Canadian YouTube star Corey Tonge talks gaming, content creation
Every December, video-sharing platform YouTube releases highly anticipated end-of-year lists that detail top trends found on the platform, plus its top trending videos and creators. In 2023, Corey Tonge topped YouTube’s Canadian list for biggest breakout creator and came in second for top Canadian creator overall, just behind teenage contortionist Anna McNulty.
Tonge is known for his comedic shorts and long-form videos that focus on gaming and relationship drama. He started taking YouTube creation seriously in 2021 and grew his massive fanbase of 11.8 million subscribers in only two years, hitting his 10 million mark in 2023.
We sat down with him to discuss all things gaming, content creation, and becoming a YouTube sensation.
Q&A with Corey Tonge
Q: How did you get your start on YouTube?
A: It started in September 2021. I’ve had my account since 2014, but it was just to watch videos. In 2021, I started posting — I was into relationship comedy. It was the peak of COVID-19, and I was still working a full-time job in marketing. I loved relationship videos, like comedic dramas that I could create alone.
Q: So, is this your full-time job, and what did you do before settling as a Creator?
A: Yes, so it’s been over a year and a half now of doing this full-time, and it’s been a wild ride. It’s crazy because it’s just grown into this monster so fast. I’ve had to adapt quickly, but I think I’m quite lucky because I am older for YouTubers. I’m 32 when all my friends are 20 or 21. Because of that, I’ve been seasoned by working multiple jobs in my life at Apple and marketing, and I was used to handling money. I was used to budgeting and stuff like that. So, I’m not going out buying all the Gucci stuff.
Q: You have over 11 million followers on the platform – why do you think your content resonates with so many viewers?
A: I think the biggest reason is because I’m still in Canada. It’s a huge thing that a lot of creators think you have to go to L.A. to make it big in any sort of entertainment industry. I’m still filming videos in Toronto, and I still film a lot of times in Montreal because I’m from there. I love making sure that people know I’m from Canada.
Q: You have a good mix of regular videos and shorts – which do you prefer to create and why?
A: I started in shorts. It was just the best segue into content creation because, trust me, I’ve been studying long-form now for a year going through all the best YouTube coaches, and it’s just such a big monster to understand in terms of writing. I’ve only taken five or six days off of posting in the last two years. So I’ve made a short video every single day for two years now and counting, and they’re high-production shorts, so they still take me six hours a day making each one.
I’m blessed to say that, finally, I think I’m starting to find the right crew members to be able to do both. Posting every day on shorts and also posting weekly on long-form.
Q: Could you describe the process of creating a short?
A: It’s like scriptwriting. I was using an iPad, but I still find [I’m] a little bit old school and print stuff out. I start with just trying to have a vision, and it’s kind of weird because I just sit around and wait, and then I look at memes online. I look at what’s trending in the gaming world, and I just wait for a vision of a basic script.
Then I start just trying to tackle that, so normally that takes around 45 minutes. Just to create the script writing, and then obviously after, it’s to figure out where in the house or Toronto I can film this video. Acting is normally the easiest part. I’ve always been over the top. The acting is normally just an hour to an hour and a half, and then the hardest part is editing. Editing takes around four hours for every video.
Q: Your videos look so professional – what kind of gear do you use to create them?
A: For a good almost two years, I was honestly just using my iPhone. I got up to, I think, six million [subscribers] on YouTube before I bought a real mic and a real camera.
It’s a sort of step-by-step process. First start with the iPhone or Samsung or Google Pixel, and then find amazing lighting because that will make even an older iPhone or other mobile device [look] HD after just having a really good light on you.
Some other products Tonge recommends:
– Lapel mic
– Sony A7SIII camera
Analyst comment
Neutral news
As an analyst, Corey Tonge’s success as a breakout creator on YouTube shows the potential for growth in the gaming and content creation market. With his comedic shorts and dedicated fanbase, Tonge’s success demonstrates the demand for entertaining and relatable content in the industry. As a result, the market for gaming and content creation is likely to continue to grow, attracting more creators and viewers alike.
