#carlylanning

Lord help us all, the worlds of PewDiePie and South Park are officially colliding this Wednesday at 10pm. Yesterday, Felix Kjellberg -- PewDiePie himself -- announced via Twitter his upcoming South Park cameo and has since let the comments run wild predicting his role in the show. In the show’s most recent teaser, Cartman starts his own video blogs and begins developing PewDiePie tendencies as he comments on his friends commenting.

Due to his YouTube superstar status and Bro Army of 32.4 million subscribers, Kjellberg is being advertised as the biggest celebrity cameo ever to appear on the show. While we can’t predict the future of the episode, it seems safe to say it will be filled with lots of screaming and a storm of swear words that would make even a sailor blush.

 By inviting Kjellberg onto the show, South Park is wisely tapping into this YouTube creator’s massive fanbase and acknowledging the ever growing influence YouTubers have on traditional media. A bro fist to Kjellberg and congrats on his first stint into television!

Andrew Gunadie, the creator behind the channel Gunnarolla, can be considered Canada’s greatest export since bacon, beer festivals, and Ryan Gosling (Yes, in that order).

  A musician, video producer, and travel vlogger, the thing that makes Gunadie truly stand out on the platform is his unlimited and unmatched love for YouTube. It takes only 30 seconds of watching any of his videos to realize how much he loves creating music and vlogs for his audience. Since starting his channel in 2006, he’s gone on to create such musical masterpieces as “My D*ck,” “Canadian, Please,” and “The Comic Sans Song,” while simultaneously producing his own album, touring internationally, and collecting a Digi Award for “Digital Personality of the Year.” Yeah, what have you done with your year?

By following his channel, viewers are treated to a grab bag of content including his frequent video collaborations with friends such as Mike Falzone and Andrew Huang, travel videos making you envious your passport is laying neglected in your sock drawer, and vlogs about anything and everything that wafts through Gunadie’s energetic and sporadic mind. Got a question about how much Canadians love beer? Gunadie’s got you covered. Need a song telling someone you miss their face? Well aren’t you in luck! Anything you need, Gunadie somehow seems to have it.

While putting together this piece, a coworker and I were sitting chatting about Gunadie’s channel and his appeal on the platform. She put it best when saying, “He’s everything good about YouTube and if I were to send a first time YouTube user to any channel, I think he would be the best example of what digital media has to offer.” I believe this sentiment not only applies to his channel but his informative and easy to navigate website as well. Yes, his Twitter and Facebook keep you up to date on Gunadie’s everyday movements, and yes, his Instagram will fill you with envy that you are not living his wanderlust, jetsetter lifestyle. But it is his website and blog that bring all his adventures together.

  By following his website, viewers are able to view his videos, music, travel blogs, and style posts all in one location. So what’s going on for him now? With November coming to an end, Gunadie will finalize his project PEEN, Post Every Evening November, and return to simply uploading a creative video to his main channel once a week.

So do yourself a favor, throw on a Gunarolla video and make your day complete.

The holiday season is officially upon us and what better way to spread goodwill towards your fellow man then hitting them with a really good prank. No, not the kind of prank your uncle used to pull on you that left you stranded on your grandmother’s roof covered in watermelon guts, but the kind of prank that helps those less fortunate in the most memorable way possible.

 Started by Break.com and DoSomething.org in March 2014, Prank It Forward is a campaign dedicated to spreading positivity to the most deserving people. This past week, the campaign released a slew of videos featuring popular YouTube creators and organizations paying kindness forward. In Greg Benson’s video, Benson helps a deserving 22-year-old veteran gain custody over her brothers and then surprises them with rent money and a car. Just trust you’ll need a slew of tissues to get through that video.

  In other videos, Ian and Anthony of the comedy channel Smosh surprise a leukemia patient in Detroit, Break.com presents a house and day of pampering to a single mother of three, and Tom Made goes to a humane society to do makeovers and help dogs find homes. While each act of kindness differs, the heart of the matter is all the same: Rewarding deserving people for the kindness, resilience, and selflessness they exhibit everyday.

   Now here’s the big question, how do you get involved? Prank It Forward is all about spreading the kindness to others in ways both big and small. Through the campaign, any viewer can nominate a person who deserves an unexpected surprise and with each view or mention using #PrankItFWD, Break.com will donate money to DoSomething.org.

  Now go good people of the world and spread the goodwill forward!

Lets all be honest, the holidays are hard. There is never enough wine to help you cope with all your family’s questions: When are you getting married? Did you gain weight? When are you getting a 401K? Why can’t you be more like your cousin Sally the doctor?

  You ruin everything Sally!

Lucky for you, Akilah Hughes has your back this holiday season with her realistic Thanksgiving makeup tutorial that will ration your makeup but not your dignity. Cheers and God speed.

This is one of the most important videos you’ll see today. Period.

  It almost escaped my view when it first came out, getting shuffled in with all the haul and vlog videos that make up my subscription list (which is made up of over 500 channels thank you very much). But Asap Thought’s recent video about YouTube’s privilege problem is one that can’t be ignored and instead of side-stepping the elephant in the room -- Is there a privilege problem? But YouTube is just equally accessible to everyone! -- Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown challenge viewers to take the privilege quiz. Bravo, gentlemen. Bravo.

  The video is broken down into simple questions: Can you open a magazine, view YouTube, or watch TV and see someone of your racial background represented? Do you have to educate your children about racism as a means of protection? When you learn about the history of science, do you see your gender and race consistently represented?

  It’s no secret that YouTube’s top creators generally fall into the category of cisgender (individuals who identify with the gender/sex they’re assigned at birth), white males with the exception of Jenna Marbles. This lack of diversity has not only become glaringly apparent on the platform but at YouTube’s major conferences as well. After traveling to many of YouTube’s largest events -- Summer in the City, VidCon, Playlist Live, and Buffer Festival -- YouTuber Chescaleigh discovered that the highest percentage of female special guests represented at any of the events was 32 percent. With special guests of color following at 16 percent. This is 2014 … what!?

  While YouTube prides itself on providing equal access to all creators, these numbers frustratingly prove otherwise and plague creators and fans to make a change. And we can, if we work together and keep the conversation going. First off, take the quiz and educate yourself on what privilege means. This is one of the most important things you can do. Second, begin actively seeking out minority creators on YouTube and at conferences, and show them some love. Write to administrators about having these creators on panels and speaking at events like VidCon and Playlist Live. These actions might seem small but, ultimately, will have a big effect. A big, necessary effect.

  So I ask you, are you part of the problem, or will you become the solution?

It’s been quite the year for actor and musician Jimmy Wong. He’s started hosting a new cooking show Feast of Fiction, announced plans for an upcoming musical series, and just celebrated the premiere of the third and final season of the web series in which he stars, Video Game High School. The series was created by Wong’s brother and YouTube legend, Freddie Wong, and has become one of the most popular web series on YouTube due to its high quality and celebration of gaming culture.

Jimmy Wong got his start on YouTube in 2005 and, over the years, has filled his channel with music videos, personal vlogs, and sketches. He is a large contributor to his brother’s network RocketJump and continues to pursue both traditional and digital media projects. In the midst of VGHS madness, Wong and I sat down to chat about his upcoming musical web series, working with his brother on set, and the thing he wishes he could tell his high school self.

Carly Lanning: What is your favorite video game of all time?

Jimmy Wong: I’d probably say The Legend of Zelda. It’s either Link’s Awakening, which was on the old Gameboy game, or a game which was on the super Nintendo.

CL: Which video game character would you pick to be on your team during a dual?

JW: I mean, Superman has been in video games right? [laughs] Lets see, superheroes aside, I would probably pick ... I’m trying to think of someone who is the most durable person, with the most lives, that never dies in the whole world. I would probably chose someone like Kronos from God of War cause he’s pretty undying. I feel like that guy never really dies and if he does, he just fights his way out of hell.

CL: If you could have one superpower, what would you chose?

JW: Well, I’ve always wanted to fly so I think that would be a really easy answer. I’ve longed after that for a long time.

CL: What would you say your favorite YouTube video of all time is?

JW: One of my favorite videos of all time is just called “Taste Tester,” but it is an ice cream taste tester and he’s explaining how to correctly taste test ice cream.

CL: I assume then you’re a big ice cream fan.

JW: I mean -- I am a big ice cream fan -- [but] I’m just more of a fan of this guy!

CL: Alright I’m cutting this interview short, I have to go find this guy and brighten my world.

JW: It’s hilarious. It’s just an old man, with a golden spoon, talking about how to correctly test ice cream.

CL: Man, that guy is living the life now with his golden spoon.

JW: Probably, he’s rich.

CL: How did you originally get started on YouTube?

JW: I got started originally because -- for one, my brother [Freddie Wong] was making a lot of fun stuff with videos and his other stuff -- so I got really interested in the whole process. I was acting in LA at the time and I wasn’t really doing too much acting wise and I had a lot of time. I decided to make a music video and started to pursue that avenue of what I liked to do on YouTube and that’s how it all started out.

CL: When did you know you wanted to get into acting? Was there something that inspired you when you were growing up?

JW: I think the thing that really helped me out was just a healthy interest in performing. I’ve always enjoyed putting on something for someone else or really diving into a “role” and so when I got to college, I started doing stuff with the theatre program and it all spiraled from there.

CL: What is the most memorable part you’ve ever played?

JW: That’s a tough one! They’ve all been very memorable. I think probably one of the more memorable roles for me personally, I did a movie called John Dies at the End and I got to play this midwestern crazy dude that gets caught up in all of the action. It was one of the first movies I ever did and the biggest role I’ve ever had as well at that point. That would be it!

CL: What do you do to get into the minds of your characters?

JW: To get into character I probably would ... I mean it’s sort of just being on set. Being with everyone around, with other characters in costume -- either on the set that have been dressed to get you into the mood -- sort of having all the elements helps me get into character. Obviously, knowing your lines really helps too, but I think the most helpful thing is just being able to sit in front of the camera, being in the moment, on the day, and being able to do it, is the most effective part of being in that last little moment before you start filming.

CL: Do you ever pull a Daniel Day Lewis and stay in character the entire time?

JW: I wish! If I did that I don’t think I could handle myself to be honest.

CL: I think your family and friends appreciate that.

JW: That’s definitely not how I interact with people on set. I probably couldn’t take myself seriously at that point.

CL: You’d just continue to be Abraham Lincoln for the rest of your days.

JW: I’d have the top hat and everything [laughs].

CL: What was your favorite moment from filming the final instalment of Video Game High School?

JW: I don’t want to spoil too much but there is a moment where a lot of the school gets to get together, be in scenes together, interact with each other in ways that you haven’t really seen before in the past. It was really fun to have it all come together at the end of the whole three seasons and be in scenes with characters that I’d never really acted with before. Getting to combine all the worlds together, it was really fun and relaxing to know that everyone is here for the same thing and everyone is committed to the same goal. We also get to do it as characters, as well as actors, [which] was really nice and really heartening to be around everyone.

CL: Is there anything you can tease about the third season?

JW: We did spoil that a major character does die so that does happen. You can expect to see that in the later half of the season and I’d say, be ready for a lot of stuff that you’ve come to expect in the show and a lot of stuff that may not be what you expect. There is a lot of really crazy stuff that happens this season. [There are] a few big twists and turns that will surprise a lot of people.

CL: What’s something that you’ve learned from being part of an ongoing series and playing a character that’s evolving through three seasons?

JW: It’s a lot easier the third season than the first season to get into character. That’s one of the most obvious things to me. I really appreciate having three years to work on something because it really feels like you get to have that second chance to go back and, not redo something, but get the second chance to further develop all the work you’ve already put into something. Being able to do that with my character on the show was super helpful and I’ve been really fortunate about being able to do that as well.

CL: If you could go back and change anything in high school, would you and what would it be?

JW: I don’t know, I’d probably tell myself to stop worrying so much but today, I see myself as a combination of all the good and the bad things that happened in high school up until now so I can’t really complain too much. There are always hard times, there are always a lot of easy times too, so I think I’d probably just tell myself to stay the course and not worry so much about what other people thought.

CL: What advice do you have for someone on surviving high school?

JW: It would probably be along those same lines. I don’t think high school -- I mean for one thing, high school is not the end-all-be-all of your life. It’s four years and as human beings, we’re living an average lifetime of 70, 80 years, so you have to realize that those four years, even though they may feel like the most important years in the world, they have very little impact over the course of your life. So don’t let it affect you too much and fall victim to some of the stereotypical things that happen to people in high school, the popularity games and all that.

CL: As someone who works in both traditional and digital media, what are the pros and cons of interacting in both worlds?

JW: I think both sides have a lot of good ups and downs to them. Clearly traditional media is around because it works for a certain reason. New media also works for a certain reason and being able to not be held by restrictions or job titles. I think there is a lot to be gleaned from both sides of the equation. I think ultimately they’re headed towards the same direction, which is a collaborative effort with some other people to make something grand and the sum of each individual parts. I think as long as you have that in mind and you’re working on something together then you’ll sort of bypass the downside and upside to both and get to the heart of what you’re doing to create something.

CL: What are the best parts of working with your brother [Freddie Wong] on this? Does it ever get personal?

JW: Well we’re definitely able to communicate with each other a lot more quickly and cut all the BS you might have to go through when you’re talking to someone you don’t really know that well. Like we don’t have to put on an air of niceness [laughs], we can just be brutally honest with each other -- not in a mean way -- but in a more efficient way which I think is really valuable  between two people on set. The more efficient you can be, the faster you can communicate and the more quickly you can get something done. For the case of me and Freddie on set, that really helps out a lot. We don’t have to worry about a lot of things that a regular conversation between an actor and director might have. We can sort of skip a lot of the steps and really get the message across a lot more quickly.

CL: What are things you’re working on now?

JW: Well right now you’ll notice by the time the season launches, I’m starting a fundraising campaign for my next big project which I sort of see it as a followup to Video Game High School. [It’s] a musical comedy web series that takes a lot of inspiration from Flight of the Conchords and Tenacious D and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. You can definitely find out more if you follow me on Twitter, I’ll be posting all the links to stuff like that. We’re giving away some incredible stuff for people donating so you could potentially walk away with a car, I’ll just say that much if you donate to this campaign.

CL: Will you be producing, directing, and starring in this?

JW: I’m definitely going to be starring and acting in it. I won’t be taking lead director duties but I will be doing some of the directing and I will be behind the producing as well. Ideally this campaign will let me hire the people I need to hire so I can focus on the more important part which is acting for myself.

Follow Jimmy below:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jimmy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jfwong

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealjimmy/

With New York City Comic Con right around the corner, the thoughts of superheroes and out-of-this-world adventures have spent the last week dancing around in my head and causing me to yell in a few too many meetings, “I’m Batman!”

The larger-than-life heroes of the comic world -- Batman, Superwoman, Ms. Marvel, some might even argue Aquaman -- are some of the most celebrated and inspiring figures in the world. But what about their human counterparts? While these people are hard to recognize on the streets without a cape and mask, their passion and drive to achieve social justice are making the world, and YouTube platform, a better place. So without further adieu, I present to you, the five female creators who deserve superhero status.

5. Bee and Puppycat

Come on Carly, a cartoon girl and her cat? Hear me out! Bee is just an average girl trying to figure out her life and in the process, making every social situation horribly awkward. Sound familiar? Yes, it sounds like you. And me. And every single person we know. But with the help of her friend Puppycat, Bee achieves the ability to fight mythical monsters while still maintaining her sense of self. It’s not easy to be comfortable in your own skin, and for that reason, I dub Bee with super hero status.

 4. Ash Burch

Ash Burch is the sassy, say-what-she-means, swears-like-a-sailor, doesn’t-conform-to-stereotypes friend we all wish we were more like. Her channel, created with her brother Anthony Burch, follows Ash and Anthony’s adventures through the world of gaming. This channel proves that girls not only like video games but make the gaming world better with their presence. It’s absolute perfection.

3. Anna Akana Because annaakana is the mother to four cats, loves comics more than your mother loves you, pole dances for exercise, and is on her way to making 12 short films in a year. Superhero status achieved.

2. Anita Sarkeesian

Even after receiving death threats on her channel, Sarkeesian has continued making comprehensive and valuable videos exposing the intensely sexist video game world. Her channel has received over 15 million views since its founding in 2009 and continues to encourage viewers to be aware and vocal in their discontent with how women are portrayed in video games. It takes a mountain of bravery to put out the content Sarkeesian is making and ignore the online trolls who take their words of hate too far. She’s a hero in my eyes, and I’m just putting this out there, you’d be a fool not to think so too.

1. Laci Green lacigreen is a true hero through and through. These past couple of months, Green has spearheaded an open letter to Sam Pepper following his “social experiment” video that harassed women on the street. Her support for survivors of violence, along with her sexual education videos, are changing the conversations we’re having on relationships and sex. Fans and creators alike are no longer tolerating the behavior of perpetrators of sexual assault and in large part, this giant step forward is due to Green’s work. Instead of shaming victims for their assaults, Green is teaching us all to support and place blame on the person who actually deserves it -- the perpetrator. Green is one in a million, and, through her work, she has instilled in us a sense of respect and activism few other creators bring to the platform.

YouTube has a million things to offer -- cats playing musical instruments, Sorted Foods, that little kid who dances to Beyonce -- but when it comes to finding the gems of your childhood, where do you turn? After searching the archives and consulting Walt Disney himself, I’ve discovered the four web series you need to binge watch right now in the name of your inner child. So throw on your Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt and situate yourself on your Lisa Frank bean bag because, today, we’re going back in time.

4.  Adult Wednesday Addams. The daughter of everyone’s favorite horror family is finally moving out of the house, and where else should Wednesday Addams begin her spook-tastic life but Los Angeles? Melissa Hunter’s series is a breath of cold, deathly air into the YouTube scene and a must-watch for anyone who was a fan of the Addams Family television series or movies.

3. Doctor Puppet. All Dr. Who fans, this one is for you! Created by New York-based animator Alisa Stern, Doctor Puppet is a loving tribute to Dr. Who and combines Stern’s passions of stop motion, puppeteering, and After Effects animation. Her series “The Adventures of Doctor Puppet” brings the Dr. Who franchise into the puppeting world and makes the rest of us Dr. Who noobs keen to start following the series.

2. Bad Days. Even our favorite superheroes are destined to have bad days. Originally created by Stan Lee’s World of Heroes, Bad Days follows the misadventures of our favorite heroes from both the Marvel and DC universes. Heroes featured include Batman, Dr. Who, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Mutant Ninja Turtles to name a few, and the series is a sweet reminder to us mere mortals that even our greatest heroes don’t always get it right.

  1. Disney Shorts. The creme de la creme of YouTube in my humble opinion and the perfect dose of Disney magic we all need to inject in our daily lives. Mickey’s Shorts have taken the Mickey Mouse we’ve grown up loving and given him a modern twist with vintage animation, much more sass, and dare I say, PG content!

  What shows remind you of your childhood? Share a link in the comments below in order to make our YouTube subscriptions a better place.