Dead Meat YouTube Channel Launches ‘Fresh Meat’ Anthology Competition for Horror Filmmakers

Jason Blum knows horror history when he sees it. That’s why, back in May, the Blumhouse-Atomic Monster CEO posted a picture on Instagram showing two of the genre’s fastest-rising young filmmakers, Kane Parsons and Curry Barker, saying hello on the outskirts of a red carpet.

“If you want to know where horror is going, it’s that handshake,” Blum told IndieWire via email. “James Wan and Michael Clear championed Kane on ‘Backrooms.’ We tried to do the same with Curry on ‘Obsession,’ and that’s a win for Blumhouse-Atomic Monster.”

The post, from a major studio exec, is inspiring stuff, particularly if you’re an emerging creative who cares about the health of the box office. But Parsons and Barker aren’t the only story that photo tells. Look closely, and you’ll also spot one of horror’s most trusted online ambassadors — whose work has helped millions of viewers discover the genre over a career spanning more than a decade.

“It made me laugh that Dead Meat James ended up in the frame,” Blum said. Yes, that accidental figure behind Barker and Parsons is YouTube‘s James A. Janisse. Together with his wife and creative partner, Chelsea Rebecca, Janisse established Dead Meat, a horror channel that has become one of the genre’s most active online communities and a passionate digital brand.

Kane Parsons, James A. Janisse, and Curry Barker outside the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles on May 6Photo courtesy of Blumhouse-Atomic Monster

“He and Chelsea know this genre inside and out,” Blum continued. “Their audience is exactly who these movies are for.” Across more than 1,800 videos, a long-running podcast, live events, and a subscriber base of 7 million, Dead Meat does more than champion scary movies. They teach curious viewers how to explore the history of horror — by contextualizing and appreciating the art of filmmaking itself.

Now, with all eyes on that niche, Dead Meat is stepping into a new role.

IndieWire can exclusively announce that Janisse and Rebecca are launching “Fresh Meat,” a horror short-film competition that will culminate in a theatrically released feature anthology. Created in partnership with Atlas Entertainment’s Atlas Literary and Hades Film, the initiative is Dead Meat’s most ambitious yet, but it’s born of a relatively simple idea the team has spent years refining.

“This is our way of finding, highlighting, and amplifying people who can do these things — who already have done them — and helping develop their ideas and make them bigger,” Janisse said.

He and Rebecca met while attending film school, making the mission behind the “Fresh Meat” anthology a deeply personal one. “We’ve been there: fresh to Los Angeles, wanting to make movies, having no money,” Rebecca said. “There have been countless, countless meetings to figure out the logistics of how we can make sure filmmakers are fully supported by this.”

Barbara Crampton with Dead Meat’s James. A Janisse and Chelsea RebeccaPhoto courtesy of Dead Meat

Hades Film principals Alex Hertzberg and Ahmet Zappa believe that hospitality-driven, educational approach is precisely what makes Dead Meat content so compelling.

“They have held the audience’s hand and made it okay to explore all manner of horror,” Hertzberg, who is also CEO of Atlas Literary, told IndieWire. “They’ve taken something that’s intimidating and potentially upsetting and really made it accessible over years.” 

Dan Levitt, SVP of original content at talent agency The.Team, represents Janisse and Rebecca and said the same instinct makes them unusually well-positioned as horror curators who can identify new voices with lasting potential. Dead Meat’s flagship video series, “The Kill Count,” is known for thoughtfully introducing audiences to some of horror’s most enduring classics and as many overlooked indie gems.

“The relationship Dead Meat has fostered with its audience alongside the IP they’ve built over the last decade has formed the perfect foundation for projects like ‘Fresh Meat,'” Levitt said. “Opening up the Dead Meat doors to find fresh, innovative, and hopefully terrifying stories in an exciting and sustainable way.”

That philosophy of mutual support extends to the design of the “Fresh Meat” competition itself. Rather than asking artists to submit their work for exposure alone, Dead Meat will offer participants a genuine financial stake in the final feature’s success.

Winning filmmakers will share in the anthology’s profits, while selected shorts will also receive first-look consideration for feature development through a joint venture between Dead Meat and Hades Films. (Note: The competition also prohibits the use of generative AI, reflecting the creator-first ethos that Janisse and Rebecca have championed throughout Dead Meat’s evolution.)

“James and Chelsea have always amplified the things they love,” Hertzberg continued. “We’re here to help them and their excellent taste find the next crop of great filmmakers.”

The project also arrives as Hertzberg and filmmaker Zappa prepare to launch Hades, a new theatrical horror label designed specifically to serve Gen Z. That’s a clear path forward in an industry scrambling to foster a connection between digital-first creators and traditional Hollywood machinery.

Dead Meat’s James. A Janisse and Chelsea RebeccaPhoto courtesy of Dead Meat

Fresh Meat submissions open on Saturday, July 25, and will close on Monday, August 24.

Shorts from around the world are eligible, provided English is the submission’s primary spoken language, and a $50 submission fee applies. Dead Meat and Hades will jointly evaluate entries while also taking the Dead Meat audience’s feedback into consideration.

Roughly 10 films are expected to be selected for the anthology, and rather than naming a “best” short, the final collection is intended to operate as a collaborative launchpad. Chosen filmmakers will receive a cash award in addition to sharing in their portion of the box office. Participants retain rights to their work unless and until they are chosen to participate in the “Fresh Meat” feature.

The anthology is aiming for a quick turnaround, with a planned October 12 theatrical release date through Hades. Variance Films will handle booking, and a TVOD rollout will begin shortly after. As for what “Fresh Meat” is actually looking for? The best horror short you’ve got — period.

“Since Dead Meat celebrates all aspects of horror, there is no one particular kind of horror we’re looking for,” the team told IndieWire. “We’re interested in confident voices, unique styles, and innovative ideas regardless of horror subgenre.”

The next great director could still come from anywhere, and if Dead Meat has anything to do with it, “Fresh Meat” filmmakers will be the ones wandering into Hollywood’s increasingly horror-friendly frame.

Interested? Keep an eye on Dead Meat’s Instagram, where submission details and entry links will be shared in the coming days. Until then, the fifth annual Dead Meat Horror Awards will stream live on YouTube Saturday, July 18, while also screening for an audience in Los Angeles.