Here is another interview with video essayist and game journalist, Red Angel. A great content creator with not enough eyes on her work. Anyways let’s get into the interview
How did you get into game journalism and making video essays?
Game journalism was something I was already curious about growing up since I was into both gaming and writing as a prospective career choice. Video essays came when I was older, thinking about doing videos for YouTube and while at first, I had thought about capitalizing on the angry gamer craze that was going on in order to build an audience, but decided against it, deciding to go with something to fit more of my personality.
Interesting, what is it like being an independent game journalist compared to a video essayist?
Being an independent game journalist involves quite a bit of deadline work and dealing with people over me telling me what to do. I’ve had to write pieces that I don’t stand behind and dealt with backlash from editorial changes that I had no idea were happening until the piece was published. With being a video essayist, I get to be my own supervisor, write what I want, how I want to write it. There’s more freedom in it. I’ve actually started to rewrite some of my own articles as video essays, improving what I’ve already built upon.
Improvement is always good. Do you have any advice for people pursuing your line of work?
When it comes to Games Journalism, write for multiple publications, not just one. If you’re being paid to write, make sure there’s some kind of agreement between you and the Editor-In-Chief, written down or recorded in case they try to tell you something different later. Take it from someone who is still owed money from several publications. Try to write for smaller publications that may not pay you on the side, if only to get your work out there.
Video Essays, on the other hand, don’t sound bored when you record. There is nothing worse than another monotone video essayist because you can talk about the most interesting subject in the world, but if your voice doesn’t have something in it that says you’re at the very least interested in the subject, then there’s no reason to listen to you. Publish videos on a loose schedule so people will have a steady feed of your content, but don’t do it if it’s going to overwhelm you. I had to take a health sabbatical due to my physical health, but there’s no shame in taking a mental health sabbatical either.
Besides your work, do you have any other hobbies?
I often write for fun, read books, play video games, do fun research, play various tabletop games, build gundams, watch various streaming services that have movies and tv on them, watch youtube videos, archery, fencing, and other things. I try to keep myself busy. Is there anything lacking in video essays that you would like to see more of?
Jumping back to video essays, what do you think are good places for academic sources for them?
Honestly, using Google Scholar is how I’ve been grabbing many of the essays and articles I’ve been using for my own essay. It also helps to stop by your local library with your topic already in mind and then going to your reference Librarian, asking them about it. They’re guaranteed to help you find the best sources.
Did going to college and learning about academic analysts elucidate certain online discussions?
Absolutely. If anything it’s what made me interested in it in the first place.
I can attest to that from my own expereince. By the way, you have a very calming tone for your videos. How long did it take you to get that voice down and why did you go with that tone for your videos?
Nope, that’s just how my voice sounds naturally. I’m able to keep it as even and serious as I do because I spend quite of bit of time practicing speeches to become better at public speaking.
Why do you cover indie games?
Lets jump to the other work you do. What is it like being a librarian and did your work expose you to anything new?
I’m a Librarian and I live in Florida, I’m always exposed to something new. In all seriousness though, being a Librarian has exposed me to a wide variety of people as well as new books and other media to enjoy. I think it’s helped me become more well rounded in terms of how I talk to people as well as the media I consume.
I know you have an interest in young adult fiction, what is the appeal of it?
Young Adult Fiction is something I find fascinating because it’s just out of the realm of children’s literature where it’s allowed to get away with quite a bit. The themes it has in it and the challenges it purposes to its characters are similar to that of adult literature, yet the characters lack the power because of their age, which gives them very different yet similar struggles to their adult counterparts. I wrote my Thesis on it and I want to someday teach a class about it.
I would love to be in a class like that. Now for the most important question: Favorite dinosaur (media version and actual version)? Also, favorite owl?
Favorite Dinosaur: I’m partial to the Velociraptors but only if it’s the Jurassic Park ones, when it comes to actual Dinosaurs, I’ve always been an Allosaurus girl. Not quite the T-Rex but just intimidating enough. Special Shout Outs to Triceratops, Apatosaurus, and Ankylosaurus though, they’re the coolest herbivores.
Favorite Owl: Eastern Screech Owl or Barn Owl.
Good animal choices. Back on topic, is there any game you want to cover from an angle that hasn’t been covered yet?
Off the top of my head, I’d love to do an essay on Tribalism in MMORPGs including games like World of Warcraft and Pokemon Go. It’s an angle I’ve never seen anyone go after and I’d like to cover it within the next year or so.
You previously mentioned tabletop games. Is there a unique appeal in tabletop gaming as a storytelling medium and could specific games be analyzed in an academic setting?
When it comes to tabletop games, I think the culture around it can be analyzed a little more than the game itself. You could potentially do some fun sociological or psychological studies in an academic setting on Tabletop Gamers and the DMs. On the game itself though, outside of dissecting each class and their potential roles to the players, I don’t see a whole lot of potential with that.
What is the best way to support your work?
Watching it, sharing it, subscribing always helps and if you want to pledge to my Patreon you’re more than welcome to but it’s not an obligation. I just want my videos to be shared more that’s all.
Speaking of support, do you like the fan community you have cultivated?
I do, my fledglings are a group of polite individuals who enjoy educational discussions and the occasional meme here and there. I find the community supportive and for the most part, polices itself. I can’t imagine it being any better in all honesty.
That is a really kind thing to say. To end this interview, is there anybody you would like to shoutout and do you have any final words for the readers?
If you decide to click on my channel, check out the people on the right-hand side like Emceeprophit and Gamesasliterature.
And my final words to you dear reader is to go check her out. I implore you.
