TenEighty Shortlist 2015: Ellis Anastasiades

TenEighty have dived into the depths of YouTube to find the next generation of stars for our first official shortlist. The ten selected creators have less than 15 thousand subscribers and we believe they deserve more. Using creative editing and personal touches to make thoughtful documentaries, it’s Ellis Anastasiades.

Name: Ellis Anastasiades
Channel: simplyellis
Launched: May 29, 2013
Most Popular Video: Elenore
Subscriber Count: 814.

TenEighty’s Lucy Moon selected Ellis for the shortlist, complimenting his eye for editing. “He is one of the rising generation inspired by Jack Harries and Casey Neistat, slowly building upon their accessible documentary styles to create something altogether unique. Ellis has an eye for editing – he keeps it sharp but has a delicate understanding of pace that makes me wish his videos were minutes longer.

“Despite this tight editing style, his project Who Am I? feels homemade, probably due to the way in which he mixes old and new media to create a fast-paced collage of an introduction. He doesn’t create typical travel videos either, as demonstrated in Norway, which documents his journey to find a better view of the recent solar eclipse. I can only predict that Ellis will continue to grow as a filmmaker, making longer and better videos that may even expand into short films. Let’s face it; it is only a matter of time.”

TenEighty UK: When did you first start making YouTube videos and who/what inspired you to do it?
Ellis Anastasiades: I uploaded my first YouTube video sometime in 2009. It was a video of my cat jumping on a footrest and only lasted a few seconds because, at this point, I didn’t really know what YouTube was.

But I first properly started making videos with my friend back in 2012. We used to watch lots of videos by YouTubers like Freddie Wong and Smosh [Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox]. We wanted to try making videos just like them.

T: What was the first YouTube video you remember watching?
E: I think the first video I watched on YouTube was something stupid like The Sneezing Baby Panda. I have no idea

T: Which video of your own are you proudest of, and how did you go about making it?
E: The video I’m most proud of is probably my How To: South Africa video. I was lucky enough to visit South Africa and do a whole bunch of great things. I basically just filmed everything I could and then condensed it down into a short three-minute video, which turned out pretty well (if I don’t say so myself).

T: If you could go back to when you first started making YouTube videos, what advice would you give yourself?
E: I would probably go back and tell myself not to worry about what I upload and to just keep making stuff, even if it’s not that good, because any practice is good practice with video making.

T: What are your opinions on the YouTube community?
E: I personally love the YouTube community. I’ve met so many lovely people that make amazing content and I wouldn’t have been able to without YouTube! Also, everyone that watches my videos [is] so nice and always seem to have nice things to say.

T: If you could collaborate with one other big YouTuber, who would it be and what type of video would you make?
E: If I could collaborate with a one big YouTuber, it would probably be Jack and Finn Harries of JacksGap because their videos are put together so well. I take a huge amount of inspiration from them and I think it would be a great experience collaborating with them. I would hope to make some kind of video whilst travelling because that’s one of my favourite things to do.

T: If you were CEO of YouTube for a day, what one big change would you implement to the website?
E: If I were CEO of YouTube for a day, I would try to promote smaller YouTubers more because I know some really talented people that don’t get the recognition they deserve. So I would put more of them on the front page of YouTube.

T: What do you predict will be the next ‘big trend’ on YouTube?
E: I have no clue what it could be. I don’t really know what they are at the moment!

T: Where do you see yourself and YouTube in ten years time?
E: To be honest, I have no idea. I have absolutely no plan for the future and I’m fine with that! I would love to think that I would be able to have YouTube as some kind of job because there is so much freedom in what you can do and that’s what I love about it.

T: Which video from the last 10 years of YouTube do you believe sums up the platform at its finest?
E: It would have to be Preschool Bully by PilotRedSun because it really speaks to the younger generation about how bullying affects people in the preschool environment. (I don’t even know).

Keep checking TenEighty throughout this week to find out who else is on our shortlist. Alternatively, if you’re feeling inspired to start making your own videos, check out some of the following articles:

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