I watch a lot of YouTube channels that consist of the tried-and-true formula of showing people trying or experiencing different things - food, music, TV - and then reacting on-camera. For reference, my Reacting lineup includes React, FBE, Food Explorers, and Facts. I’m sure there are a thousand others.
Where do the Reactors come from? Do they audition? Or are they friends & family of the producers? Also, what about when the Reactors are children - do they audition, or do the producers just bring in their friends & families’ kids?
Also, do these people get paid? If they’re filmed in California, do they have to obey California’s film-industry laws w/r/t children on-set?
If you work in or are familiar with this industry, I’d love to learn more about how it works.
I don’t know how any of that stuff works. I was surprised to learn that that Logan dude from Youtube was a millionaire. So I guess they get paid- sometimes lots.
I’ve enjoyed some of the “Kids React To…” videos:
Elders React to:
And more recently these 2 guys. They don’t know anything about metal music, but give it a chance anyway, and honestly react to it. (They do lots of music, but metal is the one most unfamiliar to them):
I don’t have anything to contribute on the how-to of reaction channels, but I came in to state that I like them too. Especially Facts!
Another foodie one that I like is Tabieats, which is sort of a travel/reaction/review channel. Two Japanese guys try all kinds of international snack foods, Japanese restaurants, etc., and tell you what they think. Hint: they don’t like Swedish salted licorice. At all.
For non-foodie reaction channels, there are plenty that show the host reacting to television shows. These are fun if you have a favorite show (that your SO doesn’t watch with you), and you want to geek out with someone as they watch it. Some of the hosts watch so many episodes of so many shows that you wonder if they have time to do anything else in their lives.
The most famous reactors are on Fine Bros Youtube channels, and if you watch their vlogs they’re pretty open about how they find their reactors: ads in publications for actors, mostly, and lately casting calls on Instagram (Becca and Rae got on that way). They try to use people that aren’t already well-known (though you might see some elsewhere occasionally - Lia, Troy, Will, Chelsea), so all the comments aren’t “OMG, did you see that was…?” According to them, most of the Elders React cast were recommended by their grown kids who saw casting calls, with the rest expressing interest after the show got rolling and asking to be on. And they have some weird thing about twins, so you’re pretty much golden if you both audition.
Some are relatives - Lia’s younger sisters were on Kids React when she was but didn’t seem to enjoy it as much, Darius on Teens React is Royel from Kids React’s older brother, Ben and Rafi’s dad Yehuda was on Elders.
