Fullscreen’s new subscription video service has recruited “American Psycho” author Bret Easton Ellis to make his directorial debut, signing him for the digital thriller series “The Deleted.”
“The Deleted” is about the disappearance of three seemingly unconnected people from Los Angeles, which stokes paranoia among a group of twentysomethings who escaped from a cult several years ago. Ellis is best known for writing bestsellers like “Less Than Zero,” “Rules of Attraction,” and “American Psycho,” which just became a Broadway musical.
Fullscreen, the online video network backed by mogul Peter Chernin and telecom giant AT&T, is launching its own miniaturized version of Netflix on Tuesday. The company is controlled by Otter Media, a joint venture between media company Chernin Group and AT&T. The venture bought a majority stake in Fullscreen in 2014, in a deal that valued the company between $200 million and $300 million.
Fullscreen’s paid-tier makes it the latest video company to chase the subscription model. Both traditional TV and film companies and digital upstarts are vying to establish online membership systems, as consumers’ progressively shift more viewing from live, linear TV to online alternatives.
In addition to the original series directed by Ellis, the new paid tier will have originals such as “Electra Woman & Dyna Girl,” a comedic Sid and Marty Krofft reboot starring Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart; “Filthy Preppy Teen$,” a satire of contemporary teenage dramas; Cameron Dallas and Nash Grier’s iTunes-chart-topping film “The Outfield;” and personality-driven programming including “Shane & Friends,” “Zall Good with Alexis G. Zall” and “Kingdom Geek.”
Fullscreen’s new subscription option launches Tuesday for $4.99 per month. Unlike Netflix, though, it is targeting young viewers in their teens through early thirties with features like a sharable GIF creator and unique playlists curated by Fullscreen talent. A mood-based search feature lets viewers find the right shows for every vibe — whether they want to “feel all the feels,” “learn new things” or “laugh till it hurts.”