Larry Namer is an entertainment industry veteran with close to 50 years professional experience in cable television, live events and new media, Larry is the founding partner of Metan Global Entertainment Group. a venture created to develop and distribute entertainment content and media specifically for Chinese speaking audiences in China and abroad. In 2018, the company launched the MGEG Film Fund I and serves as managing partner. He is also the executive producer on the recently announced feature film “EMPRESS,” a new travel series for the China audience titled “Explore The World,” and an executive producer of the new crime series “Nova Vita.” He recently served as an Advisor and Chief Operating Officer of FanVestor. Larry is the co-founder of the new lifestyle platform BTYKWN.com, along with Richie Rich and Mister D. They are bringing the first-ever gender free digital community.
FMM: How was BTYKWN (pronounced Beautykween) born?
Several years ago, the folks I was advising at Ultra Access came to me with an issue they saw youth culture struggling with. Led by brand guru MISTER D (he did NARS cosmetics, Ed Hardy, among others) they enlightened me about this growing fandom around makeup and along with it the closely aligned issues of young folks struggling with gender identity and having “a place” to call their own. They couldn’t talk about these issues with parents, friends, or teachers or even walk down their own block in their favorite makeup looks to show themselves off.
Mister D, having come from the fashion world and pioneering the fusing of fashion with entertainment, immediately saw the need for uniting together like-minded young people who mostly fall into the LGBTQ+ and gender fluid lifestyle around makeup and its fandom, and I completely agreed. By the way, that is a very wide group of millions of people around the world for which make-up, skincare, and overall beauty have become the language of their individuality and more so of pop culture overall these days regardless of gender identifications. So, as we began to understand the issues better, it became clear to me that a big picture solution was needed. I knew how to get there, and we came up with the idea for bringing everyone together in a digital platform–and that is BTYKWN. It would be a metaverse, a complete world, where watching and chatting and shopping all living together for all of those folks for whom make-up had become their symbol of expression of who they are. So, we designed the platform to be sort of a Mickey Mouse Club for the digital generation. You didn’t necessarily know what would be on that day, but you could not wait to run home and tune in because you like spending time with those folks, namely a group at BTYKWN we dubbed the “GLAM GANG” that are the faces of the brand, and the content features them and the things you are very interested in but that are currently drastically underserved by existing media. And keep in mind for BTYKWN the members that join are also faces of this brand and this experience as they are what this is all about and who this is built for.
Mister D
FMM: “If you don’t fit in Stand Out! Who is the BTYKWN for?
We built BTYKWN for kweens, teens, tweens and every makeup superfan on earth that adores pop culture and fun and the ultimate self-expression.
FMM: Take us through the excitement. What will members enjoy on the BTYKWN platform?
BTYKWN has some of fashion’s most famous faces, like iconic fashion provocateur RICHIE RICH who is the ringleader of it all, along with the legendary drag superstar KEVIN AVIANCE, the emcee of BTYKWN. They are fabulous and fun to watch and to chat with in BTYKWN, and they have some really incredible and talented friends. Members can join for free and engage in BTYKWN TV, which is the pulse of the platform and offers up content ranging from DIY makeup tips to masterclasses with world class celebrity makeup artists, from interviews with actors to music from budding pop stars, and so much more as it rolls out.
FMM: Why is BTYKWN timely?
This is something the kids needed to have and I realize that, and more importantly, they realize that cause everyone is signing up for membership already! Look at E! Entertainment Television – we focused on everyone that loved movies and television. Here the audience is lovers of glam. The timing is really perfect.
FMM: As a veteran in the entertainment industry, what excites you the most about this project?
Throughout my career disruption has always been part of my DNA. So taking a category that is typically very corporate and traditional and adding a very fresh outlook coupled with my media point of view into how it is delivered to the audience, mixed with the super high-tech metaverse we are adding into it, is all exciting and new.
FMM: Is BTYKWN a game-changer?
I only deliver game-changers, otherwise, what fun is it? I am having a blast with BTYKWN.
FMM: Share your vision for 2022.
For me, 2022 is about seeing the planet get into shape and get through this unfortunate pandemic, so the people, the economy and the future can prosper for all.
