Most celebrities wouldn’t bring their own camera and selfie stick to the Met Gala’s red carpet, but most people aren’t Casey Neistat. Humble, eccentric and down to earth, Casey’s persona is closer to your quirky next door neighbour than your average media persona.
While he has a series of videos with over ten million views on YouTube, making him one of the most viewed filmmakers on the platform, his approach to filmmaking is simple: to create the best and most engaging videos he can. It’s this authenticity that has been the backbone of Neistat’s storytelling and success.
Building a name for himself through his videos has allowed Neistat to transcend the status of YouTube star and put him in a league of his own. He’s collaborated with big stars like Jerome Jarre and Justin Bieber, and big brands like Nike and Mercedes.
The key to his success has been the creative freedom that posting videos online has provided him. He’s never been confined to editorial restrictions or an approval process, even in his limited number of branded videos. Instead, he captures his ideas and surroundings, weaving them into a story that’s both fun and relatable.
“If you’re doing what everyone else is doing, you’re doing it wrong.” – Neistat’s Twitter
He films the majority of his work with basic consumer cameras or phones, ignoring the tradition of gear-obsessed filmmakers.
“Now that so much media is consumed on mobile, the cinematography is being marginalized and what’s taking it’s place is a more relatable story.” – Neistat in an interview with Spikes Asia
For the past year, Neistat has turned his passion for storytelling into capturing his daily life. From pixelated, ten-second Snapchats, to ten-minute vlogs, Neistat has transformed his everyday life into an interesting and engaging narrative that has inspired his vast and rapidly growing audience. Even Jay Z is rumoured to follow Neistat’s daily exploits.
Neistat has revolutionized the way stories are told by ignoring tradition and precedent and expressing himself in an authentic and transparent manner that’s nearly unprecedented in the media industry.
By combining technology, whether it’s a VHS camera or an iPhone 6, with his unique perspective and motivational attitude, Neistat has broken through the noise and captured the attention of millions of people around the world.
It’s never been easier or more affordable to capture your ideas, experiences and stories to share with the world. Tell authentic stories that you truly believe in and the rest will follow.
Learn More:
Photo Credit: WordPress.com
