Hello Uncle Foreigner

😬 We at Uncle Foreigner have two goals that are sometimes conflicting: making art we love, and then selling the art to an indifferent public. This week, we talk about finding the balance between marketability and pure creativity ... and we share our titling woes.

Uncle Sez what?: How's your uncle?: Re-signing a work contract 1:02 • Conducting business: Merging Western Toilet 10:40 • Homeschool Film school: Creativity and branding 16:35 • Commentary: "Hey, China is still cool" and others 38:54 • Watch it!: "United Shades of America" 1:18:37

Videos mentioned:

• "Getting ready for Chinese New Year Pig 2019" (the first giraffe) https://youtu.be/2xon2CyvVPc

• "China on your own two feet" https://youtu.be/zBylNirIfVg

• "What are you doing in China? https://youtu.be/Yr15wv25CL0

• "Couple of punks in China" https://youtu.be/DIcYG_AKEDg

• "Chinese traffic stops for me!" ("Wear more clothes") https://youtu.be/NCgWSQ04N9s

• "Hey, China is still cool" https://youtu.be/ZfptXCiwenQ

• "Why care about the environment" ("A visit to the doctor) https://youtu.be/urEvvK23vfg

• "It's all fake" ("No breakfast soup") https://youtu.be/AV31S6FSepg

• "Yet another EPIC Chinese street event" https://youtu.be/VYxvzjEteHc

• "See the river-run in minutes" aka "Fapiao!" https://youtu.be/WkDBavQjn18

Curious about how we make our China vlogs? We talk all about it on our podcast. Subscribe!: https://www.youtube.com/c/HelloUncleForeigner

RSS feed http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:478018788/sounds.rss

Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hello-uncle-foreigner/uncle-sez

iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncle-sez-how-we-make-our-china-vlog/id1459457194

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Uncle Sez is a weekly chat about the making of China vlog channel Hello Foreigner. You can find those videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftjeM16I5qqLnCc1iIH8Ag

😬 This week, in our discussion of how we make our China vlog, we get into the importance of pre-production. Planning is super important to our workflow ... but also our life-flow. And I love a good list.

Uncle Sez what?: How's your uncle?: Egg babies 1:00 • Conducting business: Networking groups 7:18 • Homeschool film school: Perfect pre-production 12:20 • Commentary: "Five reason for China" and some other videos 33:39 • Watch it! "Ramy" 1:14:22

Links mentioned:

• "Couple of punks in China" https://youtu.be/DIcYG_AKEDg

• "Museums," by Western Toilet https://youtu.be/giNT5RNiroE

• "Taking the day off for sports" https://youtu.be/Vo_rzwRwSdk

• "Remote birthday party in China ... or New Year?" https://youtu.be/Rp-L6V0zqis

• "My favorite city in China; I love Luzhou" https://youtu.be/NeQd-9lYBKg

• "Five reasons for China" https://youtu.be/YMSHDIKB85w

• "You can't speak Chinese" (aka Mega-Shorts) https://youtu.be/w9p76Osi-Fw

• "Chinese traffic stops for me" https://youtu.be/NCgWSQ04N9s

• "Number eight will surprise you" https://youtu.be/Mwxk1RbLDfo

Friends mentioned:

• M Living Art https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi39A6I2GtmFw9a_bL4omPA

• Ganna https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwoTIdknsQ8br01gFUz5UfA

• PUŠA Studios https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOAZVFt5QRXr5dbYnBbKnQ

Curious about how we make our China vlogs? We talk all about it on our podcast. Subscribe!: https://www.youtube.com/c/HelloUncleForeigner

RSS feed http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:478018788/sounds.rss

Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hello-uncle-foreigner/uncle-sez

iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncle-sez-how-we-make-our-china-vlog/id1459457194

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Uncle Sez is a weekly chat about the making of China vlog channel Hello Foreigner. You can find those videos at https://www.youtube.com/c/HelloForeigner

Don't succumb to that pressure to produce all the time; take the time to rest and recharge your creative batteries! We talk about how the cycle of production and recharge works, and the difference between procrastination and constructive relaxation.

Uncle Sez what?: How's your uncle?: Labor Day holiday 1:03 • Conducting business: More than 200 views! 4:21 • Homeschool film school: Take a break 8:01 • Commentary: 5 videos * Watch it!: "Barry" 1:28:27

Links, mentions and videos:

• Elizabeth Gilbert, "Big Magic: Creative living beyond fear"

• "The end of Summer in Sichuan China" https://youtu.be/rvh-4mqtgUo

• "Understanding the mystery of power in China" https://youtu.be/fEtNWe2Xam0

• "One year in Lijiang" https://youtu.be/HaQL1X1uhFY

• "Why care about the environment?" https://youtu.be/urEvvK23vfg

• "I can't put my shoes on any faster" (Vacuum update) https://youtu.be/kgWFsVMnuN4

• "Walk-in clinic in China" https://youtu.be/tnXAq67V-HE

• "Environmental pharmacy" https://youtu.be/H4-BvcxjBo4

Correction: The piece of music we are discussing at 31:42 is not "Fanfare for the Common Man," but "Thus Spoke Zarathustra." Composed in 1896, our performance of it was, in fact, fair use.

Curious about how we make our China vlogs? We talk all about it on our podcast. Subscribe!: https://www.youtube.com/c/HelloUncleForeigner

RSS feed http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:478018788/sounds.rss

Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hello-uncle-foreigner/uncle-sez

iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncle-sez-how-we-make-our-china-vlog/id1459457194

😬 Ideally, someone is going to watch the work that you make. How do you think of your audience, and how does that affect your work? That's the subject of discussion on this week's Uncle Sez.

Uncle Sez what?: How's your uncle?: Recovering from illness 1:03 • Conducting business: Milestones! 4:32 • Homeschool film school: Who wants to watch this? 11:36 • Commentary: 4 videos 38:18 • Watch it! "Doofuses" 1:22:42

Videos and links:

• Hello Uncle Foreigner https://youtube.com/c/helloforeigner

• "What living in China is like ... for Hello Foreigner" https://youtu.be/OHCe0cZ30eU

• "I know it's all fake" https://youtu.be/AV31S6FSepg

• "Why do I live in China" https://youtu.be/Yr15wv25CL0

• "Historic dinner with our Chinese friends" https://youtu.be/xtVVwbLC78U

• "My shower in China - When the water goes out" https://youtu.be/9_c8OeB0qkQ

• Podcast RSS feed http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:478018788/sounds.rss

• Stitcher link https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hello-uncle-foreigner/uncle-sez

• iTunes link https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncle-sez-how-we-make-our-china-vlog/id1459457194

• "Doofuses," by Fire Place https://youtu.be/3jG06ZcRftw

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Uncle Sez is a weekly chat about the making of China vlog channel Hello Foreigner. You can find those videos at https://www.youtube.com/c/HelloForeigner

As low- (no)budget filmmakers, we've got janky equipment, but that's part of what makes our janky style. This week's Uncle Sez is all about the MacGyver-ing we do to get the shots we want, using our cheap-o cameras, stands, lights and sound recorders.

Also part of our discussion of how we make our China vlog: are we in favor of copyright infringement protections? And, where did blue come from?

Excuse our technical problems, but the sound cut out a little more than halfway through. So this week: Another abrupt ending!

Our videos and links:

• Podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:478018788/sounds.rss

• Podcast on Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hello-uncle-foreigner/uncle-sez?refid=stpr

• "Why do we live in China" https://youtu.be/Yr15wv25CL0

• The Summer Trilogy https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb6g-VebhVZzgaKCz5w80gSrKG425BEMo

• "All the tea in China vs. Starbucks" https://youtu.be/wE-G9nRm6RA

• "An island we want you to forget" https://youtu.be/jnpjZHDgvHc

• "You can never refuse Sichuan dishes in China" https://youtu.be/L6kj8eDpU-Q

• "Fun with American bureaucracy in China" https://youtu.be/dkknV-awS84

• "I love my Chinese neighborhood" https://youtu.be/OvMqbS-7EUk

Others:

• "I wish," Skee-lo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryDOy3AosBw

• "Spinnin'," Bernard Wright https://youtu.be/it2gZnA7xBY

Uncle Sez what?: How's your uncle? Early to rise 1:25 • Conducting business: Podcast 3:58 • Homeschool film school: Crappy cameras and copyright protections 6:41 • Commentary: A bevy of videos 27:06

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Uncle Sez is a weekly chat about the making of China vlog channel Hello Foreigner. You can find those videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftjeM16I5qqLnCc1iIH8Ag

This week our discussion of how we make our China vlog centers on lighting. How can you tell if it's good or bad? Besides visibility, what style can lighting contribute to your video? And what difference do expensive lights make, anyway?

Videos and links:

• Hello Foreigner: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftjeM16I5qqLnCc1iIH8Ag

• "Three ways I survive China" https://youtu.be/0Xzexf_sfi4

• "What time is it in China?" https://youtu.be/Qj1pC_h_VBc

• "No ice, you're in China" https://youtu.be/HkpwDMI4fXQ

• "It's China, so get used to it" https://youtu.be/yWtgxvmnupQ

• "Making weird noises at the gym in China" https://youtu.be/9TMZ_cnWAmg

• "Fighting in the foothills of the Himalayas, and a normal massage" https://youtu.be/U2OUO79wZl8

• "Still shy in China" https://youtu.be/lAD1K3Jew0k

• "My American husband almost died in China" https://youtu.be/3Cw5j4oddFg

• Western Toilet "About time" https://youtu.be/Em_KyGTr_0M

Well-lit shows mentioned: "The Twilight Zone," "What we do in the Shadows," "A.P. Bio"

Also, I recommend this article on how racism has affected the physical development of film and lighting: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeednews.com%2Farticle%2Fsyreetamcfadden%2Fteaching-the-camera-to-see-my-skin&redir_token=7WtDny_hkEV9B5G8lopwvEGOEqF8MTU1NDg3NjM4MkAxNTU0Nzg5OTgy&v=QcWpVDm9ZIo&event=video_description

Uncle Sez what?: How's your uncle?: Qing Ming Festival 1:46 • Conducting business: Posting videos out of season 5:00 • Homeschool Film School: The right lights 14:15 • Commentary: 7 videos 33:03 • Watch it!: "The Tick"

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Uncle Sez is a weekly chat about the making of China vlog channel Hello Foreigner. You can find those videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftjeM16I5qqLnCc1iIH8Ag

The giraffe has evolved into our prime mode of China vlog, and this week we started to look at actually giving the darn thing some structure!

Addendum: Cory Fukunaga is the name of the man who directed "Maniac."

Videos mentioned:

• "Shoes": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgWFsVMnuN4

• "No ice": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkpwDMI4fXQ

• "Mega shorts": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9p76Osi-Fw

• "Sichuan dinner": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6kj8eDpU-Q

• "Noodles": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f65G2WWRMaA

• "Book review: 'Little Soldiers'": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3eb6noVewo

• Western Toilet: "Cool water" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kvzbcnN-V0

Uncle Sez what?!: How's your uncle?: Failures 1:14 • Conducting business: A Facebook boost 4:43 • Homeschool film school: Giraffe video structure 10:14 • Commentary: "No ice," "Mega shorts," "Sichuan dinner," and "Little soldiers" 31:25 • Watch it!: "Superstore" 1:07:17

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Uncle Sez is a weekly chat about the making of China vlog channel Hello Foreigner. You can find those videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftjeM16I5qqLnCc1iIH8Ag

Sometimes collaborators disagree -- then what do you do?! We'll tell you all about that and more in this week's Uncle Sez -- How we make our China vlog.

Videos mentioned:

• All Hello Foreigner thumbnails: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftjeM16I5qqLnCc1iIH8Ag/videos

• "China keeps welcoming me": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwNc8wEoG-U

• "Lamma Island": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnpjZHDgvHc

• "KTV": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHJ2t_rpRv8

• "Ideas vs. Style, round 1": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKuOSfO46Q8

• "Noodles": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f65G2WWRMaA

• "Don't change your clothes": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-W2o7WH4AQ

• "Park life": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvRaGemK4Hw

• "Rural China": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5xuc5qdsQY

• "I can't put my shoes on any faster": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgWFsVMnuN4

• "Shoes (official music video)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJOv1jHBfbo

• "Straight out of Luzhou (official music video)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJOv1jHBfbo

• "ParkLiving (official music video)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3o2R5M_v2c

• "David": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC5gqHxjzh8

Uncle Sez what?: How's your uncle?: Sleeping well! 1:28 • Conducting business: The face on the thumbnail 6:25 • Homeschool film school: Disagreeing with collaborators 15:40 • Homeschool revisited: Substance and style 34:56 • Commentary: "Lamma Island," "I can't put on my shoes any faster!" and "Shoes (official music video)" 49:40 • Watch it!: "One day at a time" & "Schitt's Creek" 1:10:48

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Uncle Sez is a weekly chat about the making of China vlog channel Hello Foreigner. You can find those videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftjeM16I5qqLnCc1iIH8Ag

This week, we have a somewhat convoluted discussion about facts versus stories -- one of us was very tired when we filmed this and wasn't expressing herself so well. But, it's all part of how we make our China vlog.

Videos & links:

• Our website: https://www.hellouncleforeigner.com/

• "Hot Pot: Woman vs. Spice": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgR2Z1hRgUE

• "No sleep til naptime" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWPenssClio

• "Peanut Butter" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RU9rsJPprU

• Gastropod: https://gastropod.com/

• "The Food Explorer: The true adventures of the globe-trotting botanist who transformed what America eats," by Daniel Stone: https://www.danielstonebooks.com/

Uncle Sez what?: How's your uncle?: Famous eyes 1:26 • Conducting business: The giraffe spine 4:30 • Homeschool Film School: More than an idea 13:41 • Commentary: "No sleep til naptime" 36:21 • Watch it!: Gastropod 46:55

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Uncle Sez is a weekly chat about the making of China vlog channel Hello Foreigner. You can find those videos at hhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftjeM16I5qqLnCc1iIH8Ag

"How do I know if my work is good?" is a question that plagues all artists, and it's our topic of discussion on this week's Uncle Sez, how we make our China vlog.

Videos discussed:

• Xiu Xiu, "Scisssssssssors": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkK6GT4pkbU

• Don't change your clothes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-W2o7WH4AQ

• First appearance of the Giraffe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61WOJfEQzYw

• Peanut butter taste test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RU9rsJPprU

• "Look Around You": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBaVwwuErmU

Uncle Sez what?: How's your uncle?: Street mangoes 1:12 • Conducting business: No Internet 3:10 • Homeschool film school: How do you know it's good? 5:24 • Commentary: Peanut butter and Pants 32:35 • Watch it!: "A.P. Bio" and "Better Things" 58:47

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Uncle Sez is a weekly chat about the making of China vlog channel Hello Foreigner. You can find those videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftjeM16I5qqLnCc1iIH8Ag