Internet killed the video star

The Buggles once stated that video killed the radio star. Times have changed since the advent of the humble video; the internet has become a more popular source to watch films by fresh faced budding Spielbergs. We live in a time where the internet is killing the video star, and it’s an exciting new world.

YouTube has fast become the most popular medium for ‘ordinary’ people to get their voices heard and to produce films of their own, with a good chance they will be seen by hundreds, if not thousands of viewers. As a result, some new, YouTube directors have entered into the consciousness of popular culture, such as the haphazardly nerdy Star Wars Kid, who has been featured on ITV’s Moving Wallpaper and Emmy award winning satire South Park.

YouTube personality, The Angry Video Game Nerd is one of the most subscribed video makers on YouTube with millions of views for his videos. As a result he has gained attention from countless websites and even MTV. New Jersey resident, James Rolfe is the mastermind behind the character, who reviews retro video games for the NES, SNES and Atari as well as a host of other consoles and, using colourful language and crude but clever humour, tells the audience how utterly bad these games are. His comedy and geeky charm has won him fans worldwide and he now has a DVD out as well as a line of apparel. The question to ask is, what spurs these filmmakers on, as they are often not working for a fee? Could it be just sheer enjoyment of film- making?

“My initial audience was no one, and that’s a good thing, because my early movies are real bad.”

James’ love for film, especially early horror and B-movies, inspired him to make his own when he was the tender age of ten.

“Everything was done with the bare essentials of what I had available, which is the case for anyone making home movies at that age,” says James from his poster covered New Jersey apartment. These films were made using a Super-8 home video camera with his friends. They would dress up in bits they found around the house and make movies about fighting monsters, aliens or just anything they could think of. James often starred in his own movies as well as directing them, though the early ones had a lack of script, but he didn’t mind because it was really only himself and his friends who watched them. “My initial audience was no one, and that’s a good thing, because my early movies are real bad.”

Over time his movies became more sophisticated (they even had actors with lines) as his budget increased. The Angry Video Game Nerd was actually born before YouTube existed.

“You can trace the roots back to the 1980s,” James says, “I recorded my own commentary back then as well. I would point the VHS camera at the TV screen and give tips and critiques to games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Castlevania, Metroid etc.”

However, it wasn’t until 2004 that what would turn out to be the first two Angry Video Game Nerd videos were made, under the name The Angry Nintendo Nerd. They were reviews of the games Simon’s Quest and Jekyll and Hyde for the NES where he formed his trademark swearing barrages, his favourite being the scatological phrases.

“It’s the ultimate form of exposure. Before there was fast-speed internet I wouldn’t have ever imagined being able to upload your videos online to be so easy,”

In 2006 James discovered YouTube and learned how easy it is to upload your own videos for all to criticise. He uploaded some videos and received good feedback from those who saw them and he quickly realised he was building up a fan base.

“To me, when I got the first fan email, the videos were a success already. But from there, it’s just increasing every day,” said James.

As his popularity soared online he was spotted by Screw Attack who contacted James offering him a place making videos for their website. Screw Attack is owned by the colossus that is Gametrailers.com, which is in turn run by MTV, who saw much potential in this twenty-something director. Now he’s known throughout the world and recently released The Angry Video Game Nerd DVD volume one. Because of this vast amount of exposure James became a star in his own right and chalked up over 205 movies to show for it. So what’s the secret to his success?

“I guess it’s a blend of organized critiquing, raw humour, nostalgia for the past, decent production value, but with an honest home-made feel at the same time, and probably the swearing too.”

The internet and, more specifically, YouTube has been a significant determining factor in his rising stardom on the web.

“It’s the ultimate form of exposure. Before there was fast-speed internet I wouldn’t have ever imagined being able to upload your videos online to be so easy,” he says, “before, it was all about sending your film off to film festivals. You had to pay money just to submit, and usually you wouldn’t get in. It was a complete waste.”

James is so big now people are copying his style of film making on YouTube, mimicking the trademarks of The Angry Video Game Nerd.

With more and more people signing up to YouTube everyday, it is likely that the future stars of cinema and television will come from those who just have a passion for entertaining and want to share that with the world. Of course, there is some rubbish to be seen but that’s why there’s a star rating system and the ability to add comments. Feedback is essential to making a good video (or tearing apart the feelings of a not-so-good director). It is also a fact that there is a broader range of views and topics on internet video than television. After all, where else can you find a cyborg Jesus destroying video game consoles whilst screaming obscenities? And with people like James Rolfe becoming famous on YouTube, where cash incentive is replaced by passion, it’s no wonder that the internet is killing the video star.