• The "Paul American" director used a "hybrid" approach that shows the blurring lines in Hollywood.
• Influencer-fronted reality shows date back a decade, but there's new momentum.
• "They're pretty down to bear it all," one executive producer said of Jake and Logan Paul.

Jake and Logan Paul were making a reality show before production even began on "Paul American," their eight-episode Max series debuting on March 27.

Both brothers have full-time videographers filming them around the clock, "Paul American" director Michael John Warren told Business Insider. Parts of episode one take place before the show was even sold. In the series, you see them pitching it to network execs, with Jake likening it to the "testosterone Kardashians."

"I'm so sure that no show's been made like this before," said Warren, who described a "hybrid" approach to patching together all of the footage — from the guys, their socials, and his own — in a way that felt seamless.

That fusion epitomizes the blurring lines between creator content and premium TV. Influencers are increasingly encroaching on Hollywood's turf as YouTube videos become more polished and consumption shifts to living rooms.

"It's definitely a bridge to some part of the future," Warren said of "Paul American."

Influencer-fronted reality shows date almost a decade to Netflix's "Chasing Cameron." But there's fresh momentum now thanks to the Amazon Prime smash "Beast Games" and Jake Paul's record-breaking fight on Netflix against Mike Tyson. Netflix also continues to mine YouTube for kids' programming.

"We see the unscripted landscape changing," said Sarina Roma, an EP on "Paul American" and EVP of originals at Boardwalk Pictures. She said influencers make prime subjects, but the traditional production process is lengthier and can add different scrutiny and depth than creators might apply to themselves.

"There's something surprising about watching people that you're used to seeing in a new light and at the hands of different people telling those stories," she said.

Max picked up the show before shooting wrapped and episodes were assembled, and collaborated with the brothers and Boardwalk Pictures to go beyond their social-media personas and glimpse the complex family dynamics.

A yearlong 'whirlwind'

The idea for a family reality show was born after Jake Paul's episode of "Untold" on Netflix. The director, Andrew Renzi, heads the production company North of Now, which worked with the family to develop the concept.

Warren described the production process as a yearlong "whirlwind," racing to document events that were being posted to social media in real time. One way to bridge the gap? The brothers agreed to reserve moments exclusively for the show.

Some challenges: Dealing with the brothers' combative personalities, and the fact that they had a lot of opinions about what should and shouldn't be included.

Past reality shows starring influencers have been a mixed bag. Netflix aired only one season of "Hype House," while Hulu has had more success with "The D'Amelio Show" and "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," whose second season premieres in May.

But the Paul brothers are a unique breed in not only leading extravagant lives but embracing interpersonal conflict. From traversing the globe in private jets to fights in the WWE and boxing rings, each brother easily has enough intrigue to fill their own show.

"We're not making them say, 'Hey guys, let's have a pool party and then you can finally have that fight with your mom about that thing,'" Warren said. "We are just grabbing onto them and holding on as tight as we can and rolling."

The supporting characters can be just as compelling. Jake's girlfriend is the Olympics-bound Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam, and Logan's fiancée, the model Nina Agdal, is contending with doing a reality show while expecting their first child.

Mom Pam is a peacemaker, while dad Greg is a foul-mouthed scene-stealer who the brothers say insulted a network exec during one of their pitches.

"Love him or hate him, he's a star," Roma said.

The show also doesn't shy away from sensitive subjects, including discussions about transgender athletes and cancel culture.

"They're pretty down to bear it all," Roma said.

For his part, Warren believes the show signals more opportunities for digital creators on the big screen.

"Feel however you feel about influencers and the internet and YouTube and TikTok," he said, "but if you're an executive who's not paying attention to that, good luck."

And the brothers' massive social presence has paved the way for novel marketing opportunities, said Pia Barlow, the EVP of global originals and multicultural marketing at HBO and Max — including an announcement stunt that many perceived as a long-awaited boxing match between the brothers.

"The announcement was just the beginning," Barlow said.

Which twenty-six Reds will we see?

A good bit has changed about the nature of the Cincinnati Reds roster mix since last we gave our best guess at who might be included on it come Opening Day.

Spencer Steer’s shoulder maintained its issues, and he received a cortisone shot back on March 1st. Andrew Abbott, though, has seen his shoulder progress well enough that he threw a pair of IP in a AAA game just yesterday. Rhett Lowder is still behind schedule, unfortunately, but at least it looks like he’s moving forward and not backwards. Speaking of ‘back,’ Tyler Stephenson headed for an MRI after lingering back pain.

Rule 5 draftee Cooper Bowman was sent back to the Oaksacvegas Athletics, while former top prospect Noelvi Marte was officially sent down to AAA.

That’s a lot to process, as are the risks of losing players in camp as non-roster invitees if they aren’t selected to start the season. Same goes for players with no options remaining, as they very well could be scooped up on waivers if not placed on the roster from day one.

With Opening Day now less that two weeks away (!!), here’s our latest, greatest estimate of which Reds will make up the Opening Day roster.

Catcher

I’ve got Tyler Stephenson (1) still on here alongside Jose Trevino (2), as all initial reports on Ty Steve’s back are that his issue is minor. It may mean we see more of Jose in the lineup early on, so far there’s nothing to suggest these aren’t the two backstops they’ll carry from day one.

Infielders (5)

Elly De La Cruz (3) and Matt McLain (4) are the cornerstones of this team, and they’ll form the middle infield. Christian Encarnacion-Strand (5) and Jeimer Candelario (6) seem to be locks in the corner rotation, while Santiago Espinal (7) has solidified his spot as the do-it-all infielder in reserve.

Gavin Lux

Gavin Lux (8)! He’ll see time at 3B, 2B, LF, and even at DH when the time is right. Since I’ve got Spencer Steer beginning the year on the IL, Lux’s versatility will help offset that usually created by having Steer on the roster for the time being.

Outfielders (5)

TJ Friedl (9) is back and healthy and poised to be the everyday CF and leadoff man all 4-WAR style once again. He’ll be flanked by Jake Fraley (10) and Austin Hays (11) most days, with Stuart Fairchild (12) a RHH option on days when Terry Francona wants to stack those up against southpaws. That brings us to Blake Dunn (13), whose RHH ability wins out in this mix over Will Benson since Lux, a LHH, is filling the ‘move anywhere when it’s time to switch’ role previously occupied by Steer, a RHH. In other words, I think Francona will choose to have one more righty bat around than another lefty.

Starting Rotation

Hunter Greene (14) will start on Opening Day, as well he should. He’ll be flanked in some order by each of Nick Martinez (15), Brady Singer (16), and Nick Lodolo (17) for sure at this point. Since the season is long as all heck, I just don’t think the Reds will rush back Andrew Abbott at anything less than ‘full stretched out,’ so I expect him to begin on the IL and miss a turn or two through the rotation - if anything, that may make him even more valuable down the stretch in August/September. I think the Reds carry Carson Spiers (18) as something of ‘starter on an expected bullpen day’ for the time being.

Bullpen

I don’t believe Graham Ashcraft (19) starts the year in the minors - rather, I think he’s carried as the piggyback guy for Spiers’ turn through the rotation with the expecation that he can fill-in for multiple IP when needed in a role akin to how Martinez began last year. Brent Suter (20), Sam Moll (21), and Taylor Rogers (22) form the LHP corps in the ‘pen, while Alexis Díaz (23) will resume his role as the closer. RHP options Emilio Pagán (24) and Scott Barlow (25) have guaranteed money on their deals, so they’ll be down there until they prove ten times they shouldn’t be, leaving one final spot that I’m expected to be filled by Tony Santillan (26) - he pitched well enough last year to deserve it and he’s out of options, so that’s a no-brainer.

Notes

Steer and Abbott are the two notable omissions here. Despite how dismal the Reds have begun seasons in recent memory (and how much that has folded any and all optimism entering those years immediately), I just think they’ll play it safe with them (and Lowder). Abbott getting ~27-28 starts is still very much viable, as is Steer surpassing 550 PA.

Ian Gibaut being back in camp is cool, and he’s fanned 8 against a lone walk in 7.0 IP so far this spring. He’s not on the roster, however, as a NRI on a minor league deal, so I don’t expect him to beat out the rest of the options above. That said, I do think he’s showing enough right now to firmly be in the mix as the first bullpen arm promoted when the inevitable dings happen to the rostered names ahead of him.

Chase Petty has looked really, really solid so far in camp, and at this rate he’ll make his debut (and more) as a Red at some point this year...just not on Opening Day or in the first few turns of the rotation, assuming all goes well elsewhere.