Words by Tim Wong
A long time ago, I thought about getting more into video content creation back in the early days of individuals making their own content. Aside from a few clips here and there, I never really went all in on it because I never really had a clear vision of what I wanted to do. At the time, I was far more focused on getting better at photo work. Even though I didn’t make content, I did watch the evolution and shift of how content was made. It’s a big world out there with all types of content being made.
I never stopped thinking about what if I made video content and how I would go about it. This is not going to be a ground breaking new idea no one has ever done before, but rather an outdated style that people just don’t use anymore. What if regular people made regular content again? I think I go to some pretty cool places with some good friends and make some great memories. I already document some of it in my photos. What if I don’t just make content for the sake of making content? I never really made content for the sole purpose of monetizing it. Content creation was never my job. I’ve never been bound by the algorithm or trends for the sake of staying relevant or views. You’re not going to see me buying a new build every other month and never finishing them. There’s not going to be long monologues with fake motivational speeches or complaining about the state of car culture. I won’t be an aggregator of information that I read online about the next trendy car. That’s just not what I’m interested in doing. Some of the content out there has completely distorted the reality of car hobby…for money and clout. Real people don’t experience life this way.
Unlike a lot videos by foreigners in Japan, actual Japanese people still use a more traditional vlogging format. Sometimes, it’s a regular person driving around in their Toyota Soarer, going to Ikea, potting plants, and cooking. Not every single video need to be spectacle so it might be able to go viral. While I was in Japan, I met some of these people doing the same thing we were doing, touring the country side in cars. Someone driving around experiencing the world in their car. While I don’t plan on vlog the day to day, I think would be fun to just occasionally shoot some stuff when there’s something interesting going on mixed in with the mundane. I’ve already spent almost 20 years documenting and creating a massive archive of car culture, now I’m just adding some video content to it. It’s not going to be educational or a cinematic masterpiece, it’s a vibe.
Back in 2012, there was a website called Speedhunters. They had a photo contest that I submitted a photo to on a whim. It was picked for the finals, but I ended up not winning. My photo was this S2000 running a night event at Willow Springs. If you’ve ever tried shooting in the dark, you’d know it’s really difficult because there’s just not enough light. My camera shooting wide open, ISO bumped all the way up, and as slow of shutter speed possible to grab shots. It was a cold night and cars were running hard. You could smell the brakes and the see the glowing red rotors spraying sparks into the wind. Speedhunters said something along the lines of: even though the picture isn’t technically the best with the unsharp, underexposed, and graininess, the image was raw and visceral that you felt like you were there. You can smell, hear, and feel everything. Sometimes, the sharpest image isn’t always the best.
“Perfect is the enemy of good” -Volitare
This series is meant to be simple. There’s no crew, no dedicated video guy, no sound guy, there’s probably not going to be some camera rig with gimbals, and no camera cars. There’s some more real when you can tell someone shot this instead of some buttery smooth camera work. I’d like to try to use as little music as possible and use the real audio, but sometimes, it’s hard when events and venues like to play music. It’s still rough which is okay while I get more familiar with the camera settings and equipment as they are different from photography and the same goes for the video software, but with more practice, it will get better. This is not going to be for everyone.
People use to make videos for their own enjoyment. For saving memories. This is what Home Videos will be. For the love of the game. Not for fame or fortune.
