Vito Talkz #001

There's a very strange line to walk as a "creator" (whatever that stupid word means). Back in the day no one expected anything from the people whose media they consumed. Maybe you'd read a trashy tabloid about your favorite celebrity, but mostly you didn't worry about the political leanings of whoever directed the latest blockbuster movie, or demand your favorite authors declare where they stand on important social issues. You just watched movies and read books and didn't really give any of it a second thought (unless you found out your chosen piece of media was made by a communist, in which case you became very, very mad).

That's the predicament I find myself in, because ultimately you have to realize that this outward facing "creator culture" is a lie. The majority of these creators are playing a very blatant character, they are either showing you an entirely fictitious version of themselves, or whatever shred of honesty they are giving you is a mere slice of the entire pie.

I must admit that I am guilty of some of the same sort of manipulation. The Vito you know from my videos and other works is, at least in part, an act. And of course he is, for the sake of comedy he has to be. When I scream about the idiots at Lucasfilm ruining my Star Wars, you understand that there is a level of abstraction, of exaggeration for comedic effect. Yes, bad Hollywood movies get under my skin but do I truly sit around my house screaming GOTCHA at the screen? Of course not. There is Vito the hilarious loudmouth, and Vito the anxiety-ridden weirdo staring at an empty Adobe Premiere timeline and wondering if he could've made better life decisions.

The predicament is that to succeed in today's creator culture, you cannot ask people to judge you on your works alone. Rather you must form some form of connection with them. Your audience doesn't just want to be your fan, they want to be your friend, even if it's only on some strange abstract level. For instance, I watch a lot of RedLetterMedia. And as stupid as it might be, I instinctively view Rich and Mike as "my friends." (For some reason I assume Jay would hate me). They are two guys I know who let me visit their living room every week and politely listen to them rip apart movies. Now of course I know our relationship is an illusion, and it may arguably be an unhealthy one, but something about it feels real.

So the question then is, how does one connect with their audience in a genuine way? How much of one's honest self should you show to the camera? Or is it better to go the route of the common grifter and assume a persona of pure artifice? A being of limitless energy and humor who screams "HOW WE DOIN' GUYS!?" like a cartoon character while demanding the audience slam the like button and buy his merch?

I don't have the answer. But since you, my supporter, have chosen to deepen this connection between us by helping pay my rent, I feel obligated to offer you something that feels honest.

I'll be dropping little videos like this one on occasion. Wholly random and largely useless musings on life, maybe a peek at some projects I'm working on, whatever. It's possible this is a terrible idea and I'd be better off remaining fully behind the mask of the overweight goofball who rages at children's media, but fuck it.

Let's try being honest.

If only just a tiny bit.

- Vito