Over the past decade of Internet sensations like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, YouTube has become a fan favorite. You have the boundless freedom to lose yourself in a sea of cat videos, quick cooking tutorials and worthy click bait. As an avid YouTuber subscriber, I strive to experience videos that are well-produced, smartly edited, and most of all, entertaining. I want the informative cleverness of the Vlogbrothers, the hilarity of Rhett, and Link, and the aesthetic of Michelle Phan, all rolled into one neat, tidy package of curated content. I don't have a particular consistency of the people I watch, and I don't belong to a certain community of fans (I'm looking at you, Pewdiepie!), but the following list contains 4 creators whom I've enjoyed and followed with enthusiasm over the years; you've probably never heard of most of them. I chose them based on their originality, attention paid to production values, and overall likability. You won't see any Vine stars-turned YouTube moguls on this list!
4. Great Big Story
This channel markets itself as "a global media company devoted to cinematic storytelling," (Google). They basically create mini-documentaries about interesting and unknown people, places, and phenomena from around the world. However, they're no Discovery Channel. Oh no. They put videos under categories like "Human Condition" and "Origins" and have covered everything from a man who claims to be the best Santa Claus around (Santa Is Real) to a cathedral built entirely by one person over 53 years (The Lone Man Building a Cathedral by Hand). Besides the obvious fact that their videos are just beautiful to behold, they give you an intimate look into things that the average viewer might find shocking, surprising, or weird and turn it into something charming. They just got acquired by CNN, so they'll be doing even greater things in the future!
3. Lucie Fink
Lucie Fink is a video producer at the New York-based media company Refinery 29. She hosts two YouTube series she created called "Try Living With Lucie" and "Lucie For Hire," in which she tries new lifestyle challenges for 5 days at a time, like 5 days without coffee (Lucie Tried 5 Days of No Coffee and Lived To Tell About It) and 5 Days of Cultural Dining. Not only is she incredibly adept with special effects and editing in her videos, but her upbeat attitude and friendliness make her a memorable watch. She deserves all the attention she can get, so also check her out on her Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat!
2. Mike Falzone
Mike Falzone is one of the original YouTubers who started on the website when it launched in 2006. It is said that like Kevin Bacon, Mike has six degrees of separation from most famous YouTubers. He was a co-host on the popular, but now defunct channel Sourcefed and now travels around the country as a stand-up comedian. He puts out mostly advicey-type videos answering viewers' many questions, but what I've really gotten to know him from are his podcasts Dynamic Banter and Welcome to Our Podcast, hosted by him and his wife. He is a funny and laid back guy, like someone who could be your big brother. Please come to tour in Philly Mike!
1. Marzia Bisognin
This last YouTuber is someone I really admire for her sense of style, sweetness, and genuineness. Marzia is an Italian blogger, author, and fashion designer living in Brighton, England. Even though she is the girlfriend of one of the most watched people on the Internet, she has established herself as a prolific creator in her own right. She mostly vlogs about her life with her boyfriend, friends, and two adorable pugs, but she also reviews cosmetics, creates fashion lookbooks, and films her various fabulous vacations. She has amassed a community of about 3 million subscribers who call themselves "Marzipans." I like her because she puts a lot of thought and time into her projects and is not in her business for the profit; she really cares about what she does.
So there you have it: if you decide to check these guys out (and please do), your searches will probably lead you to other great Youtubers I haven't mentioned, but who still deserve recognition. Youtubing and vlogging are becoming more realized as legitimate forms of entertainment and should not be promoted as being disposable and trashy.
Also, tell me what you think of these creators or who your favorite YouTubers are!
