A couple of months ago I wrote an article on Youtube fame, claiming that I spend more time on YouTube and other online platforms than watching the TV. In my article I also mention Jill Bearup, a successful YouTuber whom we’ve had the pleasure to interview and who gave us an insight into the mechanics behind creating online video content. Today I want to launch a new series here on *tba, YouTubers to Watch, in which we pick and introduce you to one of our favourite YouTube channels.

So here goes nothing. Welcome to the first ‘YouTubers to Watch’ installment! The honour of being featured in the first ever segment of this new series of ours goes to…Bertie Gilbert!

But why Bertie?

I’m not a particular fan of short films. Maybe it’s more difficult for me to create an emotional bond within 15 minutes rather than in two hours screentime. Maybe it lacks slowly enfolding character development. But maybe I am just oblivious to the masterclass that is short film. At least I was.

I realized short films challenge the viewer to be even more alerted for a change of setting and its implications. Why did the lighting just change? And how can you detect the slight and very subtle but important evolution of the characters?

I’ve been subscribed to Bertie Gilbert’s channel since 2012, but only a few weeks ago I rediscovered him and got back into watching his videos after a long absence on my side.

Bertie started out just as every other YouTuber does: In his room talking to a webcam. No background music, no fancy lighting, no set change. Just a teenage room somewhere in England.

Now, 3 years later, Bertie’s channel covers shorts not only high in quality when taking audio and visual quality into account, but also in the sense of writing and picturesque creativity. Not only his personal development can be followed and discerned through his videos but also the fantastic improvement in his video content – an evolution of character of its own so to speak.

And one has to simply acknowledge Bertie’s incredible talent. Though only 17 years old, Bertie has already created such great online content whereas others of his age still struggle with concentrating on one thing for ten minutes. Yet, Bertie manages to write and edit these shorts on his own (okay, and with some very talented – but also young – friends) and you just get absorbed in his works dealing with topics the youth knows all too well such as growing up and sibling rivalry. Together with other YouTubers he then stars in the films.

Sibling rivalry is also the topic of one of my favourite short films of his – ‘Rocks That Bleed’ (props to whoever came up with this title). In this roughly 26 minutes long short, Gilbert portrays a young, talented artist coming of age, who is visited by his estranged (by choice) older brother. Featuring various flashbacks of happier times, one is left disturbed by the sudden tension between the two brothers. The present storyline is set in a modern part of London with a lot of fancy lighting installments. But it’s all going down. The end is nigh – literally, there’s an apocalypse on the horizon. I’ve never imagined it to be that sweaty, though.

So, are these two brothers mature enough to overcome their rivalries of the past or will they ignore each other until the very end, that is the next ten minutes?

See for yourself and don’t forget to subscribe to Bertie Gilbert.

Oh and yes, he portrayed Draco Malfoy’s son in HP7 Part II.

-Maria

Maria was listening to ‘Puppeteer’ by Max Schneider (keep checking *tba for an article about this YouTuber) while writing this article.