AntVenom - Interview

AntVenom has been producing videos for his Youtube Channel for some time now, with the most popular content based on "Minecraft". Given that he has a huge web presence you'd think there would be a wealth of information on / about him, but not so. Lucy, avid Minecraft player (this explains a lot!!), Jitty editor, gets in touch to find out more.

So, obviously you must spend a lot of time recording- What do you do during your spare time?

YouTube is what I do in my spare time. I like to study how things work around the site, what works, what doesnt. I also take a lot of time reading through the messages that people send to me, and take note of everything my fans are talking about in relation to my videos. They are the heart and soul of my channel, so I feel it's the right decision to listen to them.

I have been watching your current Ant Farm Survival series- The map creator altered the map according to your suggestions, is this something that happens a lot? Do you have a lot of contact with mod and map creators regarding new series, or do you generally just stumble upon things that you want to play?

Generally no. I kept contact with only two map makers, and this was the first time someone altered their map according to a suggestion of mine (that I can remember).

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

What inspired you to start making Minecraft Youtube videos? Was there a particular person or video?

I was playing multiplayer a lot with friends of mine in early February, who were also video makers, and we figured, if the game was this engaging to just the few of us, it would be engaging to others as well.

Also, how long were you making videos before you were invited to become a director for MachinimaRealm and how did this happen?

I've been making videos since 2004, but I've been making them actively on YouTube since early 2008. I had been trying to become a part of Machinima since mid-2008, and was invited in February 2011...so it took almost 3 years. I was making a series at the time called "RuneScape Undercover" when Machinima messaged me on YouTube one day, and asked if I wanted to become a part of their director's program.

What do you believe makes you stand out from other Youtube gamers and reviewers?

Consistency and variety. I do all sorts of things within Minecraft, and I believe people like that sort of variety.

What advice would you give to anybody hoping to become a successful Youtube video maker?

To not think about it in terms of subscriber counts or money or anything like that. Make the sort of content you enjoy making, but listen to the fanbase you have, and try to think of what people want, and how to improve your way of doing things. Too many people in this world believe they need the best equipment, recording software, and computers to get anywhere, which is simply not true. When I began making videos back in 2004, I didn't have a capture card to capture console gameplay, so I used a crappy webcam I had at the time. My experience just got better and better over time, and I became a better content maker as a result.

What is your favourite kind of video to make-e.g Mod Reviews, LP's, Multiplayers, Challenge, ect, and why?

Unique videos that don't really fall into any category. I'm always looking to see what sorts of things I can add to my channel that are unique, and different from what others are doing. The Survival Games events have been by far my favorite things so far.

I'm really impressed with your current AntVenom merchandise, are there any plans to expand the range at all? Is it particularly successful so far?

It's successful in terms of people enjoying the shirts that are out there. I'm not sure what my plans are to expand, but I do know I'm planning on adding two more designs soon, one of which will be Survival Games themed.

Finally, out of interest, is your hatred for cows also true in real life?

As long as I'm never near them, we won't have to find out ;)

You can find AntVenom's site here: http://www.antvenom.com/

AntVenom's Youtube Channel is here: http://www.youtube.com/user/AntVenom

Interview by Lucy Siddons