Created with Jon Youshaei Why Mark Rober & MrBeast Hired These YouTubers (Sticks Interview)
Oct 15, 2025
Lucas and Curtis Nicotra, co-founders of Sticks, share their journey from producing viral videos for Mark Rober to creating films for MrBeast and Ryan Trahan. They recount the spontaneous trip that led them into the creator space and discuss their innovative approach to filmmaking on YouTube. Insights on how they navigated the commercial video landscape, built their team, and applied cinematic techniques reveal their unique strategies. The Nicotras also dive into their exciting plans for a MrBeast movie while maintaining authenticity and creative freedom.
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Humble Beginnings With Short Films
- Lucas and Curtis started by making low-budget short films while shooting weddings and business videos to fund their passion projects.
- A forgotten viral short taught them short films could work on YouTube and sparked a dedicated channel, Sticks.
Packaging Trumps Just Good Filmmaking
- Packaging and thumbnail/title strategy made their film work on YouTube, not just film quality.
- Creators can reach larger audiences by translating cinematic ideas into YouTube‑friendly packaging.
Work Backwards From A Big Idea
- Start with a huge creative goal and work backwards through smaller, testable steps that build toward it.
- Use repeatable formats (like creator trailers) as stepping stones to your big project.