Bogdan Alexe is a content creator and YouTuber from Canterbury who has a passion for social media having uploaded his first YouTube video 13 years ago.
With over 350 videos uploaded to his YouTube channel, Bogdan Alexe was able to put down the camera and speak to us about his filmmaking, the time he generated 13 million views in one day, his love of Canterbury and some of his long-term projects.
For readers who may not know, can you explain what your YouTube channel is all about?
‘Yes, yes the people’. My name is Bogdan, and I am an international filmmaker. I have a full-time job as a content creator in the tourism industry, but my passion is to tell stories (mine or others’) through vlogs and documentary or analytical videos. My YouTube channel (@bogdanalexetv) has seen a natural evolution, as influenced by my followers over the years, from comedy sketches to ‘tips & tricks’ on moving and living in the UK, travel videos and most recently, a focus on more mature themes such as buying and renovating your first property in the UK and political and societal commentary. I guess (8 years later) I’m still working on a niche for my channel, but really, I just enjoy telling stories which inform and (hopefully) educate a little.
Do you remember recording your first video and how the process and passion came from uploading your first video to then pursuing a career in YouTube?
Clear as day! It was October 2015; I was studying for an MA in Journalism at CCCU and I had just picked my thesis topic: YouTube vs Mainstream Broadcast. The only way to understand the power of YouTube was to stop thinking and just do it, so I did! It was the most awkward 20 minutes of my life – trying to record an introduction video that should have lasted 60 seconds. By the time my MA finished and I had my degree, I had reached my first 1000 subscribers, monetised my channel and had a very committed group of about 50 followers who were true fans – encouraging, critical if they felt they needed to be, but most importantly, they shaped my channel through suggesting content which they thought would work for my personality… they were so right!
That’s where the passion began… when I saw that I had a small impact on individuals’ lives (as they would tell me in the comments). Shortly after, once I found my ‘voice’, I pursued YouTube not necessarily for the small amount of money it would generate, but rather for the multiple, long-term possibilities it opened outside of the Google AdSense system. But my biggest and most valuable gain from creating on this platform was becoming a much better filmmaker!
From the many videos you have posted, what would you say have been your favourites and why?
- I had a funny sketch about how much I hate mornings, ages ago – that was the first collaboration I ever did with another YouTuber – it opened my eyes to a wider community of creators.
- The Canterbury Food Festival in 2014 was a good one. Back then I used to be a radio presenter in a Canterbury-based radio station (CSRfm) and I would create loads of videos to visualise my radio show (Hype O clock). This particular one opened a lot of avenues for influencer work as well as to become very involved in the Kent community.
- ‘My first house vlog #1’ marked the purchasing of my home in Canterbury, in 2021 and it has all sorts of emotional value, happy memories of hard work, saving, searching, deciding etc… I guess this video marks the start of a completely new chapter of my life.
- But by far, my favourite video is the one I still have not posted, because it is still not done! My trip to Marrakech in 2018 – that video is my first in-depth, exploratory adventure-like travel video, filmed over 4 days, off the back of a one-week work trip in Marco. That trip marked the start of my full-time filmmaking career. I still haven’t finished it because the type of editing requires a serious amount of time and creative stamina, the kind I have less and less of due to the volume of video content I output weekly.
- In lockdown, I also created my first travel showreel with never-before-seen footage by my audience. I played around with the green screen, and I joked about ‘virtual travel’. That video was cool because the BBC picked it up and did a story about the ‘Travel vlogger who travels virtually’. This collab with the BBC generated 13 million views in a single day… which really brought a boost to my analytics. bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-kent-53221387
“…interaction is the real measurement of success on this platform.” Bogdan Alexe
What are you busy working on this year and do you have any long-term plans/video projects for the next 5-10 years?
This year I am experimenting with something new: ‘The UK stole it’ a series of investigative videos in which I explore which cultural aspects of British life were inspired by other cultures/nations throughout history. It’s meant to be primarily educational but also funny. So far, on YouTube, it’s had mixed reactions. But on Instagram, it’s doing a lot better (same handle @bogdanalexetv). As it becomes apparent that there are only so many things I can investigate, I would like to naturally evolve this series into a more analytical and societal investigative form, exploring truly interesting aspects of British life such as hostile architecture and the imbalance of wealth.
Alongside this, I will continue the ‘My first house vlog’ series, as I continue to learn how to single handily renovate, upgrade, and extend my home – something I have become passionate about, which is also a very steady supply of useful content for my audience.
Super long term, I’d like to continue YouTubing as much as possible, expanding my portfolio of video content, building on my creative skills, learning new tools such as AI and starting to generate some sponsorship deals.
I’d also like to engage with the Kent community once again via videos – perhaps with the Canterbury Festival, like I did back in 2014. These kinds of projects are fun and appreciated by the locals.
How can readers follow your career on YouTube and social media?
Well, they can always follow me @bogdanalexetv on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. I’d love for some of your readers to become followers and for them to engage through the comments – making their voices heard: what they would like to see, what they would like to learn etc. I like to stay true to what YouTube has always been: a democratic platform… and not an analytics-driven, ad-riddled spam hub. Ads pay, sure…but interaction is the real measurement of success on this platform.
Away from YouTube, what do you enjoy most about living in Canterbury?
I have a great view of the Cathedral from my garden… that’s a big plus! But seriously, I moved here in 2008 as an 18-year-old student and made it my home. My best friends are here, I found my career here and I found love here. It’s also close enough to the border for a quick holiday and it’s close enough to London for work. It’s vibrant, it’s youthful thanks to the energetic student population. What I love most about Canterbury, in a word, it’s home.