Dialogue with Tsinghua YouTuber Chong Chi Jiong
PEOPLE
2019.07.26
When watching Vlogs, funny videos, and pretty photos, we always feel that they are far away from us, and they are strangers on the other side of the mobile phone or computer screen. However, in fact, there may be such people hidden around us. They are actually ordinary people just like us. They just like to record and share the ups and downs of their lives through the Internet and reap happiness.
Reporter | Huang Shi Xuan
Original Author | Zhong Yi Wen
Photo from | Chong Chi Jiong
WeChat Article Layout | Zhou Yi Kang
Was originally published in The Voice of Beijing, Issue 1, 2019
This web article is the English translation of the original article.
Click here to read the original WeChat article.
Web Article Layout | Wong Xiangyu
In this era of rapid development of the Internet, the works of Youtubers, internet celebrities, bloggers, and Bilibili uploaders can be seen everywhere. They occupy major social media platforms and become one of the entertainment and hot topics in our daily lives. When watching Vlogs, funny videos, and nice photos, we always feel that they are far away from us, and they are strangers on the other side of the mobile phone or computer screen. However, in fact, there may be such people hidden around us. They are actually ordinary people just like us. They just like to record and share the ups and downs of their lives through the Internet and reap happiness.
The following is a dialogue between The Voice of Beijing and the Youtuber Zhong Qi Jiong of Tsinghua University.
Q1: How did you learn to make a film when you first started making a film?
A1: When I first made the film, I used WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER, but over time I found that this software could not meet my needs, so I searched the Internet for editing software recommended by netizens. However, most of the recommended softwares are PREMIERE PRO and FINAL CUT PRO, which are difficult to operate, so I searched for various free editing software by myself. In the end, I found WONDERSHARE FILMORA, which is relatively easy to operate, and then through constant practice to study the usage. In addition, I searched for other editing techniques shared by Youtubers on YOUTUBE, and learned various editing methods by watching videos. Until now, I started to switch to PREMIERE PRO to improve the quality of my videos.
Q2: How did the idea of making videos come about?
A2: At the beginning, I had the same idea as most people, hoping to record the good moments in life in various ways. Some people chose the form of photos, but I chose to record them in the form of videos. When I was young, my father insisted on organizing a family trip every year. We have our footprints from Malaysia to abroad, and also subtly made me fall in love with travelling. After I travelled more often, my friends around me would ask me how I felt about travelling. Later, I decided to film my travel videos and share my experience with everyone through this channel. Another point is that I particularly like to remember the past, but every time I remember, I find that just looking at the photos is not enough, so I hope to make a short film to share life and stories, and at the same time incorporate humorous ideas into the film, which eventually contributed to my current YouTube channel.
Q3: The biggest bottleneck faced when making videos.
A3: Actually, I have encountered a lot of setbacks over the years, but I think the hardest thing to maintain is the enthusiasm for this industry. There are many people who want to become Youtubers, but there are very few really well-known Youtubers, because doing this business is not as simple as it seems. Of course, I believe that no matter what industry has its difficulties. Editing is not difficult, you can learn by watching the video on the Internet; shooting is not difficult, you can record by picking up your mobile phone; speaking to the camera is not difficult, and you are used to speaking; so the real difficulty is persistence. The first thing we need to be clear is that the world is cruel. No matter how hard you work, your efforts and gains are probably not proportional. All kinds of questioning voices are hitting you and make you want to give up, but as long as you really like to be in this industry, you will stick to it no matter what bottlenecks you encounter. Like to share, like to make videos, like to help others – these are the reasons that motivate me to stick to it.
Q4: How do you increase your exposure on Youtube?
A4: Actually, I don’t want to use any method to increase my exposure, because I just do my best to do what I like, and then post it on Youtube, nothing more. I have never specifically promoted my channel to my relatives, friends or colleagues, because I hope that people who subscribe to my channel will truly like my videos. Although there are few subscribers to my channel now, I can proudly say that these people really like my videos. I also believe that over time, strength will speak.
Q5: Do you think it is due to chance that you have many fans to support you now? Why?
A5: I think so. In order to share my feelings to the public, I started to make a film, and there was a group of people who noticed me and supported me in the vast crowd. I think this is a magical and beautiful thing. What made me completely unexpected was that I had a number one fan from Belgium! Unexpectedly, someone would start admiring me because they watched my video and got help. The idea of not doing it for anyone started, but it was rewarded in a wonderful way. I was so grateful that I was unintentionally inserted into the willows and willows.
Q6: Do you wish to treat Youtube as a job? Or is it just a leisure activity?
A6: I dare not say that I want to take this as my job, because the reason I went on this path is that I like it. If it is for making money, it would be more reluctant for me. I still plan to find a stable job and treat this (Youtuber) as my leisure activity, which is a part-time job. If at a certain point in the future, when I have a job opportunity that allows me to continue making videos I like and maintain my usual living expenses, I will consider making videos as my main job. After all, I am lucky enough to be able to like myself. It’s good to think of things as work.
Q7: What is the family's view of such a social role as a Youtuber? Does your family support you to be a Youtuber?
A7: I am very grateful to my parents. They have no restrictions on my future and will do their best to support me and encourage my choice. Their attitudes are very optimistic and positive. Although they are still worried, they still give me some advice and enlightenment. My memory is still fresh, my first and second subscribers are my dad and my girlfriend respectively.
Q8: It takes a long time to make a video. How do you allocate your time?
A8: As I have to deal with university courses and extracurricular activities, I usually insist on making a video a month. If you want to build your own audience, it is necessary to publish videos regularly. If it is a holiday or during a relatively free period, I will try to make a video a week. During the production process, it takes one day to make rough cuts, one day to add sound effects, etc. The most troublesome thing is to add subtitles, which takes about two days. These are all done on the premise that I am free. If I am busy, the time required will be doubled. But because this is something I like to do very much, I always put editing videos first, and other things can be postponed slightly.
Q9: As a Youtuber, what do you think is the most important thing?
A9: You must love what you do, not for profit or fame. If you pay attention to those, you may not stick to it. After all, I have been a Youtuber for almost 3 years and I currently have only 700 subscribers.
Q10: The output of every film requires a good idea. Does this idea appear suddenly? Or is it observed in daily life?
A10: All of them, mainly through long-term life observations, and then suddenly a good idea emerges. Some ideas are not my own. It may be that a joke in the process of talking with a friend will give me inspiration. My idea of creativity is “the more you want it to come, the less it will come, and the more you don’t want it to come, it will come”. So many of my ideas are the essence extracted from life experience. For example, I have a video on “How to tie a tie”. The inspiration for the shooting was actually mentioned when I was chatting with my friends. We thought it would be funny to shoot this way, so we decided to shoot. At the time, I didn’t expect much from this video, but I didn’t expect it to become the one with the highest click rate among my many videos.
Editorial Board of The Voice of Beijing, 1st Issue, 2019
Edited and published by | AMSIB
Coordinator | Li Wei Ai, Vivian, Huang Xiao Qing
Producer | Li Jun Jin
Secretary | Wen Shi Yun, Wang Xuan Ming
Leader of the Interview Team | Cao Yi Wen, Yvonne
Reporter | Feng Qi Yang, Dong Jia Ren, Huang Jing Yi, He Jing Ling, Zhong Yi Wen, Liu Wei Yu, Huang Shi Xuan
Editor | Luo You Rong
Writer | Zhong Yi Wen, Chen Qian Jing, Zhou Yi Kang, Huang Jin Tai, Huang Mei Qi, Nur Aiin Binti Muhammad Azhar
Art Director | Yang Wen Fei
Art Editor| Chen Pei Xin, Xu Yi Ting, Yang Qian Hui, Zhou Yi Kang, Huang Mei Xuan, Huang Jin Tai
