YouTube Filmmakers Take Over Hollywood While Actors Stay Home

Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 84!  SAG-AFTRA just approved a new contract with a 91 percent approval rate — but only 19 percent of members voted. What does that level of disengagement actually say about where actors are right now? E-Kan and Rían fresh off an inspiring conversation with SAG-AFTRA board member and AI safety advocate Heather-Ashley Boyer, discuss - What can actors learn from her story of taking her frustration and taking action?  Then the conversation shifts to what might be Hollywood's biggest wake-up call in years. YouTube filmmakers Kane Parsons and Curry Barker just delivered two of the biggest theatrical hits of the year — and Hollywood is now actively hunting for the next one. We break down what that actually means for working actors and filmmakers, and what these directors understood about craft and persistence that traditional Hollywood keeps forgetting.  The thread connecting all of it: the actors and filmmakers winning right now all figured out what they stood for and went for it. Is this the wake-up Hollywood needs? More importantly — is it yours? And why on Earth does Rían continue to watch horror films yet is horrified by them?  Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Hidden Gems:  E-Kan's BDay freebies - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGa8sf2E2-A&t=176s Aloha snack bars - https://aloha.com/collections/protein-bars?srsltid=AfmBOoo9V8EbV69spqkDCGOoFiqe0pZe1tu4rMEFoTuqMmqOg-jXJHS- LINKS: Backrooms No. 1, A24 film- https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/backrooms-a24-highest-grossing-movie-overtaking-marty-supreme-1236768950/ Obsession- https://www.aol.com/articles/obsession-aims-break-even-more-181946000.html Curry Barker interview- https://www.instagram.com/p/DZLM7bNlTRC/ Markiplier interview - https://www.instagram.com/p/DVhF7fjFSvT/ Dylan Clark - https://deadline.com/2025/12/portrait-of-god-movie-jordan-peele-sam-raimi-in-works-1236631767/ Dylan Clark "Portrait of God" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI9fKfX5V68 Time Stamps: (00:00) Intro (02:03) SAG-Aftra Voting turnout was disaster (08:25) What we can learn from Heather-Ashley Boyer SAG Board Member (10:17) YouTube takes over Hollywood with "Obsession" and "Backrooms" (19:40) Is there a distinction of YouTube filmmakers vs filmmakers? (22:01) What actors can learn from Curry Barker (27:00) Find what you enjoy and do it (31:25) Theater is a place where actors can get reps (32:35) Rían is a glutton for punishment (36:12) Hidden Gems