Screaming Into Pillows
2015-03-13 · letter vlog · Hank · 3:52 · watch on YouTube
Topic: Nerdfighteria (also: Projects) · mode: Personal essay · tags: self promotion
Hank says Vlogbrothers has always been about honesty and openness, so it feels wrong, even like lying, that the growth of the brothers' projects forces him to keep exciting work secret; he teases two unannounced projects.
What is said
The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).
00:00:00 — Eight years and 1,200 videos: almost nothing about Hank left private, and he likes it
- ★ Hank tells John they have been making videos for over eight years, over 1,200 on this channel alone. — 00:00:01 · Vlogbrothers, John Green
- ★★ Hank says he has shared his deepest fears and most embarrassing moments on the channel, so little about him is left private; he likes it that way. — 00:00:10 · Vlogbrothers
00:00:35 — The weird part: feelings he can't explain because of contracts, responsibilities or strategies; it feels like lying
- ★★★ Hank says keeping some secrets is normal, but it is weird to be excited, frustrated or angry and unable to say why because of contracts, responsibilities or strategies. — 00:00:47
- ★★ Hank tells Nerdfighteria they are really important in his life, so it feels wrong not to talk about important things happening to him, on video or social media. — 00:00:59 · Nerdfighteria, Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook
- ★★ Hank says he can't fake sudden excitement about something he has worked on for six months; being unable to talk makes him feel like a liar. — 00:01:16
00:01:36 — Example: SciShow Kids and Crash Course Kids, months of secret work, now public; tell kids and parents
- ★★★ Hank says SciShow Kids and Crash Course Kids took months of work they weren't allowed to discuss (funding, defining them, character development, hiring for animation) and are now real. — 00:01:36 · SciShow Kids, Crash Course Kids, Crash Course, SciShow
- ★★ Hank asks viewers with kids, or parents of kids, in their lives to tell them about the shows, because without viewers they can't keep making them. — 00:01:56 · SciShow Kids, Crash Course Kids
00:02:03 — Two big secret things: one announced early next week with a Reddit AMA on Monday, the other a week later
- ★★★ Hank teases two big secret things: one announced early next week (week of 16 March 2015) with his Reddit AMA on Monday, the other a week later, if all goes to plan. (hedged) — 00:02:03 · Reddit
00:02:28 — Vlogbrothers is about honesty and authenticity; growing projects bring less freedom to talk; guess in the comments
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★★★ Hank says Vlogbrothers has always been about honesty and authenticity: being who you are, feeling what you feel and talking about what is happening. — 00:02:28 · Vlogbrothers
“Vlogbrothers has always been about honesty and authenticity”
-
★★★ Hank says that as SciShow, Crash Course, VidCon and DFTBA have grown, more complicated infrastructure leaves him less freedom to talk about them. — 00:02:38 · SciShow, Crash Course, VidCon, DFTBA Records
- ★★ Hank is happy working on big projects with talented people but wishes he could take everyone along; he feels his work stuff should be public but has no choice. (hedged) — 00:02:50
- ★ Hank doesn't know whether it is better to talk about this, since now viewers know he is keeping things from them. (unsure) — 00:03:04
- ★ Hank invites viewers to guess the secret projects in the comments (not a new ice cream, not becoming an astronaut), since guesses may give him ideas. (playful) — 00:03:14
00:03:27 — Excited to share soon and to keep sharing his life; sign-off
Threads in this video
- launched · SciShow Kids: launch of the science channel for young kids (2015) — Hank says SciShow Kids, worked on secretly for months, is now real. (00:01:36)
- launched · Crash Course Kids: launch of the educational channel for kids (2015) — Hank says Crash Course Kids, worked on secretly for months, is now real. (00:01:36)
- promised · Hank: do a Reddit AMA on Monday about the first of two secret projects (2015) — Hank commits to doing a Reddit AMA on Monday about the first of two secret projects, to be announced early next week (week of 16 March 2015). (00:02:20)
- asked · Hank invites viewers to guess his two secret projects in the comments (2015) — Hank invites viewers to guess his two secret projects in the comments. (00:03:21)
- restate · Should creators show how their work is made, rather than hide it behind an illusion of effortless perfection? — Hank feels his work should be public and wishes he could take everyone along, but business secrecy prevents it. (00:03:02)
- asked · Hank encourages viewers to check out Crash Course Kids (2015) — Hank asks viewers with kids, or parents of kids, in their lives to tell them about the shows, because without viewers they can't keep making them. (00:01:56)
Where the stories that moved here went next
- Hank encourages viewers to check out Crash Course Kids (2015) — promotion (not a request); last: asked, 2015-07-10
- Hank: do a Reddit AMA on Monday about the first of two secret projects (2015) — open (no report in 2015–2026); last: promised, 2015-03-13
- SciShow Kids: launch of the science channel for young kids (2015) — last documented in 2020; last: milestone, 2020-08-14
- Crash Course Kids: launch of the educational channel for kids (2015) — last documented in 2015; last: milestone, 2015-07-10
Mentioned
Projects: Crash Course · Crash Course Kids · DFTBA Records · SciShow · SciShow Kids · VidCon
Organizations: Facebook · Reddit · Tumblr · Twitter
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