Mar 31, 2023 [[read-time]] minute read
Is there a word for that feeling when two creators collab on a video and it’s as if two completely opposite universes have collided? If that word exists, that's basically what it was like when we paired two of YouTube’s top creators — BENOFTHEWEEK (a.k.a. Benjamin De Almeida) and Ryan Trahan — together so they could meet for the very first time and interview each other with burning questions.
We weren't sure what to expect, to be honest. The wholesome creator with the chaos agent? As it turns out, the equation was simple: Two creators and two totally different styles equals one incredible interview.
While we had both of them together, we also asked the two for top tips for budding creators aspiring to achieve their level of success. To build curiosity but still make the content accessible, Ryan says he tries to come up with ideas that people might be able to easily recreate. “I love think about video ideas. What could a normal person do with their weekend, but probably wouldn't? That just opens the horizon of what I could do so much,” he says.
“One thing I always just want people to know is literally anyone can do it ... it's so available to just be able to start creating nowadays.”
Benjamin De Almeida
Sometimes, those ideas come to him as if in a dream. “Maybe you've been trying to fall asleep for an hour and then you think of an idea and you're like, should I grab my phone right now? I'm so comfortable, but I might forget this,” Ryan says. “I do that, except it'll be a really bad joke or something. That's a small segment of my video and I'm like, I have to write this down.”
Once you have an idea, Ben also says you don’t necessarily need to invest in expensive equipment to make a good video. “One thing I always just want people to know is literally anyone can do it ... it's so available to just be able to start creating nowadays,” Ben says. “Keep it simple, keep it clean.”
Whatever you decide to do for your channel, just remember to stay true to who you are. “People can sniff out being fake like a fart. It just comes off so easy,” Ben says. And he says while there’s space to be “a fictionalized version of yourself,” ultimately it has to feel authentic.
“It's super important to try to film something just as it really is, and experience something for real ... I re-film a lot of things. I'm not a one-take wonder dude.”
Ryan Trahan
“If you feel like you didn't really capture the moment the way you wanted, [do another version,]” Ryan says. “It's super important to try to film something just as it really is, and experience something for real ... I re-film a lot of things. I'm not a one-take wonder dude.“
Most importantly, not every video is worth overthinking or over editing. “There's a fine line between being overly critical because sometimes I'll just think I want to take so many things out and I look at this insanely edited husk of a video. I'm like, ‘Okay, I went a little bit too overboard,’” Ben says. “Just throw it up on there.”
No matter where in the creator journey you are, both Ben and Ryan agree there’s always room for growth and to learn more.
“A huge goal of mine is to always try to make my new favorite video ever,” Ryan says. “That's the best feeling just as a creator, feeling like you've actually outdone yourself ... I'm still growing. It took a little bit, but I'm still getting better every day, even if it doesn't show up in every video.’”
Watch the full interview below all their wisdom and advice!