The Real Story. a mini documentary PrankvsPrank BFvsGF

Summary

Jesse, a longtime filmmaker, influencer, and prankster, reflects on his journey from growing up in Northeast Philly to becoming one of YouTube's early stars. He discusses how his prank videos with his girlfriend went viral, leading to a successful YouTube career. Jesse also shares the challenges of maintaining a daily vlogging routine, the toll it took on his personal life, and how his mother's passing impacted him. Now, he focuses on purpose-driven content and health, emphasizing balance, creativity, and passion in his work and life.

Takeaways

• 🎬 Jesse is a filmmaker, director, and influencer with 17 years of experience, starting in September 1982.
• 📍 He grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and moved to New Jersey for school, where he was a prankster and rebelled against authority.
• 💡 Jesse's online career started when he posted a viral 'cinnamon challenge' video on Break.com, earning him $200, sparking his interest in making online content.
• 📹 Jesse and his girlfriend created a prank channel, which became highly popular, leading him to daily vlogging for six years and producing around 3,000 videos.
• 🛹 One of his viral moments was creating a magic carpet on a skateboard, inspired by a comment calling him 'Aladdin,' with the help of Casey Neistat.
• 🤝 Jesse was surrounded by iconic YouTubers like Casey Neistat, Shay Carl, Charles Trippy, IJustine, and others during the early days of YouTube.
• 💔 He experienced personal and professional struggles, including his mother's suicide and the end of his partnership, which led him to re-evaluate his content creation approach.
• 🎯 Now, Jesse focuses on purpose-driven content that educates and inspires, instead of chasing views or attention for dopamine hits.
• 🍬 Jesse has become conscious about health and wellness, endorsing products like sugar-free gummy candies with mushroom supplements, highlighting the importance of healthy eating.
• 🌅 He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a daily routine, starting with direct sunlight and avoiding phone distractions to improve productivity and well-being.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Diamond Play Button mentioned in the script?

The Diamond Play Button is an award given by YouTube when a channel reaches 10 million subscribers. Jesse mentions he might have been one of the first 10 or 20 people to receive it, with a humorous anecdote about receiving a broken one from YouTube’s CEO at the time, Susan Wojcicki, as a prank.

How did Jesse's YouTube career begin?

Jesse’s YouTube career began when he uploaded a video of his girlfriend attempting the cinnamon challenge, which went viral. This led to the couple continuing to prank each other, with each prank gaining more popularity and income, eventually turning it into a full-time career.

What role did the military play in Jesse’s early life?

Jesse joined the Air Force after his father gave him an ultimatum to either attend college or move out. He served in Germany and Korea, where he first started exploring online videos as entertainment before transitioning into content creation after his military service.

How did Jesse transition from pranks to filmmaking and vlogging?

After achieving success with pranks on YouTube, Jesse became one of the original daily vloggers, creating a video every day for six years. His consistent work helped him hone his storytelling and editing skills, leading him to explore more creative, purposeful content.

How did Jesse's personal life affect his YouTube career?

Jesse’s personal life, particularly his relationship with his girlfriend, became a big part of his YouTube content. However, the pressure to create content every day started to affect their relationship. His mother’s suicide also had a significant emotional impact on him, leading to a breakdown and a temporary step back from YouTube.

What role did Casey Neistat and other creators play in Jesse’s career?

Casey Neistat and other prominent creators like Peter McKinnon and OG YouTubers Shay Carl and Charles Trippy inspired Jesse to push his content beyond pranks and vlogs. Collaborating with Casey on projects like the Aladdin magic carpet video helped Jesse transition to more meaningful and creative filmmaking.

What was Jesse's involvement with Snoop Dogg, and why did the Secret Service get involved?

Jesse directed several music videos for Snoop Dogg, including one that contained subliminal messaging about current political issues. This attracted the attention of the Secret Service, and both he and Snoop had to speak with them. Despite the controversy, Jesse looks back at the video as prophetic in light of today’s events.

How did Jesse's content evolve after stepping back from daily vlogging?

After quitting daily vlogging, Jesse shifted his focus to content that felt fun and purpose-driven. He stopped worrying about audience reactions and instead concentrated on creating content that he found meaningful, particularly around health, wellness, and educating his viewers.

What lifestyle changes did Jesse make regarding health and wellness?

Jesse has become more conscious of his health and diet since moving to Los Angeles. He avoids unhealthy foods like cheesesteaks and pizza and is particularly cautious about ingredients in food, such as toxic elements in gummy candies. He advocates for products like Super Mush that include functional mushrooms with health benefits.

What does Jesse emphasize about maintaining a healthy creative process?

Jesse stresses the importance of having a morning ritual for creative clarity. His routine includes avoiding the phone upon waking, getting direct sunlight, and maintaining a focus on purposeful content. He emphasizes staying aligned with what feels authentic and meaningful, rather than chasing attention for its own sake.