A successful Youtuber is aging out of the platform in her mid-20s, and struggling to redefine herself in the world outside her social media bubble.
UNDER THE INFLUENCER takes place in the world of the YouTuber, where teens become millionaires in a matter of posts. It is a world where creators' development is arrested, as the platform that changed their lives becomes a prison of artifice, both on camera and off. Every relationship in their lives devolves into something parasitic, with other parties only interested in what they can take for themselves (money, power, fame). We follow TORI, once the author of the fastest growing channel on the platform. At the ripe age of 25, she is now a crone in this world, looking back on her prime. As the walls of her digital cell close in, her longing for freedom will reach a breaking point, and force her to shatter the persona she spent a decade cultivating and discover that sometimes we have to disconnect to find connection.
Under The Influencer is a darkly comedic tale, tracking the misadventures of a successful Youtuber, aging out of the platform in her mid-20's. As her social media bubble bursts, she struggles to plant her feet back on solid ground.
The story centers around Tori, who rose to prominence in the influencer age. Now her popularity is waning, and she finds herself desperately clinging to her place in the social pecking order. Tori is forced to resort to the juvenile content of yesteryear -- content she was once known for, but has long since outgrown. When her ploy backfires, she comes face to face with the realization that her time in the limelight may be expiring.
With the algorithm no longer smiling upon her, Tori wades into the unfamiliar waters outside her Youtube ecosystem. With a little encouragement, she reluctantly tries the music world -- recording an original song and shooting a music video. Attempting to capitalize on her following, she pours herself into the process, and is reminded of the thrill of creating for herself. There may be hope for Tori after all... or not.
Tori's efforts fall flat, which is the final straw that pushes her over the edge. She snaps, on a live stream, breaking into a full existential crisis - for all to see. Defeated and alone, she escapes into the local botanical garden, where she seeks a quiet moment to breathe.
Her moment is interrupted by a mysterious stranger who takes an interest in her. Initially unmoved by his advances, Tori becomes curious as he freely shares his worldview, which runs in direct opposition to her distorted view of reality. Their dynamic blossoms like the flowers surrounding them, as the young man reminds Tori that sometimes we have to disconnect to find true connection.
