Inside the Mind of Casey Neistat: His Creative Process

Inside the Mind of Casey Neistat: His Creative Process

If there’s one artist with an unmistakable style, it’s Casey Neistat. The award-winning filmmaker and long-time Vimeo creator has a creative process that sets him apart from other digital creatives, spurring him on to craft web-series, shorts, and his popular daily vlogging. Understanding the inner workings of his creativity can not only lend insight into the artist, but potentially to the creative process of anyone who wants to explore their artistic side.

Who is Casey Neistat?

Before delving into Neistat’s creative process, it helps to understand who he is and why his style has resonated with mass audiences over the years. Neistat was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1981 and got his start in the art world making skateboarding videos shot with low-grade cameras. By 2001, Neistat was chosen by Andy Warhol to be part of P.S.1’s “Greater New York” show, solidifying his place as a true artist. In the following years, he launched production company Chain Camera Pictures, continued to make videos, was chosen as one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film, and was even tapped by presidential candidate John Kerry as an “ingénue” of young filmmaking.

In 2013, Neistat left HBO to start his own independent production company, Make School, and launch his vlogging projects. He made waves with several projects and short films, including his highly successful Nike Fuel project. This was the point when Neistat’s career began gaining traction, opening the doors for his further successes.

The Inner Workings of Neistat’s Creative Process

How does a Vimeo star and multi-millionaire artist like Casey Neistat come up with such creative, vibrant works? There’s one thing that’s obvious from the start: he defies conventions and creates his own rules. Let’s take a look at the major aspects of his creative process.

  1. Easily Accessible Storytelling

Neistat’s work is known for its ease and accessibility. His videos can effortlessly be watched and shared, and often have themes of curiosity that stick with viewers. Neistat keeps his storytelling simple; he focuses on ordinary people and ordinary stories. His concepts often rely on simple idea, visuals, and trends, which allows him to explore interesting stories without being too complex or heavy-handed.

  1. Research Extensively

Hollywood films often bear the “research” label on the bottom of the screen, but that never applied to Neistat’s work. He does extensive research for everything he produces, to ensure accuracy, originality, and authenticity in his pieces. He researches political topics, interacts with subject matter, and watches films and documentaries related to his films to gain insight.

  1. Outsider Perspective

As Neistat creates from an outsider perspective, he can also use his films to tackle social issues; for example, during the 2016 Presidential Election he released a video about Donald Trump’s views on immigration. By digging deep into the subject and taking a stance on it, Neistat is able to craft pieces that speak to his audience and make a difference.

  1. Details, Details, Details

Neistat’s films, and even his vlogs, have an incredible attention to detail. He throws in small observations and hilarious bits throughout his pieces, which bring more life to his storytelling. He doesn’t miss small moments, which makes his stories believable even when his topic is absurd.

  1. Passion and Hustle

It’s no secret that Neistat works hard. He produces vlogs, documentaries, and much more, on top of creating his own merchandise and running his own production company. Neistat puts in the work and never loses focus, keeping his feet on the ground and place one foot in front of the other. He maintains his passion for the craft and always has a project he’s working towards.

  1. Make Connections

Neistat has also made himself one of the most well-known filmmakers in his genre by reaching out and networking. Whether through social media, conventions, or panels, Neistat is constantly making connections and finding himself in interesting places. This allows him to share his work, but also to find sources who can contribute to his projects.

  1. Positive Vibes

Finally, Neistat never wavers on his positive attitude. Whether taking on the hardest task or dealing with the most impossible challenge, he always stays positive and optimistic. His positivity probably plays a big part in his success, because without it, it’s easy to get discouraged and struggle to move forward.

The Artistry of Neistat’s Creative Process

Neistat’s creative process may be a hard act to follow, but it’s also a testament to how far many independent filmmakers and content makers can go with a few simple steps. Neistat’s approach to creating has produced not only some of the most innovative digital content today, but also a movement for independence for the new generation of digital creators.

Neistat’s style, vision, and narrative challenge modern film conventions, and set the standard for new methods of visual storytelling. With his approachable web-series and vlogs, viewers can get an inside look at his life as well as his creative process. Neistat defies conventions by breaking the fourth wall, using voice-overs, and having his viewers take part in his creative process.

Creating a New Generation of Filmmakers

Neistat isn’t afraid to try new things, and it’s exactly this kind of risk that has created a new wave of content-makers. He is constantly pushing the boundaries of modern filmmaking because of his refusal to adhere to traditional conventions or find one particular style. In addition, Neistat’s success comes from building stories and worlds out of the mundane. He knows how to capture moments and experiences, and craft an accessible and intimate product from them.

Neistat is a great example of how to take a passion and turn it into something that will speak to hundreds of people. He truly exemplifies the power of storytelling, creating art that is thoughtful and engaging, and breaking down walls between himself and his audience. As a result, filmmakers and digital creators everywhere have taken note of his work, and have been inspired to step outside of their comfort zone and explore new ways to create content.

It’s easy to see why Casey Neistat’s creative process inspires the imaginations of so many people. In a digital age where innovators, filmmakers, and web-creatives are in high demand, it’s no wonder why Neistat has become an inspirational figure to many. His creativity, passion, and artistic vision are an example of what goes into creating truly fantastic work.

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