Thanks to the advent of the internet, anyone and everyone can offer their opinion on everything. There are videos out there comparing the fries from every fast food joint available in the Western hemisphere, assiduous think-pieces on why the Earth must be flat, and even attentive tier-lists on which Pokémon look the most delicious (the answer, of course, is Miltank).
Moreover, over the last decade or so, the sub-genre of ‘video essays’ relating to film and TV has exploded in popularity – thousands of creators have put forward slickly-edited commentaries on nearly every IP available. However, due to the unfettered nature of the world wide web, it’s difficult to know which of these essayists are actually worthwhile and which are just peddling idiocy. Thankfully, there are a few out there that have cut through the noise and have established themselves with their fresh insights and clever takes – here are some of the best video essay channels available.
“Hi I’m Tony, and you’re watching Every Frame a Painting…” Consistently insightful, joyously celebratory, and wonderfully crafted, Every Frame a Painting was a trailblazer of the video essay community, becoming one of the first channels in the genre to reach one million subscribers.
The main impetus behind their work was to examine “how to discuss visual ideas with non-visual people” – is it possible to educate casual viewers on how filmmakers use visuals for dramatic effect? Touching on the works of Buster Keaton, Akira Kurosawa, Edgar Wright, Robin Williams, and even chairs, the videos went into diverse depths to catch viewers up on how every frame of film could be a painting.
Although dormant now (the duo behind the videos have said that they wanted to quit while they were ahead and not just cycle out entries ad infinitum), Every Frame a Painting’s existing catalogue serves as a prescient reminder of how great video essays can be.
The internet’s resident ‘Nostalgia Chic’, no one interrogates celebrated institutions of the pop culture like Lindsey Ellis. Finding her start with Channel Awesome in 2008 before branching out on her own in 2014, Ellis’ essays usually centre on her re-examining beloved IPs, like the works of Disney and Stephenie Meyer, and seeing how these revered films hold up – are they rightfully beloved, or just hidden behind the intoxicating cloud of nostalgia?
Now also a New York Times best-selling author, Ellis has carved out a niche through vivisecting fan favorite films, exploring their contexts, production, reception and message. In terms of depth of research, really no one tops Ellis.
KaptainKristian produces video essays with a twist – he not only explores the visuals that define some epochal films but adapts the very format of his videos to reflect them. Half-animation, half-commentary, a KaptainKristian video takes “show don’t tell” to the next level, both explaining and illustrating why a film is so visually iconic.
Indeed, the channel has touched on some subject matters beyond film, such as Dr Seuss’ rhythmic rhyme scheme or colors and costumes of the original X-Men comic book, tying all his offerings together through a daunting dedication to both form and content. If a viewer wanted to ‘feel’ a subject and not just understand it, they can’t go wrong with KaptainKristian.
Some of the most successful video essay channels find success by carving out a niche for themselves, offering viewers a focused look at a particular aspect of the form. For Lessons from the Screenplay, this focus is obvious. Every new video from the channel breaks down a celebrated script, scouring its pages for tips and tricks – this channel is more than just a celebration of film, it’s almost a how-to guide for aspiring screenwriters.
Often using seminal books on screenwriting like John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story as a lens to examine the films, Lessons from the Screenplay has looked at some of the form’s most celebrated scripts to provide guidance to viewers. Aaron Sorkin, Jordan Peele, the Cohen Brothers – all these screenwriters and more have had their work broken down and analyzed by the channel and had the lessons passed on to avid fans – this is a channel that elucidates and educates.
The spiritual amalgamation of Lindsey Ellis and Lessons from the Screenplay, Folding Ideas explores big pop-culture ideas through a particular lens: editing. Written and performed by experienced editor Dan Olsen, the channel breaks down what some films do well and what others do so, so poorly (his video on Suicide Squad feels more like an intelligent knife-fight than a video essay).
Originally fronted by an origami puppet (hence the name) but now featuring Olsen front and centre, Folding Ideas is a detailed foray into an often-overlooked side of filmmaking. Touching on beautiful disasters like The Book of Henry, The Snowman and even the forced relatability of YouTube food channels, Folding Ideas may be niche in focus, but it’s wide in appeal.
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