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Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh
Casey Neistat: “Today's YouTube makes me sad”
Apr 25, 2023
02:59:38
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Quick takeaways
- Casey Neistat's upbringing shaped his fearless attitude towards taking risks.
- Staying away from sensational content is essential for authenticity and integrity.
- Casey's transition from selling weed to creative ventures showcases personal growth.
- Success stemmed from creating unique, boundary-pushing videos that resonated in the fine art world.
- New York City serves as a powerful source of inspiration and storytelling for content creation.
Deep dives
Casey's Troubled Teen Years
As a troubled teenager, Casey faced challenges at home and in school. His rebellious behavior led to issues with his parents and school authorities. After getting into trouble, including fights and suspensions, he eventually reached a breaking point prompting him to leave home at a young age.
Early Ventures into Selling Weed
Casey's early experiences with selling weed started when he realized the profit potential. Despite initial financial success, this path also led to trouble at school and eventually contributed to his decision to leave home. Selling weed provided temporary financial freedom but also introduced him to conflicts and challenges.
Moving Out and Unplanned Pregnancy
After leaving home, Casey found temporary accommodations with friends, which eventually led to living with two older girls. One of the girls became pregnant, which was unexpected and complicated their living situation. The experience highlighted the lack of sex education and understanding of the consequences of unprotected sex during Casey's teenage years.
Making Videos for a Birthday Party
The journey towards success began with creating a birthday video for a wealthy art collector's husband. The project involved interviewing high-profile figures, including Bill Clinton, which exceeded expectations. The video was showcased at a lavish birthday dinner, impressing the attendees and marking a successful venture that led to further opportunities.
Exploring Fine Art World with Videos
Transitioning to the fine art world, the duo created videos that blurred the lines between art and experimentation. Using unconventional concepts like mothballs in vinegar and building a log cabin with matchsticks, they discovered a niche that resonated with art collectors. By showcasing these unique videos at art galleries and events, they gained recognition and financial support to expand their creative endeavors.
Securing Studio Space in Chinatown
With the backing of a supportive mentor, the pair secured a studio space in Chinatown, setting the stage for their artistic pursuits. Despite initial challenges in finding suitable spaces within budget constraints, they eventually landed a studio with windows that offered ample opportunities for creativity and growth. This pivotal moment marked a significant step in their artistic journey.
Starting from Nothing in Business and Making It Work
The speaker recounts a time when they took a risky business opportunity with only 30 days until they ran out of money. Despite the lack of foresight into the consequences, they decided to make it work practically by thinking about making even small amounts of money to sustain themselves. This mindset led them to selling paintings, creating art, and eventually making videos, even fake commercials for desired brands, which eventually landed them their first big job for Nike.
Embracing Creativity and Storytelling in New York City
The speaker passionately expresses their deep connection and love for New York City, highlighting its unmatched inspiration for creativity and storytelling. They reflect on how the city's diverse and vibrant atmosphere fuels their ability to craft compelling narratives and engage with universal human experiences. Through personal anecdotes like running marathons and surfing, the speaker underscores the importance of inviting the audience into the story, drawing on shared emotions and experiences to create impactful and relatable content.
The Significance of Story and Chemistry in Content Creation
Creating content is not just about the action, it's about the story and chemistry. While watching the greatest surfers may be dull, it's the narrative and interaction that captivate audiences. Personal connections and daily routines, like getting a smoothie, can engage viewers. The essence lies in making the mundane captivating, showcasing everyday interactions and experiences.
The Challenges and Rewards of Balancing Work and Personal Life
Maintaining work-life balance poses challenges, especially in content creation where consistency is key. The pressure to constantly produce content can strain personal relationships. Finding a balance between daily vlogging, managing relationships, and avoiding burnout is crucial. The struggle to navigate creativity, productivity, and personal life is an ongoing journey.
yerrr, today we had on YouTube & NYC's own: Casey Neistat - we talked the state of YouTube, his wild upbringing, his lack of fear of risk, surviving 9/11, being a dad, his never ending hustle and much much more. INDULGE 00:00 Daily Flagrant vlog 00:46 Casey crashes every car he’s had 05:56 Bitterness isn’t interesting + 2003 Apple video 12:10 Having a daily record of my life 13:35 Becoming a caricature + wife keeps Casey honest 19:46 Staying away from sensationalism 21:23 Casey’s next video “YouTube makes me sad” 24:03 100m views before monetisation - BIG MISTAKE 25:26 Casey is addicted to Prime energy 26:41 Influencer monetisation + doing merch right 28:32 Beme - inspiration & hoodwinking CNN 33:55 Rejected from the CNN PJ + enjoying his riches 41:09 Nothingness+ TOUGH upbringing + Trapping 46:04 Mum gave Casey ultimatum + leaving home 47:57 Rizzing & impregnating at 15 54:20 Becoming a parent + Van adopting Casey 59:21 Moving to New York = from trailer park to tiny studio 01:05:45 Getting the first break + babysitting cats 01:08:51 September 11th, 2001 01:21:20 Oscars + being a sheep isn’t safe 01:26:49 Raising rebellious children that follow the rules 01:29:32 Don’t disparage children 01:35:49 Tasting success - Bill Clinton 01:41:05 “Science Experiments” - might be the first NFT 01:44:02 Not asking for permission- making ads 01:46:11 Failures too 01:47:08 Vlogging - cable access, HBO, Gonzo journalism 01:53:33 Working with Van Neistat and their challenging times 01:55:28 Representing New York + LA feels hollow 01:57:21 Feeling like a Judas + being in love with NY 02:00:30 The King of New York 02:01:35 Misunderstanding New Yorkers 02:04:42 New York is the best it’s has ever been 02:06:29 Chinatown is ungentrifiable and we LOVE it 02:07:46 Half-way houses f-ing up the neighbourhood 02:09:45 Casey will never leave NY + no regrets moving to LA 02:11:32 The importance of story - communicating universality 02:21:58 Doing NY better + finding balance 02:28:00 The story of the sunglasses 02:30:11 Most people are awesome + fame helps 02:34:01 Seldomly saying no to a selfie 02:41:58 Daughter watching Casey’s vlogs 02:44:06 ASMR Camping + girls go camping is educational 02:49:48 Candice is BLESSED + new income avenue? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– dizzy by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Music promoted by Audio Library • Dizzy – Joakim Ka... ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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