Shane Dawson, one the dozens of YouTube stars coming to Vidcon in Anaheim.Image: YouTube Vidcon Stars Smosh With just over 18 million subscribers, the comedy duo Smosh (Ian Andrew Hecox and Anthony Padilla) is one of the top YouTube acts in the game. Video: YouTube, Smosh TheFineBros The FineBros, who make the popular “Kids React” videos and submitted for an Emmy nomination, boast nearly 9 million YouTube subscribers. Video: YouTube, TheFineBros Bethany Mota Bethany Mota is among the biggest beauty/lifestyle vloggers on the internet with 6.5 million subscribers. Video: YouTube, Bethany Mota Shane Dawson Shane Dawson is a YouTube star mainstay and is creeping up on 6 million subscribers. And check out that new haircut! Video: YouTube, Shane Dawson TV Tyler Oakley With 4.6 million subscribers, Tyler Oakley is one of many YouTube stars to start in one city and make the move to Los Angeles. Video: YouTube, Tyler Oakley Annoying Orange Annoying Orange creator Daneboe will be at Vidcon celebrating the channel’s recent 2 billion views milestone — a club that includes just over 100 channels overall. Video: YouTube, Annoying Orange JoeyGraceffa The Massachusetts native treats his 3.5 million subscribers to a little bit of everything — he’s a gamer, singer, spoofer, actor — whatever suits his fancy. Video: YouTube, JoeyGraceffa TomSka TomSka (real name: Tom Ridgewell) calls himself a “20something British Comedy Person” — which about says it all. He’ll be up over 3 million subscribers soon. Video: YouTube, TomSka Kingsley Kingsley describes himself as “some goofy ass kid from Missouri” — good for 2.8 million YouTube subscribers. Video: YouTube, Kingsley MysteryGuitarMan Joe Penna, a.k.a MysteryGuitarMan, uses animation, stop motion and other tricks to trick out his music vids to the delight of his 2.8 million subscribers. Video: YouTube, MysteryGuitarMan missglamorazzi Ingrid Nilsen goes as missglamorazzi, and brings a mix of “beauty, fashion and healthy food how-to’s” to her 2.7 million subscribers. Video: YouTube, missglamorazzi Grace Helbig Grace Helbig had some 2.4 million subscribers on her DailyGrace channel before leaving MyDamnChannel to strike out on her own. She’s rebuilt 1.8 million of those subscribers and is just getting re-started. Video: YouTube, Grace Helbig Vlogbrothers Let’s not forget about Hank and John Green (yep, the one who wrote “The Fault in Our Stars”), who conceived of the very first Vidcon in 2010 and will make their return this week. Video: YouTube, vlogbrothers Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/06/26/vidcon-2014-13-top-youtube-stars-youre-sure-to-see/
Creators of 2012’s Academy Award-nominated animation ParaNorman are teasing a new 3D stop-motion film, The Boxtrolls, in a trailer that emphasizes families come in all shapes and sizes. The movie appears to follow ParaNorman‘s footsteps by highlighting gay characters. Near the end of ParaNorman, the film reveals Mitch is gay. The revelation in a children’s movie angered some viewers, while others praised the inclusion. Unlike this new trailer for The Boxtrolls (watch above), trailers for ParaNorman didn’t acknowledge a gay character. “Sometimes there’s a mother, sometimes there’s a father, sometimes there’s a father and a father, sometimes both fathers are mothers,” explained the narrator of The Boxtrolls trailer. Other times, orphaned children, like the boy named Eggs in this movie, are raised by Boxtrolls — “underground cavern-dwelling community of quirky and lovable oddballs who wear recycled cardboard boxes the way turtles wear their shells.” The Boxtrolls is based on Alan Snow’s fantasy adventure novel Here Be Monsters from 2005. “The Boxtrolls is a visually dazzling mash-up of gripping detective story, absurdist comedy, and steampunk adventure with a surprisingly wholesome heart,” Travis Knight, CEO of stop-motion animation studio Laika, said when announcing the flick in February. The movie arrives in theaters in September 2014. “The Boxtrolls is a moving and human story with timelessness and powerful emotional resonance,” he added. “We’re thrilled to partner with Focus Features and Universal to bring this remarkable story to family audiences around the world.” BONUS: 9 Gay Leaders Making a Difference in Technology 9 Gay Leaders Making a Difference in Technology 1. Chris Hughes One of the co-founders of Facebook, Hughes left the company in 2007 to become director of online organizing for Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign. In 2010, the entrepreneur founded Juno, a social network aimed at connecting users interested in social good and activism. Currently, Hughes is the publisher and editor in chief of The New Republic, a progressive political commentary magazine. Hughes married partner Sean Eldridge, president of investment fund Hudson River Ventures and LGBT equality advocate, in June 2012. Image courtesy of Facebook, Chris Hughes 2. Peter Sisson Sisson founded telecommunications company Toktumi in 2008. The company is known for its successful app, Line2, a VoIP service that makes voice calls over Internet protocol addresses rather than relying on telephone companies — similar to Skype. According to Big Think, Sisson says being a gay entrepreneur can be challenging, but in his home of San Francisco, it’s a “non-issue.” “There’s never been any sort of problem with anyone finding out that I was gay and suddenly not wanting to do business with me or not wanting to fund me,” he said. Image courtesy of Facebook, Peter Sisson 3. Peter Thiel Best known for co-founding PayPal and working as its CEO, Thiel is also a successful venture capitalist and hedge fund manager. When eBay acquired PayPal in 2002, Thiel’s stake was estimated around $55 million. He also made the first outside investment in Facebook in 2004, securing a 10.2% stake for $500,000. […]
A fifth star has emerged among the four leading ladies of HBO’s Girls. We speak not of Adam, Ray or even the soon-to-be absent Charlie, but of Shoshanna Shapiro’s whimsical hair. Each episode, Shoshanna surprises us with intricate braids, oddly-placed buns and daring hair accessories. Though some border on ridiculous, her ‘dos never fail to get us talking. To gear up for season three of Girls, use these simple hair tutorials to channel your inner-Shosh. Do Your Hair Like Shoshanna Shapiro 1. The delicate side bun she wore during her sidewalk sale. YouTube user Claire Ashley shows how to pull off this pretty ‘do. Image: Tumblr, glorious-girl-crushes Video: YouTube, Claire Ashley 2. The ponytail side braid she wore to Radhika’s party. Shoshanna is known for her braided styles, including this casual take off the classic side ponytail. Image: Tumblr, girlscaps Video: YouTube, candypoo1100 3. The low chignon and a black fascinator she wore to Hannah and Elijah’s party. Sure, she may have been overdressed, but we haven’t seen a fascinator rocked this well since Princess Beatrice at the Royal Wedding. Image: Tumblr, overheardateverywhere Video: YouTube, CinthiaTruong Complete the look with this black Etsy hairpiece from sweetgrassmill. Price: $16.00 Image: Etsy, sweetgrassmill 4. Her French braided bun from Jessa’s wedding Shosh may have accidentally worn white to her cousin’s wedding, but at least her hair looked perfect in this classic updo. Image: Tumblr, whatshouldafricacallme Video: YouTube, Hair Style At Home 5. Her dutch-braid ponytail and beaded flower hairpin Follow this YouTube tutorial for a simpler version of Shoshanna’s braided ponytail. Image: HBO Video: YouTube, Pretty Girls Hairstyles Finish with this beaded hair pin from Etsy seller theBeadtanicalGarden. Price: $5.00 Image: Etsy, theBeadtanicalGarden 6. The giant sock bun she wore to Charlie’s company party To style yours just like Shoshanna, follow the quick tutorial below using about half of your hair and positioning on the side of your head. Image: Tumblr, dopplegangbros Video: YouTube, SMLx0 7. Her teased ponytail from the Bushwick party Shoshanna’s teased style held up for the entire night, even after her “crackcident” and subsequent jog on the streets of Brooklyn. Image: Tumblr, cappinggirls Video: YouTube, Imogen Foxy Locks 8. Her effortless top knot All top knots are not created equal. Copy Shoshanna’s perfect messy top knot with this easy tutorial. Image: Tumblr, jennauskowitz Video: YouTube, ohgeeitsbri Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/01/13/shoshanna-hairstyles/
A collective gasp rang across Twilight superfandom-ville Wednesday after news broke of Kristen Stewart’s indiscretions with Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders. Fans stumbled into crisis mode when Stewart released a public apology, specifically to boyfriend and Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson. Amongst the hardest hit in this real life Twilight saga was the Team Edward YouTubers who uploaded their tear-filled feelings about the scandal. YouTube pseudo-celeb and frequent Twilight reaction video poster NuttyMadam shared her peeved feelings on the sitch. The video title pretty much sums it up (though you should totally still watch): “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS KRISTEN?!” Viral Photo Gallery 7 Fake Hurricane Sandy Photos You’re Sharing on Social Media Fake Hurricane Sandy photos flew around Twitter and Facebook on Monday, as users shared jaw-dropping images. Unfortunately, the race to post the most striking pics has most folks skipping the all-important fact check. We’ve gathered up five “Hurricane Sandy” photographs that have spread on the social web, but weren’t actually taken during the massive storm. Obama and Romney Are Your New Dress Up Dolls Still not sure who to vote for? Or maybe you’re dead-set on a candidate, and simply waiting for Election Day next week. Regardless of who you’re voting for on Nov. 6, both of these presidential candidates could use some change — of outfits, that is. The websites Change4Obama and Change4Romney will keep voters entertained until the election. Both sites, created by social discovery site SocialPlex, allow users to dress up Barack Obama or Mitt Romney as various characters. You can mix and match features like hair, eyes, nose and outfits. Your Favorite Logos Reimagined for the Zombie Apocalypse [PICS] There seems to be a craze for reimagining top logos and since this is Halloween, why not rethink them for a zombie apocalypse, right? Assuming that event were to come to pass, here’s what your neighborhood Starbucks and the gas station down the street might look like, as envisioned by artist Ben Fellowes. For more of these horrifying logos, check out his site. New York City Subway Needs a ‘System Restore’ [PIC] Yes, crashed Windows OS, we know the New York City subway system was unable to restart after Hurricane Sandy. And, yes, we would love to run a system restore. After Sandy ravaged the East Coast Monday evening, the subway system in New York City was left crippled. Not immune to inclement weather, the Windows-based display above the 77th Street subway stop seemed to have hit a snag as well. ‘The Walking Dead’ Gets ‘Dear Photograph’ Treatment [PICS] Dear Photograph, a popular nostalgia blog showcasing photos within photos, gave its visitors a terrifying surprise Wednesday: The Walking Dead-inspired posts. Dear Photograph creator Taylor Jones told Mashable he teamed up with FOX International Channels on the Halloween Day images, which folks at The Walking Dead created for their international ad campaign. Each of the two blog posts showcases a zombie and a post-zombie-apocalypse caption. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/25/kristen-stewart-cheating-reaction-video/
The Avengers: Age of Ultron marks the fourth time Chris Hemsworth will play Thor in the Avengers franchise.Image: Marvel Studios Avengers 2: Age of Ultron is currently filming at the UEA Campus Norwich in England, and we have the only video from the set. It’s a Cinema Blend exclusive. Watch as Joss Whedon films an entire scene with Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, right here… It’s no secret that after the events of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Captain America: The Winter Soldier that there are a LOT of job openings for recruits in the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. We still haven’t seen the impact events of The Avengers made on Tony Stark’s shiny new office tower. You know, the one he finished just in time to witness the Chitauri invasion? Well, if you have the same questions we do, then this video may offer a few clues. In the video, we see a bunch of what looks like recruits jogging on top of or around what could be part of the recently renovated Avengers Tower. Considering the last thing we see at the end of The Avengers is Tony Stark already drawing up plans for a newly designed headquarters, and the fact that we saw the tower’s re-branding confirmed thanks to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, we know that Avengers Tower is being used for something other than Tony Stark’s personal playground in The Avengers: Age Of Ultron. Perhaps it’s training the next generation of badasses. Image: Cinema Blend Given that Director Phil Coulson is now in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D., and he looks up to (who else) Steve Rogers/Captain America, I’d be willing to bet that these are new S.H.I.E.L.D recruits training up as the first class since the H.Y.D.R.A made their lives a living hell. Keeping this in mind, it would also be a safe assumption that the new uniforms are a stylish blue in tribute to the first Avenger himself. Also, it’s a nice change from the simple black uniforms everyone wore, and considering Tony Stark is kind of fond of blue from his arc reactor days, the decision was probably a mutual one. Let’s just hope Clark Gregg gets that phone call for an extended cameo in The Avengers: Age Of Ultron, because a reunion between Tony and Phil would be one of those moments that’d easily make any top 10 moments of summer 2015 list. Speaking of the friends of Phil, why is Thor calling down the lightning on set? Image: Cinema Blend When you consider how the events of Thor: The Dark World panned out, maybe this this time out Thor’s a reluctant warrior. After all, he’s just given up the throne of Asgard and started to settle down in England with Jane Foster. Since his favorite travel method is throwing Mjolnir into the sky and taking off for parts unknown, he’s probably been summoned to talk with Tony and Steve, […]
10 Epic Trick Shot Stunts on YouTube 1. Bow and Arrow Trick Shots This dude is awesome. 2. Billy’s Balls 2 Who knew you could have so much fun with a ping pong ball? 3. Hey, Pass Me A Beer! This recent viral hit elevates the simple act of passing a beer to Olympic levels. 4. Mini Golf Trick Shots Fact: You have never seen mini golf played like this. 5. Trick Shot Basketball – Dude Perfect – Summer Camp Edition The Dude Perfect crew is master of the basketball trick shot. 6. Vinyl Throw: MusicBunk This viral marketing stunt is brilliantly done. 7. Waboba Trick Shots (Part 1) The How Ridiculous guys show off their Waboba skills in fine style. 8. Ice Cold Bowling Trick Shots The cold weather just adds to the cool in this fun video. 9. Frisbee Trick Shots – Brodie Smith Brodie Smith sure can throw a mean Frisbee. 10. Epic Trick Shots – The Football Edition These cute kids are the future of the trick shot video genre. BONUS: Guys Backflip Into Jeans Finally, we’re adding this viral hit to our list. Though there’s technically no ball sport action, it has all the elements of a trick shot classic. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/14/best-trick-shot-videos/
Warning: The following clip contains a spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen the last episode of season 6. Showtime has released a clip of the first two minutes of the seventh season of Dexter, a chilling scene that picks up right where last season’s cliffhanger left off. Season 7 begins with Debra catching Dexter embracing his “dark passenger” and trying to explain what happened in the highly-discussed season finale. Although it clears up a few questions — how will Deb react to seeing Dexter in that situation and how Dexter will try to clarify things — it’s hardly a spoiler. In fact, the clip ends with yet another massive cliffhanger. The season premieres on Sunday, September 20 on Showtime at 9:00 p.m. ET. What do you think of the two-minute preview? Will Dexter be able to talk his way out of this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. BONUS: 5 Modern TV Shows Recut as Classic Sitcoms 5 Modern TV Shows Recut as Classic Sitcoms 1. The Walking Dead Alternate Intro A zombie apocalypse is a great vehicle for comedy, right? 2. What if Dexter Had Been a Sitcom? It’s all smiles, laughter and bad sax in this re-imagined version of Dexter. 3. Lost: The Sitcom! Season 1 Intro It sure looks like the Lost gang are a fun bunch. Is that a holiday resort? 4. Breaking Bad is now on ABC In which Walt and Skyler are just your average American couple having a few marital issues… 5. The Office Recut as a Classic Sitcom With all the classic elements of a sitcom, The Office looks like it could be a comedy hit! BONUS: The Wire With a Laugh Track Finally, there’s no title sequence, but this scene from The Wire gets a laugh track. It’s amazing how the addition of some canned chortles can totally change the mood of a clip. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/13/dexter-season-7/
10 Sci-Fi Films About Mars You Can Watch Online 1. Mars Attacks! If you’re in the mood for a bizarre but hilarious black comedy, Mars Attacks! from director Tim Burton should fit the bill perfectly. Based on a trading card series from the 1960s, this B-movie parody features an all-star cast including Jack Nicholson, Lukas Haas, Annette Bening, Jim Brown, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Glenn Close, Martin Short, Jack Black, Natalie Portman, Danny DeVito and Christina Applegate. Full of campy goodness, exploding landmarks, and Sylvia Sydney gleefully exclaiming “They blew up Congress!,” Mars Attacks! is definitely worth watching, and you can rent or buy it instantly on Amazon. 2. Total Recall One of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s many well-known roles is that of 21st-century construction worker Douglas Quaid, who discovers that everything he thinks he remembers about his life are all false memories that have been implanted in his brain. So of course (because this is Ah-nold we’re talking about), much violence and impressive stuntwork ensues, as Quaid travels to Mars to figure out who he is and why he has been living a false life. There’s a new remake of Total Recall coming out Aug. 3, so if you’d like to prepare by watching the original, you can see the trailer on YouTube and buy Total Recall to watch instantly on Amazon. 3. Red Planet With a stunningly low Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 14%, Red Planet isn’t exactly a marvel of modern cinema. It is, however, a mildly entertaining adventure movie about a group of scientists sent to try to colonize Mars as impending ecological disaster threatens Earth. The mission goes horribly awry, though, and becomes a fight for survival on the Red Planet. Amazon Prime members can watch Red Planet for free, and non-Prime members can rent or buy it instantly. 4. Ghosts of Mars Director John Carpenter is best known for science fiction horror movies, and Ghosts of Mars offers a lot of both. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer any of it in a particularly compelling package, as evidenced by a paltry 21% Rotten Tomatoes rating and a $14 million box office gross (on a movie with a $28 million budget). But if you’re intrigued by a mash-up of supernatural and science fiction, you might still want to check out this story of hapless Martian colonists attacked and possessed by the ghosts of the planet’s previous inhabitants, released when miners discovered and opened a mysterious doorway. Watch it on Netflix or Amazon streaming video. 5. Robinson Crusoe on Mars Batman star Adam West, a monkey in a space suit, and aliens using humans as slave workers — this movie has it all. And, according to the trailer, it’s “scientifically authentic!” While they might have exaggerated a bit on that last part, it’s still a fun sci-fi romp that takes the adventure story of Robinson Crusoe and sets it on the surface of Mars, where Commander Kit Draper struggles to survive in the planet’s harsh environment and emerge victorious […]
Airtime — Sean Parker‘s new startup that lets users video chat with friends and strangers who share their interests — released a slick new video Tuesday that shows off the power of the service. Describing Airtime as “the Best Internet You’ve Ever Had,” the slickly produced ad shows off the service in a way that is both entertaining and easy to understand. Of course, it wouldn’t be Airtime without celebrities. The spot features cameos by Kurt Russell, MC Hammer, Gary Vaynerchuk and Ronnie Lott. I’ve had my own brush with celebrity using Airtime. The first time I tried the service, it connected me with none other than co-founder Sean Parker. The spot was produced by Portal A, the company behind the Ed Lee 2 Legit 2 Quit video. (Disclosure: Portal A also works with Mashable on original video content.) The star of the video — Ian Pfaff — is described as Portal A’s “creative jack-of-all-trades.” He works full-time at Portal acting, editing and producing music. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/17/mc-hammer-airtime/
What happens when high school theater kids grow up and get hooked on the addictive street drug known as the interwebz? Answer: YouTube videos like this one. “Tumblr: The Musical” turns the art of Tumbln’ into a catchy tune, complete Internet meme references, web culture jokes and a cameo from Hipster Ariel. Viral Photo Gallery 7 Fake Hurricane Sandy Photos You’re Sharing on Social Media Fake Hurricane Sandy photos flew around Twitter and Facebook on Monday, as users shared jaw-dropping images. Unfortunately, the race to post the most striking pics has most folks skipping the all-important fact check. We’ve gathered up five “Hurricane Sandy” photographs that have spread on the social web, but weren’t actually taken during the massive storm. Obama and Romney Are Your New Dress Up Dolls Still not sure who to vote for? Or maybe you’re dead-set on a candidate, and simply waiting for Election Day next week. Regardless of who you’re voting for on Nov. 6, both of these presidential candidates could use some change — of outfits, that is. The websites Change4Obama and Change4Romney will keep voters entertained until the election. Both sites, created by social discovery site SocialPlex, allow users to dress up Barack Obama or Mitt Romney as various characters. You can mix and match features like hair, eyes, nose and outfits. Your Favorite Logos Reimagined for the Zombie Apocalypse [PICS] There seems to be a craze for reimagining top logos and since this is Halloween, why not rethink them for a zombie apocalypse, right? Assuming that event were to come to pass, here’s what your neighborhood Starbucks and the gas station down the street might look like, as envisioned by artist Ben Fellowes. For more of these horrifying logos, check out his site. New York City Subway Needs a ‘System Restore’ [PIC] Yes, crashed Windows OS, we know the New York City subway system was unable to restart after Hurricane Sandy. And, yes, we would love to run a system restore. After Sandy ravaged the East Coast Monday evening, the subway system in New York City was left crippled. Not immune to inclement weather, the Windows-based display above the 77th Street subway stop seemed to have hit a snag as well. ‘The Walking Dead’ Gets ‘Dear Photograph’ Treatment [PICS] Dear Photograph, a popular nostalgia blog showcasing photos within photos, gave its visitors a terrifying surprise Wednesday: The Walking Dead-inspired posts. Dear Photograph creator Taylor Jones told Mashable he teamed up with FOX International Channels on the Halloween Day images, which folks at The Walking Dead created for their international ad campaign. Each of the two blog posts showcases a zombie and a post-zombie-apocalypse caption. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/27/tumblr-the-musical-video/
