Hi, I'm Dan

I'm a Youtube video essayist with a passion for analyzing media such as film, television, and video games. This portfolio highlights some of my strongest work, along with giving insight into my creative process behind making these videos.

Yakuza's Worst Plot Twist

In this video I provide an analysis of Yakuza 4.I analyze a specific plot twist from the game's story and explain all the negative effects it has on the greater narrative.I also give enough context so that people can understand my arguments without having played Yakuza 4.I personally consider this my strongest video due to the conciseness of my arguments while providing plenty of evidence to back up said arguments.I also provide a recap of the game's story that tells the viewer everything they need to know in a concise manner.

Yakuza 6 is Disappointing

In this video I provide a narrative analysis of Yakuza 6.I explore multiple issues with the game's story to explain how Yakuza 6 fails as a standalone story and a continuation of the previous games.I consider this one of my better videos with how I address a variety of issues throughout the story and give plenty of context to explain each one.

Why I Love Code Geass

In this video I review the television series Code Geass.I go over the shows strengths and weaknesses eventually coming to the conclusion that it's a very strong show overall.I also explain why I disagree with some common criticisms made against Code Geass.I consider this one of my better videos when it comes to praising a piece of media, where I acknowledge both its strengths and issues for a balanced analysis.I also provide respectful counterarguments to common criticisms of the show, explaining why I don't agree them or if they're based on misconceptions about the show itself.

Demo Reel

In this demo reel I include clips from three different videos of mine to demonstrate some of my strengths when it comes to making videos.The first clip is from my review of the 1997 film Cure. I explain an issue with how the movie handles ambiguity. Most of my arguments are structured very similar to this one, where I'll make an opening statement, provide reasoning, then come to a conclusion.The second clip is from my review of the 2011 video game Dark Souls. I explain how the difficulty of the game's level design can lead to an overall satisfying experience for the player. I structure it similarly to my argument about Cure, but the focus is game design instead of storytelling.The third clip is from my narrative analysis of the video game Yakuza 4. I provide a recap of the story leading up to the topic of the video, so anyone can understand the context of my arguments. This is a demonstration of my storytelling abilities, where I'm able to give the viewer all the information they need to know in a concise manner.

My Creative Process

1. Revisit the Media
Before I start making a video, I want to make sure that the topics I'm covering are still fresh in my mind. So I'll often revisit a piece of media before making I start writing the script if I haven't experienced said media in a significant amount of time.2. Take Notes
I'll then write bullet points on any information that could be useful in supporting my arguments. Afterwards I'll decide which information to include and which to cut out, and I'll arrange the bullet points to determine how to structure my video and when to include certain information.3. Write the Script
From there I'll start fleshing out my arguments. My usual structure being to start out by introducing the premise of my argument, describe my reasoning using examples from the material I'm covering, and then end with a conclusive statement of what my argument was.4. Review the Script
Once I've finished my draft, I'll proffered my entire script. Considering how natural my writing will sound out loud, and work to strike a balance of being concise while giving the viewer enough information to understand my arguments.5. Record and Edit Audio
I'll then record my voice over of the script using a USB microphone connected to a laptop. I'll edit the audio file to cut out mistakes, long silences, or balance out the audio to ensure that there isn't significant increases or decreases in volume.6. Edit the Video
I'll export my audio file to my tablet where I start editing my video. For background footage I'll have clips of whatever media I'm covering whether it's a television series or video game. I edit the clips in a transformative manner and play ambient background music to complement the tone of my videos and prevent moments of awkward silence.7. Publish and Receive Feedback
I'll then post the video on Youtube. I'll ask people I know for feedback, and I'll watch my videos again to see if there are any mistakes or aspects that could use improvement, and keep those in mind when creating future videos.