A miracle occurred at Socratica Studios last month. Actually, it happened in Playa Vista, which is about an hour east of Socratica Studios.
Playa Vista is the location of YouTube Space LA (YTSLA). We spent an entire week there, because Socratica was chosen to be in the 2016 class of YouTube NextUp.
What is YouTube NextUp? It’s a program run by YouTube to identify and support promising up-and-coming YouTube channels. Hundreds of YouTube channels applied, and 16 of us were brought to YTSLA for an intensive week-long course in filmmaking and growing your channel. Each channel had an experienced mentor, and we worked all week with experts in the fields of cinematography, lighting, sound design, set design, greenscreen work, etc. etc.
It’s sort of like finding the golden ticket and being adopted by Willy Wonka.
Previous winners include ASAP Science (we’re big fans), Ingrid Nilsen, and Cassey Ho (who we actually got to meet and hear about her experience). So many of them are now well over a million subscribers. It really seems like this is a turning point for the channels in the program.
One of the best things about the NextUp was getting to meet and work with other YouTube creators. Working by yourself can be a kind of an echo-chamber, where you ask yourself, “Self, is this a good idea?” and you answer, “of course it is!” and you don’t question it. You always do things your way, in your comfort zone. Watching the other creators work and helping them with their shoots was an incredible education in how many ways you can go about getting great videos.
Our 2016 Class of YouTube NextUp:
Next time, I’ll include videos from my classmates and tell you more about their channels.
Remember to tell your friends about Socratica Studios, and encourage them to try our videos and subscribe!
KHH
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