If you want to watch teenagers compete for cash, clout and camera time, look no further. Though Benjamin Abergel may seem like a regular WCHS freshman– busy with school, sports and friends– outside of school he is the director of a truly ambitious project. As the creator behind the YouTube channel Benji Maxx, Abergel creates high-energy, high-stakes videos, the latest of which is a series called the “Maxx Olympics,” where thirty contestants compete for a $1,000 prize. However, Abergel’s journey did not begin with this blockbuster series, but with a simple goal.
“I have always liked videography,” WCHS freshman Benjamin Abergel said. “I just like the idea of capturing a moment on camera and being able to relieve it later on. The dream is to make movies. So my deal is, if I am trying to get into film school, what could I send them? Starting my channel is my first step to learning how to make a movie, and to make some money to produce my own short film.”
Of course, being a creator is far from easy. Abergel had to learn everything from the ground up: how to effectively market a video, keep viewers engaged and build up his momentum. Early on things were chaotic, where contestants would spoil videos before anyone had watched them or quit the day of filming. The transition from video-jeopardizing mistakes to a streamlined process involving mandating Non-Disclosure Agreements in order to prevent results from leaking was remarkable. However, all this constant management, having to coordinate filming and all the editing required– while keeping up with school– meant this channel was not just a passion project anymore.
“Running the channel itself has become more like a job ever since we started partnering with companies and businesses, because managing people for filming is a challenge all by itself,” Abergel said. “But the support I have gotten over the years from my family and people watching is amazing. My mom is always helping me out with stuff, so I changed my channel banner to ‘Thanks Mom,’ I wanted to give her a shout out.”
In all the little details, Abergel’s personality shines through his channel. A bright and charismatic voice narrates each video, hyping up the audience for something they have never seen from a WCHS student before. Whether it is running a 5K in a sumo suit or getting 50 people to fight for $500, Abergel’s videos hook viewers from the first frame. With more than 19,000 cumulative views on his channel, Benji Maxx is a homegrown success story.
“My experience working with Ben was truly enjoyable,” Ahmed Karama, WCHS freshman and Benji Maxx contestant said. “The ‘Maxx Olympics’ biggest draw for people would be how filled with suspense and comedy the videos are. From the whole experience what really stuck with me was playing hide and seek, because it was the first challenge we did.”
The “Maxx Olympics” stars WCHS freshman facing down not only increasingly difficult challenges, but each other in the race towards the prize money. Abergel exercises his skills as an engaging storyteller by presenting a unique challenge for his contestants to overcome in every video. Each episode is more intense than audiences might expect, as students face betrayal, are forced to put their trust in their competitors and battle out interpersonal drama until they discover just how far they will go to win $1,000.
“My idea for the ‘Maxx Olympics’ started in the middle of summer last year. I was sitting in the mall watching the Olympics and I started thinking: why have we not already made a video about this?” Abergel said. “Now when I sit down to edit the final videos, I have noticed that each episode only gets crazier. When you see somebody you know hiding in a trash can for $1,000, you cannot look away. The energy is real.”
The “Maxx Olympics” are the culmination of years of experience, but the real magic of the series, and Abergel’s entire channel, is in its relatability. It is one thing to watch strangers on a reality show, but it is another experience entirely to see your classmates battle for prize money.
“It is fun that all the contestants actually go to our school. That is what excites me the most,” WCHS junior Nadia Shewchuk said. “Pulling this whole thing together is a pretty crazy endeavor, and $1,000 is a lot of money. I mean, that is enough incentive that I would want to compete myself.”
What started as an eighth grader’s idea has evolved into a full-scale production, driven by an unshakeable hustle. With every video, challenge and click of the camera, Abergel is not just entertaining an audience, but building a foundation for his future in film. In the end, all it took was one push from a sponsor for the “Maxx Olympics” to be born.
“I was talking to Mamma Lucia, and I wanted to know if they were willing to back the whole thing,” Abregel said. “I told them to shake my hand right then, and we could do it. I would commit to the big budget. And when they shook my hand– that was the moment I knew I had to go all out on this thing– there was no other way. There was not one.”
