dread Central. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Dread Central.
- Spangler, Todd (July 15, 2016). "In Nod to Lights Out YouTube Origins, Warner Bros. Taps YouTube Creators for Scary Promos". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
- Hipes, Patrick (April 27, 2017). "Streamy Awards 2017 Sets Date For Twitter Live Stream". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Penske Media, LLC.
- "Winners 7th Annual Streamy Awards Winners". Streamy Awards. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- Longwell, Todd (September 29, 2016). "Collab Signs Horror Channel BlackBoxTV to Network, Partners on 360 Videos". VideoInk News. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via VideoInk News.
- Weiss, Geoff (September 29, 2016). "Multi-Platform Network Collab Signs YouTube Horror VR Channel BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.
- Sprague, Mike (December 14, 2017). "Check Out Episode 1 of the New VR/360 App Narrative Series Find Me". Dread Central. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Dread Central.
- Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2018). "Serial Box Unveils SILVERWOOD Cover". Dread Central. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Dread Central.
- Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2018). "Serial Box Unveils SILVERWOOD Cover". Dread Central. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Dread Central.