This Is How I Went from a Youtube Video Creator to a Full Time Filmmaker
By: Travis Robertson
Tags: YouTube, Money, Entrepreneurship, Influencers, Filmmaking

Photo: Travis Robertson

I began making videos at the age of 7 years old. A time before speaking to a camera was even cool or understood.

Uploaded to Youtube in 2010. Screenshot Photo: Travis Robertson

I’ve always been obsessed with story telling. I began posting videos to Youtube at the age of 7. My first video was a lego stop-motion video around 8–10 seconds long. I was so excited to put something out there for the world to see. I remember watching the Indiana Jones films growing up and being so inspired. I would always have them playing in the background while I filmed my lego videos. I grew up in a small town, played a lot of sports as a kid. Although once I found my passion for filmmaking, nothing else mattered. I would film tests, search Youtube tutorials, construct crazy DIY filmmaking rigs and couldn’t get enough of it.

After a few months of posting short films to Youtube for myself, I began to receive comments on my videos which fuelled me with excitement. Lego stop-motion films wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do, although I had to work with what I had. Having no budget, no cast, no camera operator, writers or editors I had to wear all of the hats. Being a kid who locked himself in his bedroom to film lego videos probably wasn’t exactly what my parents had in mind. Luckily for me, my parents were my and are still my biggest supporters. My dad would let me use his still and video cameras. My parents are a few of the only people who never gave up on me and my crazy dream.

Behind the scenes of a lego stop-motion film of mine.

One questions I’m constantly asked is how did I break out of the shell and become a filmmaker. Growing up from a small town with a population of roughly 500 people at the time, filmmaking was considered a hobby and was unattainable. Everyone would either end up settling or working for a friend, cousin or relative. This may sound cliché, but I was put on this earth to create.

The answer to this question isn’t as simple as you may think and is a slow process. It’s very important that you must know becoming a filmmaker is very difficult and takes years of experience, and you must absolutely love it. When you’re driving and see the sunsetting behind a set of tree’s, your mind begins to mentally record images. Radio is playing music, you begin to write a story in your mind. My brain is constantly projecting out scenes everywhere I look. I always have a note-pad with me (Yes I’m old fashioned). You never know where inspiration may strike.

Photo: Travis Robertson

Surrendering to the 9–5 stereotype wasn’t an option for me. I told myself that I would work harder than anyone I know, live in a car if I had to, stay up for days and do whatever it takes. That mindset may sound a little bit much but I think it’s necessary to obtain if you truly desire something.

Eventually after a few years had gone by, I managed to convince some of my close friends to star in a few home movies. I’d never had so much fun in my entire life. I didn’t even care if anybody watched them, I had so much fun making them it didn’t matter.

My parents continued to support me in this dream I had. For Christmas they had bought me my first real HD camera. Which at the time was I believe to be one of the first (vlog) cameras you could buy that had a flip camera. Behold the Sony PM1 Mobile Snap.

I used this camera every single day. Filming myself in my room, behind the scenes of editing all the way to being a complete idiot with my brother in our stupid home skits.

I kept filming lego-stop motion videos for a few years since it was easy, I had all the control. My lego mini-figures were my actors and I was directing them. I would record all the dialogue voiceovers in post-production and everything in between.

Everything had changed when one of my stop-motion videos had gone viral for me. I had filmed a short film titled: “Lego Batman vs Star Wars”. I don’t think the term viral really existed at the time but the video had received over 70,000 views within a few weeks. I was absolutely blown away. Keep in mind this was back in 2010–2011. I then began investing more and more time into content creation.

About a month later my parents received an envelope in the mail with my name. I was 13 at the time and had no idea why I was receiving a letter. I had no clue what it was so I showed my parents. It was a cheque from Google written out to my name in the sum of $100 USD. I was so confused and had no idea you could get paid from Youtube. Still to this day, I have that $100 sitting in a separate bank account and I will not spend it. It’s where my journey began.

I continued to film lego stop-motion videos for a few years until the age of 15–16. I had received a ton of comments asking for update videos and real life content. With a mix of lego videos, gaming and home made movies, I was a 15 year old pulling in roughly $500-$1,000 per month living at my parents. I would reinvest all of my earnings back into the business, buying new lighting, a new computer and continued to upgrade my gear.

Opening up my first business. My film company, RobertsonFilms.

Once I was nearly finished high-school, still creating videos weekly pulling in roughly anywhere from $1000 — $3000 a month from Youtube ad revenue. I had a decision to make. What did I want to do after I graduate. College, University or apply to a private film school. Film school is expensive, so even with the Youtube ad revenue I knew I had to apply for another job while attending school. I managed to apply for the CO-OP program at school which gives you experience in the work force. I worked as a contractor, framing rooms, buildings and hanging drywall.

Mentally and physically exhausted. Photo: Travis Robertson

Waking up at 4:30am to drive an hour to the city, begin work at 6am and finish at 3pm. Drive back home an hour, film a video and edit it for the next day’s upload, go to bed and repeat. I did nothing but work, work and work.

I eventually managed to visit a few film schools but to be honest, it didn’t feel right for me. Now I am not saying film school isn’t worth it or that you should drop out if you are currently attending. Just because the system did not work for me, does not mean that for you.

Now underlies telling my parents.. I felt terrible opening up to them and telling them that I didn’t want to attend film school. They had just spent thousands of dollars on travelling and visiting different schools for me. The cost of hotels, food, travel etc.. I’m still so grateful to this day that they were so understanding and supportive. They knew the drive I had and saw the potential in me. I took all of the money I had saved and invested it in RobertsonFilms, my film company.

To those who aren’t aware of the risks or uphill battle that comes with opening a company, it isn’t easy. I had no help, no clients, no marketing and no income other than my Youtube ad revenue. I knew I had to do something. I began researching marketing techniques and how-to’s. I’ve done it all since then, drop-shipping products, selling merchandise, building websites, videography, photography, music video, shorts, promos etc. I immersed myself into podcasts and books. Gary Vee said; You need to taste things before you decide. I knew I wanted to make films, but I had to start somewhere.

My social media continued to grow which lead me to some exciting opportunities to travel and meet new people. Youtube has given me so many incredible opportunities over the years. Visiting Peru, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Europe, Cuba and the list goes on..

I began signing more and more clients while running Facebook ads. Growing my business and brand in a way I had always envisioned. Fast forward to 2020, I had multiple viral videos under my belt and just shy of nearly 30 million video views, with a total of nearly 250,000 followers across my platforms.

Fast forward to 2020 currently writing this during a pandemic, I’ve surprisingly had a lot of incredibly opportunities come my way. In late May of this year I signed the biggest contract of my career with a distribution company. And since then, have signed 2 others on-top of that. I’ve had multiple meetings via Zoom with some very important people in the film industry which I don’t think I would have ever had if Covid hadn’t happened. I kept telling myself locked in the house over quarantine, how can I be productive in this moment. It hit me like a truck, I told myself everyone is at home not working. They must have time on their hands just like me.

I began sending cold emails to working filmmakers, producers, directors etc. A few got back to me and we are now connected. I was able to pick their brains and show them my work. To the point where I’m now invited to shadow them on set anytime I wish. I had very few contacts in the film industry prior to 2020 and am now scheduled to film 2 shorts and 1 feature in 2021. It’s a little intimidating to think that I’m being watched by some important people in the business, but I’m using it as fuel to show them what RobertsonFilms is truly made of.

Screenshot from Untitled RobertsonFilms project.

Breaking into the film industry is not a straight line. The road underlies massive curves, hills and explosions along the way. People will chew you up and throw you to the curb. Learn to accept rejection and use it as motivation to come back stronger. You’ll never know how far you can truly make it, until you try. Take control over your life and make something happen, I’ll be watching.