Interview with NigaHiga: The YouTube Legend
Here at Cultural Zest we like to embrace culture – in the very broadest sense. And few things are quite as broad as an online entertainer with an excess of two and a half million fans!
Whether it is the hilarious “advertisements” or film spoofs, YouTube comedian Ryan Higa truly has made a place in many people’s lives. And here he is now!
CZ: How do you come up with such original and constantly hilarious ideas for your videos?
RH: I’m always thinking of ideas and jotting them down.
CZ: I can’t speak for myself, but many other film reviewers have criticised Ryan and Sean’s Not So Excellent Adventure for lacking the pure randomness seen on your YouTube videos. What did you think about how the movie turned out and if you could change anything about the film, what would it be?
RH: It wasn’t our movie… We were hired as actors. We didn’t write the script or assist in the editing or directing. It was a good experience, though, being our first time on a movie set.
CZ: Do you feel that YouTube’s demand that you remove over half of your videos because of copyright was justified?
RH: I’m not at all upset with YouTube… at the time I posted those videos, I thought it was okay since other people posted music videos, too. Taking down the videos was a good learning experience… I’m more cautious now.
CZ: What is your favourite video out of ALL the one’s you’ve made?
RH: If I had to choose, it would have to be Ninja Melk, because it was an experiment in doing something more than a 1-3 minute video.
CZ: Would you ever buy any of the products you have advertised? (iPod Human, Hook on Fonik, ShamWOOHOO!) This of course excludes your ads for real products!
RH: Not for the price advertised! Haha!
CZ: Lamps. Explain.
RH: I like to be random!
CZ: Why do you think so many people have subscribed to your channel?
RH: I try to make videos that I feel the fans will like. Sometimes, even after filming a whole video, I scrap it because I don’t think it’s a video the fans will like.
CZ: Where is Sean? Why do we not see so much of everyone else anymore?
RH: Sean goes to college in Oregon, I’m in Nevada and everyone else is in Hawaii. When we were in high school, there was not much to do in Hilo so we made videos. Now that we’re in college, everyone’s busy working or doing their own thing.
CZ: Ninja Melk was absolutely terrific, not just in terms of humor, but also in plot and the graphics, for an unfunded production. How long did it take you to flesh out the plot, and what video editing software do you use, in all of your videos?
RH: Thanks, that was definitely a big project for me. It took me about a week to write the script, over 20 hours of filming and 2 weeks to edit. For editing, I use Ulead, iMovie and Final Cut Pro.
CZ: Finally, I just want to know, do you feel like a celebrity? Do you act differently in any way than you used to? Has the fact that millions of people are watching you for YOU changed any aspects of your life?
RH: If anything, I’m probably more conscious of what I’m doing when I’m out in public since now more people know who I am. I’ve gotten used to being recognized and so far, it’s been a positive experience.
CZ: Thank you VERY much, Ryan, and I hope you continue making videos and hopefully making a career out of your talent!
RH: THANKS!
I can safely say, this interview was one of my favorites! (How many have I done again? I think it’s two now… Darn that Jared Emerson-Johnson and his busy schedule!)
And don’t forget to subscribe to Ryan on YouTube! Seriously, it’s for your own mental safety. You’ll thank me once you’ve done it. And if you have done it, do it again, to be extra sure!
Once again, thanks Ryan, and best wishes for the future!
And here’s a little something from Ryan’s mom!
Being so recognized, we’re cautious for his safety but very proud of him for still being himself after getting so much recognition, for keeping his content “clean”, and for doing something that has affected people’s lives directly and indirectly……he gets many comments from people saying how they’ve had a bad day or going through a rough time in their life and his videos make them laugh or they feel better. Sometimes we get emails asking for his help to promote a good cause or once, in CA they were looking for a missing girl, so he tweeted and sent a bulletin using his myspace. And, there’s young people like yourself and your friends who are starting a nice website bringing together people from around the world…..that hopefully, Ryan has helped to make a difference in your lives!Oh, by the way, we were flattered that you called him a YouTube Legend…lol
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less than three <3 Ryan
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IS RYAN HIGA KOREAN OR …..