BY SAM GUTELLE
AOL unveiled 12 new original series during its presentation at Digital Content Newfronts in late April. Of that group, AOL is now set to release what is perhaps its most intriguing new offering. The online video platform has released a teaser for Follow Me, which will chronicle the off-camera lives of YouTube stars.
The 10 episodes of Follow Me claim to offer behind-the-scenes access to some of the online video community’s biggest stars. Included in the series’ cast are Brittani Louise Taylor, 5 Second Films (5SF), Our 2nd Life (O2L), Marquese Scott, ScrewAttack!, Secret Life of a BioNerd, fouseyTube, Black Nerd Comedy, and Megan Nicole. These diverse creators have one important commonality: They’re all partners of the multi-channel network Fullscreen, which produced Follow Me for AOL.
AOL has found success working alongside YouTube stars in the past, and Follow Me will up the ante by bringing in a plethora of familiar faces. If the series’ stars leverage their respective fan bases, it has a great chance to become AOL On’s most successful new original, no matter how many Emmy nods Steve Buscemi’s Park Bench scores.
Follow Me also arrives at a time when its core subject is making headlines. For instance, Connor Franta’s sullen vlog about his troubled off-camera emotional state served as an important reminder that life behind the YouTube curtain isn’t always as glitzy as it seems. Will Follow Me be able to accurately explore this compelling topic? We’ll begin to know when the first two episodes arrive on July 29th.
Screengrab via AOL