Now, this is a story all about how

content got flipped-turned upside down

And I’d like to take a minute

Just sit right there

I’ll tell you how regular people got rich from content they share…

Growing up in the 90’s, the NBC sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was an appointment viewing. In February, a darker, more serious take on the story of a West Philadelphian transplanted to the rich world of Bel Air debuted on NBCUniversal’s Peacock network. The new show, simply called Bel-Air, takes the familiar plot and characters and reimagines the sitcom as a realistic, modern-day drama series.  

What started as a $25,000 passion project for writer and director Morgan Cooper has become a big-budget streaming series, backed by some of the biggest names in the industry, including Will Smith, the original “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and the producers of the original show. Debuting after the Super Bowl, Bel-Air was no doubt one of the most anticipated shows to debut in 2022.

After releasing a viral trailer online in 2019, which showcased Cooper’s new vision for the familiar Fresh Prince plot and characters, the interest in the concept sparked a bidding war between the biggest players in streaming, including Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon and Apple. Peacock eventually won out and the process ended with an unprecedented two-season order for the show.

The story of how Bel-Air came to be is evidence of the vitality of what has been called the Creator Economy. The creator economy can be defined as the industry of entities, individuals and personalities leveraging the creation of content on social media platforms to create an audience and business opportunities. According to a 2020 report by venture capital firm SignalFire, the creator economy is now 50 million strong and growing. Bel-Air is just the latest example of the power and prevalence of the Creator Economy, which is reshaping how we think about what it means to create and deliver content and build a brand. 

A creative person had an idea and turned that into content that went viral. They then leveraged that widespread interest into a greater opportunity to create more content to share with an even wider audience. In the Creator Economy, brand building belongs to everyone. There are lessons to be learned for creators, creative platforms, and consumers of creative content. So what are the lessons we can learn from the Bel Air origin?

Inspiration is Everywhere.

For Morgan Cooper, the inspiration for the series came while watching the original sitcom and thinking about how to reimagine the story. Bel Air started as a low-budget, fan-made film. He sought to put a fresh spin on an old concept, and it aligned with the creative vision of others who could turn it into reality. In the Creator Economy, old ideas can become new ideas. Studios have caught on and are now mining their old IP and looking for new visionaries to tell familiar stories in new ways. This is a concept that will only grow more popular among companies looking to bring old stories and ideas to new life.

Promote Your Passions.

High-quality content, not matter the subject, will be noticed by an audience somewhere. People worldwide with interests that seem obscure or weird have gained large followings by showing up consistently and passionately to educate and entertain with content about their subject area. Some of the most popular, well-known creators  started by recording themselves doing simple tasks or projects, and now they have huge followings.

The Underdog Can Win.

Believe in your dreams and visions. You never know whose eyes are on your content. The creator economy has, in many ways, leveled the playing field. It’s about getting the right eyes to see your content. Good, interesting, thought-provoking content will be found and appreciated by someone. A creator economy gives everyone a chance to gain additional streams of income. The idea of getting paid to make videos on social media as a profession is not so far-fetched anymore. It has become a reality for many.

Enthuse Creative Can Help

Enthuse Creative can help your brand explore leveraging the Creator Economy to develop branded content that helps your business achieve its goals. Reach out to us today for a free consultation.