6 minute read
Chris Stanley
Thank you Vents Magazine!
of the best lessons I learned growing up that I now apply to being a content creator.
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Well I certainly love fall, that’s for sure. I think they help make me more creative because we have all four seasons unlike somewhere like Florida. So I can really get more creative with my content during each season. There was not much to do in my small town, so growing up my brothers and I and even my friends had to create our own entertainment. I think that is one perhaps one day possibly writing a book?
You grew up in the beautiful state of New Hampshire. How do those roots inform you as an entertainer and a content creator?
Even my friends constantly inspire me to create newer and better things than before. To name a few: Troye Sivan, Tom Daley, Mark Miller, everyone involved with “Heartstopper”, Patricia Nell Warren: author of The Front Runner, Noah Schnapp, Art Bezrukavenko, 6arelyhuman, and many more.
There are plenty of artists, actors, and media that inspire me.
Who inspires you?
I would love to make some sort of content for a streaming platform, and have already been tossing around some ideas, so definitely! As for a book, I hadn’t thought about it completely, but I do love to write… I think you might have just inspired me, I’ll remember to give a special thanks to “Vent’s Magazine” when I’m a NY times bestselling author ;).
Looking ahead, do you have any plans on expanding your brand into the world of television and/or streaming? Or may want to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ culture?
Typically I will make videos with my family, or even my “straight friend” Calvin. I think it’s better for them to see scenarios and examples of LGBTQ+ culture when I’m not directly trying to teach them something. Like maybe I’m showing my family something, or teaching my straight friend gay slang– so they can sort of learn by watching us.
How do you go about educating heterosexual audiences who you feel both personally and professionally?
Professionally I feel like it’s something that I should strive for, and have partially achieved. Personally it feels a little overwhelming, and like people are constantly watching me to see what I’m going to do next. But that just makes me want to try harder to be a good role model and spread positivity about the LGBTQ+ community.
It’s an honor to be honest. I never thought people would look up to me, but it is something I take very seriously.
You’re a role model for many folks, including those in the underrepresented LGBTQIA+ community. How does this make down in my notes when I’m at the gym or cooking dinner or before bed sometimes.
It was crazy, I still remember the night she re-posted me. I was freaking out. It is crazy to think about how many people have seen my videos. Sometimes I wonder what other celebrities have watched a video of mine. The other day actually, I noticed Katy Perry commented on a video I made about Kylie Minogue’s 2023 summer bop “Padam”.
No less of a world-class superstar than Madonna has caught hip to your original videos. How does it feel to not only grab the attention of someone of Madonna’s stature, but also in general millions of other people throughout the world?
I had a series called “reasons to like chubby guys”. I would say various, usually slightly comedic but serious reasons why people should like chubby guys. And in the gay community, people usually only want muscles or skinny guys. So a lot of guys would say how the videos helped them with their confidence and liked that I was spreading the word that there’s more to life than abs. I would say this body positive series is definitely one I am proud of because I know it made a lot of gay men happy when they watched it.
Of all of your many TikTok videos, which stand out the most for you? Which are you the most proud of?
The more unexpected the better when it comes to the street interviews. A lot of the time I will do an interview and then be able to tell after if it will go viral or not perform well based on a variety of factors. But the more unexpected and outrageous–the better.
When crafting your videos, do you always have to take into account the unexpected as far as your on the street interview content?
More free-wheeling – I will scroll and find something that inspires me which I can change slightly and make it into my own semi-original idea. But a lot of videos are also just random ideas I will have, and I’ll think of it and then scribble the idea
When fashioning a new TikTok video, do you have a particular methodology on how you pick a topic as the subject, or is it a bit more free-wheeling and fancy-free than that?
I thought, “wait, this has potential.”
I don’t really want to go to college right now.” Then I started looking for ways to make money online and got into video creation and livestreams which has evolved into the multiple forms of content I create now. Some of my videos took off and
I started down this path when first of all, I decided to take a gap year from college. Then, covid happened. So I said, “yeah,
Starting from the top, can you talk with our ever-inquisitive readers about how these little audio/visual vignettes began life? What inspired you to walk this very unique and original path?
Major congratulations on your wildly popular original TikTok videos which have spanned the gamut from deeply emotional and inspirational to downright fun, creative and bright!
2023 has been great for me so far. I spent a lot of time in Provincetown, went to 4 different pride festivals in the US, shot a short LGBTQ+ skate film, and even went to Amsterdam for pride!
Q&A TikTok rabbit hole, how has the summer of 2023 been treating you?
Before we dive down the proverbial content creator Chris Stanley who is perhaps best known by his famed nom de plume. “StanChris”; greetings and salutations, Chris!
We’re happy to be speaking today with LGBTQIA+ TikTok
SO, 2nd of November, show at El Mocambo, Toronto Exhibition about the music album BRUTAL through a new visual experience in November, Toronto downtown And? Learn new stuff!!!! That’s the point to reach the next level;)
What else is happening next in your world?
Nop. Japan was an amazing experience last year. We did a small Summer tour with the first album and we have a show in Town ( Toronto) in November for BRUTAL that will allow us to be connected again all together from Japan, to Europe to Canada. As touring is a lot of Energy and money:)))) This year and 2024 will be dedicated on studying new way to play some instruments:) and ground basics knowledge. Will see where this experience will drive me.
Will you be hitting the road this year?
So Inspiration belong to something we can not even imagine but feel blessed when it « hits » you by its flow and you have been chosen to express it. It is a kind of responsibility you have on your shoulder for the human being:)
Heaven? Or Limbo? Or both? :)))) Inspiration come to you when it decides to do so. Keep in mind that what we are living here down is a lovely theater perfectly put in place by something higher. We don’t control anything We are « playing » a kind of Reality))) and the best way to live it is to « Go with the flow ».
Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?
Writing was fast. Recording a little bit challenging but super interesting by the fact that the sound engineer added his own ideas. And it has been the same with the mix and master process so this piece is the image of a community.
How was the recording and writing process?
BRUTAL is in shape with the emotions I have been through and the one I felt in the city from 2018. It is a door into an experimentation of sounds, instruments and feelings. No filter, no masks just « as you are ». And to be honest it is clearly a new path that I truly enjoy:)
What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?
Back in Toronto, happy to feel the flow of downtown:)))
Hello VENTS, pretty good, thank you:)
Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?