(Screenshot courtesy of Wren Weichman)
By Philippe Boutros, Staff Writer -- boutros14@up.edu
A mechanical engineering major and senior, Wren Weichman is now one of 200 semifinalists in YouTube's NextUp competition, an "initiative to accelerate the growth of the next big YouTube stars," according to YouTube's official blog.
The 25 videos with the most ‘likes' will receive $35,000 in funding, promotion of their videos and a spot in a four-day YouTube camp, where they'll receive one-on-one training and the chance to make connections with other people from the industry.
Last month, Weichman was contacted by fullscreen.net, a company that specializes in identifying people with talent on YouTube. It's run by former Google executive George Strompolos, co-founder of the YouTube Partners program.
"YouTube's goal is to make money, and fullscreen.net's job is to find people that would make them money," Weichman said.
Fullscreen.net helped him join the YouTube Partner program, and he become a competitive entry in NextUp.
"They found me through this stupid fish video that I uploaded a while ago. It went a year or so without getting anywhere, and then it went viral – it ended up with over 5 million views. Fullscreen.net wanted to monetize that video, but then they saw other, better videos that I had uploaded and said ‘Hey Wren, we can make more money off the videos that you edit,'" Weichman said.
Weichman specializes in video after effects, primarily using Adobe After Effects. In the past, his videos have included funny dialogues between two ‘Wrens' or just a procession of endless ‘Wrens' within what mind-bogglingly appears to be the same shot.
Another more recent video, co-starring his sister, shows Weichman's arms bursting into flames mid-duel, à la Human Torch – all before exploding due to a flick of his sister's fingertips. The phrase "Women. Sometimes you just don't stand a chance" then fills her void as she leaves the scene (presumably to go explain to their parents).
"It started back when I was a freshman in high school. I had just started splicing movies together that I recorded from TV, and then I realized that I got a huge rush from making it so seamless that people wouldn't notice," Weichman said.
As his video editing skills grew, so did his possibilities.
"I discovered some websites that had very insightful possibilities. After I saw the first one, my mind exploded with the potential," Weichman said.
Weichman's effects are Hollywood-grade, but the humor in his videos takes on a more indie vibe.
Beyond making videos, Weichman is involved with the Bluffoons, the University of Portland's improv club.
"I had done a little improv in high school, and I've always been a big fan of ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?' I joined 10 clubs at the activities fair my freshman year here at UP, but the Bluffoons was the only one that maintained my interest. I pursued it hardcore," Weichman said.
Working with the Bluffoons allowed Weichman to learn what's funny and what isn't.
"What sets Wren apart is how outgoing he is," Ryan Belisle, freshman and member of the Bluffoons, said. "I really like his funny facial expressions, and how he's really into superhero themes and stuff. It doesn't matter what's coming out of his mouth, because it's always funny. He's just one of those people."
Weichman was born in Oklahoma and spent the first 12 years of his life moving around between Louisiana and Texas. His family then moved to Norway, and he returned to Texas for high school before moving to Vietnam for his junior and senior years
"I know enough Vietnamese to get around town, and insult you to tears. Cho-Deh!" Weichman said.
Weichman declined to translate the statement.
Like many seniors, Weichman doesn't know where he'll be next year. He would like to get a job with the Department of Defense in Pearl Harbor as an engineer, but he's exploring other options.
"I'm exploring doing the YouTube thing full-time," Weichman said. "I'd probably have to work twice as many hours, but I'd be doing what I want to do."
View and Vote for Wren!
View Wren's video at upbeacon.net/multimedia
Follow Wren on Twitter at Twitter.com/wrenthereaper
(Alissa White -- The Beacon)
(Screenshot courtesy of Wren Weichman)
