His rope swing video is one of my favorites (and has nearly 10 million views after less than two months.)
Most of the comments are positive, some are amazingly negative, but there was one comment
that I read over and over because I couldn't believe it. One viewer complimented the video, mentioned that he or she also liked making videos with friends, and then asked how Devin had gotten discovered.
Huh?
How he got discovered?
Do you know how the internet works?
In Devin's case, he got famous by making the very videos that this commenter was commenting on. He wasn't discovered by a talent scout while working in a factory. He wasn't chosen for a film grant. He didn't have a famous director daddy to connect him to the industry. He got discovered by doing the work.
What about you? Do we look at the people that are living their dreams and wish that we had the same lucky breaks that they had? Whether our dreams are to be movie stars, successful entrepreneurs, painters or professional skateboarders, we can realify those dreams by doing the work now. If you do the work with passion, getting discovered follows.
17 comments:
That exactly what I've been doing this whole time.. I love what I do I might not get payed for it but i love seeing people reaction when watching my videos.... They might not be up to par with Devin's videos but with the equipment and passion I have, I think I do pretty well. I admire Devin's passion, energy and amazing videos.. He gives people like me hope that to do hard work and at the end it all pays off.. haha Devin you da man!!
Dylan Elm
I am a young piano player from germany and i will keep on doing my videos and will try to build up something with my best friend
I think its most important to let people know that you are there.. so check my channel :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpzILkch46c
I agree, in large part, with what you said.
There is one thing I'd like to point out that, perhaps, you missed.
It's really easy to say "Hey, I made it, so you should too."
There are a lot of people who hold this view.
Yet, there are also a lot of people who work very very hard at what they do, and they don't get all of the same breaks as others.
Some of that is genius, and some of that is, well, luck!
Devin did the work, and is successful because he puts in time, and so on.
But, there are also a lot of other people who put in the work and make quality work who don't become famous because, well, who knows.
Hard work pays off, but not always in wealth or fame. Sometimes you can't quantify all of what you learn.
So let's also give a shout out to those who work hard and don't enjoy the fame or fortune.
And let's also continue to enjoy the good, quality work of those who do enjoy the fame and success.
I guess for me, I like to think that quality doesn't always equal fame.
And when it does, good for those who enjoy it.
Hopefully, Devin would still do what he enjoyed doing even if it didn't make him famous or rich. :)
He gives me hope too. Keep doing what you love. You'll give hope to other people.
You're totally right that you have to let people know that you're there. Sometimes it's much work to get the word out as it is to build the product.
Excellent point. I agree 100%. Thanks for the positive addition. There are a large number of factors that have to be there for breakout success. Natural talent, developed skill, passion, an interested audience, etc... they've all got to be there.
I embedded a link above to a post I wrote about skateboarders and sponsorship. I love skateboarding and I've spent a ton of time doing it over the last sixteen years, but I don't have a lot of natural talent. No amount of effort would ever get me a spotlight interview in Thrasher. And yet I'd still give the same response to someone wondering how Paul Rodriguez started getting so much attention by skateboarding media. He was doing the work.
I like what you said about hard work paying off. Some of the hard things I've done have contributed to me making a good wage. Most of them haven't; but I've never felt like I've wasted time when doing something difficult.
It's refreshing to hear you cheering for people that are enjoying success. The world is too full of people that hate others for doing well.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. You're welcome here anytime!
I started making movies because I wanted to master it. My mastery then lead to some people at the school asking me to do a major project.
I think that is a really healthy way to doing things. I never had the intend to work professionally with video production, I just did what I enjoyed, and it only occurred to me that I could make more of it, once the requests started rolling in.
I know it's a chicken and egg scenario for a lot of people, but if you don't really enjoy doing what you are doing if you aren't getting attention for it, you might be better off doing something else. It sounds harsh, and I don't think a lot of people really think about something like "I need attention", but give it another thought if your YouTube subscriber count frustrates you. Why are you doing this?
Otherwise, I am a BIG fan of collaborations :D! Find someone out there, a guy your size on YouTube or another forum and ask to do something together. That would at least give you one person to share the experience with. Just come up with something where you are missing something, and find someone who can provide the missing piece.
Hi Luke!
Just wanted to say fantastic article! :) As a fledgling YouTube channel myself, it was quite a welcome inspiration.
Also curious if I could potentially quote you in a book I'm writing about acting. I love your last paragraph, and would love to share it if possible.
Thanks so much for the inspiring blog! Look forward to reading more.
All the best,
Patrick
(And PS, Happy Easter (or whatever you might celebrate)!)
The chicken-and-egg analogy is a good one. For me that translates into trying a lot of things. Some things work, some things don't. Some things gather an audience, most things don't. Some things I'll keep doing forever even if no one pays attention, other things I'll quit after a couple tries if people don't want to pay me.
Also, good call on collaborations. Along with doubling the talent involved, it's more fun and you start with double the audience of friends and family!
Hi Patrick! I'm glad you liked it. I'd be honored to be quoted in your book. Good luck with it. Congrats for doing the work and trying things out.
You mention that you're amazed that some of the comments are negative and I happen to be a person who has posted negative comments. I contacted the Utah Trust Lands where Corona Arch is located and found out Devin did not contact the office in preparation for his stunt. Over the years recreational land users have established rapport with land managers and systems. When over two days, someone films a 'stunt' video designed to spread and possibly attract additional visitors to that site; land managers need to be made aware. Some areas are not simply designed for a rapid influx of use. Not only did Devin's video damage that reputation but it also will causes a rift in the climbing community. Removable anchors should be used at all times when possible. Devin and his crew clearly use bolts and it is unknown to the land managers if he placed them or not. Bolting a climb for a one time 'stunt' is a clear breach of climbing ethics. I don't know who put the bolts in but care and consideration need to maintained when you are informing a large audience.
Devin or yourself Luke, should contact the land managers and ask them what has been reported. I think you'd find it insightful. Peace.
Thanks for this background info. Actually, the negative comments I was referring to were more like the guy that wished that someone had smashed into the rock and died because they all seemed like such [awful] people.
You bring up a good point. When someone is successful, and especially when someone's success makes him or her popular, he or she gets stuck with a lot of responsibility as a role model; desired or not.
I have no experience with public land policies or climber ethics, so I can't add much to the conversation. Thanks for bringing this up. At the very least it's a reminder that more communication is always better.
Thanks so much! ^___^ I'm hoping to have it in e-book form before the end of the month. If you'd like a copy, just let me know the best place to email it.
Thanks again for the quote, and have a great week! :)
Dear Anonymous,
Let's get some facts straight.
1.) The bolts that we used in the jump were already there. Corona has been a popular destination for the sport rappelling crowd for years now. We didn't place any of the bolts.
2.) Your assertion that fixed hardware (like bolts) causes a rift in the climbing community is accurate but inapplicable. Take a look on Wall Street, in Mill Creek Canyon, or on the face-climbing sections of the towers in Castle Valley; putting bolts when you can't place trad gear is common and accepted. I don't know if you've been on top of Corona, but there's no place to put gear; we're not exactly bolting the Compressor Route here.
3.) You claim that "stunts" like ours cause an "influx" of use. Let's not kid ourselves into thinking Corona Arch is a hidden landmark that people go to for a "wilderness experience". Mountain Dew filmed a commercial there in which they lowered a Jeep from on top; local pilots fly their planes through it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkeJQJxHpQw); the day we went there there were close to 40 people there hiking around; and we've already mentioned the fact that people have been rappelling off of it for years. It's neither accurate nor fair to attribute a "rapid influx of use" to us or to Devin's video.
4.) Principled consistency - Citibank shot a commercial showing Alex Honnold on top of Ancient Art; BASE jumpers film themselves BASE jumping in Moab all the time; Jeepers film themselves in Moab (an activity that is far worse for the land and environment than jumping off an arch). ALL of these activities draw crowds to Moab and none of them are made with the "permission" of land managers. Do you condemn ALL such videos? I don't see how you can consistently and fairly condemn our video while applauding the others.
5.) "Anonymous"? Seriously? If you're going to come on a public blog and excoriate the author, Devin, and those of us involved in the jump, you could at least have the decency to attach your name to it. I would appreciate, but I don't expect, a response with your name attached to it.
Thanks,
Austin Baird
Austin,
Let me firstly say, I'm a fellow thrill seeker. I'm not against what Devin is doing but I see certain value problems. You talk of principled consistency, when in fact it's not consistent. This is part of the problem right?
Also, there is a clear distinction between an activity which requires a several thousand dollar airplane and has 5,000 hits and an activity requiring around $500, receiving 9million hits. On top of that, your crew sets out intentionally to create 'stunts'. It's not like you are modestly doing this to show your friends and family.
As Luke understood, there is a responsibility that goes along with that type of behavior.
To be honest I'm actually quite disappointed with the trike drifting video as well and so was your sponsor Pictureline. Darby has my information if you'd like to speak with me on a more personal note.
-Ian Frantz
i like all of this. Comments. Responses. Etc.
How interesting and wonderful to be an adult.
The world is a great place. I'm happy to be here.
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