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. Keeping YouTube grassroots and speaking up for the underdogs, it’s Francesca Georgiou.
Name: Francesca Georgiou
Channel: FranJustFran
Launched: Jun 15, 2012
Most Popular Video: YouTubers Talk: We Are Here For You
Subscriber Count: 1,089.
TenEighty’s Paul Neafcy nominated Fran for the shortlist, celebrating her true and strong expression. “Fran has emerged as a caring and committed voice within the YouTube community. She is an old-school vlogger, largely just sitting and talking to camera about social issues, personal topics and the YouTube community itself.
“Her response to the YouTube sex abuse allegations was to spearhead the We Are Here For You project, a community support video for survivors of said abuse. She’s an earthy, honest opinion-giver with a refreshingly frank tone and a wry sense of humour. Plus, she has a properly jazzy old-timey singing voice that she busts out every now and then. GO AND SUBSCRIBE!”
TenEighty UK: When did you first start making YouTube videos and who/what inspired you to do it?
Francesca Georgiou: I first started making videos on FranJustFran in March 2014 (I had attempted some singing ones before on another channel in 2007, but that didn’t work out).
I’d say a combination of people inspired me: Mitchell Davis, Charlie McDonnell, Tessa Violet, Jack Howard, Mike Falzone… I think Becoming YouTube gave me the push I needed, but I’ve had the desire there since 2008.
T: What was the first YouTube video you remember watching?
F: The first YouTube video I watched with the thought of ‘Oh wow, YouTube isn’t just music videos, cats and the occasionally skit. I love that!’ was probably Mitchell’s You’re Awesome; it was so direct, energetic and unpolished. Very cool.
T: Which video of your own are you proudest of, and how did you go about making it?
F: I would say the We Are Here For You video; it was a collaborative project that I produced during the horrible revelations about some YouTubers. I wanted to help get the focus back onto any/all survivors so they would feel supported, heard, and believed.
T: If you could go back to when you first started making YouTube videos, what advice would you give yourself?
F: Sound is so important! Oh, and your first video won’t be good. Face it, kid.
T: What are your opinions on the YouTube community?
F: The YouTube community is alive and well. It’s a bit bruised, cautious and shy now (more than ever, in my opinion), but it’s stronger, kinder and wiser. The YouTube community needs thousands of hugs and some comfort food – I would recommend ice cream. I like to think we will be better soon; we are getting there.
T: If you could collaborate with one other big YouTuber, who would it be and what type of video would you make?
F: I’ve mentioned this in a video actually. I don’t know if I would want to collaborate with someone purely because they are a ‘YouTuber’. I find it tricky, at times, to have one-on-one conversations. Talking to a camera alone is a strange enough set up. For me, it would only work if we were buddies who also happen to make videos.
I’d be up for being in a sketch (Jack Howard & Dean Dobbs / Sammy Paul / Tim Hautekiet / Tom Ridgewell are pretty good at that stuff), because that would be acting and being an extra would suit me fine.
T: If you were CEO of YouTube for a day, what one big change would you implement to the website?
F: Could be extremely boring and kind of whiney with this answer and say ‘SUB BOXES – I WOULD FIX THE SUB BOXES’… But apparently they are already working on that (although, I cannot tell).
I would definitely give smaller channels a spotlight on the homepage once a week (with their permission obviously; some people enjoy being a tiny fish in a big sea #nemo).
T: What do you predict will be the next ‘big trend’ on YouTube?
F: There is a whole sub-community of ‘New Age Creators’. They are young, bright, creative, thoughtful… They are slowly changing what it means to be a ‘YouTuber’ or a ‘Vlogger’. I believe they are expanding the meaning of those words and for the better. They inspire me a lot.
T: Where do you see yourself and YouTube in ten years time?
F: Ouch, this question is never fun. I will be 32 in ten years! I just hope to be a better, happier person, whatever that means for me (very corny and vague, I know).
I hope YouTube remains a space for dreamers; where anyone is given the opportunity to succeed and get creative with the time they have. It scares me that the chances for that seem slimmer these days, but I’m keeping hope.
T: Which video from the last 10 years of YouTube do you believe sums up the platform at its finest?
F: Wow. Too tough a question! When I think of YouTube, I do mainly think of the person in their room, talking to the camera, being creative and definitely not doing it with the idea of money or fame.
So, Charlie McDonnell’s Duet with Myself is an excellent example of that. If I were to explain YouTube to someone who doesn’t understand ‘our kind of YouTube’, I would show them that (and I have – just ask my Mum, she loved it).
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:
- 6 Reasons You Should Start Making Videos
- PJ Liguori’s Guide To Getting Creative
- 5 Top Vlogging Tips
- Charlie McDonnell’s Guide To Rebranding Your Content
- TenEighty’s Guide To Joining A Network
For updates follow @TenEightyUK on Twitter or TenEighty UK on Facebook.
