[Bilingual / 中英雙語]: 隨筆 Note | 記錄，本應隨心且真實 - A Note on Creation | Recording Life: To Be Spontaneous and True

最近一直在看兩位 YouTuber 的影片，發現最吸引人的，往往是創作者在影片中真實的人際互動與其性格特質。看著他們為了創作而努力，心感敬佩。

自己上年也嘗試拍過幾條記錄生活的短片，體會到由構思主題、出外取景到剪接，其實極之耗費心神。起初一兩條片還有新鮮感；到了第三、四條，尚且可以把「拍片」當成藉口，推動自己去探索新的餐廳與社區。

但來到第五、六條，心態開始有點掙扎。要再拍餐廳嗎？那個區環境安全嗎？有泊車位嗎？題材夠有趣嗎？進入秋冬季，天色暗得快，大概 4 點就天黑，開始大半年雨濛濛的陰天，氣溫下降，周遭環境因為進入雨季都變得冷清清，室外拍攝的動力幾乎消失；若轉到室內，難道又要去餐廳？

雖然很多人喜歡看美食影片 Foodie videos，可惜我住的地方遠離市中心，具水準的食肆寥寥可數。至於在家拍生活片，亦非我本意。我最初只是想為美國生活周遭的環境留個記錄，利用 YouTube 這個免費平台和空間，純粹分享給家人朋友觀看。加上一直都很好奇，當一個 YouTuber 真的這麼容易嗎？

老實說，拍攝與技術上的剪接並不難，最難的永遠是創作題材。我更佩服那些創作者的努力，要持續定時定量產出內容絕非易事。後製時在影片中加上音效或其他效果，對於沒有美術或剪片根底的人來說，初段學習運用專業剪片工具都不簡單。

聽過一位 YouTuber 說過，他們一條 20 分鐘影片要用 5 小時去剪接。他們付出了很多努力（effort），還有 Social Media 上的宣傳、協作或廣告洽談，經營個人 Channel 絕不簡單，我從不認為這會比打工容易。現在我會經常在他們的影片下給一個讚 Like，作為小小的鼓勵，有時還會留下正面評論 positive comment。

現在我和先生一齊回看 2025 年上載的短片，依然很感恩有做了這件事，未來也會繼續不定時拍片記錄生活。重溫影片的時候感到好安慰，就好似瞬間將我們帶回拍攝當天：我們記錄了屋企對開的湖邊生態環境，有烏龜、有鴨、有雀、有人、有狗，不同節氣的植物生長狀態，附近的櫻花樹，還有幾間常去的餐廳。

想起當時的對話與畫面，成了我們最珍貴的回憶，相信 10 年後再看還是非常值得回味。我鼓勵大家不妨嘗試拍攝自己的生活影片，5 分鐘或 10 分鐘也好，現在有些剪片工具的介面 interface 設計非常直觀，比從前更容易操作，甚至可以利用 AI 去剪片和配樂。善用這些免費平台和工具，或者你會因此而喜歡上影片創作，發掘出其他興趣，甚至成為一個專業 Content Creator，變成副業賺取額外收入都說不定。

看到那些 YouTuber 的努力，也提醒了我：無論是影像還是文字創作，真實就是最好的。以前我會花很多時間心機去思考題材，計劃再計劃發布時間、設計 Social Media post，後來才發現，其實即興的創作反而更真實，也更適合自己。像我這類隨筆 note，不再咬文嚼字，也不需要過度計畫，更不需要限時限刻去發布。如果像跑業績一樣，給自己很多限制和框架，就會失去我的本意了。既然初衷是記錄生活而非以此為業，那就隨心吧！Right?

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A Note on Creation | Recording Life: To Be Spontaneous and True

Lately, I’ve been immersed in the works of two YouTubers, realizing that what captivates me most is the raw, authentic human interaction and the distinct personalities they bring to the screen. Seeing their dedication to their craft fills me with respect. 

Last year, I dabbled in making a few short films to document my life. I quickly learned that the process, from conceptualizing a theme and scouting locations to the final edit, is a deeply taxing labor of love. The first couple of videos were fueled by novelty; by the third or fourth, "filming" served as a perfect muse, nudging me to explore new bistros and unfamiliar neighborhoods.

However, by the fifth or sixth video, hesitation began to set in. Must I film another restaurant? Is the area safe? Is there parking? Is this subject truly engaging? As autumn bleeds into winter, the daylight thins out, vanishing as early as 4 PM. We begin a long stretch of misty, rain-soaked months. Temperatures drop, and the landscape turns quiet and desolate under the persistent drizzle. My motivation for outdoor shoots has all but evaporated. If I move indoors, am I limited to just restaurants? 

While many enjoy "foodie" content, I live far from the city core, where quality eateries are sparse. As for filming my domestic life—that was never the intent. My original vision was simply to archive the atmosphere of my life in America, utilizing YouTube as a free space to share snippets with family and friends. I also found myself wondering: is being a YouTuber truly as effortless as it looks on screen?

In truth, the technicalities of filming and editing aren't the hardest part; the real challenge is the perpetual birth of fresh ideas. I admire the sheer grit of these creators—maintaining a consistent, high-quality output is no small feat. For those without a background in fine arts or film, the initial learning curve for professional editing tools, sound design, and visual effects is steep. 

I once heard a creator say that a single 20-minute video requires five hours of editing. They pour immense effort into their work, not to mention social media promotion, collaborations, and sponsorship negotiations. Managing a personal channel is far from easy, I’ve never believed it to be simpler than a traditional 9-to-5 job. Now, I often leave a "Like" or a positive comment on their videos as a small token of encouragement.

Looking back at the clips my husband and I uploaded in 2025, I am profoundly grateful that we took the leap. We plan to continue filming our lives, albeit sporadically. Revisiting these videos brings a sense of comfort; it’s as if we are instantly transported back to those days. We captured the ecosystem of the lake right outside our home, the turtles, ducks, birds, people, and dogs. We recorded the rhythm of the seasons through the growth of the plants, the cherry blossoms nearby, and the familiar haunts where we often dine. 

These fragments of dialogue and imagery have become our most cherished memories, and I believe they will be even more precious ten years from now. I encourage everyone to try filming their own lives, even just five or ten minutes. Many modern editing tools have very intuitive interfaces, making them easier to use than ever, some even utilizing AI for cutting and scoring. 

By making use of these free platforms, you might discover a passion for creation, uncover new interests, or perhaps even find a side hustle as a professional Content Creator.

Witnessing the efforts of these creators has reminded me: whether through a lens or a pen, authenticity is paramount. I used to spend so much energy overthinking themes, meticulously planning upload schedules, and designing social media posts. 

Eventually, I realized that spontaneous creation is more honest and better suited to who I am. Like this "Note," I no longer want to obsess over every word or over-engineer the plan. There is no need for rigid deadlines. If I turn this into a quest for "performance" or "quotas," I lose the very essence of why I started. Since the goal is to record life rather than turn it into a career, I’ll just follow my heart. Right?