#What Is an OTT Platform?

[binaryinformatics01]

So you have a great idea for an over-the-top or OTT media service and want to build your own streaming platform. Kudos to you for thinking big! But before you dive in headfirst, you’re probably wondering about the costs involved. Developing an OTT platform is no small feat and can cost a pretty penny. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the factors that determine how much does an OTT platform development cost in India so you can budget properly and turn your idea into a reality.

[bolllywoodhungama]

Emma Thompson on collaborating with Shekhar Kapur on What's Love Got To Do With It: "He's very playful"

What's Love Got To Do With It?, directed by Shekhar Kapur, will be released on Lionsgate Play on November 10th. Creating relationships that can never be broken! What's Love Got To Do With It? is a cultural melting pot in which two families from radically different backgrounds come together to share the richness of their culture. What's Love Got To Do With It?, starring Emma Thompson, Lily James, and Shabana Azmi, will launch on Lionsgate Play on November 10th. This family film depicts the profound subtleties of arranged marriage in a way never seen before.

The film, directed by Shekhar Kapur, follows Zoe Stevenson (Lily James) as she investigates the nuances of love while attending her best friend's arranged marriage. Will Cath (Emma Thompson) find true love despite her mother's unwavering support? "He's very playful," Emma Thompson said of working with Shekhar Kapur. And yet, for him, the most essential thing is connections... individuals forging connections. So connecting these folks in a lighthearted way is his tremendous joy. He'll throw us all on the set and say, 'Well, okay, just respond to one another.' He'll give us a lot of wiggle room. And he recognizes that we can all accomplish it. That's why he's gathered such an impressive group." "He's extremely respected, famous, and well known in his own part of the world and here, so he's put together this marvellous cast, and he's very, very good at creating an atmosphere in which we can play," she continued. Also, he enjoys working with us, which is not true of all directors."

[levyfiles]

is it just me or is this kinda not a good idea?

I think it's a gamble. And like anyone who cares about something deeply, watching it take a high-stakes gamble can be terrifying.

What I think people don't take into consideration is just how flooded their recent youtube videos have been with scammy sponsors and cheap fast-product get-rich-quick scheming vendors. Sure, their writers and producers made it fun by adding some really excellent characters to the mix, but I wouldn't touch a thing like Mistplay if you paid me as much as they paid Watcher for their video. However, the thing is, look around at all the youtubers you know who are up and coming. You can't make it on that platform without advertising trash to your audience.

With the vimeo OTT program, i believe there is a shared revenue and more incentive to promote more simple dedicated engagement; it's not ad sense clicks; it's just clicks. It's a soft start and there are going to be some kinks to work out but if they get to control their brand more and decide what gets made without needing some nu-venture, cash hungry sponsor to look at it, then I think they could change media online for the better.

Having said all that, the execution? Not their best. Watcher--listen, I love them so much--has had a consistent and terminal administrative problem and that means stuff falls through the cracks. From a communicative standpoint, when you're about to take your company in a controversial direction, you should know two things.

The backlash! You gotta get ahead of it. You need your PR team on the go a MONTH before launch

Always soft launch a big move. Get your feelers out for how people react especially if you don't have the kind of shark PR person who would know already that people don't respond well to paying for something they didn't used to pay for.

Watcher is still a baby company in so many forms and I will wholeheartedly support their move to do what they can to keep control of their creative content today and in the future. I'm not in their offices so I can't make as prescriptive a judgement as Twitter feels emboldened to about capitalism and greed or whoever they think their audience is however I can and will say that with any form of growth, the growing pains are going to show. i'll give them grace as they pivot and figure out how best to move forward especially with the volume of vitriol the internet loves to spew when they feel entitled to art forms that used to be free.

I'll say it again. At least we're no longer having garbage peddled at us regardless how much I crave Fabian Sax biblically.

[gemsofgreece]

Hey sorry if this is a weird question but I'm learning Greek rn (mostly through Duolingo and self-study) and I was wondering if you had any suggestions of where to watch tv and movies in Greek? I don't have an ear for the language yet and would like to change that. (If you have any suggestions of what to watch I'd appreciate that too!) Ευχαριστώ!

Hello! It's not a weird question at all, there have actually been several people asking this!

What I have recommended in all these cases is ERTFLIX, the ott streaming and on demand platform of the Greek state tv. It is totally for free. The only requirement for people abroad is to make an account, also for free.

ERTFLIX streams the following channels: ERTNEWS, ERT1 (the major of the state channels), ERT2, ERT3, ERTSPORTS-1, -2, -3, ERTkids, ERTMUSIC, ERTWORLD (the international satellite Greek channel), ΒΟΥΛΗTV (the tv channel of the Hellenic parliament), RIK SAT (the international satellite tv channel of Cyprus) and the Greek broadcasting of the European channel Euronews. It also has the foreign TV channels DW and TV5 MONDE. It also has eleven radio stations (for all music tastes and sports).

Their On Demand service is even better. ERTFLIX features a large number of original ERT Greek series and old and newer Greek movies. It also has a wide selection of famous and less known foreign movies which have Greek subtitles (we don't do dubbing in live action movies in Greece, we hate it). Totally stuff you would pay for in other OTT platforms. There are also numerous documentaries, both Greek and foreign ones with Greek subtitles. ERTFLIX also broadcasts for free Greek history documentaries made by COSMOTE History Channel which is from a subscription Greek OTT platform. Honestly, ERTFLIX rocks.

ERTFLIX also keeps a large archive of the state media's old documentaries, shows, interviews, recorded concerts, movies etc, some going decades back.

My personal recs from ERT Greek series are: Έρημη Χώρα, Καρτ Ποστάλ and Αγάπη Παράνομη (the last one has some very heavy themes, don't watch if you want something more lighthearted).

The platform's menu is available in both Greek and English.

Here's where you can find ERTFLIX:

I am aware I always sound like I am the creator of ERTFLIX or something XD but I am sorry I just love it and it provides for free stuff others would charge for. Given that it is the state's channels, they also incline towards what you'd call "quality content" and I think this is particularly helpful for one who seeks to improve in the language through the consumption of this content. But it also has some more mainstream options like thrillers and blockbusters, just not as many as the wordy dramas, so to speak.)

I think this is where you should start. Why go to paid platforms when the free one is just as good, if not better, actually? I could also...ehm... make you aware of the existence of the site Greek-Movies, which has every single Greek movie, series, show, theater and documentary under the sun but it's all in Greek and like it happens with most... you know.. sailors of the Caribbean sites... you have to know what you're looking for otherwise you'll get lost. Check it out though.

Also, watch on youtube the show Eisai to tairi mou (You're My Soulmate). It's a fantastic rom-com series and the person who uploaded it, George, has added perfect English subtitles. He has done a very professional work. George has also his own website, where he offers subscriptions for watching famous Greek shows and some movies with his added English subtitles. If you are willing to pay a fee for it but are unsure of the quality, I can guarantee for the accuracy of his subtitles and for the fact that he has chosen the best of the best Greek series there are. Below I add the first episode of the series that is available for free in its entirety (30 episodes) on YouTube. In George's youtube page you will find more information about how to access his other projects.

My recommendation is to start with ERTFLIX and this free show on YouTube and when you see you develop an ear for it and liking it you can move on to paid content or the more targeted searches in the sailor site! Have fun!

*If you are interested in it, check out for Greek Radio apps, Greek audiobooks and podcasts (I always recommend the LIFO podcasts), you can find them in all the places where you find your podcasts. But maybe those are for when you get a little more advanced in the language.

[ineffable-opinions]

BL “Censorship” & Commercialization

Content: 1. ubiquitous censorship - special focus on Japanese BL 2. commercial viability of live action BL & generalizations 3. solutions - special focus on state support of Thai BL 4. [update state-supported production of Love in the Big City series]

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Censorship is a sensitive topic. I have tried my best. Please feel free to comment and critique.

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History of Korean BL is one of censorship and commercialization and Korean fu-people has struggled against both. There have been different victors at different points in time. Aljosa Puzar’s "BL"(Boy Love), "GL"(Girl Love) and Female Communities of Practice and Affect in South Korea chronicles that struggle. (Highly recommended.)

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I have tried to problematize BL commercialization before. But that was in the context of fu-culture and the commodity fetishism associated with the consumption of BL, particularly in live action form which is probably its most capitalist rendition for many many reasons.

Here I would like to look at it from another angle: censorship. This is a continuation of my earlier post (Why so many shonen ai live-action?) motivated by the live action adaptation of ‘조폭인 내가 고등학생이 되었습니다’ (I, A Gangster, Became a High School Student) by 호롤 (Ho Rol).

The live action has jumped genres switching from BL to 판타스틱 휴먼 드라마 (lit. fantasy human drama). This switch got it tagged as ‘Censored Adaptation of Same-sex Original Work’ on My Drama List. I personally don’t like that tag. Almost all BL adaptation is a censored adaptation, with notable exceptions like Sei no Gekiyaku. But no one uses that tag for, say, 25 Ji, Akasaka de (2024) which censored all sexual content, especially from the volume 1 of the manga which was critical to the story and the couple’s development in the original manga series’ and its multiple adaptations’ popularity. Sukiyanen Kedo Do Yaro ka (2024) went as far as removing the more sexual second couple from the live action adaptation all together, yet it does not get a "censored" tag.

An interesting question that the controversy surrounding High School Return of a Gangster (2024) has sparked is that of BL media’s commercial viability, especially in live action form. Here’s what producers told the Korean newspaper, Hankook Ilbo, about the genre-jumping:

"BL 장르는 제작비 투자나 리쿱(제작비 회수)에 한계가 있는 게 사실이다. 그러다 보니 처음부터 이 작품은 브로맨스로 해보고 싶었다"

“The BL genre is limited in terms of investment in production costs and recoup (recovery of production costs). So, from the beginning, we planned it as a bromance (beulomaenseu).”

The author of this article cites examples of works that enjoyed success on OTT platforms, namely Watcha’s Semantic Error and TVing's Unintentional Love Story (2023). However, the article also highlights the fact that BL continues to be a niche genre and live action adaptations don’t guarantee success.

이성택 (Lee Seong Taek), the director of High School Return of a Gangster, previously directed the BL Love Class (2022). The producer 넘버쓰리픽쳐스 (Number Three Pictures Co., Ltd.) have BL works like Unintentional Love Story under its belt.

'Unintentional Love Story' Director Jang Eui-soon (장의순) | source

If the producer of one of the two most popular live action BL is admitting to it, then it is not easy to dismiss the issue of commercial viability of live action BL.

Very famous BL publishing houses (starting with JUNE) and hosting platforms with relatively lower expenses have struggled. Some of them are no more. It is also difficult for authors to survive merely on earnings from publishing houses and hosting platforms, especially when those platforms are not very rich. So, it is not difficult to imagine that live action production houses also struggle to survive.

Take GMMTV for example. They are probably one of the most successful BL producers. According to their managing director, BL content (series) is not a profitable business in itself. They rely on khujin (branded pairs) of actors to bring in advertisement revenue, merchandize sales, and pull crowds to concerts and fan-meets. It is not enough for actors to just act. They are expected to sing, dance and perform. Meanwhile, GMMTV is forced to keep working with these actor pairs and stick to templates that suit them. While it works for now, it remains to be seen how long the business model can last.

Now there is also investment from Mainland China that has migrated to other BL producers following dangai ban. But those who invest already burned themselves pretty bad with all the money they poured in during the short-lived but explosive dangai boom. It is sunk cost at this point. Another crack down could be the death knell for Chinese investments in BL. 

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More generally, it is likely that commercial viability of a live action BL project hinges on the following:

#1 Target demographic

Like all other BL content, live action too is primarily targeted at fu-people (BL audience) – both queer and non-queer. The target demography is further sub-divided based on the type of BL and purchasing power.

Sweeter ones are supposed to appeal to all ages and that’s the area Thailand and GMMTV in particular are focused on. Most of Japanese BL series are sweet. Korea too produces sweet BL. However, they are unlikely to bring in explosive success the way odo BL (those following royal road narrative progression – wherein characters face significant challenges, interpersonal or otherwise, to reach happy ending).

Older and, perhaps more hard-core fans, are likely to support jado works (BL that follow the evil path where neither happy ending nor resolution to challenges are guaranteed) with surprising frequency. This might be partly due to the erotic content in jado works.

Purchasing power of BL fans vary widely. There are those who are

“sending gifts to their actors in Thailand, sending food trucks to their shooting locations, putting up billboard advertisements and doing charity events [as well as] ordering merchandise in bulk.”

They also travel to BL producing nations [on fan pilgrimages] and attend fan meetings, concerts and other events regularly.

(Source: The Print)

The other group of BL fans who are probably younger and/or can’t afford to show support in the above-mentioned ways. BL commercially benefits from being appealing to those with higher purchasing power.

#2 Popularity of original work in case of adaptation  

Popular BL novels, manhwa, etc. bring in a set of fans who are interested in the live action. Longer and more-acclaimed works are likely to ensure success of the live action given decent making and reasonable changes during adaptation. Semantic Error is a case in point. However, missteps during adaptation can have the opposite effect.

#3 Cost of production

It is difficult to get investment in the first place, especially with how niche the genre is. Moreover, higher cost of production sets the bar for success higher too.

On the other hand, high production quality and better cast and crew (likely more expensive too) makes the viewing more pleasurable and increases the likelihood of success.

There are other factors which influence the success of BL producers. The most popular BL live action from China, Addicted, was produced by the author, Chai JiDan, with a tiny budget. Its dangai family drama remake, Stay with Me, also has an interesting producer.

Source | Mame with her Japanese fans

Orawan Vichayawannakul’s MeMindY is another BL author led production company that has enjoyed considerable success.

OP Pictures’ entry into BL genre has also been successful.

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Solutions

#1 Let’s start with the worst

BL as money laundering vehicle. It is probably the most obvious, sort of win-win until it isn’t. Sustainability depends how much skin the ruling class have in the game.

#2 State sponsorship

(or better yet, tax payer supported BL production)

State sponsorship is what Thailand has perfected.

source | 2023 seminar on "Beyond Borders: Exploring the Global Appeal and Diversity of Thailand's Boys' Love Contents" by 9 companies from Thailand organized by Department of International Trade Promotion under Thailand’s Ministry of Trade.

The eleven speakers, including an official from the Office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy in Japan, vigorously pitched partnerships with Japanese content companies [at the above-mentioned seminar.]

Also, several of the companies pitching at the seminar, such as Star Hunter Entertainment […] were plumping for BL not as a niche product but rather a core element of their corporate strategy.

Halo Productions representative Tewarat Supunnium [trumpeted] the vertical integration of his company, from talent representation to contents distribution.

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Thai BL has been big hits in China, South Korea, Japan, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and beyond, which has motivated Thailand’s government to ‘deploy Boys Love as its latest soft power weapon to promote the country on the global stage’. In an article published in The Nation, BL director, Bundit Sintanaparadee, explains how that affects production.

He pointed out that the international popularity of Thai shows can boost tourism and generate interest in the featured locations – a vital aspect of soft power. The government can facilitate this process by providing support and streamlining the bureaucratic obstacles to filming in attractive locations like Bangkok’s Chinatown district of Yaowarat.

Filming in iconic places such as Yaowarat can be costly and complicated due to the need to coordinate with multiple government agencies and pay location fees. Bundit said the government could simplify the process to benefit not just filmmakers but also tourist revenue in the locations.

Bundit also cautioned against a top-down approach to soft power, where the government dictates what represents Thailand on the world stage. He emphasises the need for industry professionals to have their say.

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In a 2022 article, Bangkok Post explores the impact of BL on Thailand’s economy ‘as export products that can draw lucrative revenue streams and foster business opportunities in other areas, including tourism.’

[According to government estimates from 2021,] Thailand's Y content market was worth more than 1 billion baht... In June that year, the Department of International Trade Promotion held an online Y content business matching event to boost the industry, with the participation of 10 Thai content creators. More than 360 million baht was generated from the purchase of the Thai content, with the top three buyers coming from Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Noppharnach Chaiyahwimhon, GMMTV's senior director of content production, said [that the] business ecosystem linked to Y Series in Thailand shows a growth of 30-40% per year. [He also said that] Y Series can also be a boon for other businesses, such as films, artist management and merchandise. [He mentioned] Y Series from Thailand [getting] translated into several languages [and one of their Y Series having received theatrical adaptation in South Korea.]

[According to] Kanokporn Prachayaset, chief commercial officer and country manager of WeTV Thailand, … Y Series from Thailand is one of the most popular content genres on its platform. [Half of all the BL content on the platform was Thai.] WeTV [was] sourcing Y Series from Asia as well as having its own WeTV original shows by working with various local production houses, such as GMMTV, TV Thunder, Dee Hup House, M Choice Studio and All This Entertainment. [She also highlighted the contribution of the fan base, which is] active in organising activities and campaigns for their idols.

Seksan Sripraiwan, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) Tokyo office, said the TAT and the Royal Thai Embassy have actively promoted the country by using Thai entertainment [and that] Thai BL content is considered one of the most popular recent cultural exports to Japan. Japan's market for Thai BL is around 1 million viewers, of which 20,000-30,000 are heavily active on social media sites for renowned BL actors, led by Bright-Win and Krist-Singto. He said Japanese tour operators already offered tailor-made tour packages which contain elements related to BL TV series, such as shooting locations like universities, cafes, Wat Arun or the Amphawa floating market.

Kanokkittika Kritwutikon, director of the TAT Chengdu office, said Thai BL TV shows have gained popularity in China, such as the coming-of-age series "I Told Sunset About You", which helped drive tourists to Phuket, the main location of the story.

"Most Chinese BL fans are millennial females who can offer long-term support for their favourite actors," Mrs Kanokkittika said. [Recognizing the 3 million strong queer population of Chongqing,] she said the LGBT segment could be categorised as luxury travellers as they are high-income earners, live in key cities, and want to spend more for travel experiences.

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Earlier this year Ministry of Commerce have partnered with Be On Cloud and Idol Factory to promote ‘Thai products, services, tourism, and culture by incorporating them seamlessly into’ their new series “Shine” and “Pin Phak” aka “The Loyal Pin” respectively.

“This will help create around 2 billion in value for Thailand’s economy,” said Commerce Minister Phumtham.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and two actresses, Becky and Freen, witness the signing ceremony between the Ministry of Commerce and Idol Factory Co., Ltd. on February 28, 2024....

According to the Department of International Trade Promotion, the Thai movie and series sector and related industries will generate 8,000 million baht in exports by 2023. In 2024, it will likely reach 10,000 million baht, particularly in the Y-movie and Y-series, which are expected to expand in value from 1,000 million baht to 2,000 million baht as a result of the Ministry of Commerce’s proactive cooperation with the private sector.

source

The Thai government’s efforts are paying off.

Oramon Sapthaweetham, director-general of the Department of Business Development, revealed that the Boys’ Love series had helped revitalise the film production industry, generating substantial profits and extending economic benefits to allied sectors, such as advertising, leveraging actors as influencers, event organisation, and tourism. 

"Over the past 10 years, Thailand has produced over 177 Boys’ Love [series], continuously gaining popularity and expanding its customer base, eventually leading to exports to international markets," Oramon added.

The film production industry in Thailand is witnessing substantial growth. In the first four months of 2024, 56 new businesses were registered, marking a 12% increase from 2023. The total registered capital also saw a significant rise of 146.44% to 195.18 million baht. In 2023, the industry grew by 20% with 137 businesses and a capital of 258 million baht. The total revenue in 2022 was 12.895 billion baht, indicating a continuous growth trend.

source

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#3 Diversification

Ok, so this is based on my limited knowledge and imagination. Feel free to skip.

There are two production companies that I have ever been interested in - Bhavana Studios and Mammootty Kampany. Both of them have produced experimental Malayalam movies while managing to remain commercially successful. While is partially attributable to these companies being brands, I think their overall strategy of diversification have worked in their favour.

Mammootty Kampany could produce art-house movie Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam for award circuits and with no expectation of commercial performance by banking on their other production Kannur Squad which was action entertainer sure to bring in the big bucks. Their queer family drama Kaathal – The Core and neo-noir psychological thriller Rorschach did exceptionally well in the box office as well as garnered critical acclaim. Bhavana Studios has similar track record of their commercially successful projects kind of cross subsidizing their experimental and unique projects and lifting the heat off in case of flops.

Having production companies which are aspirational in their approach to BL while having the economics sorted out help where government support is not forth coming.

Censorship as No-thing

When sometime is truly censored, we wouldn’t know. Unless we ask. Here’s what Jooyin Saejang learned from asking.

Conclusion

I have a strong preference for live action adaptations that are willing to go the last mile in terms of sexual content, social critiques and addressing real-life issues. That’s the reason why the header image for this BL side blog is from Moothon (2019).

But realistically this isn’t always possible. And I prefer having more production companies offering variety. I don’t want them to sink under the weight of BL that didn’t do well commercially and me being left at the mercy of media conglomerates with seemingly bottomless funds and monopsony over BL authors, original works and the culture that creates them.

Also, there is queer content from Korean that is neither mainstream nor from fu-culture. Support those. Unfortunately, Cheers by Cheers 짠!하면 알 수 있어 has been removed from their YouTube channel which is now called Cheer Up. While the series is gone, there are interviews with English subtitles.

Love in the Big City

Love in the Big City, the series and the movie are based on Park Sang-young's novel of the same name that was published in 2019. In Korea, it sold over 100,000 copies. Ever since, it has been translated into 15 languages, including English. The English translation by Anton Hur was published in 2021. The book has been longlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2022 and the Dublin Literary Award in 2023.

The movie secured an investor early on. The film was produced by Showbox and Tale Farming (고래와유기농). Michigan Venture Capital, a key investor, was responsible for 2 billion won out of the net production cost of about 6 billion won. Plus M Entertainment, a subsidiary of the JoongAng Group took care of its distribution. (source)

State-sponsorship for Korean BL !

The series, on the other hand, faced difficulty attracting investment as well as had trouble finding OTT platforms willing to air the show. It was co-produced by MerryChristmas, a subsidiary of WYSIWYG Studio' a KOSDAQ-listed company, along with Big Stone Studio. Mbrella Films provided production services in Thailand. They have received the state-support through Korea Creative Content Agency under Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism amounting to 3 billion won as production costs support aimed at strengthening the global competitiveness of K-content through OTT.

Finally, TVING, a platform that has aired multiple BL projects previously (such as Unintentional Love Story, Jazz for Two, To My Star 2, The Eighth Sense and High School Return of a Gangster), aired the series in South Korea and the streaming platform Rakuten Viki promoted it as a BL.

An iconic scene from bonus chapter 2 of The New Employee aka The New Recruit manhwa adaptation (web novel written by Moscareto and illustrated by Zec) ahead that didn't make it into the live action adaptation.

Gong comes home to find su in a sexy position at the doorway, fingering himself according to gong's instructions over phone.

[iconuk01]

Let's hear it for the confirmed male queer relationship in Miraculous, and how they've had a bit of a glow up between seasons

On the left is Nathaniel (male) and Marc (Who is male presenting and uses he/him but is more androgynous in appearance and is based on a genderfluid friend of the series producer, so take that as you will) is on the right.

They both show up in season 1 as recurring characters, first as collaborators on a ladybug comic book (Marc writes and Nathaniel draws) and end up being a very cute couple.

In season 4 they get given their Miraculouses (each without knowing the other, so far) and Nathaniel gets the Goat Miraculous and becomes Caprikid, whilst Marc gets the Rooster Miraculous and becomes Rooster Bold.

Yeah, I can believe that these are both arts kids... and also them being queer is... I mean... I try not to be judgemental, but even by Miraculous standards of OTT, these outfits are something else! (It might just be me, but I can see echoes of Phoenix Ikki in Marc's costume design, the metal feathers across the chest, the feathers falling down the back from waist height and the spiked heels, but that's neither here nor there) The Goat is the Miraculous of Passion, and Nathaniel has the power of Genesis: He can create one specifc object per transformation, using his paintbrush.

The Rooster is the Miraculous of Pretension and Marc has the power of Sublimation: He can grant himself one specific super ability per transformation.

They only show up once and, like most of the other heroes, lose access to their Miraculous in Season 5

In Season 6, they're back and have had a bit of a makeover (based on the end credits where they now show up)

Nathaniel has dumped the (admittedly rather snazzy) suit jacket and purple jeans he was styling, in favour of paint stained dungarees, fair enough if he's painting more I guess. He's also gone for a longer haired look with what seem to be frosted ends.

Marc has switched from a hoodie to an overshirt, and is now wearing makeup and fingerless lace gloves instead of the fingerless leather gloves he was wearing before.

But their HERO looks!

I ADORE the 70's retro glam rock look of CapriKid, the platform soles (and the fact they have the cloven toes is awesome), the fur trimmed collar AND trouser seams.

And Rooster Bold is a bit more formal, with lapels to die for, a full tail coat rather than the spiky earlier look, and a modified cravat, plus I love the heels of his boots being the rooster's spur.

Rock on you funky pair!

[hopeidontgetaddictedtothis]

The worst possible platform

From what I've heard, Watcher TV is being hosted on Vimeo. This means the folks on Watcher Entertainment probably purchased Vimeo's Enterprise option, a tier being offered to organisations. Now, this is really bad for many reasons.

In the past 10 years, Vimeo has become incredibly user-unfriendly and increasingly expensive. It has become so notorious to filmmakers that they've been actively looking for alternatives.

There are also countless horror stories about how filmmakers and Patreon creators got hit with unexpected Vimeo price hikes. For instance, one user reported that Vimeo raised their rate that they were grandfathered into by 256% with only 45 days notice!! And in the Verge article below, one artist said she got hit with a bill of $,3,500 USD.

So, the Watcher will host their videos on a notoriously expensive and inefficient platform and make their fans pay for it.

And to put more salt on the international fans' wounds, Vimeo OTT actually offers support for regional pricing! The seller can add and adjust individual prices per region. Had the Watcher team used this feature, it could have been incredibly helpful for the international fans because the exchange rate makes the $6 USD drastically different, as many have pointed out. There is a more detailed overview on VImeo being their chosen platform on in a thread from Watcher's subreddit.

[yuseirra]

Hi there, lovely artist! Do you watch the oshi no ko anime? I ask because I wondered if you are excited to see their depiction of Hikaru, because you make such lovely art of him (it's a depiction I quite like :)). It made me wonder if you have some kind of expectations for the anime.

I'm personally very excited to see Hikaru animated and voice acted :D

Hello anon~ thanks for calling me lovely!♥ I love getting complimented!

Oh! I watched the first 2 eps of the second season, then I decided to put off watching it for a while (I can always buy it in our local OTT platform, they have it there!) because the manga... ;v; is already making my head spin so much already. I can only focus on one thing at a time... It was SO good though!!// I remember how the first episode started with stage-play, which was very impressive. The opening animation sequence is amazing too! I'd like to binge it all at once later.

Hmm...about expectations, I personally consider the current arc to be great in terms of depicting Aqua's psychology. It was peak in terms of helping us understand his character, so I appreciate that a lot. We get to see all his pains and trauma and the struggles he had, and it was so powerful. I'm sure the anime would be touching on those currently, if they do a great job with that (along with Akane's rivalry with Kana and how they shine on stage in different ways) I feel I'd be happy with it! Also that scene with Melt. I'm sure that one's been animated because I saw a thumbnail of it on youtube. I'm also looking forward to the aqukana date. That's one of the few peaceful, cute moments we have. I'm sure I'd watch that part the moment it comes out because I'm curious how that's going to be acted out.. and I need to see some happy moments in onk for once. Stuff's been depressing in the manga lately and I feel sorry for a lot of characters;;

OH... thank you!// I'm so happy to hear you like my depiction of him!!/// That gives me strength. Yeah, I'm excited too, because we never saw his color palettes yet, haven't we!! It's going to be all over the internet once it's out, won't it...I'm a little worried if I got it way off.. but I'm prepared to take what they give us! The anime team does the series justice. I trust they will come up with something good. I just mentioned I'd watch the aqukana dating scene as it comes out.. well, that scene with hikaru's also a scene I want to watch (and I NEED to in order to get his color schemes right in the future 'cause I draw! o<-<)

I really want him to get a bright color palette, because his name has to do with both "god" and "light"... or the god of light if combined.. I SERIOUSLY believe he HAS to do with amenouzume, the entertainment god's husband!! That god conveniently is said to have a "shining body" and is called the god of the bright lights!!!! There is no way that has nothing do do with him!! I don't really picture him with dark eyes, I feel golden eyes would really suit him because that gives off the "light" imagery and it'd make sense. It'd also be able to make his black star eyes really stand out as he has them.. and I feel he'd make a good contrast with Ai if he's colored a bit brighter than Aqua or Ruby. purple and yellow contrast each other very well! So I'm crossing my fingers for that to happen. Same here, I'm really curious how he'd sound like, and I'm happily awaiting to see his depiction in the anime. Since I drew a lot of things about him already, I'd be a bit embarrassed if happened to get his colors off... but?? It's the colors I really want. So I won't regret having colored him that way. We can all dream, right!

I drew them upon having received your ask!

it'd be really nice if he has these bright colors that contrasts Ai's dark purple. Saying this again because I really want that to happen ;v;)9999

I get chatty, I hope you can feel my excitement! :) This series makes me both so nervous and excited... I guess it will be like that for awhile.

Let's keep having fun together! I appreciate your ask and I hope you have a fun weekend!

[grimrester]

i lied! i did big fibs, i have more to say about the watcher situation after all. some assorted thoughts:

1. i'm a little surprised at just how big the rift is in the fandom post-apology. if i go into the tag, it literally alternates between "you guys are twisted sickos for bullying them into walking back the new platform" and "you guys are major chumps for accepting the apology and my trust is permanently damaged." this is a fandom that previously seemed pretty monolithic to me as an outsider, so i wonder if this will have long term implications for the sustainability of their fandom.

2. they said there'd be a "free subscription" to the platform for patreon supporters. makes sense, since their patreon tiers are mostly more expensive than the watchertv sub. this was presented as an indefinite sub dependent on continuing to pay their patreon, but patrons are receiving emails saying the sub is actually only for 3 free months. i'm like 90% sure this is the same kind of situation where they encouraged password sharing even though the platform doesn't enable it. they once again just seem to not fucking know what the vimeo ott platform they're using is capable of doing. they have to stop making statements like this until they get a better understanding of it because it's continuing to make them look bad.

3. there are multiple reports on reddit that at least ryan and sara (shane's spouse) are deleting comments on their instagram. look, i get it, some of the things people are saying are downright vile. the pointed targeting of steven and the borderline fanfic-writing quality of some of the theories about what went down interpersonally on the team during this decision is fucking weird at best and racist/invasive at worst. furthermore, i dont think making comments on personal instagrams is a good way to be heard. but on the other hand, controlling what people say on your platform right after you made a "we hear you" statement is really bad optics. obviously i think they have a right to delete anything that's outright bigoted, but it seems like they're deleting anything decidedly negative.

4. some of the comments getting deleted are about potential "fake" or "plant" patrons trying to skew the narrative positively on the watcher patreon. i frankly think this is unfounded conspiracy shit until i see substantial proof, but deleting these comments in particular without responding can cause some straight up streisand effect. this can really quickly start snowballing if they make it look like they don't want anyone talking about it. overall i just don't know if they understand just how much they're under the microscope right now. i didn't have to search very much to dig this stuff up - people are watching and documenting them. i think the variety article revealing they did initially intend to remove their backlog and them trying to pretend they didn't walk that back has caused a lot of people to hyper-inspect their every move. they're already in the youtube drama content cycle, and they risk someone making a blowout exposé if they aren't careful.

[briarinfrills]

briar in frills rambles…! ୨ৎ

˚˖𓍢🏰✧˚. ⚜️⋆

rebuilding my wardrobe: part one ദ്ദി(｡•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊

welcome, cuties~! it's so wonderful to be writing about this particular subject as i'm fresh from a ton of research..! some new readers may not know much about my personal journey as a lolita so i'll give a brief run down before we start with the topic of today's post. (˶ˆᗜˆ˵) i started buying lolita fashion a year, going on two now, so i'm still quite new building my wardrobe up.. this also coupled with the fact i was gothic lolita turned sweet in the middle of last year.. (ᵕ—ᴗ—) while i have some semblance of a sweet wardrobe from my change, it is not in line with the specific color scheme i'm dreaming towards. obviously my blog as of late has been all about setting goals, revisiting coordinates of my new style to see the improvements, and discussing the future of my newfound style. but making plans to plan around my signature style hasn't quite yet occurred to me.. (∩˃o˂∩)♡

while i've stated the kind of style i aim for (2000s - early 2010s sweet) as well as the color schemes i have planned, i realize i need to choose pieces to get my wardrobe started and work with what i have. i haven't seriously dissected my wardrobe to see what ACTUALLY fits where i'm wanting to go with my whole pink x black / black x pink wardrobe. the concept isn't hard to grasp, neither the chosen years for my looks, but i have been looking too forward into in general versus actually making moves to plan my wardrobe further presently, and invest in pieces that i could use everyday as a lifestyler while hoping to get my hands on my dream items..! so today starts the day i map out coordinates and exactly what things i need to get a capsule wardrobe started that will eventually turn into a more fleshed wardrobe in the future! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و

i think planning a capsule wardrobe currently is the best decision for me at the moment as my wardrobe isn't as cohesive as i want it to be, and it definitely gives me wiggle room when it comes to budgeting for personal spending on lolita. thinking smaller rather than the bigger picture is definitely grounding and a great place to start..! a capsule wardrobe also allows for me to have versatile coordinates from casual to ott if i wanted!◝(ᵔᵕᵔ)◜ i researched capsule wardrobes today via youtube and other lolita's blogs - all of which i'll leave at the end of this post! serious shoutout to them for being lifesavers.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

starting point: what do we have?

the most logical starting point for me is asking, "what do we have?". asking this is a great way to get a good look into making sure i'm not investing in something already similar, and even help me free up some space if it's something i can sell to make room for an item more suitable to my wardrobe. the colors for this capsule wardrobe is black with pink accents or vice versa, so we can base pieces around this while trying to keep the looks inspired by my favorite years of lolita! (๑´>᎑<)~* things i have current in my wardrobe that are suitable for my capsule wardrobe plans (below):

(not pictured: a white lolita blouse, black platform shoes with heart buckles)

so, obviously it isn't much, but it's a definite start! let's move onto the next phase of action..! (,,>﹏<,,)

next: what do we need?

the begrudged question.. what do we need? judging by the starting point.. a lot, but that's alright! that's the joy of lolita is that planning really does make it perfect. from the videos i watched to the blog series i read there were some similar takes on how many main pieces and non-main pieces a capsule wardrobe could start off with / consist of. main pieces things being - 1 op, 2 or more jsks, 1 or 2 bottoms of choice (in my case skirts), 2 or more blouses, 1 or more outer garments (anything from a bolero, vest, or cardigan), 1 or more pairs of shoes (different colors obviously, but for me pink and black), and finally at least 3 different types of head pieces to get that variety into your capsule wardrobe! those headpieces can be (for sweet lolita anyway) headbow, beret, or smaller bows. non-main pieces are petticoat / hoopskirt, bloomers, otks, ankle socks, or tights, as well as one or more purse. a bonnet is also a choice for more ott sweet looks! i made a note of this as i would like to have an ott sweet look if i ever was able to get involved in community lolita activities..! (♡ˊ͈ ꒳ ˋ͈) now that it's noted we can plan accordingly and layout a visual of what we need to pair with what we already have and build upon.

i'll keep this as a mini-series of building my capsule wardrobe with me, but it'll be fun! in the meantime i'll work on a visual for next week that will display the "vibe" i'm going for while not necessarily showing the pieces i own or will own. i really can't wait to see where it goes, and to see my wardrobe grow from a small one in the future to a bigger one.

material for research: how to build a sweet lolita capsule wardrobe

how to build a lolita capsule wardrobe: step by step

building a lolita capsule wardrobe: what is a capsule wardrobe?

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

afterword: obviously i am no fashion genius when it comes to lolita, so i hope me documenting my journey doesn't come off as such. i really want to use my blog to show growth, share tips i've come across, and research lolita history as it's a huge fixation for me -`♡´-

anyways, hope to see ya soon!

˚˖𓍢🏰✧˚. ⚜️⋆

riri ❤︎₊ ⊹

[curiosity-kills-literally]

DON'T VOTE FOR MODI. PLEASE!!!

I am having to make an effort at writing a coherent post instead of just screaming. Please don't vote for Modi.

He is not a saviour. He is not a God.

Here's what he is: A terrified extremist who has to maim the mainstream media to keep his support, who NEEDS to plunder the Hindu Muslim divide in India, and spread hate and fear about communities that can very peacefully coexist, in order to gain people's support, to be seen as an saviour for upper caste Hindus in India. He needs to shut down the internet, so many times that India had the largest internet shutdowns in the past year, to shut the voices of people. He is the leader of the party that drafted a bill that would maintain stringent control over OTT platforms, the only free and accessible source for information in India at this point, AFTER THEY SUSPENDED 140 MEMBERS OF OPPSN. Who maintains silence over protesters of his own country being attacked by tear gasses and pellets, who welcomes RAPISTS into his party.

And a lot of his actions suggest that he will bring dictatorship in India.

Here's what a lot of you are going to say: OMG, what is the other opinion, Rahul 'Pappu' Gandhi? Well, sorry to inform you guys, but India (fortunately) is not a two party system. It is a MULTIPARTY nation. There are a lot many options. vote for your MP's, who you think will have your voices heard.

[elementramarketing]

Fuel Your Growth with Performance Marketing

Turn clicks into customers with laser-focused strategies and real-time results.

Introduction: Marketing That Delivers, Not Just Promises

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses no longer have the luxury of spending blindly on ads and waiting for miracles. What they need is performance marketing—a results-driven approach that focuses on conversions, not just impressions. It's data-backed, ROI-focused, and scalable, making it the future of modern marketing.

🎯 What is Performance Marketing?

Performance marketing is a digital strategy where advertisers pay only for measurable results—be it clicks, leads, sales, or app installs. Unlike traditional branding methods, performance marketing demands proof. Every campaign is trackable, every rupee spent is accountable.

Key components include:

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising

Affiliate marketing

Social media paid campaigns

Native and display ads

Retargeting & programmatic advertising

💡 Why Businesses Love Performance Marketing

Performance marketing offers powerful benefits for brands across industries:

✅ Cost-Effective – No upfront lump sums; pay only for outcomes ✅ Trackable & Transparent – Live dashboards show real-time performance ✅ Highly Targeted – Reach only your ideal audience with pinpoint accuracy ✅ Scalable – Start small, test, and grow based on results ✅ Optimized for ROI – Every ad is backed by metrics that matter

From startups to big brands, everyone wants results—and this strategy delivers.

📈 Lead Generation: The Lifeline of Sales

No leads = no business. Performance marketing supercharges your sales funnel with high-quality, intent-driven leads across platforms:

Google Search & Display Network

Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Ads

LinkedIn for B2B targeting

YouTube & OTT for awareness-based targeting

Landing pages with integrated lead capture forms

By using tools like A/B testing, heatmaps, and behavioral tracking, marketers ensure that visitors convert—not just click.

🔧 Tools & Techniques that Drive Results

The magic lies in optimization. A great campaign uses:

Advanced analytics (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, UTM tracking)

Retargeting to re-engage bounced traffic

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) for better lead quality

Funnel building with precise customer journeys

AI and automation for budget control and ad performance

When campaigns are backed by smart data, results are not left to chance.

🧠 Who Should Use Performance Marketing?

E-commerce brands looking to scale sales

Startups wanting fast market penetration

Service-based businesses aiming for qualified leads

Real estate, education, fintech, and healthcare sectors for niche targeting

Agencies managing multiple client portfolios

🌟 Final Word: Measure More. Waste Less.

Marketing budgets are shrinking, but expectations are growing. Performance marketing strikes the perfect balance by focusing only on what works. It’s not about shouting louder—it’s about reaching smarter.

🔗 Ready to generate real leads and real growth?

Start your performance marketing journey today!

👉 [Click Here] to explore high-ROI digital strategies!

[oceanblueeyes03]

The sex movie will not be released in theaters. Probably some b grade ott platform. Is that what his fans are excited about?

I think the sex movie is what they are throwing fireworks for. And he will prob announce it this weekend since Nicola will have a big day

[ncisfranchise-source]

Paramount+ is launching a service in Turkey with beIN Media Group, bringing movies including Transformer: Rise Of The Beasts and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning and series The Agency, Elsbeth and the NCIS franchise.

Paramount Global Content Distribution cut the deal with beIN, which will see the roll out of what it refers to as branded destination in Turkey. Specifically, the Paramount+ service will be carried on beIN’s OTT platforms TOD and beIN Connect.

It will have films from Paramount Pictures and Republic Pictures, series from CBS Studios, and premium dramas from Showtime. The news dropped at the London TV Screenings, where Paramount Global is rolling out the red carpet for buyers, today.

Paramount and beIN have already teamed on a Paramount+ destination that is carried in the MENA region and was announced last year. Dan Cohen, Chief Content Licensing Officer, Paramount and President, Republic Pictures, said beIn is a valued partner and this latest deal deepens the relationship between studio and pay-TV operator.

Paramount Global has shifted focus from launching standalone direct-to-consumer Paramount+ services internationally, to working with pay TV platforms to roll out branded hubs that sit within those operators’ services.

“Our Paramount+ branded destinations have consistently proven to meet the demand among streaming consumers for high-quality entertainment as well as attract new subscribers to respective platforms, offering users new avenues to access our acclaimed content,” Cohen said.

Esra Özaral Altop, Chief Entertainment Content Officer, beIN Media Group, added the deal is a significant step in the company’s plan to offer big-ticket films and series right across the region in which it operates. “With special access to Paramount’s outstanding content library, we are enhancing the entire beIN offer, with an unmatched selection of movies, series, and entertainment,” he said.

[videoeditingcourseinchd]

Video Editing Course in Chandigarh: A Complete Guide for Aspiring Creators

In today’s digital era, where content is king and visuals dominate every platform, video editing has emerged as one of the most sought-after skills. From YouTube vlogs and Instagram reels to documentaries and feature films, editing plays a pivotal role in crafting a compelling visual story. Chandigarh, being a hub of education and innovation in North India, offers numerous opportunities for individuals aspiring to learn video editing. This article explores everything you need to know about enrolling in a video editing course in Chandigarh—including course content, career scope, top institutes, eligibility, and more.

Why Choose Video Editing as a Career?

Video editing is no longer confined to film studios. With the explosive growth of digital content on social media, OTT platforms, and e-learning, skilled video editors are in high demand across industries. Here are some reasons why a career in video editing is both exciting and rewarding:

Creative Expression: Editing is an art that lets you shape stories, evoke emotions, and deliver impactful messages.

High Demand: From marketing agencies to content creators, every industry needs talented editors.

Freelancing Opportunities: With the right skills, you can work as a freelancer for global clients.

Attractive Salaries: Experienced editors often earn competitive salaries and perks.

Work Flexibility: Many editors work remotely, giving you the freedom to work from anywhere.

Scope of Video Editing in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, with its emerging media landscape, offers numerous job opportunities in video production, advertising, media houses, and digital marketing firms. The city is also home to various regional entertainment channels and film production units, increasing the need for skilled editors.

Moreover, the growing trend of content creation among YouTubers, influencers, and startups in the Tricity (Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula) region has further boosted the demand for professional video editors.

What Does a Video Editing Course Include?

A comprehensive video editing course in Chandigarh typically covers both the technical and artistic aspects of editing. While the curriculum may vary between institutes, the following modules are commonly included:

1. Introduction to Video Editing

Basics of video production

Role of a video editor

Overview of the editing process

2. Editing Software Training

Adobe Premiere Pro

Final Cut Pro (Mac)

DaVinci Resolve

Adobe After Effects (for motion graphics)

3. Technical Skills

Importing and organizing footage

Timeline editing

Trimming, cutting, and splicing clips

Adding transitions and effects

Audio editing and sound design

4. Color Grading & Correction

Adjusting exposure, contrast, and saturation

Using LUTs and color wheels

Matching color tones across shots

5. Motion Graphics & Visual Effects

Intro to keyframing and animation

Creating titles, lower thirds, and credits

Visual effects and green screen editing

6. Exporting & Project Delivery

Understanding codecs and file formats

Rendering for different platforms (YouTube, Instagram, etc.)

Backup and archiving best practices

7. Live Projects & Portfolio Development

Working on short films, music videos, or commercials

Creating a showreel for job or freelance applications

Top Video Editing Institutes in Chandigarh

Several institutes in Chandigarh offer professional training in video editing. Here are some of the best:

1. Morph Academy

Courses: Video Editing, Film Editing, VFX, Multimedia

Software: Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut Pro

Duration: 3 to 6 months

Certification: Yes

Placement Assistance: Yes

2. BigBoxx Academy

Offers short-term and diploma-level courses

Hands-on training with real projects

Strong industry network for internships and placements

3. Chandigarh Institute of Film and Television (CIFT)

Focuses on film editing and post-production techniques

Experienced faculty from the film industry

4. MAAC Chandigarh

Known for animation and multimedia courses

Includes VFX and advanced motion graphics training

5. ThinkNEXT Technologies

Offers certified training in Adobe software

Affordable courses with practical lab sessions

Eligibility Criteria

Most video editing courses in Chandigarh have minimal eligibility requirements:

Minimum Qualification: 10+2 (any stream). Graduates are also eligible.

Technical Skills: Basic computer knowledge is recommended.

Creative Interest: A passion for films, storytelling, or visual media is a plus.

No prior editing experience is necessary, as most institutes start from the basics.

Duration and Fees

Duration:

Short-term Courses: 1 to 3 months (basic to intermediate level)

Advanced/Diploma Courses: 6 to 12 months (includes motion graphics and VFX)

Fee Structure:

Basic Courses: ₹15,000 to ₹25,000

Diploma Courses: ₹30,000 to ₹80,000

Fees vary depending on the course duration, software taught, and institute reputation.

Career Opportunities After Course Completion

After completing a video editing course, students can explore various career paths, such as:

Video Editor

Motion Graphics Artist

YouTube Content Editor

Post-Production Assistant

Film/TV Editor

Freelance Video Editor

Social Media Content Creator

With experience, editors can also move into roles like Creative Director, Colorist, or Visual Effects Supervisor.

Freelancing vs. Job – Which is Better?

Both options have their merits, depending on your goals and lifestyle.

Freelancing:

Flexible hours and location

Ability to work with international clients

Higher earning potential (once established)

Full-Time Job:

Stable income and benefits

Learning from seniors and working in teams

Opportunities for career growth and promotions

Many students start with a job to gain experience and then transition into freelancing.

Tips to Excel as a Video Editor

Practice Regularly: Edit different types of videos to build versatility.

Watch Tutorials: Platforms like YouTube, Skillshare, and Udemy offer advanced tips.

Stay Updated: Editing trends and software features change frequently.

Build a Portfolio: A strong showreel is essential to attract clients or employers.

Network: Attend workshops, film festivals, or online forums to connect with other creators.

Final Thoughts

A video editing course in Chandigarh can be a stepping stone to a dynamic and fulfilling career in the creative industry. Whether you’re a student, professional, or aspiring content creator, learning how to edit videos professionally opens up countless opportunities in today’s visual-centric world. With the right training, dedication, and creativity, you can build a successful career and bring powerful stories to life through the art of editing.

If you're based in Chandigarh or the surrounding areas, now is the perfect time to sharpen your editing skills and make your mark in the digital content revolution.

[techfirst]

What’s Trending on Netflix — And How You Can Build Your Own Streaming Platform

May 2025 is turning out to be a binge-worthy month on Netflix. From eerie prom night horrors to twisted love stories, the platform is once again showing why it's the king of content. But here’s the real kicker: while everyone is streaming, some are building.

Yes, you can now build your own video streaming site — no massive tech team required.

🔥 Top 3 Trending Titles on Netflix This Month

1. Fear Street: Prom Queen Set in the late ’80s, this retro slasher is packed with jump scares and drama. Perfect for fans of horror and nostalgia.

2. Heart Eyes A horror-rom-com that shouldn't work, but somehow totally does. Funny, weird, and a little bloody — exactly the kind of content viewers love.

3. Dept. Q A cold-case detective series that’s dark, moody, and totally addictive. Crime fans, this one's made for you.

💡 Want to Launch a Netflix-Like App?

If you're inspired by what Netflix has built, you can do it too. With tools like:

OTT platform source code to get started fast

Netflix-like app development for a customized experience

White-label OTT platform solutions to add your own branding

And more ways to create your own streaming business

Why just watch when you can build?