[typing] [phone rings]
KITTY: Oh! Wonder who's calling...
Hello?
[over the phone] Hi Kitty! It's Maria from B&H!
Oh hi! How you guys been doing?
MARIA: How are you? I heard you were in quarantine just like me--
KITTY: Of course! MARIA: -- I figured I'd call you up and ask you 21 Questions.
Oh for sure! I would love to take a break, and then I can show you around my place if you want.
Lemme grab my headphones though, so it's easier [background music begins playing]
[soft rock music continues]
Alright! You can hit me with your first question.
MARIA: Perfect! So how's it goin? What're you doing?
Well, right now I'm currently backing up some cards because I get so paranoid before I
shoot, but we're gonna prep for our next video.
MARIA: Cool! So... What do you do for a living?
I run a production company in California.
And then I also play with camera gear on YouTube and the social medias.
MARIA: And so, how are you holding up with this change of workflow during this quarantine?
Ah, well with our line of work, I feel like it's actually gotten a lot easier
because I don't have to pack and unpack gear,
and I don't have to make sure my travel hard drives run out of space.
So, it's been a little bit nicer!
MARIA: That's great! And so you mentioned you create videos for YouTube,
and what got you started into videos?
Actually, it was my dad. He's always been supportive of me in all of my creative endeavors.
And then, we watched a lot of movies together.
And then, also in high school, I did a lot of vloggy-type videos at the grocery store.
And then, I also had a fake news show back in high school in homeroom class.
MARIA: Is that still available to find? [chuckles]
Well, I never actually edited those videos, so no.
But I did have a film that I shot in film school titled "The Chase"
that actually got "fan favorite" from the class, so that made me really, really happy.
[Maria laughs] That's awesome!
MARIA: And, uh, so I'm sure you get this question a lot. Where did Atola Visuals come from?
It's actually a bioluminescent jellyfish because we donate to ocean conservation.
I really wanted a marine animal to represent the company.
MARIA: That's interesting! And super different!
Yeah!
It's pretty cool if you Google it too!
It looks like an alien!
MARIA: What's your favorite camera and lens?
Oh, I actually like to use ALL the cameras,
but lately my favorite has been the Nikon Z6 with the 14-30.
I just love wide lenses so much.
MARIA: And what was the first video you posted onto YouTube?
Oh! My first video...
Oh man. I think it was...
A morpheus audition when we were testing out different audio and microphones.
So, if you go back to the Atola Visuals YouTube channel, you have to dig deep.
But I look completely different with different hair!
[both Kitty and Maria laugh]
MARIA: Yeah! Um, can you tell us a little bit about your hair?
Oh yeah! I like to change it. It's like a mood ring.
So, currently, it's this faded pink look.
[laughs]
MARIA: And so, that first YouTube video, what did you shoot it on?
Wow, I don't even remember! I think it was like an FS5 or FS7...
But yeah.
MARIA: What was the first video that really helped you get noticed on YouTube?
It would definitely have to be one of those gimbal reviews!
I've done so many of them that's there's a playlist now!
MARIA: All of these videos that you've uploaded to YouTube, did you edit all those by yourself?
I did edit a bunch of them,
but I'm very much over editing everything by myself.
So thankfully I have two amazing editors that help me now.
It's very time-consuming!
MARIA: So the channel's really grown then, so...
As far as YouTube and Instagram, you've gotten a huge following.
How did you even get there?
Oh, with a lot of blood, sweat and tears. That's for sure! [both laugh]
MARIA: Do you have some upcoming projects you wanna tell us about?
Oh, there's always like 5 projects going on at the same time.
But currently, I'm really excited about this black-and-white short film
that I talk about accepting your shadow self that I'll probably be releasing later this month.
MARIA: And, that kind of brings me to my next question. KITTY: Yeah!
MARIA: So, you do a lot of different types of videos.
You do tech reviews, vlogs, tutorials, and so many other type of stuff.
What's your favorite?
Oh! I really like the videos that...
Have a lot of emotion and meaning behind it.
I think those are my favorite.
Especially like my California Wabi Sabi video, or the shadow video coming up.
MARIA: Cool!
And, have you been filming a lot while you've been stuck at home?
Oh yeah! I've been creating a lot of different things.
For sure! I feel like I'm more focused 'cause I don't have to travel anywhere.
And I feel like I have a lot more peace of mind, as crazy as that sounds,
especially in a time like this.
MARIA: That's true! And, a lot of other people
kind of need a little bit of that inspiration too.
So can you give the audience some tips on creating content like you at home?
Oh yeah! Even for me, I've been researching a lot of lockdown challenges.
And I feel like a lot of camera brands are now starting some photo and video challenges as well
with giveaways.
And also, if you wanna try out new tutorials that you have been longing to try for a long time,
I feel like this is the perfect time to try them.
MARIA: Yeah, I agree. I feel like right now is the time to, you know,
catch up on your skills and maybe brush up on stuff you've been wanting to do!
Oh for sure! I agree.
MARIA: So, let's ask a couple fun questions. KITTY: Oh, I love fun questions!
MARIA: Maybe some things people don't know about you.
[Kitty laughs] Okay!
MARIA: So, what do you do for fun aside from video creating?
Oh, I love to play games and watch a lot of K-pop videos...
[both laugh] KITTY: Believe it or not!
MARIA: And, you're relatively new to LA, right? Do you like it?
Oh yeah! I feel like...
It's a lot warmer than Chicago and San Francisco, where I'm from.
And the creative community here is just so abundant.
MARIA: And, if you weren't a video creator, what would you be? Have you ever thought about that?
Oh yeah, I think about it a lot.
I would either be a farmer or a Twitch streamer, in another lifetime.
[Maria laughs]
MARIA: And, speaking of advice from earlier, what's the best piece of advice you've received?
Well I feel like this pertains a lot, even currently, but
you have to accept things that you can't control and just try your best.
And then, especially career-wise, you have to learn how to say "no".
MARIA: That's true. And then, aside from your camera,
what's your favorite piece of gear?
Oh, I nerd out on lighting gear!
So, my current favorites are these Quasar Light Tubes.
["ah's" in amazement]
MARIA: And then, speaking of gear, so
I've asked other people this too
What's your favorite piece of gear to really just take a deep dive into
and just really totally nerd out?
Ooh, deep dive into...
Well lately, I've been researching a lot on livestreaming.
So, I've been nerding out on the Cam Link 4K too,
but it's sold out everywhere!
And I think on eBay, they're selling it for like $400, which is crazy!
So I feel like livestreaming, even right now, is going to be very popular.
MARIA: Super random question-- KITTY: Yeah!
MARIA: If there were to be a movie about your life, who would play you?
[Kitty laughs] A movie about my life. That'd be interesting...
I feel like a lot of people have mentioned that Kristin Kreuk and Becky G look like me.
[laughs] So maybe one of those two if they want to!
[Maria laughs]
MARIA: And then, last question.
Who should we interview next?
Definitely hit up Jason Vong and Vivian Lee,
and stop by their place.
MARIA: Awesome!
But, I gotta get back on this video.
Thank you for checking in!
And stay safe!
Done!
MARIA: Awesome, thank you so much!
You stay safe too!
Yeah, we'll talk soon!
Bye!
[soft rock music]