Becoming Youtube
Documentary Web Series (YouTube), 12 episodes, 2012-2014
Premise - A YouTube documentary on YouTube itself, particularly British YouTuber culture during the early 2010's. Approaching the growing pains of YouTube's tween years, the video platform was growing rapidly in popularity as well as corporate influence. British vloggers who used to sit in their bedroom making casual content were now becoming household names for the younger generation. Benjamin Cook, aspiring YouTube creator himself, explores what it means to be in the YouTube community.
Review - Okay I watched this for Dan and Phil, but I stayed for the whole thing (even the episodes they weren't in), because I was SO enamored with how high quality the production of this was. And as Benjamin points out, quality does NOT equal views or success on YouTube. High production quality is often seen as too corporate and inaccessible in comparison to sit-in-your-bedroom content. Well, this wasn't corporate at all - just a really talented, well connected guy with a vision.
It is fascinating and incredible how many different famous British YouTubers agreed to be a part of this documentary, suggesting that Benjamin Cook was somehow in the in-crowd despite not really being a famous YouTuber himself, outside of this series. I came across this in particular while watching a playlist of every Dan and Phil video they have been involved in, two very famous British YouTubers. There were also the likes of charlieissocoollike (who I was OBSESSED with back in the day) and TomSka. Many other British YouTubers I was only familiar with through Dan and Phil, though I imagine in their heyday, especially in Britain, they were quite big (i.e. Jack and Dean who I have more recently become obsessed with).
This web series is part documentary, part scripted skits, part musical, and part... well... meta. It references itself and then references the references to itself. It also has massive references to other aspects of British culture, like Harry Potter or supposedly Doctor Who. It's mind-blowingly well put together and just plain funny.
The caveat is that it's audience is truly for people who love YouTube and YouTubers. If I were to show this documentary to someone who never spends any time on YouTube, it wouldn't be funny nor make sense. There's a certain subculture you have to know the jokes for to get it. It's also an outdated subculture, as all of the interviewees were big for their time (2012-2014), though that's millennia ago in Internet culture. Most of the interviewees have fallen out of popularity, while others have actually been removed from YouTube for sexual abuse or assault (i.e. Alex Day, Sam Pepper), and this was back when they were still Internet famous. The subculture of YouTube circa 2013 is something I deeply understand and was a part of, though anyone coming into watch this now might find it too dated to be relatable.
It makes perfect sense to me that the series was drawn out as long as it was, despite being only 12 episodes, and that ultimately Benjamin Cook never followed through on a second season. This is HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTION that looks like it takes an endless amount of time to film, with little to no payoff from YouTube. It doesn't fit the algorithm, so to speak. I have no idea what this guy ever got up to after this. I loved it though. (89/100)
Quote - I don't have any specific quotes saved but the whole thing about the purple puppet who has been cancelled for a history of sexual abuse was quite hilarious.
What to watch for - I mean, I came for Dan and Phil. I stayed for Ben Cook's incredibly self-deprecating sense of humor.
If you liked this documentary, I'd recommend all skits by Jack and Dean!
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