From January 22nd to the 24th, I filmed 6 webisodes of Uncle Nick’s Enchanted Forest. Similar to the way I filmed 4 webisodes after the Christmas 2015 flash flood, I took advantage of the weather condition, making it the plotline of these half a dozen webisodes.
And starting with Webisode 18, I introduce a fun new theme song as well as a new animal hat…
I’ve gotten to the point where I pretty much just keep my camera, tripod, and Uncle Nick costume in my car with me; in order that I can always be prepared to shoot an episode on the spot.
Good thing I was ready on Friday, January 22nd, when the blizzard kicked in. I have a coworker, Shane Moore, who is quick and faithful to help me out with some of the shoots.
So he served as my camera man and assistant director for the first 2 webisodes of the blizzard story arc.
Webisode 14 features Mama Bear and Baby Bear, who get separated during the beginning of the blizzard. It’s up to Uncle Nick to reunite them!
In Webisode 15, we are introduced to a poor little homeless Husky who is stranded out in the middle of the snow storm. Uncle Nick must find her a new home to get her warm.
The remaining 4 webisodes of the blizzard story arc were filmed Saturday and Sunday morning; just me and my tripod.
Webisode 16 finds Piper the Penguin frozen to the ice. Uncle Nick must find a place to keep her safe until the other penguins return.
In Webisode 17, Uncle Nick must resuscitate a lizard he finds who is literally freezing in the river.
Then in Webisode 18, Uncle Nick encounters a sleepwalking pig, who is headed towards a frozen lake.
And finally, in Webisode 19, Uncle Nick must discover, and uncover, a frozen frog on a log.
In the next story arc of episodes, the plot will definitely be thickening…
If you haven’t checked out my Uncle Nick series, I encourage you to, with a younger child next to you. I predict it will be an engaging experience.
If you are a casting director currently in need of a vegan for your upcoming show, you probably need to check me out.
I’m a good find for many reasons. Allow me to count the ways. How about 3 for now?
First, I have plenty of on camera experience. Thanks to my YouTube Channel, I am able to advertise my marketable personality on a daily basis. As you can see, I am dynamic, passionate, and yet emotionally intelligent.
Second, I am a male vegan. Most vegans are female. I can present veganism in a new light. For years, I had constant sinusitis, eczema, headaches, acne, and pet allergies. All of those health issues disappeared (and have remained gone) since I became a vegan nearly 3 years ago. What a testimonial, right?
Third, I am engaging. While I have zero interest in pushing my beliefs on others, I have much interest in “vegan apologetics.” In other words, I enjoy educating the general public on their preconceived ideas about vegan.
Yes, I get enough protein. Look at me. I’m not skin and bones. My doctor confirmed last April that I am healthier than most 34 year-olds he’s seen.
No, I’m not secretly hungry. I eat a lot and I’m always full.
No, my food is not disgusting. I love what I eat.
So there you have it. Why wouldn’t you pick me for your show?
I’ve got the experience, the personality, the story, the passion, and the chutzpah.
Then you’re going to set up a phone call with me for tomorrow afternoon.
Next, you’ll call me and realize that I am the real deal.
After that, you’ll set up me up with a Skype interview to show to the network. They’ll pick me after watching the highlights you’ve edited from that interview.
Then, you’ll officially select me for the role of “Token Vegan” for your show.
We both know it’s inevitable. Let’s just go ahead and get to it.
Sure, I know. There was a 50% chance I’d guess it right.
But for what it’s worth, the most recent webisode of my original series, Uncle Nick’s Enchanted Forest, takes place on the morning of Groundhog Day and shows that there will indeed be a shorter winter because the “groundhog” can’t see his shadow.
When you watch the video, notice how the letter that Ralph the Red Panda reads clearly indicates the date: February 2nd, 2016. In other words, the setting is right now; not a generic year.
In reality, the webisode was actually filmed on the morning January 30th, and then released on YouTube on the morning of February 1st.
Clearly, all the content and production of this webisode was filmed before Febrary 2nd.
In this webisode, the “substitute groundhog” explains that while the winter will be short and that spring will be arriving sooner, there will be a “dark cloud” in the Enchanted Forest this year.
A new story arc is presented in which it is told that the animals of the Enchanted Forest will have to band together against the “dark cloud”.
After 20 webisodes of Uncle Nick’s Enchanted Forest, I decided to spice things up by adding the concept of a villain; something that has never really happened up unto this point; unless you count the quickly converted Freddie the Fox in the first 3 webisodes.
As the writer and director, I want to see character development of the animals as they must use teamwork to keep peace in the Enchanted Forest.
I wanted that “dark cloud” to contrast the weather, as to not paint the setting too dim. Therefore, I chose for the “groundhog” to not be able to see his shadow, which makes the “dark cloud” stand out that much more.
Stayed tuned, as the upcoming episodes will feature a fresh and more complex storyline as the “dark cloud” is officially introduced in Webisode 21: Bruno the Blue Jay.
My YouTube channel, simply named Nick Shell, is now under a 1 year contract with BroadBandTV. They reached out to me last week, wanting to recruit me as one of their independent contractors.
Pssstt! A year has passed since this blog post. CLICK HERE for the results!
When you do a Google search on BroadBandTV, here’s what you’ll find:
BBTV is a media & technology company that represents the best YouTube talent in a global multi-platform network (MPN) and creates online video solutions for brands… The company is currently the fastest growing and the second largest multi-channel network worldwide, with head offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Here’s the simple concept:
They scour the YouTube for talent they think has enough potential to invest in; like me. Once they have me on board, they use their massive network to promote certain videos of mine which they see are relevant to their clients.
BBTV gets a cut of my YouTube revenue, meanwhile they promote my videos on their platforms. It’s a mutual investment.
Obviously, my wife and I did our research on them first. We had to make sure they were legit and that I wasn’t being scammed.
We read every line of the contract and even verified multiple times that there are no “perpetuities” or “annuities”; and that I would maintain all “intellectual property.”
In other words, I will always own my content.
All my songs (including both their lyrics and melodies) are mine. All ideas and characters and stories presented in my videos are mine.
I think this partnership could be the next step I’ve been working towards.
In case you’re unfamiliar, it’s no myth: YouTube really does pay people who have popular YouTube channels. The more people click on the ads on a person’s video, the more revenue that person makes.
Granted, the number of subscribers a person has ultimately determines how much money they make.
I didn’t seriously start making videos until last May. As of last week when I signed the contract with BBTV, I had 130 subscribers and had only made $52.84 total.
That’s not a lot.
However, I had enough going on with my YouTube channel to attract BBTV to reach out to me.
During the official interview, in which they called me from their board room, I asked them what ultimately inspired them to reach out to me.
With a laugh, one of the men told me that a friend of his told him about one of my “receding hairline videos.”
Once he arrived at my YouTube channel, he saw that I publish a couple new videos a day; consisting of not only my “hair” videos, as well as random “deep thought of the day” videos, but also all original series including “Jack-Man” as well as “Uncle Nick’s Enchanted Forest.”
My plan worked: Grow a core audience by acknowledging myself that many of us men have private insecurities in regards to having a receding hairline. From there, as subscribers grow on my channel, I also mix in my other series which truly display my acting and musical talents.
I’m curious to see where this partnership takes me in a year. The way I figure, if I keep doing what I do and BBTV keeps doing what they do, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll finally capture the attention of a major studio work.
And that point, my goal is to have my own children’s show.
I’ve always wanted to be a writer and an actor, but do I fundamentally believe in keeping things “G rated” for myself on camera.
Having my own kids’ show, in which I have some creative control over, would allow me to exercise my talents without having to worry about profanity or innuendos.
If this partnership isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, then I’ll know in a year. I just feel that having only earned $52.84 since I started, and I haven’t even been cashed that out yet… I’m not really losing anything if it doesn’t work out.
I am feeling really good about this. I have been praying for God to increase my responsibilities based on my talents and for me to find ways to do that.
To me, it’s not a coincidence this happened.
Let’s just see what happens in a year.
Pssstt! A year has passed since this blog post. CLICK HERE for the results!
Last Friday morning, Nashville began shutting down. Virtually everyone was sent home from school and work, as the blizzard was beginning.
I am so grateful that it happened exactly when it did: over the weekend.
There was so pressure to try to have to get out in the snowy chaos on the roads for work the next couple of days afterwards, only to have to use my vacation days if I couldn’t make it out of the driveway.
Instead, you and I had the best time!
Mommy preferred the snow better from inside the house. Though she did brag on herself at one point, “I got out on the snow when I checked the mail.”
Meanwhile, you and I made the most of it. Ultimately, nothing we did was what some may call… safe. It was all dangerous, which made it convenient that Mommy didn’t venture out into the snow with us.
I made this video of our adventures together:
Our tour of danger began with you sledding for the first time. While you went down the hill several times with your neighbor friend, Marissa, you weren’t afraid to go alone either.
In fact, since you were the youngest and smallest there at the neighborhood sledding hill, you were the only one small enough to get lodged underneath the wooden fence when the sled didn’t stop in time.
An older boy, who is in the 4th grade commented about you: “Man, that little kid is tough!”
Because with all the bumps and scratches, you never once showed an ounce of fear; you just laughed about it all.
We also ventured over the “climbing wall,” which was the side of 15 foot tall hill, which was laced with a bunch of snow-covered rocks.
You were curious to walk on a frozen pond with me, so I took you to a large puddle that looked like a pond instead. (I knew the water there was barely a foot deep even at the deepest parts.)
And then there was the part where you kept rolling down the tall hill near the creek.
Speaking of the creek, we followed it all the way into the next neighborhood, as you jumped across it along the way.
We took advantage of the adventurous weather. You and I make a good danger team.
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