YouTubing
Reality sets in as the first premiere nears
Six days until the J ROBERT CLARK - Science-Fiction-Create premiere. Subscribe on YouTube to get notifications and updates. Thanks to all. ~JRC
Since deciding to create my YouTube Channel, I've realized what a challenge it is. Let me be honest - I often underestimate the time jobs take. But I drastically did so here.
Much goes into creating video content, far more than "point and shoot" camera work. I’m learning the hard way that turning raw footage into a quality show takes time. No matter the deadlines I set.
Did I say time? Correction: Loads of time.
Squeezing videoing and editing in while keeping everything else going is the greatest challenge new YouTubers face.
I’m making it, but rewiring my priorities has been a struggle. Without YouTube, I already have two full-time jobs - writing and making. Three if you throw in parenting (but, alas, society often overlooks that one).
Writing
I work to publish at least 2000 words a week. And I write a lot more than that. My goal is a thousand words a day. While I rarely achieve all 7000 a week, I often come close.Â
Why so much? I am filling my writing portfolio to promote and expand paying opportunities. It's also a vehicle that binds all I do - making, writing, parenting, living. I also write to formulate my thoughts and master my feelings. It has become an extension of "self" for me, and the more I do it, the more I want to write.
Making
Creating is my second job, and I would say, my favorite (outside of being a dad, that is). As such, I am always making something. The work sustains me; it’s as if making gives life. When I’m down or feeling empty, I go and create something. It's that fulfilling.
My projects vary and include woodworking, electronics, sculpting, drawing, and even light metalwork. I have several things going on at any given time and many more in the planning stages. My head swims with maker ideas, and I spend a lot of time thinking about and planning these. If that weren't enough, it's not uncommon for me to be in the lab, on my feet, for twelve hours a day, once a big build starts. Making is a full-time job to be sure.
And now, YouTubing
Taking on a YouTube channel on top of writing and making is daunting. What used to take an hour now takes two - filming projects doubles the time they take for me, at least right now. I expect this will improve as time goes on. Until then, I have to plan accordingly. And that means double-time.Â
The work is varied and separately each task seems easy enough. Setting up lighting, camera angles, and filming - there is formula and reason to it all. But to do it right, each step must be planned and executed well. And there's also the storyline. Rather than turning on the camera and going to work, I first think about how each shot builds on the last.
I work towards a direct story as I make, but making is not always so linear. It's meandering, with planning, trial, more planning, coffee, and more trial (and error). It's a daily changed plan with screw-ups, more coffee, occasional swearing, and still more trial (and more error). And then there's all the unabashed "winging it." Finally, almost magically, out of the dust and rubble, a project is completed.Â
And then begins editing. Bring on the coffee.
I'm using the software DaVinci Resolve 16. What a powerful program - and complicated.
My friend Adam who's a professional videographer recommended it. Incidentally, he created the first version of my video intro for Science-Fiction-Create. After learning a few basics, I've tweaked it and added personalized footage. But he set the bar for me and it has been a great asset as I dive into this endeavor.
Onward
As I experiment with editing, I’m learning a great deal about the little things that matter. Smooth transitions make all the difference. And within scenes, too long and meandering kills momentum. But too fast and choppy, and you lose the story.
A truth in editing: music helps, but too much is distracting. A few of my first cuts were like heavy metal music videos - poorly done heavy metal music videos. I’ve since dialed the driving beats back substantially.
One thing is clear to me now - it's all a tightrope walk. The difference between looking like a rockstar on YouTube - and falling like a rock - is slim.
Another truism: as powerful as editing can be, it’s not without limit. The final show quality depends greatly on where the raw footage begins.
Poor lighting and garbled sound are hard to remedy, at least at my editing skill level. I am doing better getting these as close to final in the actual shot. This takes more time and effort, of course. Lots of well-placed lights, and speaking up, are both key.
As for scenes, it’s hard to re-shoot or shoot anew if something is missing. So the more footage, the better. It’s easy to cut. And time-lapse is useful in tidying the remaining shots while reducing length. As such, I am filming as much of each build as possible, start to finish.
And then there are the factors outside my control.
My neighborhood has a lot of random noise. Dogs. Diesel trucks. Helicopters. The backlot at Warner Bros., it is not.
Granted, I make my share of noise, too. Power tools, mostly. I am cognizant of this and try to be as quiet as possible.
Good karma, I guess.
All in all, the videos are coming together. I've filmed at least seven different builds and will edit each soon. And I’m planning and making more through the rest of the year.
Here's the goal:
Four SciFiCreate Features now through December.Â
I will be sharing these builds every other week for the rest of the year, beginning November 12th. The subject will often be movie-inspired, like my premiere, the 'Evil Dead' chainsaw. Others will be elaborate creations that warrant the same run time. I'm shooting for 30 minutes for these features. The premiere might end up a two-parter, though - there's so much good stuff.
Between weekly "main events," I will release shorter segments called Lab Builds. These will include projects on tool fabrication, storage solutions, and similar infrastructure-type creations. I'm aiming for fifteen-minute episodes with these. I'm not sure how often, but possibly as-many-as once a week.
Finally, I am creating a series of short videos titled Space-time Five. These five-minutes-or-less spots will be commentary on the philosophy of making. I'll throw in a few tooltips and some sciency thoughts in these quick watches. Expect one or two each week.
Okay, that's all for now. It's back to the editing room for me (a.k.a., the lab; a.k.a., my garage; a.k.a., my do-all space of choice). Lot's more to finalize before next Thursday's premiere. But I’m on track. And I’m very excited to share with you what I am making.
Please be sure and visit my YouTube channel and subscribe before next Thursday.
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Until next time. Science. Fiction. Create.
JRCÂ