LOGLINE
When a humiliating viral moment thrusts timid Nicholas Keller into internet fame, he seizes the opportunity to reinvent himself as a livestreamer—but as his online persona spirals into a toxic caricature fueled by fame and resentment, Nick is forced to confront the cost of online validation.
HEY GUYS
OVERVIEW
90 minutes
ESTIMATED RUNTIME
GENRE
PRODUCTION BUDGET
Drama, Comedy, Thriller
£150,000
CONCEPT
Hey Guys is an internet odyssey. The entirety of our story is told through a series of livestreams that chronicle the rise and fall of our protagonist Nicholas Keller known online as NickUnlocked. Nick stumbles his way into the world of live streaming following a disastrous date with live streamer iamjesse02 that results in an embarrassing viral moment. His sister, Marina, helps him capitalize on his newfound virality and urges him to share his side of the story and put himself out there. In the process Nick decides to embark on a journey to face his fears and break out of his shell of insecurities while documenting it all online for his followers. After another outburst of anger however, his audience sees a hidden side of Nick, but one that to his surprise many of them embrace and empathize with. Slowly this bitter domineering energy takes control and his online persona melds into one based in toxic masculine ideals. His fan base echo his resentments for women and this problematic feedback loop pushes him deeper and deeper into caricature. But when Nick attempts to mend his relationship with his sister, she secretly streams the interaction and reveals a side of him that goes against the ideals of his fan base, leaving Nick deserted and alone. In an attempt to remain relevant he begins acting more and more recklessly, putting himself at risk to win back his followers.
STORY
SYNOPSIS
Hey Guys is an internet odyssey. The entirety of our story is told through a series of livestreams as Nicholas Keller stumbles his way into the world of live streaming following a disastrous VIRAL date with live streamer iamjesse02 where he loses his temper after she reveals that she is using him for content. Nick's sister, Marina, helps him capitalize on his newfound virality and urges him to share his side of the story and put himself out there. In the process Nick decides to embark on a journey to face his fears and break out of his shell of insecurities while documenting it all online for his followers.
TONE
The tone throughout Hey Guys shifts as it navigates various pockets of the internet. In Act 1, we find ourselves in a world that feels lighthearted with hints of drama, filled with comedic moments as we watch Nick attempt to conquer his fear of rejection through awkward yet harmless pranks and public interactions. It isn’t until his aggressive outburst during a date that the tone shifts, becoming more unsettling as we begin to see a darker side of Nick and the person he is becoming. His actions and streams transition from jovial and self-empowering to domineering and problematic, shifting the film into a more disturbing drama. Act 3 amplifies this tonal transformation as we witness Nick spiral into what could be described as a psychotic breakdown, or a “crash out” in internet terms. The film then veers into thriller territory as Nick becomes involved in illegal activities, such as drug use and a home invasion, in a desperate attempt to cling to his online relevance.
TESTIMONIALS
THEMES
AUDIENCE FEEDBACK SYSTEMS
How audience expectations govern our internet persona.
TESTIMONIALS
THEMES
HYPER-MASCULINITY
The rise and celebration of hyper-masculinity.
TESTIMONIALS
THEMES
MORBID VOYEURISM
How the dawn of the internet injected new life into our morbid curiosity.
THE NEW NORM
STREAMING NUMBERS
The world of streaming is currently experiencing an unprecedented boom. What was once a niche corner of the internet focused on gaming has become a global industry worth around $100 billion, up from $87.5 billion in 2023, and it is projected to rise to $345 billion by 2030. Live stream watch-time has doubled since 2019 to over 32.5 billion hours a year, with over 7 million active streamers on Twitch alone, and now over 28% of all internet users watch live streams every week. As more platforms and streamers compete for attention, the pressure is mounting on creators to escalate spectacle, risk and extremity— fostering a digital ecosystem where performative identity, toxicity, voyeurism and real-time monetised notoriety are increasingly the norm.
32.5 Billion
Watch Hours in 2024
$99.8 Billion
Market in 2024
$4.95 Billion
UK Market 2024
WHY NOW?
The act of live-streaming has shifted from a niche activity to a cultural norm, shaping everything from politics and activism to entertainment, work, and personal identity. It amplifies the pressures of visibility, the speed of public judgment, and the fragility of truth in an era where anything can go viral within minutes. Exploring this space on film captures not just a technology, but a cultural shift—one that reveals how we connect, perform, and seek meaning in a hyper-connected world. This phenomenon shows now sign of slowing, and as expectations grow, streamers push the boundaries of content further and further, at times spiralling into real trauma, abuse, and even death— all broadcasted, all public, with audience complicity. These are not edge-case anomalies, but part of a growing pattern in global streaming culture. “Hey Guys” speaks to this precarious moment: where performative identity, voyeuristic audiences, and ruthless monetisation collide— transforming entertainment into social experiment, public trial, and emotional turmoil.
REAL LIFE INSPIRATIONS
The world of Hey Guys is the online world, set firmly in today’s internet culture. While that culture is vast, the film focuses on the explosive rise of live streaming through figures like Kai Cenat, IShowSpeed, and xQc. Live streaming—the act of broadcasting video in real time—creates one of the most direct and unfiltered relationships between creator and audience, its immediacy amplifying both intimacy and volatility.
In 2025 alone, we’ve seen alarming examples of this trend. A high-profile French streamer, Jean Pormanove, died live on air after years of humiliating pranks, violent “challenges,” and audience-driven abuse. We’ve also seen fake live-streamed funerals exploiting grief for profit, coordinated “hate raids” on marginalised creators, and a surge in degrading or violent content designed to attract views through shock value. Despite these warnings, platforms still reward extreme behaviour and spectacle, pushing creators toward ever more exaggerated personas and reshaping online masculinity. Streamers like Ed Mathews, Andrew Tate, and Fousey Tube model a hyper-visible, provocative form of male identity built on dominance and bravado. For many young men, these figures function simultaneously as role models, provocateurs, and entertainers.
By situating itself in this ecosystem, Hey Guys explores how the immediacy of streaming fuels cycles of validation, rivalry, and identity—revealing a cultural battleground where masculinity, authenticity, and attention collide in real time.
PRODUCTION
The production of Hey Guys is unique in that it mirrors the process of live streaming in both its style and approach. To create an authentic aesthetic, we’re committed to replicating the real-world setup of streamers, opting for low-budget cameras and a guerrilla filmmaking style over traditional cine-ma-grade equipment and intricate setups. This decision allows us to capture the raw, unfiltered energy of live streaming, while keeping the production grounded and genuine.
NON-ACTORS
We’ll collaborate with both trained actors and non-actors, placing them together in unscripted situations where they must respond in real time to Nick’s live streams.
SMALL CREW
The production of Hey Guys mirrors the logic and texture of live streaming in both process and form. We’re embracing a guerrilla approach, using low-budget cameras and minimal equipment instead of traditional cinema-grade setups
LOCATIONS
Our guerrilla approach and compact crew give us the freedom to move quickly and film across a range of locations at low cost—perfect for reflecting Nick’s escalating journey into online notoriety.
CORE CREW
ALEXANDER EMBORG | DIRECTOR & WRITER
Alexander Emborg, a Danish filmmaker born in Switzerland, experienced an expatriate upbringing that led him across the globe before settling in the UK. He earned an undergraduate degree in Screenwriting from the University of the Creative Arts and a Master’s degree in Directing from the London Film School. Before London, Prague served as Alexander’s creative hub, where he established Alibi Visions, a production company specialising in music videos and commercial projects. The Food Taster his latest short, had its UK premiere at the BAFTA qualifying film festival Aesthetica and has screened at OSCAR, BAFTA, & BIFA Qualifying Festivals worldwide. In the New Year, Alexander is set to co-write and co-direct a pilot for a television series, alongside Ben.
BEN LYONS | DIRECTOR & WRITER
Ben Lyons is a filmmaker from a small village in Lancashire, UK. Ben loved storytelling from the youngest age in whatever form it took, be that cinema, prose, or fine art, and he was always surrounded by cameras thanks to his grandparents running a photography business. He went on to study English Literature for his bachelors degree and spent many years in corporate sales, before realising his creative soul would never be fulfilled unless he chased his dreams. So three years ago, Ben left his career, packed his bags and moved south to study filmmaking at London Film School, culminating in his graduation film The Penitential Act, which has screened at OSCAR, BAFTA, & BIFA Qualifying Festivals worldwide, and has won Best Short Film. In the New Year, Ben is set to co-write and co-direct a pilot for a television series, alongside Alexander.
YONI BEN-HAIM | PRODUCER
Yoni Ben-Haim is a multi-racial filmmaker with roots stemming from the Middle East and Europe, whose films explore his experience of race, religion and sexuality. Most recently he co-produced the short film “Bury Your Nephew” starring Karl Pilkington. A film that is generating substantial buzz online. It's trailer is currently sitting at over 110,000 views on Youtube. Before he found his focus on his directing and producing career, Yoni found success as a camera assistant on major motion pictures for several years. His credits include Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Amazon’s Citadel and Ant Man & The Wasp : Quantumania.
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