Dan Mace has built a reputation as one of our country’s viral hitmakers and is also the creator of ‘The BRU Show’ for Warner Bros. Discovery, not to mention his over 835k subscribers on YouTube and the many awards he’s won over his 12-year film career. We got to ask Dan some questions about his latest venture as CCO to the most followed person in the world.

Q: So, what does this mean for the future of your own company JOE?

Dan: Although I will be working with the Beast Philanthropy team in the States, I will still work through my company JOE and remotely with my team. It actually works perfectly as the team at JOE in the Cape Town office will be 6-9 hours ahead of me, so by the time I wake up they’d have done a full day of work already which helps us stay ahead of things. We also have an incredible Creative Producer at JOE, Jarrod Allies, who manages things for us on the ground in Cape Town.

L to R: Dan surviving as Mr Beast’s Cameraman in Antarctica, hiking in Cape Town and gym buddying.

Q: So does this mean you’re still taking briefs from the South African ad scene?

Dan: Absolutely. I will be traveling for projects and constantly collaborating remotely with my team in Cape Town.

Q: How did you and Mr Beast meet?

Dan: I met Jimmy (Mr Beast) through a mutual friend of mine, Casey Neistat, while they were traveling in Cape Town early last year. We developed what was more of a mutual friendship. I was pretty taken aback by how humble and reserved he was, especially when there were literally hundreds of people asking him for selfies wherever we went. I didn’t really hear from him for about a year until one night, while I was working in NYC, he called me up and said he’d really like me to make a film for him. He explained where he wanted to take their Beast Philanthropy channel and how the films just weren’t really landing correctly. They were getting high-volume views but lacked emotion. I then decided to make the team a ‘pilot’ which showcased a potential new look and feel for the channel. We filmed at an orphanage in Khayelitsha in Cape Town where Jimmy will be rebuilding 12 new homes at the orphanage. It was a great opportunity to launch the more authentic style to engage with Jimmy’s online community.

Q: What was the team’s reaction to your film?

Dan: Jimmy immediately on the spot offered me the job to take over all production and Direction of the Beast Philanthropy channel.

Q: What’s so appealing about the role for you?

Dan: The knowledge I’d gain from working with so many incredibly talented people within the space of any form of social media was a no-brainer. An hour spent with Jimmy is more valuable than reading 12 books written by someone trying to break down the algorithm of YouTube. There’s that and the fact that they are genuinely really great people. It’s not often you get the opportunity to make great films about great people and initiatives all around the world. 100% of the profits from the channel’s ad revenue, merch sales, and sponsorships will go towards making the world a better place!

Q: What kind of projects will you be working on with Beast Philanthropy this year?

Dan: The projects are really going to create long-term change for communities all around the world. I will also be making my own YouTube videos behind the scenes and stuff. Most people… well actually nobody, ever gets to see behind the curtains of a genius like Mr Beast. He is an exceptional person. Unlike anyone, I’ve ever met.