Frederick, who goes only by his first name, is the creation of YouTuber Robert Cook. His popularity on YouTube have earnt him the admiration of his peers and a spot in the prestigious Partnership Program.
In this exclusive video with Frederick himself, he talks love, life and profanity.
Robert Cook is a performer first, retail salesman second. This prominent YouTuber, (29th most Subscribed of all time!), created the character Frederick, a boggled eyed, opinionated, social commentator. On the back of this charatcer Robert Cook has managed to become a Partner in YouTube’s lucrative Partnership Program. Here Rob talks about the program, Frederick, and the future.
A few excerpts from the interview :
1) When did you create Frederick?
I was playing around on computer, and I created these big eyes with special effects. It was originally another character. Then I heard about this thing called YouTube, and just started uploading.
2) Explain the basis of the character, what he does, why he does it.
I don’t know why he does what he does. Every time I do the character is not me, I know he is part of me, but it’s not me. I think it just the mischievous child, inner me coming out.
3) When did you first post on YouTube?
2006, around June.
4) How many subscribers and viewers do you now have?
I just hit 3900 subscribers. I think its like 15,000 channel views.
5) Why has Frederick been so popular on YouTube?
It is the eyes, no one else is doing it. But I think it is just that universal appeal to someone with those big dopey eyes. Apart from that I think he says what people are thinking.
6) You’ve been involved with the Partnership program, what does this mean?
Basically what happens its you get banners and auto play on your home page. Banners are at the top of the page, it gives your channel a bit more character. I was one of the first ten in Australia to be in the Partnership Program in Australia.
You put a video up, and basically they give you the option of having an ad put next to it by Google. So you get revenue off that ad, like 5 cents, every time it is clicked.
7) Can someone carve a financial future out of YouTube?
Definitely. Anything can happen though. You wouldn’t want to be basing it on YouTube, but yeah you can.
8 ) What opportunities has this presented to you?
Not yet. People have made offers to come and do talks. But nothing financial.
9) Where do you see your involvement with YouTube going?
I’ll always see it as a hobby, that I get a bit of cash off. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing.
Markus Zusak is an award winning, critically acclaimed and Sutherland Shire based author. Writing from the age of sixteen, Markus Zusak had his first book, The Underdog published when he was 25. Two sequels followed this, then The Messenger, a searching tale about a young taxi driver. Then, in 2006, Markus published The Book Thief an emotional tale set in Nazi Germany, about a young girl, who steals books, a Jewish boxer, and all the atrocities in between. The book was a bestseller world wide, has been sold to Fox Films, and stamped Zusak’s arrival on the literary scene.
Excerpts from the Interview
Markus Zusak :
On Writing
The magic act of reading a book, I felt like I was there. I didn’t even notice the pages turning anymore.
It’s like you are there.
When that happened for me as a reader, I thought, that’s what I wanted to do with my life, I want to do that.
On Personal Experience and Beautiful Moments
My first book is based on personal experiences, being rejected by a girl, stealing a street sign with my brother. As you progress with writing your ability to be more imaginative and creative grows. Same amount of autobiography in there, but there is more around it.
I always want there to be a really good moment, be it in a book or movie. The best moments happen between characters.
On the other hand, I’ve always had a fairly strong idea of family in my books, so maybe it comes from there.
On Reception of Book Thief
I thought no one would read that book, so I wrote it exactly as I wanted to write it. Anything I thought would annoy people, I kept it in.
We’re always pushing away from things people see as negative. Emotional moments, too negative. So I just thought well, let’s embrace some of those things.
It’s also been successful because that book means so much to me. In terms of my writing career that book means everything to me. I think readers pick up on that. So it becomes more compelling.
On Death as Narrator
It came from doing the work. You get your best ideas sitting down wirintg.
I was actually doing some wor with some students at a shool, and ai got them to write something, and I wrote something. Nad I ralised in my three pieces, Death was the narrator. So I thought maybe I should bring this into the book Im working on, and that was The Book Thief.
Another thing is the idea of Death narrating in wartime, made perfect sense, I think that made people, take notice of it.
On what’s next
It’s alot harder, because suddenly I have an audience. A lot has been written and said about the last book. There’s people who love it and people who hate it, but if you start listening to either of them they are equally damaging.
I need to just write the story. I’ve always felt I can do better then my last novel. I write with a hope to always do better. If people compare it to the Book Thief, that’s fine, so they should in a way.
On the Editorial Process
I deliver my books as if I feel like they could be published the next day. I’m not a very collaborative person, let alone writer. I usually don’t have big editorial problems, The Book Thief if you read the manuscript, you’ll read the finished product.
I’ve written with the philosophy they wont publish unless it’s perfect.
