Bedtime Story Readings on YouTube. Really, Matt?

by Matt Koval

That’s a comment I got from one of my original viewers who’d just found my new bedtime story ’experiment’. I guess he wasn’t thrilled. But yes, bedtime stories. Below is a sample.

Why? A few reasons:

  • My new position at YouTube takes up a solid 45 hours a week, so there’s little time for most types of video creation.
  • YouTube as a company of course wants everyone and their mother to start a channel on their platform — but what’s it like starting from scratch in 2013 when the site is much more competitive?  I want to explore this for myself, and for YouTube.
  • My past videos have been all about quality, taking weeks and sometimes months to create.  What if I put more emphasis on quantity?
  • Lastly, as a somewhat new father, I suddenly have an interest in children’s content. Funny how that happens.

So there you have it, a bedtime story channel.

What about /MattKoval?  It’s still in limbo at the moment.  Right now, all I know is that I don’t have the time.  But also, it’s just nice to hit the reset button and try something new.

Are you a parent?  Give the video a whirl with your kiddo and let me know how it goes!

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Protect your Creative Confidence

by Matt Koval

This TED video struck a chord with me on a couple levels. One being that any creative person has experienced that moment, early in the process of a project, when someone stops by and says something like, “Eh… I don’t get it.” It’s awful to hear. Which is why, in my opinion you never show your work until it’s at least in some form of completion.

Bystanders don’t share your vision. They can’t see the whole from the pieces. So don’t risk the derailment of your creative confidence by letting your husband, girlfriend, brother, or mailman “check out your new project.”

That small piece of affirmation you’re searching for isn’t worth jeopardizing the whole venture. And I suggest this from experience, as I’ve trashed entire short films or videos after hearing a simple “I don’t get it.” So protect your creative confidence! Keep visitors out until you’re ready.

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Embrace Being Stuck

May 3, 2012

My advice for writers and filmmakers when they find themselves physically stuck or delayed. Don’t piss and moan and scream at the United Airlines lady! Don’t join everybody else in acting like your lives are ruined forever. Try doing what I do: Turn it into an opportunity to sink into the deepest and richest layers [...]

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Be a Subscriber MAGNET

May 2, 2012

Hey, Matt here.  Not a lot of people know that it did indeed take me two years to get my first 64 subscribers.  I didn’t know what I was doing, yet I kept reading about all these kids getting tons of hits on their videos, drawing mobs of subscribers, and even making a living off [...]

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Helping Launch YouTube EDU

March 3, 2012

YouTube invited me to be the host of this interactive quiz to help promote their new educational initiative, YouTube EDU.  It was also asked that the videos be distributed on my channel.  Most of the deals I’m offered are from corporate brands who want to sell, sell, and sell some more, so it felt nice [...]

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Story vs. Spectacle on YouTube

February 6, 2012

YouTube is hardly the perfect platform for a traditional, narrative filmmaker. Most scripted projects get buried by the daily video blogs and Epic Meal Times of the world. It’s an awesome place for “video snacks” and shows that can be made on an assembly-line every week.  But for those of us who like to create [...]

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