Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Yates
Hi Mike, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Almost two years ago I was hitting a wall creatively being an education innovation content creator. I was bored with the same discussions and comments over and over. Creating was no longer an art. It was a chore.
I told my wife, Alexandria, about it and she replied with something that would be extremely important. “You love creating things. You love making videos and content. You should find another way to do that.”
Being into bourbon, I kicked back with a glass of Stil Austin Cask Strength Bourbon and glanced over at my Canon R6 and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was going to take my two hobbies, bourbon and filmmaking, and mash them up.
CineBourbon was born.
I created a TikTok account and started making videos where the bourbon was the subject of the video. No talking head, no reviews, no advice, just trying to find creative ways to feature the bottles and the stories of the people behind them.
Almost two years later I’ve got a whole new community, and a whole new fresh commitment to creating more art.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Compared to running businesses and my day job where I lead the AI side of an R&D Lab, creating content about bourbon has been restful in a strange way. This community and this hobby is about slowing down, connecting with other people and enjoying the moment you’re in.
So there’s been struggles when it comes to growing a social media account but nothing too crazy. Yes, there’s the people that you feel like are passing you up when their videos aren’t as good. There’s the weird algorithmic changes that sometimes make you feel like you’re doing all the wrong things but, in comparison to my day job, this is all just super fun.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I make cinematic reviews and short films about America’s native spirit: Bourbon.
I’m most proud of the community I’ve been able to build through the mashing up of my two hobbies (filmmaking and bourbon).
What makes me different than everyone else is that I don’t just do reviews or blind tastings. I make short films and little movies. I care deeply about the aesthetics of the post, much more than many others.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that, as a creative, you can get caught up in doing what the algorithm wants you do and what the trolls in the comments say. As an artist or creative, at the end of the day you have to make an agreement with yourself to create the kind of content you want to make.
Follow that north star, not every wind that blows a different direction.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cinebourbon
- Facebook: @cinebourbon
- Twitter: @cinebourbon
- Youtube: @cinebourbon
