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.
Yesterday afternoon I had recently returned from buying vegan chocolate cake for my wife, as well as “lip scrub”, which I didn’t know existed until she asked me to get it for her.
For myself, while I was there at Whole Foods, I also picked up a bottle of one of my favorite drinks: Synergy Grape Chia Kombucha.
I suppose I drank it fairly quickly once I returned to the office from my lunch break. So naturally, I had to hop on over to the restroom real quick.
By real quick, I mean literally less than 90 seconds. Here’s how I can know for sure:
Because at precisely 14:04:28, a message went out over our company’s instant message program that “Nick Shell is no longer employed” at the company.
(That message was apparently sent the moment I stepped out of my office.)
Then at exactly 14:05:55, which is less than 90 seconds later, a follow-up message went out explaining that it wasn’t “Nick Shell” who was no longer employed, but instead a different Nick.
Apparently by that time, I was washing my hands in the bathroom. I stepped out into the hallway, to see a huddle of people around my empty desk.
To make matters more seemingly dramatic, my boss (as a joke) moved my chair along with my name plaque and my hat and my empty Kombucha bottle out into the hallway.
Half the people who traveled from the other side of the office to see the crime scene hadn’t seen the follow-up message, so it only reinforced the idea I really was a goner.
I know now how loved I truly am by my co-workers. Apparently I had some people worried. I was originally hired on January 2, 2006; more than a decade ago.
While my family did move back to my hometown for about 8 months when my son was born over 5 years ago, I’ve worked at the company for over 9 years.
I’m known as the guy who has been there forever, so I guess it freaked some people out that I would just so suddenly disappear.
After I later took my afternoon 10 minute break, in which I took a walk outside, another coworker decided to decorate my desk as part of either my going-away party… or my triumphant return.
Yesterday evening as Mommy was preparing dinner, she pointed out that you were tucked all the way over to her right side.
It was undeniable. There was no doubt her tummy was lopsided.
She explained to me when she was pregnant with your brother Jack nearly 6 years ago, he was always sitting on her ribs; way up high.
But you, you’re so low; that’s not a problem with you.
As of today, Mommy is officially in her 3rd trimester with you. She is 66% through her pregnancy with you. In less than 3 months, less than 90 days, you should be here.
It’s funny to think that a year ago this week, our family moved into our new house.
Life is at such a great pace now: We live way back in the suburbs. We have a garage. We live in a cul-de-sac near a park.
Those are things I didn’t realize how much I would appreciate. Being able to work our way of debt a few years ago and save up for the down payment on our house was totally worth the discipline and sacrifice.
We knew at the time when we moved in our new house, that at some point in the next few years, we might have another child.
But just 6 months into life in our new home with 4 bedrooms, something just finally clicked:
One of those rooms is for another child.
And so of course now, that guest room has now been converted into your nursery and bedroom.
I’ve mentioned before how supposedly age 34 is the best year of your life. That’s how old Mommy and I both are.
We are so happy to know that you are on your way. You are wanted. You will be loved.
I can’t guarantee that you will be born into the most normal of families, but I can tell you this: We’re going to have a lot of fun!
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