Jack Donovan

My backgrounds are NOT fake. In case some of you wondered, I actually do film videos like this on location. I haven't used a green screen since I filmed Invocation of the Storm--which I produced before AI video was big.

It's normally too hot to film in Phoenix in the summer (110F+) but there's a big monsoon season this year and we got a break in the weather. So I was able to haul my equipment out into Gold Canyon south of the Superstitions Mountain, where I filmed several other videos.

There's an AI disclosure on this video because I used a couple of AI clips I made with Grok in the part about hipsters. Most of it is stock, but I really wanted a clip of a dude on a unicycle, because that was so popular. I declare AI myself whenever I use it.

But all of the footage of me speaking is actually me in a real place--usually either at my house or on some trail.

I do it because I want to do what I talked about in this video.

This is the best content I can produce.

I use a script and a teleprompter because I'm a writer first, and I want my videos to be concise and make sense. I want the information to be accurate and the ideas to be well-thought-out.

I do a ton of takes because I want the delivery to feel the way it sounded in my head when I wrote it. (If you want to hear me ramble, that's what the weekly live show is for. )

You can actually see the light and cloud cover change in this video because it takes a while to get each segment and set up a new shot. It's just me out there by myself moving a bunch of gear around to try to get the best shot.

I think the videos look distinctive and original. And I learn something about filmmaking every time.

I don't do these low-effort TikTok style videos that people do, because I'm too old to make work I'm not proud of.

And that's also why I moved from Instagram to YouTube. Instagram just isn't worth this kind of effort.

Just thought I'd share a little bit about my process and intention.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 143

Jack Donovan

This is well done.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Jack Donovan

Here's a podcast recorded a while back with my publisher in France, Piero San Giorgio.

1 month ago | [YT] | 7

Jack Donovan

Going live in a few hours. Let us know if there's anything you want us to address.

2 months ago | [YT] | 2

Jack Donovan

This Sunday at 7:30 PST I will be starting a new weekly LIVE show with ‪@caffeineandphilosophy1‬. We spent a year doing a how on another channel. CB have a great rapport, and he's one of the most thoughtful and intelligent men I know. (Also an electrician and married father of 5). Give him a follow. Our discussions may deal with controversial topics, but like so many of you, we are tired of men who invent create controversy and say things they don't mean just to get attention. We are actually interested in finding the best, most balanced conclusions—informed, of course, by our shared worldview. If you have any questions for us, please ask live or in the comments here, and we will try to address them in this show or a following show.

3 months ago | [YT] | 7

Jack Donovan

‪@RealAndrewBriggs‬ asked me what I'd like to see more of in men who influence men, and I said a sense of responsibility for the advice they are giving and the effects it has. This was a good conversation about the #manosphere, Theroux's "documentary" and more.

3 months ago | [YT] | 3

Jack Donovan

Check out this podcast featuring ‪@caffeineandphilosophy1‬ - a good friend and strong thinker. He and I are going to start a weekly live show on Sundays next month.

3 months ago | [YT] | 3

Jack Donovan

Since the "Inside the Manosphere" video did so well and I liked the format, I'm going to spend the month of April creating more YouTube content. My first project is to remake "What is Masculinity?" -- which is 11+ years old and the first YouTube video I ever recorded.

It will be a little more in-depth and updated—more like a 10-20-minute lecture.

Are there any other topics you'd like to see me cover or revisit?

3 months ago | [YT] | 18

Jack Donovan

Check out this great conversation I had with Ryan Michler about beefs and hot takes and online gossip culture.

7 months ago | [YT] | 7

Jack Donovan

Check out this recent podcast recorded locally with author Atlas Aultman

8 months ago | [YT] | 2