The Weekly Bev - 7th Edition

🤿 Vlog Deep Dive

Today, I want to do some diving (of the deep variety). There is a lot of thought and intention going into the vlogs and I think it would be fun to break them apart a bit. Specifically, let’s talk vlogs 911 and 912, do some comparing and contrasting, and use these vlogs to highlight some of my favorite techniques.

First off, I think both vlogs are great examples of open loop storylines: narratives that I reference and build upon from vlog to vlog. Whether it’s sliding into my kitchen, going to the fancy gym, grabbing the bev, playing pickleball, or jumping in the ice bath, I always try to highlight recurring characters and narratives each vlog because it adds a satisfying through line across hundreds of discrete episodes. Casey Neistat always did this masterfully in his daily vlog series with his one-of-a-kind office, Marlin the UPS guy, even the entire city of New York.

In vlog 911, I touch on one recurring and delicious character: Community Goods. It’s Mallory’s favorite restaurant and we visit often. Dialog Cafe is another great example here.

I also did something new in vlog 911: I detailed my to do list. This was an experimental component, and I wasn’t sure if you guys would find it interesting. I included it because I always generically reference “work,” so this was an opportunity to bring you guys into my day-to-day with slightly higher resolution.

In vlog 912, I reference the to do list again and update everyone on the status of each task. It’s a small detail, but this makes the video feel like a part of a episodic series rather than a one off video. I sometimes get the question, “Are you worried someone won’t be able to jump into the vlog and know what’s going on?” The answer is definitely “no,” because I know that you guys are smart and can quickly find your entry into any storyline. In a sense, just about every vlog has a fresh storyline where a completely new viewer can feel like they’re “in” on the narrative. Also, I want my everyday watchers to feel like they’re on the inside of jokes while also incentivizing new viewers to go back and consume our growing catalog of videos. This requires a balance, but I think we’re doing well!

I also mention in vlog 912 that I’m filling up the ice bath for the following day. It’s very subtle and quick, but this tiny bit of foreshadowing is intentional. It most often comes in the form of me referencing an upcoming videography gig or buying tickets for a future trip, but the ice bath is an effective version of it too. I try to foreshadow whenever I ever have the opportunity to do so because it’s a little hook for the next day’s video that should subconsciously trigger future intrigue.

In both 911 and 912, the voiceover includes moments where I’m zooming in and moments where I’m zooming out. Sometimes I’m right alongside you, wondering what’s going to happen next. Other times, I’m zoomed out and able to provide background context and take advantage of hindsight. I love going back and forth to keep you guys on your toes!

Let’s wrap with some quick thoughts on cooking! I love shooting cooking because it’s very tactile. It’s visually appealing and allows me to play off the audience’s senses. Most people know the feeling and smell of chopping a green onion. The sizzle and pop of oil as it hits the pans helps everyone feel immersed. I’m aiming for that “Damn, I’m hungry!” reaction because at the end of the day my goal is to elicit a reaction. Some people try to do this via shock factor…I stick with breakfast tacos 🙂

❓️ Mystery Links

Hookahi, elua, ekolu

🔦 Creator Spotlight: Duncan Heger

If you have been watching the vlogs for a while, you know Duncan is an OG character in the JCU (Jack’s Cinematic Universe). To my surprise, Duncan also has a life outside of being a feature character in my vlog, and that life is quite interesting! He is a man of many talents, and I hope the following conversation helps you to get to know him a bit better. Without further adieu… Duncan Heger!

Jack: Let’s start out with some background here. Tell the Weekly Bev audience, from your POV, about how we met and the first few projects we worked on together.

Duncan: I had known about Jack from his early YouTube days and then years later he was constantly popping up in my TikTok feed. I first met him when I was attending a birthday party in LA. I remember walking over to the bar, I turned a corner and immediately locked eyes with Jack. I thought to myself, “Man…this guy is way taller in person.”

A week after the party we met up for coffee and what was supposed to be a 30 minute chat turned into a two hour conversation about film, life, and our aspirations as creatives. I look back on our early projects together fondly. My favorite memory from the Xeela documentaries was shooting one of the final scenes with Natalie at the start of 2023. We meshed well together as an A and B cam, and after the shoot we discussed our goals for the upcoming year. It’s cool to look back and see all those dreams turn into reality for the both of us. Jack has become one of my best friends in LA and his work ethic and creative process continue to inspire me. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that the vlog audience doesn’t always get to see. I’m fascinated with how much thought and care he puts into creating a video everyday and how he pushes himself to innovate his storytelling abilities.

Jack: Tell me a little bit about your job at Stadium. Do you think young creatives should get in with a production company? What have you learned from your time there?

Duncan: After I graduated from Chapman, I started interning at a commercial production company and feature film studio company called Stadium. I started at the bottom of the food chain, grabbing coffees and sweeping the floors. I quickly worked my way up to building treatments, editing commercials, and directing a few of my own projects through the company. I now work as a full time employee at Stadium and have directed for brands like Netflix, Adidas, and LAFC.

Working in-house at a production company has taught me a lot about how other directors work, specifically how they pitch commercials and films, and it's opened a lot of doors for my career. My biggest piece of advice for those who are just graduating college or looking to break into the film industry is to find a mentor. I’ve been fortunate to work closely with our roster of directors and their advice has helped me tremendously. Make a list of the creatives that inspire you, and send them a cold email asking to chat about their journey in the industry.

Jack: Talk me through your project for LAFC and Will Ferrell. What was that experience like? Were you nervous to direct someone who we grew up watching? How did it feel seeing the final piece out in the world?

Duncan: Getting to direct Will Ferrell and work with LAFC was a dream. I remember getting the call that the project was greenlit and thinking to myself, “This is the moment.” For years, I had been working hard to have an opportunity like this, and I understood that these types of projects don’t come across your desk often.

Leading up to the shoot, I spent every waking moment in prep. The biggest challenge we faced was having limited time with our talent and a small crew. We had to be nimble, so I leaned into that and tried to spoof other sports documentaries. I wanted it to feel like you were watching Drive to Survive or an embedded Soccer docu-series. But instead of the film being about a star player, you were following the life of the esteemed LAFC equipment manager: Will Ferrell.

I never get nervous for a shoot, if anything the production day is where you get to have fun. The team and I had put all of the work in during prep, so we had our production schedule down to the minute. Will was amazing to work with. He nailed every line in the first or second take. I was focused on articulating the motivations of his character during each scene and creating an environment that would allow him to do what he does best. I was so focused on nailing each shot that it never really hit me that I was directing someone I had grown up watching…that is until the spot was released.

The piece went viral and was featured on ESPN. I was flooded with kind messages from close friends and people I hadn’t heard from in years. At that moment, I felt very fortunate. It takes a village to make a commercial or a film, and I don’t take it for granted that I’m surrounded by so many talented people that elevate my work in so many ways.

LAFC | 2024 Kit Reveal

Jack: Talk a bit about the doc you’re currently working on. Why did you feel it was the right subject matter? When can we expect to see it?

Duncan: Late last year, I shot a short documentary on a widow reflecting on the final 24 hours with her late husband, to discover what happens to us when we die. It’s a heavy subject, but something I’ve been yearning to explore for years. I have a lot of questions about death, what people are like in their final moments, and how best to handle someone’s passing. And when I have questions about a subject matter, I usually go and make a film about it. 

We are currently editing the film and it will be completed later this year. I’m looking to take it on the film festival circuit and eventually release it to the public in 2025. I’ve learned a lot from making this film. It’s shifted the way that I live my life, both in my career and in my relationships with others. As an artist, I am what I leave behind. I hope this film can leave an impact on other people, just as much as other people have left an impact on me.

Jack: Thank you, Duncan! To the Weekly Bev team: check out more of Duncan’s work here and make sure to follow him on IG.