What can you tell us about the team behind the videos?
Night Owl Cinematics (NOC) is our cinematography company, founded by Ryan Tan and Sylvia Chan, hence our channel name Ryan Sylvia. Ryan is the main guy behind every video, as the director, cinematographer and editor. Sylvia is the creative person as the co-director, script writer, producer, cast/props/wardrobe/location in-charge and actor. Basically, we come up with all the content, and during production the rest of the NOC team comes in. We are constantly looking out for fun-loving and passionate people who would love to join us. Our team is very dynamic. The Ryan Sylvia channel is a big family in which all members have a huge passion for making videos for Singaporeans.
How did you come up with the idea for these videos?
Because we are Night Owls, we sleep really late—five or six in the morning. The NOC team comes together for supper a few times a week and we just chat about everything. Sometimes during our random supper chats, ideas pop up. Otherwise, we discuss and research a topic we find interesting. Sometimes, we have sponsors who suggest concepts to us and we expand on their ideas. Our fans are our source of inspiration too. We have awesome people sharing video ideas. Many of our fans are now friends. Fortunately, ideas also strike while we are shooting; like when Ryan thought of our series – Hokkien Word of the Day when Franster (Mr Wong) used a Hokkien term that he didn’t understand.
When do you first realise they were becoming popular?
Initially we started the channel with the aim of practising visual storytelling and improving our camera techniques. It was our third (random) YouTube video – Shit Singaporean Girlfriends Say that went viral. We went to bed after uploading the video as usual, but by morning friends were calling us and everyone was spamming our Facebook walls saying that our video went viral. Next thing we knew it was on STOMP/forums/radio/newspapers and people started requesting more videos. We created the team in February to come up with YouTube content and we are very grateful to everyone who has been supporting our Singaporean themed skits and short films.
Any funny stories from the shoot?
11 Reasons Why Singaporeans Complain was a completely spontaneous video. Initially, a friend wanted to shoot a music video that had a car wash scene. However he fell sick and didn’t turn up. We decided to go ahead and do a car wash shoot for fun. We all ended up just laughing and playing with the water and soap. It was during Chinese New Year and people gathered outside their houses, pretending to be talking on their phones, but in actual fact, watching us. Recently, we did a fun video about security guards, so we borrowed a guard house. While acting, a MacDonald’s delivery bike came by, so we opened the door, made sure he did his delivery and waved as he left, just like real security guards. We were so proud of ourselves.
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen on YouTube this year (that isn’t yours)?
Our favorite videos have got to be Key and Peele. We love their sense of humor; they don’t do slapstick but they’re wittier and full of inside jokes—NOC loves them. We never miss any of their episodes.
