The Vlogger Interviews: "The Family YouTube"

About this interview:
If YouTube had ambassadors to the uninitiated, there's a family in Florida, there's a family in Florida that would probably be ideal for the job.  A mom and three of her kids all have YouTube channels; one (Fur) is a YouTube partner.  Creating videos is their passion; YouTubers are their friends.  They create separately and together, with mom (and dad) keeping an eye on things.   They are probably one of the most spirited, optimistic examples of the emerging 21st century family.

Part Two this weekend!

Featuring Fur, AntinnyWorld, DrewDudeTV and their mom, HappySuuz

The Vlogger Interviews: Eric, of Epoddle [Coco Bean & Eze)

About this Interview:
Today's Vlogger Interview features Eric, 'EzE' of "CoCo Bean and EzE," a comedy / family vlog formally known at as Epoddle.   Eric's vlogs usally center on loosely scripted comedy sketches centered around his adventures with his four year-old son, known to YouTubers as "CoCo Bean." What began as a fun father-son (and family project) has turned into a growing YouTube channel.   We spoke about the origins of the channel, speculated on his son's future as a true child of vlogging - and preserving his family's privacy as their YouTube fame grows.

The Vlogger Interviews: ErikTV365

In the latest episode of The Vlogger Interviews, I spoke with Erik of ErikTV365, a family vlog based in Dallas, Texas.  Erik's made the commitment that he's going to vlog every day for the rest of his life.  In the world of YouTube, where gimmicks and imitation sometimes seem like the norm, Erik's channel is a little bit different:  it has a purpose.

Erik's a survivor of testicular cancer.  He decided to start vlogging during his chemotherapy, when he watched other YouTube family channels, and found that "it boosted my spirits - it help me to realize that there's more than just dwelling on something."  He wants his children - and as time went on, his audience -  to know that "no matter what obstacles are thrown at them in life, that they can always have a happy day." It's a philosophy he follows on his vlog - and in his life.

Watch the vlog is learn more about how this channel came about, and how Erik maintains his vlogging commitment every day of the year.

The Vlogger Interviews: Harrison Houde [xTurnipTimex]

Today's Vlogger Interview features Harrison Houde, a teen YouTuber from Vancouver, Canada.  He's also a professional actor (he was in the first "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" film as Darren Walsh  - the kid with the "Cheese Touch").  He's also a podcaster, a blogger, a young entrepreneur - and an entirely new kind of young filmmaker (and just about a universe away from my super-8 days!)

I chose Harrison as my first teen vlogger interview for several reasons.  He's interested in learning and improving his creative process as an actor and vlogger - and shares his experiences and advice as an actor and vlogger with other young YouTubers.

He's also a hard worker.  At the first VidCon, I doubt whether there were many attendees who didn't, at some point, see Harrison and his dad racing around the conference, as he made himself known to as many YouTubers as possible (and earning a few valuable shout-outs that helped build his channel).  

Harrison, of course, has the extraordinary self-confidence that young actors need, but manages to balance ambition with a positive attitude.  In short, I think he's a good citizen of the YouTube community. 

After you've checked out the interview, check out Harrison's main YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/xturniptimex

[Interested in being interviewed?  Know someone who you would like to recommend?  Let me know!]

The Vlogger Interviews: Peter Ilagan [JourneysOfLifeVlogs]

This episode of my webseries, "TheVlogger Interviews" features Peter Illagan, known on YouTube at JourneysOfLifeVlogs.

Just who are Vloggers, anyway?  Yes, the obvious answer is that they're "video bloggers," but that's too simple an answer, I think.  They're not filmmakers, as we've come to understand the craft (and anyway, that's a dated term).  YouTubers are often called "content creators," but that's a term that seems awfully bland for what the site has come to represent.

Peter Ilagan, of the YouTube channel, Journeysoflifevlogs, has found expression for himself as an artist in a several different forms - as a sketch artist, as a painter - and as a writer.  In fact, he began his YouTube experience after publishing his book of short stories, Journeys of Life.  He saw social media at first as a way to promote his book, but rapidly discovered that he liked creating videos and posting them online.

"I've come to realize that I like the aspect of making videos for YouTube social media because it gives me a chance to be more creative, obviously, and just express my thoughts in a way I never could have imagined.  I mean, I'm a little more funny in the videos that I expected to be I guess, and I just like the fact that I can put it together in like a two or three minute video and just put it out there for people to see and just really enjoy and hopefully entertain them."

Some might call that a thirst for immediate gratification, but if you're an artist - you know that there's huge satisfaction in knowing that you're actually reaching and touching your audience.  I asked Peter if he's a writer who vlogs, or a vlogger who writes.  His answer, I think, sums up the multi-dimesional canvas that, thanks to technology, is at our fingertips - and makes defining social media-centered artists so hard to define.

"I don't look at myself as a writer who vlogs, or a vlogger who writes.  I look at myself more as a vlogger who creates, using whatever means I feel is the best way to express my creativity."

Take a look at Peter's interview here or on my YouTube channel, and then check out Peter's main channel.

And if you really want the full "Journeys of Life" experience, here's a secret:  make sure you follow him on Twitter - he's got a wickedly dry sense of humor.   And I don't use the word "wickedly" too often...