The world of digital media has been growing during the past few years. Today, people get most of their news through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and online apps. It was no surprise when CNN, one of the leading international cable news channels, began to focus on digital media outlets as well as its cable television news shows. Casey Neistat is one of the leading social media personalities and was a sure pick to lead CNN’s digital media outlet. Less than two years in, Neistat backed out of the deal and left his association with CNN.
Here are five things you didn’t know about Casey Neistat.
Why did he leave CNN’s digital news brand?
It is surprising to many that Casey Neistat would back out of his CNN deal with Beme less than two years after joining the international cable network. Neistat is a rising star and the CNN deal was worth a lot to his endeavors and certainly would have been a big part of the young man’s successful career. It appears that Casey Neistat had his own reasons for leaving CNN. He apparently had creative conflicts about how Beme was managed and became frustrated with the way the venture was going. Meme’s employees are quickly finding new roles with CNN’s Digital Studio or have already become a part of CNN’s production team.
How did CNN find Casey Neistat?
CNN’s President Jeff Zucker paid Casey Neistat $20 million to use Neistat’s video sharing app Beme as CNN’s digital media outlet in 2016. Zucker wanted to advance CNN’s marketing through digital media in order to keep on top of the times. Zucker was encouraged by his teenage son to seek Casey Neistat out. Casey was already a huge success as a short filmmaker, vlogger and YouTube personality. Neistat’s YouTube channel has millions of subscribers. Neistat was an obvious choice to advance CNN in the 2010’s. Casey Neistat was even featured with Jeff Zucker and CNN stars including Jake Tapper, W. Kamau Bell and Anthony Beourdain on a 2017 cover of “The Hollywood Reporter”.
Who is Casey Neistat?
Casey Neistat was born in Gales Ferry, Connecticut on March 25, 1981. He dropped out of school after his sophomore year of high school and never graduated. At 17 years old, Casey and his girlfriend had a baby boy, Owen. Casey worked as a dishwasher and short order cook to make ends meet. He eventually moved to New York City to pursue his dream as a filmmaker. Casey worked as a bike messanger and as a temporary model. He lived just blocks from the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 which affected him greatly. A true millennial and hipster, Casey threw his artistic talents and pursued his career through social media.
Casey Neistat’s career
Casey’s brother Van joined him in New York City where the two brothers actively advanced their media careers. They were soon successful. The brothers made an internet film series following sculpture and installation artist Tom Sachs which brought them attention. In 2003 the Neistat brothers made a 3 minute film critique of Apple’s policy of not replacing batteries that were failing within a year. The piece titled “iPod’s Dirty Secret” brought international attention and led to Apple changing its battery and warranty policy. The film was lauded in “The Washington Post”, “Rolling Stone Magazine”, and on Fox News, CBS News and BBC. The following year the Neistat brothers launched a series called “Science Experiments” which were shone on New York City’s Times Square Panasonic Astrovision screen. Along with a strong presence on his YouTube channel and other social media outlets, Casey Neistat became a well known name. HBO purchased an 8 episode series called “The Neistat Brothers”. Although criticized for being an irritating hipster show, the series gained many followers to Casey’s YouTube channel.
What is in store for Casey Neistat?
It’s difficult to believe that Casey Neistat won’t continue his successful pursuits. Despite his abrupt departure with CNN, Casey Neistat should continue to pursue his successful digital media career. He will continue to make socially engaging films and most likely will continue to create apps that help budding filmmakers. Casey Neistat has been voted one of the top 100 of New Media Rockstars. He continues to make regular public speaking engagements and is pursued by companies for advertising. Casey currently lives in Lower Manhattan. He is close with his family including son, Owen, and his grandmother, Louise, who was a Rockette during World War II and featured in several of Niestat’s documentaries. Casey Neistat is married to Candice Pool. We are sure to see much more of Casey Neistat in the future.
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