Thread by @People_Of_Space

First thread of the day : how do I manage a Space Vulgarisation Youtube channel : tips, examples, fun, trolls.

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So let's begin with a recap of what I do on Youtube : My Youtube Channel is called "Stardust", 66 000 subscribers, 3,600,000 total views.

I talk about space exploration, astronautics, space history, and aeronautics. It's in french, some videos are subbed

I launched it in january 2016. I also made live broadcasts of rocket launches and EVA's. Youtube is not my main job.

So let's talk about the "Behind the Scenes".

1. Choose a subject.

I have no problem to choose. There is so much to talk about!

I try to choose a subject that is not necessarly old, but when there is not a lot of updates that could come. You can't update a video...

That's why I love to talk about past missions and topics. Like Skylab, or Apollo 17. On the US/EU side of space exploration, lot of infos

It's always a bit more difficult for the "soviet" missions, as it's harder to find documentation.

Let's say I chose the Challenger accident

2. Get infos

The search for infos are the big part. For Challenger I read all the commission report. I also watch documentaries.

I think a story telling is better when we master the subject. You got to know a lot on it. Reading, being curious. Own the subject.

You got to be curious and love what you are talking about. You can't be good if you don't hafve the passion for what you are talking about.

3. Writing the script

It's a first time I release one of my scripts in public : docs.google.com/document/d/1XA…

It's about Cassini/Huygens

I try to write it in a chronological order. I go from the beginning to the end. When I write it, I have no idea how or where it'll be filmed

I also write everything I think is useful to know. Scripts can be very long or short. I don't care about the length of the video.

You can see that there is part in italic (for voice over) and regular (for filmed part). Filmed part are always short. Here's why

1. The subject is more important than my face
2. Takes are easier
3. Shooting time is shorter
4. It adds dynamics to the video

So the minor infos and the transitions are filmed. The rest is voice over.

I almost never write jokes. And I don't make a lot of them. I put science before entertainment. Some other channels do the reverse. Sigh...

I also like to improvise. The post-end credits are always improvised. I sometimes add some infos during the filmed parts. Or rephrase.

For example, I released a video last night about "L'oiseau Blanc". It tried to cross the Atlantic from Paris to NY 12 days before Lindbergh

just before the credits, I added a little part saying that another White Bird (Oiseau Blanc) crossed the Atlantic after it : The Concorde

This part was not written and I added it just before the upload on Youtube. It was not in the script. I had the idea, I wrote it. Simple

4. Recording the voice over

I always begin with it. Easy part. I don't act. I just tell the story as I would tell it to a friend.

For this I use a Rode Videomic linked to a Olympus dictaphone. 150€ budget.

It's not always easy to record when you live in a big city. Motorbikes, police, ambulances... My flat is not fully sound proof.

5. Filming

Before filming, I try to choose a good place for the subject. For my video about Rosetta/Philae, I asked to film in a exhibition

where a 1:1 scaled Philae was exposed. Asking for a filming is very tough. You deal with people that don't know you

For my last video about "Oiseau Blanc" I got my filming permission declined. When it happens, plan B is to film elsewhere. When I don't have

no other choice, I film in my living room, or in my car. That's what happened for the last video :

I film with a Canon EOS 600D camera, and a Boya LM-10 linked to the Olympus Dictaphone

On car shots, I use a very old GoPro Hero 1.

I always film in 1080p 29.97fps.

Once everything is filmed, it's time for a tough one :

6. Editing the video

You gonna be surprised, but I use Sony Vegas 13.

Here's an example of one of my videos in the editing software. It's very basic.

Tip : I always have a blank template with my opening and ending credits, so it's easier and faster to edit. Editing is fun. You can add

a lot of things that wasn't said by writing, or adding images. For a 10 minutes video, it takes me about 5 to 6 hours, depending on things.

The biggest part of the editing process is to find enough archives videos or still photos. Sometimes, it's reaaaaally hard.

Some other YT channels don't use any. I prefer to overuse them. I try to put the viewer into the mission. And show rare treasures.

Once the edit is done, I render the video, upload it on Youtube in private, and send it to friends for some beta test. Sometimes they see

technical problems on the video I didn't see. I also send it to some experts for proofreading. Proofviewing?

When everything is okay, I release It, mostly on friday at 6pm. Best time to release a video on YT. It's statistically proven

I usually create the thumbnail during the upload. I got a template I created that makes it faster to make.

I also fill the description with a lot of useful links if people fall in love with the subject and want to know more.

My goal is to light the flame of viewer's curiosity. I want him/her to go further into the subject. I'm in the beginiing of the process

Then the video is released. But it's not the end. I read and reply to all the comments. And there are loads of comments as you can see

My current average is one new comment every 5 minutes. I reply to them as I talk to you right now

I also receive a lot of emails from students or curious people that have questions. And of course Twitter. A lot of tweets.

I spend most of my days and nights replying to people. i want to get as close as possible to the viewers. I want to know them.

Why? I want to know how they found me, or what do they think would make my videos better. I love critics. As long as it's not troll

That's also why I often organize "meetings" where people can come and discuss with me in real life.

Everyone has a different reason why they love space and aeronautics. They have different points of views. I love that

I got more interests in negative feedbacks about my videos. If someone says he likes, I got no way to know what's wrong in the video

That's the end of this thread about my creation process. Any questions?