How can bloggers thrive and create interesting content in VK Clips? Yan Dilan says

In the last two years, VK Clips has become one of the fastest growing short vertical video services. The platform is regularly improving its algorithms and recommendation systems – resulting in a 30% increase in user time watching clips earlier this year, and a 17% increase in views. At the end of March, the service set another record number – 1.1 billion video views per day (we won’t hide it, we’re included in that number).

The number of writers increases with the audience. Therefore, taking the advice of VK Clips is a great chance not only to realize your creative potential, but also to become popular with a wide audience. Especially for those who want to create interesting video content but don’t know where to start, we turned to one of the most experienced bloggers, Artur Dilanyan, known as Yan Dilan.

Thanks to talented directing and the availability of a script, he manages to create unique and memorable content. In each video, the viewer gets acquainted with new characteristic characters, with which the artist is constantly reincarnated. For example, the poet Lizaveta Vyacheslavskaya or a typical married couple. By the way, Arthur also writes music and lyrics on his own, and frankly, this Oscar statuette is a well-deserved separate nomination. How did he find his own style and what lifehacks does he use while making videos?

When did you start making character videos?

I started shooting videos in March 2020, and characters appeared in them almost instantly. But the permanent ones took shape only a year ago. I hope new characters will appear in the future.

Do you have a favorite character?

If I highlight one, it would be wrong in relation to the rest! Some are touching. But if you really have to choose, it’s probably poet Lizaveta Vyacheslavskaya, taxi driver Nutut and hit producer Lil Young Baby Big.

Why did you choose this particular format?

He is close to me. Music and humor have been with me for a very long time. I have been making music since I was six years old, I have been fond of humor since I was 16 years old, I have worked in this field for many years (including KVN). I managed to combine two already pumped skills in this format.

What do you like shooting about most?

I don’t have a particular favourite. I love both life videos and some grotesque stories because I’m a long time fan of Monty Python (a group of comedians from England famous for their innovative and absurd humor). – note. ed.).).

How is the video creation process?

First I come up with an idea. Where should it begin and where should it end? Then I write the text (without music). Then I write the music, adapt the lyrics to it. I’m recording the audio and mixing the track. Then we shoot the video, edit it and paint over it.

In general, I spend most of the time on the idea. Sometimes he doesn’t think about it all day. But when it turns out, rhyming is already a matter of technique. It takes me several hours to write the text. Then we move on to shooting. We shoot between two and six hours. It all depends on the complexity of the scenario. In general, the entire production chain takes about two days.

How did you find out who your target audience is?

I was surprised to see that many children aged 6-12 were watching me. But I do not position myself as a children’s writer. But the main audience is the audience between the ages of 25-40.

What topics interest him?

Of course, these are the videos in which the viewer recognizes himself. In my arsenal of characters, a married couple is responsible for such matters. Videos with my kids are also very popular.

What techniques help grab the viewer’s attention?

I think you need time to convey to the viewer the gist of what’s going on in the first 3-5 seconds, otherwise the video is highly unlikely to be watched any more. Even if it is very interesting. Therefore, I shortened the introduction as much as possible and tried to explain the plot clearly in the first two lines.

Do you have creative crises?

There is. I’m more comfortable with them now. I used to be pissed at myself that I couldn’t write from start to finish, but as a rule nothing good came of it.

The best way to overcome a creative hurdle is to change your focus. Relax, spend time with your family, change the picture outside the window and don’t think anything will happen. After a while, the desire to create usually returns.

Are viewers of VK Clips different from viewers on other social networks?

VK Clips has a very friendly audience. Fortunately, I have a warm, responsive and active audience on all social networks and for that I am very grateful to them!