The End of an Era.

Summary

The creators of Cantomando discuss their journey, reflecting on their initial mission to share and celebrate Chinese culture. They explain how the pressure of chasing views led them astray, affecting their content and personal lives. Now, they're making a conscious shift back to their original purpose—bridging cultures and teaching Chinese language. They also reveal personal projects like Mandarin-focused channels and share their emotional journey. Despite changes, the team reassures fans they’ll still collaborate, while committing to content they are proud of moving forward.

Takeaways

• 😀 The creators are planning to make significant changes to their channel and want to explain how they reached this point after seven years of creating content.
• 😅 The original mission of the channel was to share their love of Chinese culture and connect with the Chinese diaspora, but they got sidetracked over time.
• 🎯 The creators admit that they began chasing views, focusing on trends like BTS and K-pop, which led them away from their original goal of cultural content.
• 😞 The pursuit of numbers came at a personal cost, affecting their friendships, health, and overall passion for content creation.
• 🔄 They are now refocusing the channel to return to their original purpose: sharing Chinese culture, language, and meaningful content.
• 🎓 One creator, Sheldon, has found fulfillment in helping people learn Mandarin through the Canton Amanda Blueprint, which reconnects people with their heritage.
• 📈 Another creator, Mike, discussed how the pressure to chase views made him feel ashamed of their content, as it no longer had a purpose beyond popularity.
• 🤝 They emphasized that they are still friends and will continue creating content together, though the format will evolve to reflect their individual passions.
• 🌍 The channel's new focus will be on bridging cultures, creating educational and meaningful content rather than just entertainment.
• 🔔 The creators are aware that not all fans will stay for the new direction, but they are committed to producing content that aligns with their values and passions.

Q & A

What was the original goal of the channel when it started almost 7 years ago?

The original goal of the channel was to inspire and share the creators' love of Chinese culture, language, and heritage, particularly targeting the Chinese diaspora, such as Chinese Americans and Canadians, to help them connect with their culture.

Why did the creators decide to take YouTube full-time after university?

After finishing university, the creators were motivated by the support from their viewers and their passion for Chinese culture, which led them to take a risk and pursue YouTube full-time, even though it was a scary decision with uncertain outcomes.

What challenges did the creators face after going full-time with YouTube?

After quitting their jobs, the creators faced the reality of paying bills and rent. They felt pressured to create content that would get views, leading them to stray from their original goal of sharing Chinese culture and instead create content based on trending topics, like BTS and K-pop.

How did the shift to creating content purely for views affect the creators?

The shift to chasing views had a negative impact on the creators' friendships, health, and personal satisfaction. They felt they lost their passion for the channel, and the content no longer represented their original mission or personal interests.

What change is Sheldon working on with the 'Canton Amanda Blueprint'?

Sheldon is working on the 'Canton Amanda Blueprint,' a program that helps Cantonese speakers learn Mandarin. He finds great fulfillment in hearing success stories from students who have overcome shame and learned to communicate in their native language.

Why have viewers only seen Mike in recent videos, and what changes are coming for Cantomando?

Mike has taken more responsibility for the main channel due to creative differences and the need for more individual focus. Moving forward, the channel will refocus on its original mission of bridging cultures, particularly Asian and Chinese cultures, with all three creators contributing in different ways.

How did Mike feel about creating content purely for views, and what physical effects did it have on him?

Mike felt deeply ashamed about creating content just for views. He didn't feel proud of the videos and even avoided talking about his YouTube career with others. His health also suffered, notably with a painful lip condition that he associated with the stress and unhealthy nature of the content they were creating.

What will the new direction of Cantomando focus on?

The new direction of Cantomando will focus on bridging cultures, particularly by sharing and teaching about Chinese culture, language, and experiences. This change is intended to bring the channel back to its original mission and give it a stronger purpose.

What new projects are Edward and Sheldon working on?

Edward is working on a new channel where he shares his personal stories and helps others grow their own YouTube channels and pursue their passions. Sheldon is focused on his 'Canton Amanda Blueprint' program, helping people learn Mandarin, as well as producing educational content about Chinese culture.

What message do the creators want to send to their fans regarding the changes to the channel?

The creators acknowledge that some fans may be disappointed by the changes, especially those who enjoyed their previous content like mukbangs. However, they emphasize that this new direction aligns more with their passions and original mission, and they hope fans will continue supporting them on this new journey.