How To Make A Science Video ... like Real Engineering
Oct 2, 2023
Join Brian McManus, the mastermind behind Real Engineering, as he discusses his journey from engineer to YouTube sensation. He shares how curiosity drives his video topics and the meticulous process of blending animation with engaging narratives. Discover the behind-the-scenes challenges he faced, like teaching himself animation after being fired, and the importance of accessible science communication. Brian also reflects on building his team, coping with burnout, and the future of educational content in the age of AI.
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Quitting To Make The First Hit
- Brian quit his engineering job at zero subscribers and taught himself animation on a remote island to make his first hit video.
- That animated plane-window video took multiple iterations and was picked up by HuffPost, jumpstarting Real Engineering.
Make Content You'd Watch Yourself
- Brian treats himself as the audience avatar and only pursues topics he finds genuinely interesting.
- He argues passion and authenticity outperform fake, generic content on YouTube.
Think Thumbnail First, Use Series Titles
- Design thumbnail imagery before finalising the title and use series formats to simplify titling.
- Use recurring series like "Insane Engineering" as a quality flag and shortcut for titles.