Helping Others Tell Better Stories. Sidney Diongzon on Chasing Stories.
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Sidney Diongzon is a filmmaker who loves to chase stories. He creates content to help people become better storytellers though practical tutorials, cinematic visuals, camera gear reviews, and behind-the-scene vlogs.
He has worked with brands like Mazda, Google, and Sony on campaigns all over the world.
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Transcript
(Time stamps will match up with the video)
Javier Mercedes [00:00:26] First question, Stories, gear, I know you do both on your channel. How do you bridge the gap between both and tell your stories with the gear?
Sidney Diongzon [00:00:35] I mean [sighs], they're all along the same thing. I mean, you can talk about gear all day and, you know, I'm very passionate about gear as well as a lot of people are very passionate about gear, but it's about how to use that gear to tell the stories. [That’s] what really matters and that's what I'm really passionate about. So, instead of focusing so much on what the Sony A7 III can't do and everything wrong about this camera, whatever. It's like, “Well, let's talk about what it can do and here's what you can do with this camera.” You know, it can only shoot in 120 [frames per second], ok? Or, for slow motion. Awesome, let's tell a story with that. You know, it can only shoot 8 bit, doesn't do 10 bit. That's okay, let's just film the colors right in camera and that way we don't have to focus so much time on color correcting or color grading in post. But, I'm going to get a story done quicker because of the limitations of the camera. I'm going to use that to my advantage so that I can get my stories told. And so for me, you know, there's that, but then I really focus on the stories. And so say, for example, I want to make a banger B-Roll sequence. it's going to be really cool. Okay, well, how? You know what I mean? Like, how can you tell a story from one shot to the next? What's your pacing going to be like, are going to do fast cuts, going to match the beat of the music, or can you tell a story between scene one and scene two? Like, what happens if you show a scene fade out and then fade in again? What happened in between? What kind of skills do you have to tell that story that's not even spoken on-screen, you know what I mean? And so for me, I love focusing on that craft, the craft of storytelling.
Javier Mercedes [00:02:04] Just by how you talk, you can tell that he's so passionate about...
Sidney Diongzon [00:02:07] Super, I love it.
Javier Mercedes [00:02:10] It's like, let me give you all the information.
Sidney Diongzon [00:02:12] I love it.
Javier Mercedes [00:02:14] On all these things.
Sidney Diongzon [00:02:14] Mm hm.
Javier Mercedes [00:02:15] ...For people that are just starting as YouTubers or content creators. What's that first step in terms of relating to the audience and not focusing on self when it comes to creating a video?
Sidney Diongzon [00:02:22] I would equate it to going on a first date.
Javier Mercedes [00:02:23] I love this.
Sidney Diongzon [00:02:24] And [Javier laughs] you know, you're on this first date and this is before the Tinder days [Javier laughs], but you don't know who this person is, you met them and asked them out, whatever. But you're at dinner and you're just telling them what you love, and what you're passionate about, and your hobbies, and then you're listening to how that person, the audience reacts to that and see if there's a common ground. And, if there's a common ground, boom! That's the content they should make, that's the relationship. And so for me, it's very, very similar to going on a first date.
Javier Mercedes [00:02:54] I love that. [Sidney laughs] Totally, like if somebody asked me how to make a YouTube video, I'm going to be like, “Well, before Tinder, here's the days of dating. What's a piece of content that you've made recently that really resonated with both yourself and the audience? And, maybe it was something that you made for yourself, but then when you released it, other people could relate to it authenticly
Sidney Diongzon [00:03:12] Oh absolutely, it was a couple of videos ago and I basically gave away one of my cameras.
Javier Mercedes [00:03:16] Yeah, I saw that
Sidney Diongzon [00:03:18] And so, it didn't get many views and that was okay, that wasn't the whole point. The whole point was giving back to my audience that have supported me from the very beginning. And, you know, when people say, " Oh, I love my community, I love my subscribers." Yeah, I could take that at face value, maybe some people just say it just because it's the nice thing to say, but I really mean it. I will happily give away my stuff, my personal stuff, lose money just to help my audience out because I care deeply about them. Because what my channel is about, really, if you take away all the gear, all the travel, all the fun stuff, it's about seeing people go from where they are to where they're meant to be. And I love that. I got I get to selfishly say I got to be a little seed, planted a little seed in that person, and now that person's going onstage speaking at a big summit, or going off traveling, shooting amazing destination weddings and stuff like that. I really love that.
Javier Mercedes [00:04:10] When it comes to creating a tutorial, let's say. What's some tips there approaching the content from an audience perspective. Personally, my whole approach to it has changed and it's ever evolving. Somebody just said this to me the other day, like when you don't explain something the right way then it's pointed out in the comments and you start to check off certain things out in the edit like, "Oh man, I thought I explained this the right way, but somebody is going to misconstrue it that way," and then you have to go back. So, when it comes to making that kind of content, what would be your advice?
Sidney Diongzon [00:04:45] I I would say pretend as if you are teaching a 10-year-old how to use a camera. Speak in those terms.
Javier Mercedes [00:04:51] I love your analogies, man.
Sidney Diongzon [00:04:53] [Javier laughs] Because it makes sense, right?
Javier Mercedes [00:04:54] Yeah.
Sidney Diongzon [00:04:54] And you know, there can be the very didactic teachers like that go really in-depth into a camera. I don't really care about that stuff; I just want to show you what it can do. If I am speaking to a 10 yearI also want it to be entertaining so that, you don't get bored throughout the tutorials. You’re having fun and you're getting value at the same time.
Javier Mercedes [00:05:12] Transitioning that back into story and everything, watching your content, it has a flow, especially if you're doing a travel video. The one that you had for Mazda, I think going to SXSW, doing a little montage. It's so fun, and I think that's part of your personality that comes across in the videos. The word fun and but it'sauthentic, uh would you want to touch on that?
Sidney Diongzon [00:05:36] Yeah so, when you're doing a campaign deal, like with Mazda. You know, I hate commercials. I really do. I hate even some of the tutorials I do or product reviews I do, Oh, it's too commercial, whatever. I would much rather show a product as background, but tell the story in the forefront. So for that project, the story was, me and my wife going to South by Southwest for the first time and getting to hang out uh as a as a couple. We just happened to be driving a Mazda Miata, and that was it. But I showcased how cool the car was, how much fun we had. We showcased, like, you can take off the roof of the car, do all these cool things and drive super fast. And whoa, We're going to Austin, Texas. Like, look, at them have some fun. Like, that's the story, and because we had fun, it made the car fun. So, there's that psychological connection and that's why that that campaign worked.
Javier Mercedes [00:06:28] You know what's crazy is, I said the word fun and I was associating that video with fun just through the subconscious of what you did in that video. Even if you weren't thinking about it that's the thing that appeared, that's the idea that was.
Sidney Diongzon [00:06:43] That was the goal, That was a goal. Boom.
Javier Mercedes [00:06:45] Crazy. [What’s] a problem that you've run into recently that you overcame, and it could be a certain shot or something like that. Where you're like, "Wow. I wasn't expecting it to turn out that way." Do you have a specific example?
Sidney Diongzon [00:06:57] Yes, Camera Camp. So Sony Camera Camp was basically an event where they invited a bunch of YouTube content creators and I wanted to document the whole thing. And there was a day we went out laser tagging in a forest and I didn't bring my camera, I didn't capture content. It was probably the most fun day ever. And I'm like, “Oh, how could I? When I was editing it and I was like, "Man, how am I going to include the scene?" I can't just talk about it, it would defeat the purpose. But then I remembered, I filmed some footage on my iPhone where I was like faking, like I was being shot or whatever, and like my leg was broken or I'm bleeding to death from laser tag. [Javier laughs] And so, the screen went blank, I put up some text, whatever. Then I showed iPhone footage, crappy iPhone footage, vertical video, and it worked out. People that said that they loved the pacing, they thought it was hilarious, and it just kept the flow moving in the video.
Javier Mercedes [00:07:46] As an editor, there's so many things that you can do with the story and so many ways that you can take it. What would you think high-level, when you approach creating an edit when it comes to documenting a journey. When you come to creating something, not with a certain idea in mind, but with Camera Camp, you go there with maybe a certain expectation, but what goes through your head when you're capturing the moment? And then, when you get into edit, did you already have something that in mind that you wanted to create? Because I know you made two videos on it, didn't you?
Sidney Diongzon [00:08:17] I did, and the videos that came out weren't the original ideas.
Javier Mercedes [00:08:20] Yeah.
Sidney Diongzon [00:08:20] I had like three video ideas in mind but, you know, when you go to events like that like you always have an idea of what you want to make, but it never turns out the way...
Javier Mercedes [00:08:28] Yeah.
Sidney Diongzon [00:08:28] ...You wanted, like you end up like not filming anything [laughs].
Javier Mercedes [00:08:31] Mhm.
Sidney Diongzon [00:08:31] Because you're enjoying the moment and stuff like that. So for me, I believe that true filmmaking is all about the editing. The story crafting is in the edit. When you're filming and get capturing the B-roll, the audio, that's just the color palette that you were formulating. You know, like you're collecting the paint brush, all the tools you need, and when you come to editing, you can paint whatever story you want. You know, for me, that's where the true art of filmmaking is, in the edit. So, you don't just find the story. Well, I guess, when you when you do something like Camera Camp or go to the Arctic with Mazda, you have to trust in yourself that you're going capture the story. And then, when you edit, you know, hopefully you'll feel that same way or maybe even find a better story to edit. So, it's craft. It's all about craft.
Javier Mercedes [00:09:15] Can you talk to me about Sidney as a brand? Because I look at your YouTube channel. If I write you an email, you still have the same font in the signature down below. You go to your website, you have a certain aesthetic and it's throughout your thumbnails and all that stuff. Personally, I can really appreciate it [Sidney laughs], but how long did it take you to get to that point?
Sidney Diongzon [00:09:35] Uh, not very long because I'm very OCD like that. [Javier laughs] Like,if I... And also, I'm very lazy so if I'm like, " OK, that works. Okay, cool awesome." I'll stick with that. Or if I go "Ah, that's a nice font. Yeah, okay, I'll stick with it." And so, I like purple, deep purples, and blues and black. Ah, okay, I'll stick with that
Javier Mercedes [00:09:51] So you make the decision and you stick with it.
Sidney Diongzon [00:09:54] Yeah.
Javier Mercedes [00:09:54] I'm sure at some point, when you were creating a thumbnail, if it didn't fit with your aesthetic were you like, "I'm just going to go with the thing that I think that this should be." Or, were you trying to fit within your brand?
Sidney Diongzon [00:10:05] You know thumbnails are funny because I'm still trying to learn how to really play that game. But no, I don't really try to keep to a color scheme when it comes to my thumbnails. I just try to pick the most marketable image that I can that will get the clicks.
Javier Mercedes [00:10:17] I'm really curious about this because with your gear reviews do you find it better to have an image of the gear or your face in it?
Sidney Diongzon [00:10:25] It used to be about the gear, but now I have to include my face b ecause when I include my face, I get a lot more clicks.
Javier Mercedes [00:10:31] There's the bit of advice. Yeah, for sure. There's some really nice pictures of gear too, like when they make it float and everything, and I'm always curious as to...
Sidney Diongzon [00:10:38] And that can work.
Javier Mercedes [00:10:39] ...If they A/B tested it and [were] like.
Sidney Diongzon [00:10:41] Yeah.
Javier Mercedes [00:10:41] That was the photo that works. I'm not sure.
Sidney Diongzon [00:10:43] Yeah you can, absolutely, and I've seen successful videos do that. Like I know Dunna Did It does a great job of floating photography and thumbnails. But,I guess for my channel, whenever you see a face, my face or, just a person in it there's a lot more clicks than without.
Javier Mercedes [00:10:59] What goes through your head when you are choosing what to get rid of. For me personally, like when I'm making a tutorial, there's some times when I have to, like, really dove deep into... Aright, I don't know if these people are going to know what this is, if they don't know what this is I'll have to explain it, but maybe I'll lose viewers on that. So, you have to play this happy medium. What goes in your head when you are making cuts to an edit?
Sidney Diongzon [00:11:22] It depends. For me, number one is pacing. It has to flow right. If it doesn't flow right, whether it's seven minutes or ten minutes long, then I got to cut out what doesn't work. Even if it's my favorite scene. In the film industry, we call that blood on the cutting room floor because sometimes you have to cut out your favorite scenes if it doesn't fit the flow of the overall piece. So yeah, sometimes I have to cut out my favorite pieces just for the sake of the pacing because pacing is what keeps the audience attention ,which is what you want on YouTube, you know, you want that watch time. And so, I never want a dull moment to happen on any one of my videos, which is why pacing is so important.
Javier Mercedes [00:11:58] So pacing, story, any other big thing when it comes to the editing floor?
Sidney Diongzon [00:12:02] Pacing, story, and music? So, what I do, actually this is a pretty good tip. So, whatever music you lay underneath your video, whether you're doing a talking head or review, if you cut down on a certain frequency, if you match the frequency of a human voice, you bring it down. Then it makes your voice stand out a little bit more because the frequencies aren't fighting against each other. So say, for example, at one K, if you lower that down by like about maybe 6, 7, DBs [decibels] that will suddenly improve the quality of your voice because you can hear the person talking more and less of the music. So instead of lowering the volume of the, of the music track down,lower it down, but also lower that frequency down by 6 D.B. and you'll get a much cleaner and clearer voice audio.
Javier Mercedes [00:12:51] Yeah. Do you select your music before you make the edit?
Sidney Diongzon [00:12:55] Always.
Javier Mercedes [00:12:55] Okay.
Sidney Diongzon [00:12:55] Everything is based on the music.
Javier Mercedes [00:12:56] Can you make an argument as to why to do that?
Sidney Diongzon [00:12:58] Because, for me it inspires ideas. And so, if I if I click on a track or just listen to it when I'm driving and I and I hear a song and I'm like, "OK, I can make a video on this, I can see that." And so it helps me visualize and when I visualize something, I execute a lot better and faster.
Javier Mercedes [00:13:15] Mhm.
Sidney Diongzon [00:13:16] Versus filming something with a blank canvas, which can be fun, and then trying to find music for like hours and hours afterwards, like I hate so much. I can't force something I'm trying to make people feel. If I feel something in a song, I can I can make it 10x better by adding visuals to it.
Javier Mercedes [00:13:33] Do you find yourself listening to royalty-free tracks in your free time just to get a head start...
Sidney Diongzon [00:13:41] Sometimes.
Javier Mercedes [00:13:41] ...On stuff?
Sidney Diongzon [00:13:42] I know music, but has a playlist on Spotify, which is helpful.
Javier Mercedes [00:13:45] I did not know that. I'm gonna go...
Sidney Diongzon [00:13:48] They have an awesome playlist you can just listen to. Sometimes, like when I color correct, I just play like, I don't know, the staff selects off Epidemic or whatever it is.
Javier Mercedes [00:13:56] Yeah.
Sidney Diongzon [00:13:57] And if something, like, catches my attention and I stop color correcting like what's that song? OK, I'm going to add it to the vlog playlist because that can go in a really good vlog.
Javier Mercedes [00:14:05] Man, I love that. Do you have like a tutorial playlist, talking head playlist.
Sidney Diongzon [00:14:08] Oh yeah, I've got a tutorial playlist, I've got a vlog playlist, I got a fun dancing playlist [both laugh].
Javier Mercedes [00:14:13] Yeah, I think one of my hardest ones to always find is talking head. Like, when you're doing a tutorial or something like that, you need something that doesn't clash.
Sidney Diongzon [00:14:22] Yeah, something lo-fi.
Javier Mercedes [00:14:24] Lo fi, it's such a hip term, a hip-hop term right now in the in the search algorithm. Yeah, I think music, pacing, and story. Three little tips there for all the editing things.
Sidney Diongzon [00:14:36] Mhm, mhm.
Javier Mercedes [00:14:36] When it comes to the formula of a story, we could go real...
Sidney Diongzon [00:14:40] Yeah.
Javier Mercedes [00:14:40] ...Cliché with arc and all that stuff. What does it mean to you and how would you explain story in terms of what you do on your channel?
Sidney Diongzon [00:14:46] I would say Cody Warner said that the best. Like, once you hook them and give them the payoff like that satisfaction at the end is what I want to leave the audience.
Javier Mercedes [00:14:54] Mhm.
Sidney Diongzon [00:14:54] And so, and that's what you get with any great movie. You know, you get hooked in and you see that ending. Whether it's a cliffhanger, or a good ending, or whatever, like if you have that satisfaction, that payoff. Oh, man, it’s like eating chocolate. That makes the audience wanting more.
Javier Mercedes [00:15:08] Yeah.
Sidney Diongzon [00:15:09] So that's what I try to achieve.
Javier Mercedes [00:15:11] Would you say that a lot of the success on your channel stems from the effort that you put into story on your videos? Is it that you have great searchable content with the gear that you're reviewing? What's the secret sauce?
Sidney Diongzon [00:15:27] I, I think it's a bit of both. Being both, smart as a marketer and also too, caring about stories. Like, people know for stories, which is good. People keep telling me, "Man, like the storytelling in this video is amazing." That's because I care about it and it's easy for me. So, it's caring about the craft, but also being a marketer. Because as a YouTuber, you're not just a content creator, you are a marketer, you are a copywriter, you are a sales person, you're the entire sales team, you're customer service if you're reviewing a product, like you are wearing so many hats. So you, being a YouTuber, I know it gets a lot of hate these days but, man It is such a prestigious job to have, if you really think about it, because you got to be super talented to be a YouTuber or content creator.
Javier Mercedes [00:16:09] Yeah, yeah. Both the terms kind of intermingle.
Sidney Diongzon [00:16:12] Yeah.
Javier Mercedes [00:16:13] If somebody was just starting out right now, what would you suggest to them to really jumpstart their channel?
Sidney Diongzon [00:16:19] I would say pick up a camera and just start testing around. Film what you, film what you love. You know, if one clicks cool, if one doesn't, move on. Just film things that you enjoy until something catches. It's like fishing. Just keep casting that line until you catch something.
Javier Mercedes [00:16:34] See, he's got all the metaphors, I love it [Laughs].
Sidney Diongzon [00:16:36] Dude, sorry man. I'm sorry, I'm telling you.
Javier Mercedes [00:16:39] So let's move further down the path. They have a decent grasp of what to do when it comes to creating a video. How do they secure, besides like monetization and everything? How is it for your first brand deal? How did you seek that out and things of that nature?
Sidney Diongzon [00:16:54] Not very long, at 200 subscribers I wanted to start doing brand deals and soI was told to wait until I had a thousand so I had a bit more clout and then I could reach out to a brand. But I was like, “Screw that, I want it now.” And so I wanted to review a backpack that I really loved at the time. And so I Googled who the director of marketing was for this for this backpack company, found his number on LinkedIn, and gave him a call on a cell phone and said, "Hey, man, I'm a growing content creator on YouTube. I love this backpack, can I review it?" And he said yes. And so, that moment on I was like, wasn't that hard! I can do this. That just began the journey, I guess I built up my confidence to reach out to brands even by calling them on their cell phones.
Javier Mercedes [00:17:37] Mhm.
Sidney Diongzon [00:17:38] And, you know, I maybe got a few no's, but for the majority of the time, like gotten a lot of yeses.
Javier Mercedes [00:17:44] Putting yourself in those situations of uncertainty in pushing yourself, when was the last time you did something like that]? It could be in be like sales or whatever, but when was the last time you were like, really pushing? Like, "Ah, I'm putting, I'm making myself uncomfortable, but it's like, good."
Sidney Diongzon [00:17:59] Probably at my first VidCon, when I saw Sean Cannell, who's just walking around and I was at maybe twenty five hundred subscribers at the time. And I'm like, "Oh my gosh, I follow this guy for years, should I just meet him? Should I, should I have him in my video?" And so, so super nervous. He said yes to the collab in the video is when I brought it up to him and. uh, since then we've been friends. And so, people don't really have anything to be afraid of, really. It's all perspective, the perspective of fear, perspective, perspective of rejection. Like it's just in your head, but if you go out and just do it, you know, if you want to go get something, just do it. Like what's the worst that can happen? Again, like going out on a date or asking someone out, if they say no, it's a no. And if they say yes, great, awesome, we're going to have a great time.
Javier Mercedes [00:18:46] Love it, man [Sidney laughs]. I love how... Like, even in doing a podcast, you're still tying all of your ideas together. It's awesome. So, let's continue further down the line. I know you have your own products. So, how was is it developing that, at what point in time did you do that, and what was it like when you first [made them?]. I know you have lots. Is there other stuff that you have, too?
Sidney Diongzon [00:19:04] I'm working on presets for Premiere and Final Cut, but I am working on a filmmaking storytelling course.
Javier Mercedes [00:19:10] I think by the time this is released, it'll be released. Do you want to talk about that?
Sidney Diongzon [00:19:17] Oh, yeah. So this, this is going be the most entertaining, fun, course on storytelling that you'll ever take because I'm going to take everything that I learned in film school, everything I learned working in Hollywood studios, doing YouTube, working with brands. I want to put it all in a simple five-course package that you can learn in a weekend.
Javier Mercedes How has the journey been for that?
Sidney Diongzon [00:19:50] It's been like 10 years in the making actually because I kept all my notes from film school knowing that I would make a course one day
Javier Mercedes [00:19:57] So you guys know you're going be getting good stuff.
Sidney Diongzon [00:19:59] I've collected everything, I put it out, in a really, really fun format that you [are] going to learn, have fun, but you're going to take away a lot of practical things with it, too, which is what I want. You know, I want people to come away [after] taking this course knowing that man, I'm a good storyteller? Like that's, that's awesome. You know, I can do this? Oh, if I do these practical things. Oh, I didn't know that. Super excited about that.
Javier Mercedes [00:20:26] What has it also meant to you to be that person for story? I think that you making a product...
Sidney Diongzon [00:20:33] Mhm...
Javier Mercedes [00:20:33] ...On filmmaking and story really accentuates that brand. Is that something that you were thinking about?
Sidney Diongzon [00:20:40] Not intentionally, but it's something that I keep talking about because I really do love it, talking about story. You know, for the longest time... Like, when I was a kid, my grandpa told me stories of, back in his days, World War Two, and being in the Philippines. You know, working so many jobs to provide food for a family of eight. I would be told story after story from my family and I just fell in love with it Even with my kids, every time they go to sleep, they want a story from daddy, not from mommy, but from daddy.
Javier Mercedes [00:21:11] He just had this, for those that are just listening, he had such a smile on his face when he said that [both laugh].
Sidney Diongzon [00:21:15] That's right... So stories like just run deep in my family and even now in my kids, it's really cool like they’re just, "Can hear a story. Daddy? Any story. Can I have a story about this?” And like, yeah, you got it. I'd make up a story on the spot, but it's just it's so fun. And I love, I love the painting that visualization for people.
Javier Mercedes [00:21:34] Yeah. When you do create your videos, do you have bullet points? Do you have a script for those ones that are kind of like that way?
Sidney Diongzon [00:21:40] Talking points, so three to five talking points and I just go off that.
Javier Mercedes [00:21:44] How long did it take you to get to that point?
Sidney Diongzon [00:21:47] Probably 15 videos in. I did start scripting it when I first started and I was like, "I'm taking way too long scripting this thing." So I'm like, you know, the main talking points and I'm just going to talk about it.
Javier Mercedes [00:21:56] And have you always been comfortable public speaking...
Sidney Diongzon [00:21:58] Oh yeah.
Javier Mercedes [00:21:58] ,,,And all that stuff? And so, since because it becomes natural.
Sidney Diongzon [00:22:01] I'm Filipino, man, come on. [Javier laughs] Of course I'm comfortable in front of the camera and onstage.
Javier Mercedes [00:22:05] Yeah, well I can tell from just how you interact with the camera.I like to ask that question because a lot of people don't understand where... Like maybe, we were just listening to Peter McKinnon do his speech, like you don't know where he came from and how much effort that he's put into filmmaking before he even started YouTube. So I'm always curious to see where you were at before you picked up the, the the craft of using the tubes.
Sidney Diongzon [00:22:30] Uh, Let's see, I was uh freelancing, uh, doing a lot of weddings, and uh I just didn't want to do that anymore. And so I wanted to make stuff for me. Um, and I saw that it was financially feasible and when YouTube came on and so that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to make content for me. And I guess there's just a frustration and being disappointed from, like, film school and trying to climb up that that Hollywood ladder.Um, butut when when YouTube came along, a distribution platform that was free for everybody, like that's that's what I wanted. I just wanted to create.
Javier Mercedes [00:23:03] Um hm. The best investment that you've had in the last year?
Sidney Diongzon [00:23:06] Best investment. Oh, my gosh, um, I gotta say my phone because I've made so many connections with people on my phone. Like, uh, I made a bunch of friendships on YouTube uh through YouTube. Now, like, they're like my best friends and we connect whenever we go to events like VidSummit, VidCon and maybe like this os. that's our time to hang out. Um, even talking with people through Twitter from my phone, uh, and then getting to know people like Lila and, you know, hanging out with Peter McKinnon finally and, you know, being friends with Roberto Blake, like it's all because of a single device that you can use to just to connect with people and share your stuff on. And so, the phone, like I will invest heavily on a good phone so that I can use that to connect with other people.
Javier Mercedes [00:23:47] That's a legit answer.
Sidney Diongzon [00:23:48] It's true [Javier laughs]. It's not just a phone anymore, really.
Javier Mercedes [00:23:50] Yeah. I never thought about it that way. Second question I ask everybody is: why do you do what you do?
Sidney Diongzon [00:23:56] I do what I do because I believe in the power of story and I selfishly want to tell every story in the world. I know I can't, so the next best thing I can do is to help other people tell their story so that they can go out there and tell far greater and better stories than I ever will.
Javier Mercedes [00:24:10] Man, I can really appreciate how fast you can answer these questions. You don't have to think about it [Sidney laughs]. No, but there's power to that and the fact that when it comes to content creation, if you know what you're all about, and where you want to go, and who you are as a person when it comes to making decisions, even as far down, as minuscule as a certain edit, you need to take out a certain part. Does it agree with my values or not? Do I need to cut out this air or not? I mean, that's really, like nano, but just the way that you are able to [say] this my opinion on this and I can just say it because I know. I think attributes itself to how successful you are right now...
Sidney Diongzon [00:24:53] Well, thank you.
Javier Mercedes [00:24:53] ...on the platform. Speaking of success on the platform, if somebody was starting out a YouTube channel, and it could be in any genre, whatever that may be. What's the best piece of advice that you would give for the long haul from where you started and then where you're at today?
Sidney Diongzon [00:25:12] Lto get up. Like, you're going to get knocked down, punched in the face and bloodied up, and that will happen to everybody. You're going to get negative comments. You're going to get low views and when that happens dust yourself up, and pick yourself up, and try again.
Javier Mercedes [00:25:24] Like I said, he knows the answers. [both laugh] He knows the power to the secret. Where can people find you?
Sidney Diongzon [00:25:30] They could find me on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and now TikTok just type in Sidney Diongzon. I'm sure you put it in the show notes. I have a weird name, but I'm I'm sure you'll find me somewhere there [laughs].
Javier Mercedes [00:25:39] Yeah, for sure. Thank you so much for your time, man.
Sidney Diongzon [00:25:41] Anytime, man.
Javier Mercedes [00:25:42] And until next time, if you guys wanted to share this out, you could just maybe write down the URL of this podcast on a piece of paper and mail it to your best friend. And until somebody does that, I'm going to keep saying that at the end of this podcast. But if you don't, you could just share it on Instagram. Tag me @Javiermercedesx. Until next episode, go ahead, go out there live a life of abundance.