Rate Comment Subscribe: An Interview with Scott Gairdner
Before we jump into this edition of Rate Comment Subscribe, we’d like to take the time to re-visit our other interviewees. Adutko has continued to create remixes—tackling ‘Two Fingers’ David, and Jones Big Ass Truck Rentals and Storage. Julian Smith was recently on Tyra Banks talking about “25 Things I Hate About Facebook”, and he even got to visit Facebook offices. Just wanna say, NK had the first interview( ^_^ ). Our last featured user, Will Hyler, has also continued making badass music/videos. I literally looped “Fresh Hands” all day last week. Speaking of Will Hyler, he happens to be a friend of today’s interviewee, Scott Gairdner. You might remember seeing his name back in 06 during the credits of the “Live-Action” Pac Man movie. We got a chance to spit some questions his way. Hit the jump for the full interview!
NK: Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions Scott. How did you get into creating videos/acting?
Scott: I started off making video assignments for Spanish classes and such in high school. They quickly started straying into inane performance art territory. I would work crazy hard on them and get very judgmental about other peoples videos not being up to snuff. Eventually, I realized I should probably focus on making videos, especially ones that don’t contain conjugation lessons.
NK: What drew us to your account was your collection of brilliant videos. Believe it or not, G4’s Attack of the Show played a big part in this website coming together. Your video “Happy Halloween From Michael McDonald” was featured on it. How did that feel?
Scott: It was great being mentioned on Attack of the Show! It was bizarre enough to be dressed as Michael McDonald dressed as a vampire staring down my real dad, so for that to be aired on television compounded the whole thing. I am curious why they considered calling my video an “epic fail”, but instead switched it to #1 video of the day. I enjoy that though, I prefer if people have strong opinions either way.
NK: You mentioned to us that you know one of our former interviewees Will Hyler. How did you come to meet him, and what is LMU Roundtable Now?
Scott: I met Will Hyler while studying abroad in Dusseldorf, Germany. Within a week of arriving, Will started pulling together a knight-themed rap video shot in an actual German castle, so I knew he was legit. We have since worked together in many capacities. Some Will Hylights on my Youtube account include the pink coffin he built for “My Super Sweet Funeral“, our hair-metal collaboration Baxxstabber, and his insane manic voiceover in “Vertical Pizza“.
“LMU Roundtable Now” is a show we did together our senior year of college. The school TV station was flooded with many poorly-produced, awkward panel shows, so we tried to do one that was bad on purpose, with a bare-bones podium-and-potted-plant set and hosts who have no business being on TV. It was very fun trying to be subversive on an otherwise very boring school TV station.
NK: What would you consider inspiration while creating videos?
Scott: My girlfriend Erin is a big inspiration. My videos have become a reflection of the silly, nonsensical world that she and I inhabit, particularly the Michael McDonald stuff and “Tiny Fuppets“. She has very specific taste that I go after, and I tend to not be happy with a project if it doesn’t make her convulse with laughter.
Scott Gairdner's YouTube Page as of April 25th, 2009-Tiny Fuppets Ep. 2
NK: What is the most time it’s taken to comprise a video?
Scott: “Tiny Fuppets” took a long time, because I’d never done anything animated before. I had no idea what I was doing, so I had to make it up as I went along. I would spend 3 hours drawing a rocking horse, then get frustrated and leave it alone for a month. “Holograms” also took a while. They all kinda take a while at this point. I’d love to do a video that’s simple, just a scene between people, but I tend to be interested in these big stupid visuals, like a man climbing a pizza mountain.
NK: Are there any projects your currently working on?
Scott: My next project is called “Ledge Fighters”. It is a thrilling action scene that will harrow your very bones. That should be out in May. You can expect to see more “Tiny Fuppets” and eventually “Que Hiciste Con Mi Hijo“, which is held up because the co-writer and star Ryan Mitchell is in New York, and I’m in L.A. I’d love to start a new episodic show sometime in the next year. I’m also trying to branch out into other mediums like live sketches and comics, such as Scott Meets Family Circus (scottmeetsfamilycircus.tumblr.com)
NK: Out of everything currently on your account, which video is your favorite? Least favorite? If you have one.
Scott: I’m really proud of the Michael McDonald Halloween video. Of all my videos, I think it reflects who I am the most. It’s very silly, it’s not offensive or mean. On a basic level, I just love it because Halloween things make me laugh and I think “Taking It To The Streets” is a really fun song. I also really love the serious plot turn when the ghost zombie shows up, and how you’re suddenly asked to care about one-dimensional characters like “the cop”.
My least favorite is probably “The Man of One Million Voices“. There was a video going around of this turd doing 100 very bad impressions in 5 minutes, and I felt like I needed to comment on it. But because it’s such a specific parody, it doesn’t really hold up on its own. I do however like some of the impressions that I supposedly do in my video, including Clyde Drexler, the Sears Tower, and Frankencharlie Rose.
NK:Anything else you would like to tell your fans/subscribers?
Scott: I would like to thank them them for their constant support. It is really great to feel like if I make something, there are people who will watch it. I would also like to apologize to them for my plans to make more “Tiny Fuppets“.
Scott, we here at NK truly hope your comic takes off. If you’re reading this, you can help Scott by bookmarking his website, and subscribing to him on YouTube. Coming soon on RCS, we’ve managed to get an interview with a certain comedy group that EVERYONE knows after this week. However, still think there’s an account that should be featured on RCS? Send us an email (opens up) and we’ll check it out. Until next time, enjoy surfing the web.
Justin “The Pepsi Plunge” Verterano
Staff Writer
