Dark Slope Launches $250,000 Creator Studio Challenge Opening its Studio to Digital Storytellers

November 27th 2025 (Toronto, ON) – Toronto-based virtual production studio Dark Slope is proud to announce the launch of the Dark Slope Creator Studio Challenge. The program will provide up to $250,000 in total studio, virtual production and team support to help creators bring ambitious new ideas to life. The program is open to content creators who have built up a fandom on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and other digital community platforms.

Through the program, up to five winners will be selected across the following popular genres:

1. True Crime & Investigations
   Deep-dive storytelling that unpacks real-world mysteries, unsolved cases, or cultural phenomena through compelling visual narratives.
2. Family, Kids & Sports Entertainment
   Energetic, feel-good formats that bring families together: from youth challenges and sports storytelling to educational edutainment.
3. Pop Culture, History & Science Explained
   Smart, fast-paced explainer content exploring everything from fandoms to the science behind everyday life.
4. Short-Form Fiction & Micro-Drama
   Serialized or one-off scripted shorts that experiment with genre, character, and cinematic style.
5. Game Show & Interactive Formats
   Competitive or participatory shows that invite audience engagement: trivia, challenges, social experiments, or IRL game formats that thrive in the creator economy.
6. Sketch Comedy & Stand-Up
   High-energy comedic storytelling, from character-driven sketches and situational parodies to stand-up sets and comedic commentary.

Each winner will receive $50,000 in in-kind studio support, including access to Dark Slope’s LED volume, soundstage, virtual production crew, and digital art and VFX teams. The studio’s multi-million-dollar facilities will give creators the opportunity to produce visually striking, world-class content using the same technology behind leading film and television productions.

“We’re excited to bring the same virtual production capabilities we use on major television and film projects directly to digital creators,” says Atoosa Mohajer, Development Executive at Dark Slope. “We’re looking for charismatic, inventive storytellers who are ready to elevate their production values or even make the leap from the small screen to the big one. Imagine what becomes possible when you have access to a state-of-the-art soundstage, a full VFX and stage crew, and a team dedicated to enhancing your creative vision.”

Since opening its virtual production soundstage facility, Dark Slope has contributed shots to some of the leading television and film projects produced in Toronto, including Gen V, Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man, BET programming, Gangnam Project, and Heated Rivalry.

The studio is extending the benefits of virtual production to all content creators who are looking to take their channel ideas to the next level and explore premium, format-driven storytelling. In addition to in-kind support, winners will receive an option agreement for Dark Slope to co-produce content for potential inclusion on Dark Slope’s digital channels, with terms to be finalized collaboratively.

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Dark Slope Creator Studio Challenge

The Dark Slope Creator Studio Challenge is officially open for applications now. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply here by December 8th 2025. For more information and updates, visit www.darkslope.com.

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