Alan Lastufka

While this book was released in 2008, making all the detailed information about creating and managing a YouTube channel out of date, Alan Lastufka and Michael Dean have created a bit of timelessness as well. Some of the more serious advice; what to do, what not to do, how to engage your viewers, how to expand outside of YouTube; remains as solid and poignant as the day it was written. What really makes this a must-read book for any YouTuber is the focus on community and art, which is what made YouTube what it is, even if the site itself seems to continuously make moves away from both in favor of more corporate pursuits (sadly, a side-effect of doing business).

Both Alan and Michael approach this book, and all their pursuits, from the perspective of "Make Good Art." Here, they give you some sound advice on how to do that within YouTube, not so much as a step-by-step how-to, but just some general ways to approach any artistic endeavor. In this particular case, they just focus on online video, since that is YouTube's function.

It's been a while since I first read this one, so I figured, with all the recent YouTubers going to print, it was time to read it again. Personally, I see it as a welcome addition to my books on filmmaking and writing, and just as important.… (mehr)