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I really want to do weekly videos, to talk about all the news in automotive media, but don't have the time yet. Until then, I've created a Patreon site to share some of that in written form.

I will not be paywalling posts there. Patreon just happens to be a decent platform for this.

 https://patreon.com/autotea 

Good video on the origin, evolution, and recent cancellation of Roadkill, straight from one of the creators. Although it doesn't address the bigger question: Why is Motor Trend Studios* shutting down?

As I've heard it, a big reason is decision makers making specific mistakes... repeatedly. They couldn't quite figure out how to make money from internet video. The product was there, they just didn't understand how to sell it.

These mistakes were made by managers and executives, not content creators. Worse still, I've heard that creators were telling them what they were doing wrong for years.



*Motor Trend Studios creates original content for distribution by Motor Trend (Warner Bros. Discovery, technically). They operate independently from the Motor Trend magazine and website, which are continuing as normal. 

Henry's latest is full of insight into content creation. We worked together at Donut and made a bunch of great videos... and one which many considered the worst ever. That wasn't our idea, we were handed a ball and had to run with it. But that's a story for another time. Go watch! 

I hosted the latest on  ‪@OVERDRIVE.studios‬ . Check that out to learn about a new fully-analog hypercar. 

Thanks for the great response to my last poll! This channel is a bit of an experiment, and your feedback helps me learn about what interests you and shapes the future content. So, here's another one...

I’ve got several videos partially done, and I'm unsure which to finish first. Each is a combo: a *little* spice and some practical info. Let me know which YOU most want to see and I'll try to finish that one next! 

Today, I was told that some people working in automotive content have been harassed by a small number of their channel's audience who disagree with how they may have done their jobs. In the interest of caution, I have removed portions of my videos that could potentially provide information to similar idiots. 

One of the most popular sections of my last video, according to audience retention data, was about producing the Donut Reliant Robin video. Understanding why viewers liked that will help shape future videos. Why do you think that part was compelling? 

Huh. How about supporting your friend's work by dropping the links? It's not hard:  ‪@SpeeedCo‬    https://speeed.co/ 

YouTube is saturated with build channels. It's also one of the most expensive types of automotive content. It's not a good idea to start another build channel, unless you are at least as good as  ‪@SuperfastMatt‬ . That means you need three things:

(1) Original builds. Not swaps or bolt-ons for a chassis we've seen dozens of times, but not so out-there that it's unrelatable or weird for weird's sake. Also, the more design and fabrication, the better. Matt's not just building, he's engineering. That includes experimentation and problem-solving, which is a lot more engaging than using hand tools and following instructions.

(2) A plan. That might sound basic, but a lot of build videos don't have this. They have a plan for the build, but not for the *video*. Pointing a camera at something, hoping interesting stuff happens, and then editing those bits together is not a plan. Matt writes a script for each video, and records voiceover or talking head footage to give context to the build footage, turning that into a cohesive story. The plan is also how you achieve the third thing you need...

(3) Authentic entertainment. Matt keeps the goal of the video separate from the goal of the build. The reason for the build is dictated by the build itself, and that keeps the content genuine and real. But *real* is often boring, and the goal of the video is to be entertaining. The ability to pair authenticity with entertainment is what separates creators from builders. 

James Freeman  ‪@car-nivores‬  co-hosts today's video on  ‪@OVERDRIVE.studios‬ , the automotive channel I manage. Want to know what's behind the decline in EV market share, and why the headlines may be misleading? Go check it out! We also got to shoot with an ultra-rare 1997 GM EV1, just one of 40 left in the world, which you can see for yourself at  ‪@CalAutoMuseumYT‬ .

 ‪@autotea‬  exists to support independent automotive creators. That means recognizing talented people while they're still developing, and helping them improve. This is just James's second time working with scripted content, and he did a great job! I hope you'll go watch and support him on his creator journey.