Six months after launching its fan-fuelled studio Stubios, Fox-owned streamer Tubi has launched its first four titles. The creator-led shows were selected in partnership with Issa Rae, the Insecure star whose own creative journey began with digital first content.
The four projects to have been greenlit are:
A docuseries from viral sensation Lady London which will bring fans along on the journey of her life and the creation of her debut album.
A film starring Kelon Campbell, based around his TikTok-viral character Terri Joe. The dramedy will have Terri Joe leaving her small town to see if the world is the big bad place of sin that her parents and pastor always preached about.
An original half-hour scripted comedy called Mo’ Waffles about a new diner on Atlanta’s crowded restaurant scene. The series will star Grant Gibbs and Ashley Gill, of the TikTok comedy duo A Twink and a Redhead and Robin Jordan, an actress and content creator known for her comic sketches about restaurant life.
A comedy special called Jokes On Us: New Voices In Comedy. Airing on December 5th the special will feature new 15 minute sets from stand up comics Cris Sosa, Daniela Mora and Grant Moore.
Issa Rae, co-founder of her own company ColorCreative, said “It has been so fulfilling to mentor these Stubiorunners. I love being involved in the development process. Resources matter, and between myself, Tubi and ColorCreative, we’re thrilled to support these creators and, hopefully, fast track their careers.”
In addition to the four greenlit Stubios, 14 additional applicants have been selected to join the programme and attempt to earn a greenlight from fans on the platform. Fans can learn about each project and support creatives by engaging with posts. The project that receives 15,000 engagements first will receive a greenlight. If no one reaches that milestone within 3 weeks, the finalist with the top spot on the Stubios platform’s leaderboard will earn the greenlight.
Finalists were chosen by a panel of judges at Tubi and ColorCreative and selected on a variety of criteria including creativity of concept and differentiation from the current Tubi catalogue. Projects run the gamut, from a horror film about a glamping trip gone wrong, a raunchy teen comedy about how a back seat hook up led to a lucrative rent-by-the-mile love hotel and a dramedy about a freestyle rapping food delivery driver, who struggles with panic attacks and financial hardship. “The applicants selected to go through the greenlight experience represent the future of collaborative long-form content,” said Nicole Parlapiano, CMO at Tubi (pictured). “We’re excited to watch these finalists share their unique stories, grow their following and connect with their fans through Stubios.”
According to Tubi, “Stubios is a programme for creatives that enables their fans to have a say in what gets made. Stubiorunners, creatives who are accepted into the programme, have the ability to ask fans their opinion on everything from casting to key art and fans follow along throughout the production process. When projects go live, fans can show their support by watching the content and once viewership surpasses a threshold, the Stubio runners will be greenlit for their next project, creating a flywheel of success to build a sustainable career.”
Joining the programme as the first sponsor, PepsiCo’s STARRY will be featured in Mo’ Waffles. STARRY will be integrated into storylines in an organic way through product placements. “STARRY is a perfect partner to bring into the programme, their affinity within the Gen Z adult audience and focus on telling irreverent stories made them a natural fit for Mo’ Waffles,” said Parlapiano.
