YouTube duo shifts focus to the big screen with "Smosh: The Movie"

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Uploading homemade videos on YouTube has turned into a big business. That trend is front center this weekend at the annual VidCon in Anaheim, as the line continues to blur between old Hollywood and new Hollywood.

Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox made it to the top of the heap 10 years ago and are now bringing their popular brand, "Smosh," to the movie world. For this duo, there is no fear.

"It's always, let's try!" said Padilla. "You know, I think that's how we've stayed relevant for almost 10 years now. We're always like, 'Well let's just try this out and if it doesn't work we won't do it again, but if it works keep doing it.'"

Hecox agreed.

"When we started, we were just doing this for fun. We weren't making really any money off of it until about two years in, so it was just, we were just doing it for fun. I was still working my part-time job at Chuck E. Cheese. We felt there was something there for sure," he said.

That "something" became more than 20 million YouTube subscribers. And a whole new "movie" world, which has included dealing with the MPAA for the first time, getting their own wax figures from Madame Tussaud's -- and more.

"I guess the trailer was a weird thing. We got a trailer for ourselves!" said Hecox.

"That was weird," said Padilla. "We had stand ins. I was like, 'Why would I ever need a stand in?'"

Two other movies featuring YouTube stars are also being released this month: The comedy, "Bad Night," starring Jenn McAllister and Lauren Elizabeth Luthringshausen, and the thriller, "The Chosen", starring Kian Lawley.

"I think a lot of people are trying it and realizing it works," said Padilla. "They already have an audience online that's clamoring for them to make a movie, so there's no reason not to try it, and it's proving to be successful."

"Smosh: The Movie" is available for digital download on Friday.