Uploads: 475
Channel Views: 99,364
Total Upload Views: 385,054
Subscribers: 2,164
What are all these people watching?
First, it was an intoxicated man biking — or at least attempting to bike — through the Donovan. Then it was an trip to the scrapyard. Then it was a scrap-collecting mission, complete with a stop at the pet store to buy cat food.
Everywhere Marcel St-Jean goes, his camera goes. Everything he does, he films.
“I’m showing my life,” he said. “There’s no lies — what I show is what I do.”
Once the filming for each short is complete, it’s edited. Then put on YouTube.com.
The first video uploaded to his channel was put there by his son. St-Jean said he would have never even started making videos without his help. Since then, he has learned to do it himself though.
Most of the videos he has uploaded in the last two-and-a-half years highlight St-Jean’s at work as a “scrapper.”
“My dad was a scrapper,” St-Jean said. “He taught me the trade.”
To help keep beer in his fridge, St-Jean said he collects junk and trades it in for cash. Friends will call him to pick up their unwanted appliances and help him by keeping their eyes peeled for good scrap.
On an average day, St-Jean can come across about $60 worth of scrap. Each video he posts translates to about 1,000 hits on YouTube.com.
Most of his films are around the 10-minute mark. Even though YouTube.com suggests making shorter pieces, he’s found success with his mini-movies. His subscribers (and there are hundreds of them) like it, too.
“What I like most is the comments I get from my viewers,” St-Jean said.
Marcel St-Jean has developed a faithful fan following on YouTube.com. He documents his daily life, which involves a lot of scrapping. Photo by Jenny Jelen.
More than 400 people commented on the video “Epic Drunk Bike Guy in the Middle of the Afternoon,” leaving remarks like “that was classic! You guys need your own TV show,” and “I’ve seen this video so many times and it still cracks me up.”
Having fun, and receiving feedback like this, is what it’s all about for St-Jean.
“I light to keep it light,” he said. “If it makes people smile, that’s what it’s all about.”
To check out St-Jean’s videos, visit youtube.com/user/marcelstjean.
On Dec. 5, St-Jean is inviting fans and fellow YouTube.com users to join him at Cranky Joe’s at 7 p.m.
Posted by Jenny Jelen
