Another factor is that many, if not most, of the people who do attempt fiction, or comedy, or satire, are unconvincing and their videos simply aren’t very good. So, when a Nalts creates satire (and does it well), people automatically take it seriously. When they find out it wasn’t reality, they are angry because they feel like they’ve been had, instead of appreciating that it was a skillfully crafted production.

I was very surprised at the reaction to your Renetto videos. I suppose I’m equally as surprised at the disdain people feel for Renetto. It’s the down side of YouTube, I guess, because people feel that they have some form of ownership in your life just because they clicked a subscribe button. And, it seems that once you hit a certain number of subscribers, the community wants to knock you off your pedestal – as seems to be the case with Renetto.

I’ve enjoyed (and watched… sadly enough) all of your videos. I appreciate them for their simplicity and impeccable execution. It seems you’re reinventing yourself lately, and I’ve enjoyed watching it. But, it will be equally interesting to see how it will be received in the months to come. The community doesn’t respond well to reinvention. They like you to fit in the box you came in. I hope they’ll continue supporting you as you venture out of that box. I know I will.

I wonder how many of the people who had negative feelings about this series of videos watch so called “reality TV” (idol, big brother, survivor) where they have the feeling that they are “behind the scenes” or “in the know” and yet are still at the whim of clever editing.

I like your work, its intelligent & bold and always interesting, something I wouldn’t say about the majority of TV shows.

Your “fictional” videos always have the 3 keys of a good magic act, the Pledge, the Turn, and the Prestige. The Pledge offers the audience assurances that nothing funny is going on (please shuffle the cards yourself; nothing up my sleeve, etc.). The Turn is the moment when something extraordinary happens (and the handkerchief is gone!). The third act, the Prestige, seals the deal—brings the handkerchief back.

Keep up the magic.

Ps…I don’t think the baldness looks that bad! ;]

Later

The Internet & Internet “communities” are not (necessarily) reality. They just aren’t. Even if you are being genuine and truthful and honest all the time, how the hell would I know? If that makes a cynic, so be it.

My rule of thumb: assume people are full of poop all the time unless and until they prove otherwise. But, like Oprah says “Everybody poops.”

One must post videos for the people who WATCH, not the people who DON’T watch. I, for one, am a relatively new YouTuber, and I don’t always know whether the stuff I see is real, or fiction, or a bit of both… and it doesn’t matter. I like what I watch, and I don’t watch what I don’t like. I don’t take it personally if I’ve been “had.”

Item: When we say “the community” makes the rules, that’s fine, but as a filmmaker, am I not a part of said community? And if so, then am I not entitled to contribute to the online legislature too, and make some rules of my own?

Rock on!