Can you tell us about your journey on YouTube? How did you and your family get started?
I always loved watching YouTube videos and begged my mom to let me make videos. My mom initially started our channel as a way to keep in touch with family and friends who lived far away and we couldn’t believe it when one of my unboxing videos became so popular. That video now has over 50 million views and was the start of something we could never have dreamed of.
Over the years, your content has really grown. Besides your typical toy reviews, you’ve created vlogs, conducted science experiments, worked on merchandise, games, etc. How do you decide what to try next?
I’ve always really enjoyed making videos for my channel because it’s always been so much fun to spend time with my family. My mom used to be a science teacher, so she probably has a billion ideas for science experiments that my sisters and I can do with her. We also like to do fun family skits together with my parents and my twin sisters.
Why did you and your team decide to make a film?
It was always my dream to make a feature film, but of course I never knew if it would be possible. For the past few years I have been making TV shows that could be seen on Nickelodeon, Hulu, Roku and other platforms, and as more and more fans fell in love with these shows, I felt like my dream was getting closer and we partnered with pocket.watch to bring the film to life!
How was the filming process similar to making your regular videos and what was different?
Even though some of my videos are just acting, they are closer to real life. Usually I am with my mom, dad and sisters and an iPhone and we act or go to different places and record just once. The film was very different. The character was based on me, but there was a script and a huge crew with so many cameras, lighting and locations and I was working with other creators in a new way. I had to study my lines and really think about the scene. I had similar experiences with my TV show, Ryan’s mysterious playdatebut this was much bigger. I was really impressed with how well my younger sisters did on set. They had never done anything like this before and it seemed to come naturally to them.
What is the most important thing you learned from playing the lead role in Ryan’s World: Adventures in the Titan Universe?
Patience! The process takes longer with the script, the lighting and all the people helping out, and you don’t see what the film actually looks like until much later. I also learned how to order the best sundae at an ice cream place.
What are you most excited about for your fans to see in the film?
I’m so happy that people are seeing this movie! And if they like it and want more, I would love to do it again. The animation in this movie is really, really cool. I also got to act in scenes with amazing creators like Dan Rhodes and Evangeline. Evangeline has experience as an actress and I really learned a lot from her. Dan’s magic tricks are mind-blowing. I wish I had learned more of them, but I still can’t understand how he does so many of the things he does. I’m excited for the fans to see magic, our friendships, and my family having a great time together.
Do you have any funny stories or behind-the-scenes moments you can share with us?
At the end of the film, there is a huge water balloon fight with me, my sisters and Evangeline’s character Aiden. The build-up to the water fight was hilarious. Our director Albie was keen to get us in the mood and had us practice throwing water balloons at him – it was really funny.
What is the next goal you want to achieve in the next five years?
I have a lot of fun doing it with my family and I want to keep doing it. My parents really help me do the activities that interest me and my sisters. This year we’ve really focused on snowboarding and skateboarding, so maybe the content will show some of that, or whatever my interests are in 5 years.
What do you think is the secret to your success and longevity on YouTube?
Sometimes I can’t believe it and I’m so grateful that as a YouTube creator I have the opportunity to do other things that I really enjoy. I hope people see how much fun I have on my channel and that it makes them want to have fun with their families. I think if you really like something you just put your heart and soul into it, have a great time and hope that you can achieve your goals.
