So, when I was on about 58k or so subscribers I said “Oh hey, I’m nearly at 60k subscribers
– that’s an arbitrary round number.
Let’s do one of those Q&A videos I’ve seen on the other channels!”
So I asked my subscribers to throw some questions at me that weren’t questions I would normally
answer in my standard videos.
Personal questions, I guess.
This is probably the most YouTubery thing I’ve done.
And now by the time I’ve collected the questions and got round to making a video I seem to
have 70k subscribers which is absurd.
So thank you so much for following me and supporting me.
I hope you’re still enjoying the videos and I keep entertaining and bringing useful
information.
I’ve had some… interesting people… get in touch over the last month so hopefully
this channel will become even more interesting to you over the rest of the season.
I’ve got big plans and I’m going to start working on some bigger ideas, including some
longer-form video essays so… let’s see how that goes.
Anyway – the Q&A: So I pulled together questions from the pile.
It’s not all of them but hopefully it’s more of the most frequently asked questions
and interesting enough and you can maybe get to know the floating voice behind the videos
a bit more.
There’s some stuff here on me, my background, my opinions and stuff and I’ll try and keep
it interesting.
Let’s go.
Question one from “pinkyfull” Your animations are nice.
Where did you learn to make them if formally done so, or is it something you've taught
yourself?
Honestly, it’s self-taught.
I did want to go and take a night course in design and animation but I couldn’t really
afford it so just kept doing it and doing it.
I’m a fairly quick learner with creative software and the best way to learn is just
to sit down with it and say “I want to do this thing” – whatever it is you want
to do.
Say, a car driving around a globe, like this.
And then you try and work out how to do it, piece by piece.
And once you’ve figured that out, you’ll have learned loads of things along the way
– about the software, about little tricks you can use to piece animations together,
about your own strengths.
I’m definitely learning continuously as I make these videos (you can probably tell).
With almost every video I make, I try and do something I haven’t done before so I
can learn a little bit more.
And you can do a lot with very little.
The first five-ish videos on this channel – the ones that look very different – were
all made intricately in powerpoint in time to my voice audio.
I mean, it wasn’t EASY, but you can do it.
The Kincognito asks: What's exactly makes you interested in F1?
Or everything together?
Well first of all – like all sports, what makes F1 interesting is the storylines, the
characters and the soap opera of it all.
Even getting angry at the stupid decisions teams, organisers, rule makers, etc. make
is all part of the fun and we all know it.
I do love the technology side of it though.
And, when I was going through school and starting to specialise into maths, physics and mechanics
it was fun to connect everything I was learning with everything I knew about the sport.
Even in art class, I chose to do a module on Formula 1 – here’s a painting I drew
when I was 17.
I was big into Montoya.
What a dude.
But actually, I also enjoy the way the rules are put together.
The politics and the infighting.
I get really interested by the broadcasting and presentation.
I think it’s just become this massive ground for me to really nerd out over basically any
part of the massive machine.
Sam asks: What is your favorite F1 game?
I haven’t played F1 2017, believe it or not but I have got F1 2016 and I think it’s
definitely the most accomplished F1 game to date (and I assume F1 2017 is in the similar
vein from what I’ve seen on YouTube channels like Tiametmarduk).
F1 2017 is the only of the Codemasters series I haven’t played, including the Wii one!
I haven’t played the super sim games like Asseto Corsa and R Factor so I can’t comment
on those.
But actually the F1 game I spent the most time with and had the most enjoyable time
was Grand Prix 4, which I think came out in 2001.
Man, at the time it felt like a real simulation.
And it had proper damage.
Sort of.
And the marshalls would come out onto the track and push your broken car away.
It was awesome.
I played that for years.
On a KEYBOARD, no less.
You didn’t get an F1 game every year back then – it was slim pickings, though the
license wasn’t so restricted either.
The saddest things I’ve found at the moment is I haven’t been able to find as much time
to play games as I would like.
League racing is something I think I’d enjoy but I’ve not got enough time to get good
enough at it to join in!
On a related note, Martynas Daugela asks: Do you race in real life?
I do not!
I used to be in a karting championship in Castle Combe when I was a teenager though,
but I couldn’t afford to carry on beyond 16.
My closest karting track was Buckmore Park and that place is SWISH.
I do want to go karting occasionally though but it’s a bit pricey and I don’t know
anyone who’d go along.
Maybe Karun Chandhok will have me one day.
A guy can dream.
The next question is from John Berry:
If you could work in any F1 team in any position (except driver), which one would it be and
why?
It’s weird – if you’d asked me this a few years ago I’d probably have loved
to have been a mechanical engineer of some kind.
And that would be cool.
But these days I think a media role would be pretty good.
I really like what I’m doing in this channel and what’s great is connecting other people
to the things you love and think they’d love.
F1 has been very closed off compared to lots of sports and organisations and we’ve been
seeing that change over recent years but it would be very cool to be part of that.
I mean, my ideal role wouldn’t be in a team but within the Formula 1 organisation or another
external media organisation, as media within teams tends to always have a marketing angle
attached.
Incidentally, I grew up in Biggin Hill which is the hometown of Formula 1 Management and
where all the live TV is broadcast from.
Matt Owen has asked here:
If you could make one change to F1, what would it be?
Argh, this is a really tricky one and I thought about this and…
Honestly, I think I’d add a cost cap.
If I could do just the one thing.
You know, we can argue about what engines to use and what aero we allow and so on, but
the same problem we see over and over again is costs spiralling out of control and the
distance between weaker and stronger teams widening.
With a cost cap, we can at least force everyone to work with more similar resources and let
the best people win, not just the biggest wallets.
And it’s the competition that’s exciting.
I haven’t extensively researched this position, and I can’t say I’ve thought of all the
knock on effects.
It’s just my gut instinct.
Similarly, but in a different direction, Afro JD asks:
If you could change one thing about F1's marketing what would it be and why?
Well, I would introduce some marketing, Afro!
OK that’s a little unfair.
F1 has been doing a fair bit of marketing but the most visible marketing we see is the
act of social engagement and media presence online.
But it still has a problem.
Answer me this – who is F1 marketing itself to?
I’m not asking who F1’s audience is or who it should be?
I’m asking, who is F1 directing it’s ‘come watch us’ message to right now?
Who is it trying to speak to?
It’s not really obvious is it?
How about this?
What is F1’s marketing message?
Why does F1 think we should watch it?
I don’t think that’s clear either.
And that’s part of Liberty’s plan to actually put a marketing plan in place.
Do you know what position they were advertising for earlier this year?
Head of Communications.
Because there wasn’t one.
Ever.
They’ve never had a Head of Communications.
So to change F1’s marketing I would literally do something.
Anything.
Shout from a mountain about the Seb and Lewis rivalry.
Scream about the innovative but controversial engines.
Connect with national broadcasters to start a worldwide connected campaign.
Something!
You know how I just said I lived in the hometown of F1.
Literally only this year have they put a sign up outside their building.
Here it is – I took this myself.
A question with a sad answer from Thijs van Lith, here:
Are you going to a grand prix this year?
I’m not!
I have almost no money to my name so I definitely can’t afford to attend a race.
The last time I went to a race was Turkey 2008, amazingly, so it’ll be over ten years
between races.
I’m definitely overdue one though.
Niels Leenknegt asks probably the most common question I get asked on this channel:
How do you know all the stuff that you explain?
Are you a kind of engineer?
I’m not an engineer but I’ve a background in mathematics and physics and even before
I went to university I’d go off and try and research anything in F1 I didn’t know
the answer to.
I mean – as best as I could – the internet wasn’t really what it is today back then.
I also had family friends from when I was an infant who would take me to races and rallies
and introduced me to all the world of motorsport.
I still have old people come up to me today saying “I knew you when you were knee-high
and could name every car on the road!”.
But to answer your question – I’ve always been interested in this stuff; I have a physics
background so that normally gets me 70-80% there and I research the rest to make sure
I get it as accurate as possible.
It’s just been constant, constant research and interest for over a couple of decades
now with a solid science and maths background that helps me understand what I’m researching.
And if I make a mistake I’ll pin a comment under the video.
Reyman (not the dude with no arms), asks:
Should there be a race track in the streets of London in 2020?
And I say - no.
That’s a solid no.
I’ve thought about this because it used to be a nice dream, didn’t it?
But actually, it’d be rubbish in practice.
The roads wouldn’t be well suited for it, everywhere is too cramped, it would wreck
the city for weeks, the racing would be rubbish and there’s an incredible international
racing circuit just up the M1.
And London doesn’t need it.
It’s London – everyone already goes to London.
In my opinion, F1 doesn’t need to be a sightseeing operation.
You don’t need Big Ben or the statue of Liberty in the background to have a good race
or good atmosphere.
You need good tracks, good racing and to treat the attendees well and it’ll all come together.
London can’t do that.
No one would have a good time.
11) Тодор Иванов asks
Besides F1(obviously) what are your interests and hobbies?
I mean, I generally enjoy science and art but that’s probably obvious too.
I’m a BIG fan of movies and I devour anything to do with film making and production.
I actually really enjoy editing, which is only a minor part of the videos on this channel
so far.
I’m hoping in future to be able to start including some filmed pieces into this channel
but we’ll see.
I can drum a little bit and photograph a little bit.
I’m also interested in sex and sexual health/politics and I work with people in that field quite
a bit as an illustrator.
And I’m trying to get back into painting again.
I’ve got a canvas and easel and paints all ready to go.
Electro Gaming asks:
Who are you hoping to win 2018 championship?
You know what – almost every year I’m never particularly rooting for someone – as
long as it’s interesting.
I love an underdog and I don’t want anyone to run away with it.
I do have a soft spot for Daniel Ricciardo, though so it would be great if he could mount
a challenge from the back.
The WORST is when you want both rivals to win – I was a fan of young Hamilton back
in 2008 but how could you not want Massa to win too?
God, what a heart breaking finale that was.
I wanted everyone to win.
In 2010, when four awesome drivers were in with a chance of the title at the end?
How could you be sad to see any of them claim it?
But obviously Webber was my man.
My god, maybe I just have a thing for Australians…
Daniel Kartov asks Do you think that Formula E will be more popular
than Formula 1 in the near future?
No.
Not even slightly.
Not ever.
Formula E sits in an interesting niche and that’s where it belongs.
I don’t even think it aims to be as big as top tier series; it wants to do really
well at what it is – developing electric racings cars to showcase technology around
the world.
Which, it’s doing pretty well and aims to do even better over the years.
What’s good about Formula E is watching it bend over backwards to try and be interesting
and successful and engaging.
It’s trying new things with how it shapes itself and reaches fans, which is something
F1 hasn’t been doing as it’s too happy to rest on its laurels.
CPM Productions asks:
Do you like the new F1 logo?
I didn’t, but now I do.
I did really, really like the old one and was surprised to find so many people who didn’t.
It was iconic, even if it was harder to use as part of a wider brand identity.
The new one is fine.
It’s a decent logo.
But I HATE the font and the way they are using it.
It’s not a font that works at all for anything but titles, but F1 are using it to write sentences
with, Ugh.
And I don’t like a lot of the branding stuff around the logo.
I hate these container designs they put sponsors in.
They look awful.
I think simplicity and clarity is the most important thing with graphics and design,
which is why all of my stuff on my channel is as simple as possible and I’ve build
on that style while trying to keep the simple concept that (hopefully) everyone can understand.
I did a quick twitter thread on the new on-screen graphics but I might expand that and do a
video on my thoughts about them, too.
A and F ask:
What programmes do you use for doing your videos?
Btw I like your vids
Thanks, I like your…avatar.
I use most of the Adobe CC suite.
All in all, almost every video makes use of Photoshop, Audition, After Effects and Premiere
Pro.
Jonah Czerwinski asks, optimistically:
Is there any way we'll get a behind the scenes video or something similar?
:)
I am working on making one but it’ll be for Patreon!
I can’t imagine how interesting it will be though.
Quick plug for my patreon by the way – for every vide o I try and post a little behind
the scenes sketch or snippet or something.
16) Javier Ruiz asks: Would you prefer working for a F1 team, working
for the FIA, or working for Liberty?
(&why?)
Probably not an F1 team.
Liberty would be fun for reasons I’ve labelled earlier.
But the FIA might be even more fun.
People get REALLY angry at the rules and regulations that are brought in but it is SO HARD to map
out rules to a game or sport, especially one as complicated as F1.
Keeping the game balanced and fair, solving problems without causing new ones, dealing
with the political fall out, working out how to actually police any rule you come up with
and how to actually word any rules you come up with.
That’s really hard and really interesting work.
I think over the years a lot of the rules made have had a lot of unintentional consequences
which would be fun to unpick.
The reason the cars all look fairly identical is because every time some area of development
starts to get out of control, the FIA just box off an area in the space around the car
and say “you can’t do stuff here now” so all the cars have to fit into a more and
more restrictive box.
Anyway.
It’s still Liberty cause I reckon working for the FIA would be an absolute nightmare.
Full of politics and infighting and mind games.
I haven’t got time for that.
Matt asks probably one of the most frequently asked questions I get in… life.
Other than ‘when are you getting a haircut?’
What's the story behind the name Chain Bear?
OK, this isn’t THAT interesting a story but a long time ago my partner (at the time)
and I used to play a game together where one of us would draw out phonetic clues to things
like movies or books and the other would have to guess.
Like, IN-FIN-EAT-TEA VASE or something, to give an example.
One time the clue was this.
And I kept saying “CHAIN BEAR OFF SEA CRATES” over and over again, which she found hilarious
cause I was saying the answer – “Chamber of Secrets” – without realising it.
So we called the game Chain Bear and if you’d got to the point where you were literally
sounding out the answer without realising it, that was called “going Chain Bear”.
Later on we made a webcomic together with a character we named after the game, then
the twitter handle followed and – ten years later – this.
Incidentally the yellow colour I use in all my videos has been the Chain Bear signature
colour from the very beginning.
The pink was added a few years ago.
Bit of branding trivia there.
Exciting.
So that’s my first Q&A for you.
How was it?
Hopefully not ridiculously boring and nobody asked any embarrassing questions, so I dodged
that bullet.
I might do another one at another arbitrary point if anyone fancies it.
In the meantime, thank you so much for getting me to a milestone in the first place!
I’m not really that good at accepting that people actually enjoy this channel and I still
kind of think everyone’s going to realise I’m rubbish any day now and it’ll all
come crashing down, but for now I’m glad you’re all here!
Next video: normal service resumes!