Michael V
Michael V balks at being called an icon. He has merely scratched the entertainment industry’s surface, he insisted; he still has a lot to do.
He has been a multihyphenate for much of his show biz career: a comedian, an actor, a rapper, a director. But as a performer, he always seeks to provide “more entertainment in various forms.”
Now, he can add video blogger to that still-expanding list.
Only three months after he uploaded his first vlog to YouTube, his channel “#BitoyStory”—which features his travels and gadget reviews—
has already amassed 2.6 million views and 184,000 subscribers.
“I really enjoy it. It’s something I have always wanted to do, but I didn’t have the guts to do it until recently. There’s a lot of people out there doing vlogs about the most random of things,” he told reporters at a recent press conference for the third season of GMA 7’s “Lip Sync Battle Philippines.”
Vlogging, Michael V said, has provided him a platform to show and talk about the things he’s passionate about. Aside from travel and tech, he also intends to feature on his channel his popular 15-minute art sketches, behind-the-scenes glimpses of what goes on in his television shows, as well as his toy and video game console collections.
He’s a one-man team: He writes the script, shoots, edits, and scores his videos on his own.
“The technical aspects are quite easy because I have had experience. And besides, with the technology available today, you can actually do these things on your phone,” he pointed out.
But while video blogging allows for a more casual, no-fuss approach when it comes to producing content, Michael V is careful not to sacrifice quality. More than entertaining, he hopes to educate.
“I still feel the responsibility to inform people through my channel,” he said, adding that not a few people seem to be more preoccupied on earning money (through video monetization) than contributing to the vlogging community.
But if you’re hoping to see comedy skits, you would still have to turn to his television work for that, he stressed.
“But of course there will always be a funny, comedic aspect to my videos, because that’s part of me, my personality,” he pointed out.
Right now, Michael V has been getting offers from various companies to review their products. He’s wary about that, he admitted, because it may end up compromising his credibility. Instead, he hopes to monetize his channel, so he could buy the gadgets himself.
“I already applied for monetization. And if it pushes through, I will buy my own stuff, review them, and then perhaps give them away to the viewers if I don’t like them,” related the 48-year-old Kapuso star, who’s currently building a “man cave,” where he plans to shoot videos in the future.
But as beloved as he is in the industry, he still can’t please everyone.
“There are some who complain that my page is all about bragging,” he said, laughing. “My goal is to inspire and take the audience with me on my journey.”