Since it was launched nearly 36 years ago, IMDb has served as a directory of TV shows and movies and the actors who appear in them.
Now Amazon-owned IMDb is adding “Digital Creator” as a new professional category on both IMDb and IMDbPro.
Digital creators who work in film, TV, streaming and branded entertainment already have listings on the site, like MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), the most-followed individual YouTube creator whose projects have included reality series “Beast Games” for Prime Video. The new “Digital Creator” professional category on IMDb and IMDbPro gives them “a dedicated way to represent that work and connect with audiences, industry peers and potential employers,” according to IMDb. The category also includes sub-professions to further specify their work, including “Streamer,” “Vlogger,” “Video Essayist,” “Video Creator,” “Gaming Creator” and “Influencer.”
The “Digital Creator” designation functions as a professional category on IMDb and IMDbPro. Creators can feature multiple professions on their page, so someone who is both a digital creator and an actor can “represent the full scope of their work in one place,” per the company. No existing film or TV credits are required to establish a profile as a Digital Creator. The “Digital Creator” option is now available as a professional category for IMDbPro Premium members.
“IMDbPro empowers entertainment professionals with tools that help them get discovered, build their reputation, and advance their careers,” said Nikki Santoro, CEO of IMDb, in a statement. “Digital creators and their representatives need that same infrastructure, and producers, casting directors, studio executives and brand partners need a reliable way to find them. We’re excited to add a category that bridges that gap and gives creators a discoverable industry profile.”
IMDb’s launch of Digital Creator profiles will be “celebrated” at the Toronto International Film Festival where IMDb will host an invite-only industry cocktail party on Sept. 14. The TIFF event will mark the debut of the Digital Creator professional category and “spotlight IMDb’s expanding collaboration with Canadian guilds,” the company said.
IMDb said it will continue to expand professional categories based on industry feedback.