“Dream A Little Dream” Necklace

From Jessica Tse’s NOTTE Jewelry, the “Dream A Little Dream” pearl necklace is part of the MEZZANOTTE collection which exists as a “love letter to the magical hours that birthed the brand.” It’s a playful take on the classic string of pearls, comprising freshwater pearls and gold-filled beads. Each piece is handmade, and no two are identical.

Top 10 camping designs to kickstart your 2022 glamping adventures

After a tiring week at work, with the weekend joyfully looming ahead of me, I often find myself fantasizing about a short sweet getaway! Just a few days away from my hectic life, and this hectic world, in a bubble of my own, where all my worries are nowhere to be seen. The pandemic may restrict my actual traveling plans, but it definitely cannot restrict my daydreams about vacations! Jetsetting on a flight may not be a practical option right now, but I do think Camping is a plausible plan. Although camping does have a few downsides too! I mean, you have to get down and dirty, live life on the road, and tackle the moodiness of the elements. In such a scenario, having a set of trustworthy and handy camping products can make a world of difference! Having the right products by your side can make your life much easier during those crucial moments. From a portable lamp that is suitable for camping trips and your work desk to an expandable teardrop camper – we’ve curated some fun and functional camping designs for you. Enjoy!

1. CARSULE

MOGICS is a Nevada-based company that deals with convenience. Portability, functionality, and usability remain the foundational pillars for MOGICS, producing specialty items like universal adapters and wireless light spheres. CARSULE, a pop-up cabin for your car, is one of the latest specialty items to come from the company. Your next best travel companion, CARSULE can attach to a variety of car models to provide a comfortable, spacious tent on camping trips that take you as far as the road goes.

Why is it noteworthy?

Constructed from UV-resistant and waterproof materials, when fully assembled, CARSULE provides up to 2 meters worth of headroom. Unlike most tents, CARSULE is designed to provide space for more than just sleeping. Large enough to function as a sleeping area and a lounge space, the designers behind CARSULE describe, “Unlike most tents that are only meant for sleeping, CARSULE provides you with a living room in the outdoors and offers mobility since the simple installation makes the movement possible and easy.”

What we like

  • Provides space for more than just sleeping
  • CARSULE can fit a variety of different vehicles with trunks that swing upward

What we dislike

  • Rates low on aesthetics
  • Unsuitable for extreme weather conditions

2. The Conic

Designed primarily for use in outdoor activities; the Conic is a helpful extension of a flashlight, which should come in handy to light up the entire camp or make those two-handed tasks easier to carry out. It will be a great help thus while cooking or maybe when playing board games at the camp.

Why is it noteworthy?

The gap between outdoor flashlights and lanterns is narrowing with transformation in design. This inventive approach has given birth to a new domain i.e., an outdoor lamp, which double duties and makes sure you’re never found wanting while camping or traveling. Conic is an embodiment of such a design, which is a nice transition from the traditional, boring light sources you’ve been accustomed to packing in your backpack.

What we like?

  • A far cry from the traditional flashlights
  • Portable
  • Multipurpose design – can be used indoors and outdoors

What we dislike?

No complaints!

3. The Campo

The Campo, inspired by the curves of an Apple Watch and the concept of a portable EV battery, is made in nature-friendly colors. Its helmet-like design, where the visor (the lid in this case) can be rolled up with a handle. Inside you have a magnetically fastened plate, over which you can keep the item you want to cook or heat and set the timer (which is displayed on the handle you can roll back down to start the microwave). The ease of portability is ensured by a locking mechanism on the side of the unit, which locks in place when the handle is rolled up or pushed down flat.

Why is it noteworthy?

Before you plug your microwave into the vehicle’s battery and end up draining it down to the point where your vehicle refuses to start; spare a thought for the Campo microwave oven. This is microwave powered by a rechargeable battery to let you do the heating and cooking without requiring continuous juice up from your car. It would be a good idea to just carry your microwave like a helmet and place it on a flat surface to begin preparing the meal instantly.

What we like

  • Portable design
  • Powered by a rechargaeble battery

What we dislike

It’s still a concept!

4. Seongju Kim’s Lantern

When preparing for adventures in the outdoors, a flashlight is a must-have EDC camping accessory. But like every other thing you’re packing, you’d want a flashlight that does more than show you the way. This is where a sustainably crafted option you can hang like the lantern in the camp comes in. The eco-friendly camping lantern designed by Seongju Kim is an embodiment of this thought. The camping lantern, as it is referred to, is made completely from reusable materials, which is a good way to help the environment and keep the camping area clean. When camping, multifunctional accessories are a key to thriving in the wild. The flashlight that can be used as a lantern to light up the tent helps campers prepare for the night.

Why is it noteworthy?

Ideal for campers who value multipurpose accessories they can stuff in the backpack, a lantern-like this, ensures you leave no trace in the great outdoors and have a guiding light as and when needed. For the convenience of use, the lantern’s body is made from aluminum, while the insulated handle is made from wood. The most essential strap, which instantly facilitates the accessory to be used as a lantern from a flashlight, is made from pinatex material, which is extracted from pineapple leaves.

What we like

  • Sustainable
  • Innovative use of Pinatex
  • A clean multipurpose design

What we dislike

  • Not sturdy enough for the outdoors
  • We don’t know how the lantern would generate power

5. The Mini Pop Bee Active Gear

Mystic has outfitted this camper for off-road rides in a delightfully compact form factor that should not leave you wanting even if you have to extend the road trip for some reason. Despite sharing traits, the Mini Pop Bee Active Gear has a more integrated design than other similar truck campers on the market; it offers access from the rear door, and is aptly sized to accommodate up to four people. This is done comfortably by converting the small cabin into a bedroom and pop-up roof providing more space to sleep additional travelers in the flip-up bed.

Why is it noteworthy?

Camping in the wild is an experience none of us adventurers can resist. Therefore, the vehicle for our adventures should have the competence to negotiate rough terrains and present a glamping- esque experience. The Mini Pop Bee Active Gear based on the truck variant of the Daihatsu Hijet ticks all the boxes. Available in a 4-wheel drive model, the truck camper is fitted with rough terrain tires and suspension to bear the brunt.

What we like

  • Affordably priced
  • Option between 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive models

What we dislike

  • Old fashioned aesthetics
  • No integrated stove in the kitchenette. You need to carry your own portable stove.

6. Shelf

Developed in the design language of DHL, PDF Haus aimed to give Shelf a simple box silhouette with a freewheeling attitude, taking inspiration from the color scheme, materials and finishes often chosen by DHL for their vehicles and brand aesthetic. The grill even comes with DHL decals and tags that can be adhered to the metallic grill’s front case that turns into its table extension. While most gas stoves come with a separate carrying case, Shelf’s entire grill has been turned into one that can be consolidated and carried away.

Why is it noteworthy?

Shaped and carried like a slim briefcase, two metal clasps open and slide out to reveal the Shelf’s grill and supplementary table space. Just beneath the grill, Shelf includes two retractable shelves that create more space for whoever’s cooking to place their spices, utensils, or tools. Blooming from Shelf’s underside like an awning, the shelves, and the sliding tables nearly double Shelf’s overall area.

What we like

  • Unique briefcase form
  •  An intuitive, recognizable control panel that allows users to adjust temperature and flame settings
  • DHL-inspired aesthetics

What we dislike

  • The grill is given more weight once propane gas containers are inserted into its underside to activate it
  • The briefcase-inspired stove could easily be scratched or damaged in the outdoors

7. The Campervan Raptor XC

This ingenious expandable camper comes with a slide-out expansion option right above where the lift-up tailgate galley would be. This turns the compact teardrop into a full-sized caravan to accommodate a family of four. When completely expanded the camper makes enough room for a master bedroom, indoor kitchen, wet bathroom and a sizeable dining area. So, we are talking of the best of both worlds – the compact footprint of a teardrop trailer and the airy layout of a large caravan!

Why is it noteworthy?

Demand for camper trailers is skyrocketing lately, as more and more people are fancying adventurous life on the road for a fortnight or even for life. This has had a surge in the number of camper trailers in production as makers try to fulfill the unique set of demands of customers who won’t settle for anything ordinary. The Campervan Raptor XC teardrop camper by Hunter Nature is another prime example a rugged camper that has plenty of room thanks to its ingenious design.

What we like

  • Loaded with BFGoodrich all-terrain tires in alloy wheels, and an independent suspension system to ensure a smooth ride.
  • 160-W solar panels on top

What we dislike

  • Made to be towed with a Land Rover Defender or Toyota Land Cruiser – which can be limiting

8. The C3PO canteen and the R2D2 stainless steel travel cup

The year 2022 marks 45 years since Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope appeared on the silver screen, and nearly half a century since George Lucas introduced us to two of the most beloved robots to ever grace pop culture. To celebrate that momentous occasion (along with the 40th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back), Corkcicle debuted an entire collection of Star Wars-inspired barware that’s sure to geek up your kitchen! While the collection spans all of Star Wars’ memorable characters, our eyes instantly fell in love with the C3PO canteen and the R2D2 stainless steel travel cup – two pieces of drinkware that don’t just go together functionally, but they even honor their references in size and proportion!

Why is it noteworthy?

Both the 16oz canteen and 12oz travel mug come with caps that seal your drink shut, keeping them warm or cold for hours at an end. They’re BPA-free, and even sport silicone-lined bases to ensure they don’t slip around or scratch tabletop surfaces by accident. As for the drinkware themselves, they’re made from durable stainless steel with shatterproof lids and finishes/paint-coatings that are scratch-resistant and dishwasher safe.

What we like

  • Insulated design which lets you comfortably hold onto the outer surface without the internal heat or coldness radiating to your skin
  • Star Wars-inspired design

What we dislike

  • Not lightsaber-proof

9.‘Tranendreef’ tree tents

Designed by the Dutch artist Dre Wapenaar, these ‘Tranendreef’ tree tents blend architecture and sculpture into one functional structure. The tent is suspended above the ground and basically hangs on the tree like fruit. The guests use a ladder to get inside/outside. It can host two adults and two small children. Originally installed as part of a public art project called ‘Pit’ (hence the avocado shape we assume) organized by Z33, it brought art into the public space of Borgloon. The designer also created ‘field furniture’ – seating, washing, toilet, and BBQ units to complete the camping site with the tents

Why is it noteworthy?

They are low-impact and promote sustainable tourism as the pathway they are on also leads to the Castle of Hex. It makes camping a little more quirky and fun, since we are going to be flying for a while this is the only way we can ‘hang in the air’. A reader in our Instagram comment section also called it a Hershey’s Kiss for bears, but I think the bears in Belgian would be rather repulsed by green chocolate but if this was Los Angeles…maybe!

What we like

  • Sustainable
  • Budget-friendly

What we dislike

  • We have to fly to Belguim to enjoy these tents!

10. Aeri

Meet Aeri, an inflatable canopy that you can carry anywhere inside a backpack, and inflate in 3 minutes with the press of just one single button. Aeri helps you effortlessly set up a canopy or an outdoor shelter in an instant. Designed to be used for recreational outdoor use, Aeri can easily be carried to the beach, campsites, the park, or even your backyard. It uses a four-pillar arch design that provides the perfect shelter against sun, wind, and rain, and its entirely inflatable design runs on a rechargeable air pump that can be operated independently by a single person with zero assistance.

Why is it noteworthy?

The patent-pending inflatable shelter fits into a moderately sized backpack, and when unfolded, can comfortably provide a 10ft x 10ft shelter to an entire family or a group of 5-6 people. Its UV-blocking fabric works wonderfully against the sun, creating a shaded sanctuary against harsh sunlight, and the fabric’s even waterproof, making Aeri ideal for rainy weather too. While Aeri doesn’t come with metal supports like traditional tents or canopies, it makes up for that with a clever arched architecture. The arched pillars create a rigid support structure that stays stable even in windy conditions, and if things get too out of hand, Aeri’s built-in tether system lets you hook it to the ground.

What we like

  • Ultra-light
  • Easily portable

What we dislike

  • Unsuitable for extreme weather conditions

The post Top 10 camping designs to kickstart your 2022 glamping adventures first appeared on Yanko Design.

Blooming Product is a speaker vase and a flower subscription service to beautify your home

Most of the time, I would like my speakers to look like actual speakers. But there are also times when I want them to be part of my living room decorations and not stand out so much. I’d want the smart speaker to still do what it needs to do like play music and answer my questions but also be either decorative or hidden in plain sight. This product concept can do both and maybe a bit more as it’s a speaker, a vase, and also gives you a flower subscription.

Designer: Yeongseok Go

The Blooming Product line is supposed to make ordinary things more important to us instead of being just forgotten or neglected even if they’re just there in front of us. The first in the concept product line is a vase that doubles as a speaker or a speaker that doubles as a vase, depending on how you look at it. It looks like a vase with a charging base and from the product renders, you can actually put water in it to keep flowers fresh. I don’t know how that will work in terms of water and electricity though.

What makes the concept of Blooming Product even more special is that it comes with a flower subscription service. This means that you’ll get fresh flowers every month or season so you’ll be able to replace the flowers in the speaker vase every once in a while. Just like with other subscription services, you won’t know what kind of flowers you’ll be receiving so every box that comes in will be a surprise which is good news for those that love surprises.

Since you’re getting fresh flowers every so often, this also means that you’ll be continuously “caring” for your speaker. Although if you use it often for listening to music or as a smart assistant, then you probably are not “neglecting” it anyway. But at least you get to empty the water out and then arrange the flowers that you receive to your liking and in the process, check on your speaker as well.

Design-wise, the vase speaker isn’t something extraordinary but it’s most likely the flowers that will give it the extra factor. I’m not that great when it comes to taking care of living things, including flowers, so I’m not sure if this is something I’d actually want. But for those with green thumbs or those that want to regularly have flowers in their home, then the Blooming Product may be something to appeal to you.

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Knork Eco Party Plate makes sustainable partying a possibility

Sustainable entertaining is slowly becoming a thing, at least, for those people who are eco-conscious and willing to care more for Mother Earth. The KNORK Eco line continues to deliver genius design and epic functionality with another useful product that goes well with the Knork eco cutlery introduced a few years ago. Sustainable living starts when you make sustainable choices no matter how small or trivial they might seem—and this KNORK Eco Party Plate is another step in that direction.

Designer: KNORK

Click Here to Buy Now: $24.50 $34.99 (30% off sitewide with Coupon Code “YANKO”). Hurry, deal ends March 23.

The KNORK team can help by giving us “greener” choices. From the same company that delivered the bamboo-based KNORK Eco plastic cutlery, here comes the KNORK Eco Party Plate. The new product works with the KNORK Eco forks and the Knork stainless steel forks. As with the previous products, the eco plate offers more than just a cool design aesthetic.

The KNORK Eco product line proves you can combine great functionality with great design. It also brings authentic sustainability as Knork is known for its real, sustainable products that are uniquely made. The Eco line gets more points as the products are reusable and compostable. You can use them repeatedly without having to worry about the utensils getting damaged. They will only break down when you dispose of them, which will happen in two years.

Like the KNORK utensils, the Knork Eco party plate is also made from bamboo and sugarcane offcuts, specifically, those from furniture factories. This means another step towards a zero-waste future. We believe more related products will also be introduced as the campaign for a more sustainable society is moving forward.

The KNORK Eco party plate boasts an intelligent design. It’s not the usual round plate as the shape is similar to an artist’s palette. The center portion allows you to hold a wine glass while holding a plate. It’s for those parties when you just stand as you interact and eat or drink. There is also a portion when a Knork Eco utensil can also hang.

The Astrik resin material used on the eco party plant results from moldable polymer that appears and looks like plastic with a glossy finish. It is biodegradable and is also dishwasher- and food-safe. When it’s time for disposal, you can quickly introduce it to soil, and it will biodegrade in two years completely as compost. Astrik is sustainable, durable, and has been repurposed, so this KNORK Eco party plate can be easily harvested without the need to do further damage to landscape or soil. It is also heat tolerant, moisture resistant, and is very strong.

The KNORK Eco product line leaves a little environmental impact. It promotes sustainability during parties, and that’s how we want to entertain. After this KNORK Eco Party Plate, we’re looking forward to the KNORK Eco party cup.

Click Here to Buy Now: $24.50 $34.99 (30% off sitewide with Coupon Code “YANKO”). Hurry, deal ends March 23.

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BIG ushers in their latest hotel concept with 350 birdhouses to increase the region’s biodiversity

Sweden’s Treehotel introduces their latest hotel room which covers a 34m2 cubic living unit with 350 birdhouses to increase the region’s bird population and provide nesting sites during each breeding season.

The Treehotel in Swedish Lapland is Bjarke Ingels Group’s (BIG) immersive hospitality experience that creates unique hotel accommodations through a variety of cabins in the woods. Incorporating the local materials of wood and stone into the build of each cabin, the Treehotel units each react to the surrounding forest differently just like the trees and vegetation that provide the hotel’s backdrop.

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group

In a recent collaboration with Swedish ornithologist Ulf Öhman, the Treehotel’s latest hotel room is called Biosphere for its spherical frame covered by 350 birdhouses to increase the region’s biodiversity and double as a bird habitat.

Suspended amidst the pines of Sweden’s Harads locality, Biosphere is the eighth hotel room on the property. The interior of each 34m2 hotel unit can be accessed via a suspension bridge that slopes from the ground floor up to the Treehotel’s units. While the interiors are described as “simple and pragmatic,” dark elements and organic materials help the units feel as cozy as a nest.

Visitors can also access a panoramic vista point on the roof terrace that completely opens up to the surrounding forest. As the architects behind Biosphere put it, “Surrounded by subtle bird song–balanced by the exterior triple-glazing facade–guests are provided with an intimate, immersive nature experience.”

The birdhouses that envelop the cubic living units were incorporated into the design in an attempt enhance the surrounding biosphere, with the aim being to decrease the downward trend of the local bird population in the surrounding Swedish woods and strengthen the rich biodiversity of the region. Working closely with Öhman enlightened Treehotel’s architects on the region’s bird population and how to help conserve it.

As Öhman notes, “Inventories in Norrbotten county, carried out both by us as ornithologists and by the county administrative board, show that the number of different bird populations is decreasing. Forestry has led to a reduced number of natural holes in trees where breeding birds nest. The installation of bird nests is, therefore, an important measure to take.”

Öhman continues, “Furthermore, climate change leads to the insect boom happening earlier in the year, and by the time the birds’ eggs hatch, the boom has already passed. Feeding is an important support mechanism for the birds that stay in northern Sweden and require food during winter.

Demonstrating the use of bird nests and feeding, not just at the Treehotel but for people to install near their own homes, is valuable. An initiative from Treehotel to take such measures may inspire their visitors to do the same.”

The hotel’s elevational treatment doubles as a bird habitat for the region’s avian population. 

The staggered, multi-shaped configuration of the birdhouses still allows the natural sunlight to come through to each unit.

The unit’s glass facades allow pools of sunlight to enter.

The darker interior elements provide a nestlike quality to the unit.

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The Yeezy Slides wish they were as cool as these single-material 3D-printed studio runners

These don’t look like your average pair of shoes because they clearly aren’t. Designed in the metaverse by Cullan Kerner, the shoes embody an aesthetic that’s best described as ‘oddly refreshing’ and the reason is because it doesn’t stick to the constraints of regular shoe design intended for mass production. The process with shoe design is standardized to a great degree – you’ve got pre-set sizes, materials that are readily available, dies for cutting/molding these materials, and processes like stitching or gluing that bring them together. Cullan’s design process, however, is completely different. For starters, the shoes were made entirely in Gravity Sketch, a free VR software that allows you to design directly in a 3D space. Cullan designed the shoes almost like a sculptor makes an artpiece, creating in 3D space. The shoes are made for 3D printing – a process that still hasn’t been mass-accepted by the shoe industry. The idea is simple – Cullan’s model gets imported into a 3D printing software, and the printer meticulously builds the design layer by layer using a single flexible elastomeric material. This means you don’t need dies, and you don’t need to work with pre-set sizes. Each shoe can be designed to fit you perfectly, and they’re all made to order. Finally, 3D printing allows the shoes to look as wildly futuristic (some may call it quirky) as possible – case in point being Cullan’s designs. They’re absurdly unique because A. new technologies allow them to be, and B. why not, eh? You have to admit they DO look refreshingly cool!

Designer: Cullan Kerner

Simply put, these shoes were designed in the metaverse, and they absolutely look the part. There’s a rejection of convention with Cullan’s ‘Sudio Runners’… a mindset that plays in beautifully with the idea of the metaverse where anything is possible. Cullan goes on to call his shoes “functional artpieces”, and although they’re not in production, the 3D files are available as NFTs on Exchange Art for people who want to 3D print their own pair of wildly futuristic shoes.

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Saba feat. Krayzie Bone: Come My Way

Rappers Saba and Krayzie Bone reunite for the track “Come My Way,” which appears on Saba’s latest album Few Good Things. The official music video flits back and forth between exterior shots of a sun-lit day and the interiors of a dark room, capturing the breezy buoyancy of the track as well as its realistic themes of poverty, grief and the endless toil that comes with it. Bolstered with idyllic reprises and poetic lyrics, “Come My Way,” which was produced by Daoud and daedaePIVOT, crafts a sanguine yet poignant listen.

How Native American-Owned Breweries are Reclaiming Agency

According to a 2019 survey by the Brewers Association, only 4% of the breweries in the US are owned by Native Americans or Alaska Natives. Between a history of economic and social discrimination and the stereotype that Indigenous people are more pre-disposed to alcoholism than others, there are many obstacles that make it difficult for Native people to found their own breweries. That, however, does not deter the Indigenous brewers shaking up the field today. Take the Yurok Tribe’s Mad River Brewing in Blue Lake, California, for instance. Despite constant pushback, Mad River has operated for over 30 years with plans to expand to San Fransisco’s Oracle Park this year. “I want people to understand that we are here. We are a modern people. We are here living a normal life just like everyone else,” says Mad River’s CEO Linda Cooley. Learn more about her and other pioneering brewers at Yes Magazine.

Image courtesy of Morgan Crisp

Xiaomi Wearable Wrist Speaker Concept is a crazy wearable audio device that lets you ‘feel’ the music

[The designer of this product is of Ukrainian origin. YD is sharing work from Ukrainian designers/students in the hopes of amplifying their talent and giving them a global platform.]

No, this isn’t a fan-made arc repulsor from Iron Man, although you wouldn’t be the first one to mistake it for one. Instead, it’s a refreshingly new speaker concept that merges sound and sapien together to create an experience absolutely new. The Xiaomi Wearable Speaker is a conceptual Bluetooth audio device that’s designed to sit on your wrist. Instead of making you just hear the audio by putting headphones in your ears, the Xiaomi Wireless Wrist Speaker makes you hear and FEEL audio because the speaker is quite literally strapped to your body. The sound travels through your ears, and the speaker’s vibrations traverse through your body, sort of mimicking the effect of being at a concert, where the music actually goes through your body, immersing you deeply.

[Follow Ivan Zhurba on Instagram]

Designer: Ivan Zhurba

Unlike your average speaker, the Xiaomi Wireless Wrist Speaker has a unique design that makes it especially effective as a wearable. For starters, the speaker unit features multiple double-sided drivers that vibrate both outwards and inwards, sending the thumping audio into the air, but also into your body. The wrist-worn wearable has a one-size-fits-all design, with an inflatable inner layer that tightens around your forearm (sort of like inflatable arm-bands that kids wear while swimming). The tubular design of the wearable allows the drivers to sit on one side, with a 14000mAh battery pack on the other side, powering the speaker for long listening sessions.

The idea of a wearable speaker isn’t entirely new. Companies have experimented with subwoofer jackets that basically send audio right through your body in the form of haptics, allowing you to experience sound on an audio-physical level. To an extent, bone-conducting headphones do the same thing, transmitting vibrations to the auditory nerve through the bone right in front of your ear. Zhurba’s concept builds on the same strategy and the underlying philosophy of allowing people to ‘feel’ music – something Zhurba suggests would be wonderful while meditating, exercising, running, or even riding a cycle or motorbike!

Zhurba’s design exists as just a concept for now, with the use of the Xiaomi branding being purely representational. “My vision of the design is similar with the company’s philosophy”, he mentions. The speaker, however, is patent-pending and Zhurba is currently looking for people to help finance its production. You can reach out to him via email, or through his Instagram.

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Q&A with Film Freelance Writer Richard Schertzer

  1. Can you briefly describe your job as a freelance writer in the film industry?

I write for three different media outlets related to the film industry. I am a writer for Sportskeeda, Fansided, Medium, and Movieweb. I mostly write opinion pieces and any reviews that the companies need from me. I usually pitch article ideas that may have some relevance in the entertainment industry. I’ve written articles like How Franchise Culture is killing Independent Cinema, and Hollywood’s Sometimes Stigmatizing Views of Miscegenation from Movieweb. I try to work on articles that I know have a good angle and will get enough views for more eyeballs to look at.

2. How did you start working in this industry?

I started writing for companies like The Total Plug and The DMV Daily where I wrote news articles to gain some exposure for my work and then I moved up to more film-related work and journalism. I was writing a couple of hundred articles for each outlet before I called it quits. I would look up any newsworthy content and write about anything that was trending or worth reporting in the news. Many of my pitches got rejected, but that’s how I learned to grow as a writer to see what the reader is looking at and thus grow the platform I wrote for.

3. What does your day-to-day look like?

My day-to-day looks like me writing an article and zeroing in on the subject of the article and it usually takes a while because I might be a procrastinator, but I always get the job done. Because I work for multiple outlets, it becomes challenging to focus my energies on one specific task. I usually pick an entertainment topic that will hold some eyeballs and gain some traction in the cycle once it gets published or possibly retweeted. I always get good feedback from my supervisors, and they let me know where I went wrong and what I did correctly.

4. What is your advice to anyone wanting to work in content writing or film (or both)?

If anyone wants to work in content writing just keep applying to Indeed and LinkedIn for content writing and film jobs. It was easier than I thought. However, there are many drawbacks. They include pitching the right ideas and not covering ideas that are not circulating during the news cycle. You can get rejected a lot for making the wrong pitches. Some people can even get fired for making too many wrong pitches and the easiest way to navigate through that is to research the topic and make your pitch something that people would want to read. Try not to annoy your boss with this and make your pitches concise and to the point. Speak and write with confidence so that it sounds and looks like you know what you’re talking about. Also, try not to burn yourself out with the work.

5. Do you think the freelance landscape has changed within the past few years? If so, how?

Over the last few years, the freelance landscape has changed and has become more mainstream and more accepted because COVID-19 has restructured things in the workforce. I don’t just work as a freelance writer. I am also a videographer and production assistant for other production companies, and I don’t plan on stopping. I know that I said that people should not overwork and burn themselves out, but if you want to get ahead, that may be required sometimes. That seems to be the mainstay for many employees when it comes to freelance work. More people are working towards freelance as their main form of income or as a side hustle. Before the virus, many people were prodded to get a good-paying job/career but now seem more satisfied doing freelance gigs.

6. Anything else you’d like to add:

I also find it incredibly fulfilling that the more content I publish, the more satisfaction I get from my job. I have written so many articles that I have gotten an overwhelming sense of gratitude and satisfaction from it. I have worked extremely hard pitching and writing articles that the work has almost become second nature to me. I have never been so humbled to work in this environment.

Richard Schertzer is a writer, director, cinematographer, and editor.

Interested in a film career? We have some open jobs for you!