Scott Shaw, Zen Filmmaking, and the YouTube Generation

By Scott Shaw

How much time do you spend on YouTube? No really, how much do you spend on YouTube? I mean, there is a world of free to view Everything on that platform, as well as more how-to stuff than you or I could ever have imagined.

YouTube is really not all that old. It was launched in 2005. That’s just about twenty years ago. Do you even remember life before YouTube? It is kind of hard to do so if you think about it.

Google actually had its own video platform before YouTube. But, it’s gone. Why? Only the powers that be at Google can answer that. It was pretty good.

There were a couple of other sites out there, on the world wide web, before YouTube that used to focus on movies and video presentation. I remember my Zen Filmmaking brother, Donald G. Jackson turned me on to one site, before his untimely passing. He had uploaded his film, Raw Energy to it and suggested that I may want to upload one or more of my Zen Films as well. Which I did. I uploaded the first version of Samurai Vampire Bikers from Hell. So, if you were around back then, and you got to see it then, you were able to view a very-very rare cut of that film. But, that site is long-long gone.

There was no money to be made, on that or other similar sites, like some people now do on YouTube.

I don’t make any money off of YouTube. First of all, I hate those pre and/or during video ads. So, I just don’t want to put viewers of my films through that. And also, because a lot of my films, especially my earlier stuff, (the one that are the most watched), are Adult Only, so you can’t monetize those anyway. Plus, YouTube doesn’t really pay very much. Not enough to make any difference in my life. So, why bother??? Just keep the Zen Filmmaking flowing for free.

The reality of life is, the days of the VHS, the DVD, and Blu-ray are over. Do you know anyone who watches any of those anymore? I don’t. Not even me. Not unless I am forced to. Now, it’s all about the Streaming. Thus, YouTube. …YouTube at least for those who don’t want to pay for the other more cash-involved streaming services.

But really… You can find a lot of cool cutting-edge stuff on YouTube. Stuff that you will not see nowhere else.

So really, how much time do you spend on YouTube? If you don’t spend any, you are probably a more refined soul than myself.

My generalized focus on the platform is music videos and when I need to know how to do what I need to know how to do. It’s a great place to learn it. Also, I like to check out the demos of synthesizers, cameras, and the like. Mostly, there’s always something to learn or to waste your Life Time while viewing.

Zen Filmmaking has a home on YouTube. But, you probably already know that. I’ve uploaded a lot of my and Donald G. Jackson stuff onto the platform. And, it’s up there for FREE! So, if you feel like wasting some time, and maybe delving into the evolution of my style of filmmaking, you can check it out.

Or, and maybe even better yet, you can create your own cinema magic and show the world your creative skills.

YouTube, you can’t live without it. Or, can you?