An Interview With "DavidJr.com"

So who is DavidJr.com? Well he was named one of Interview Magazine’s WEB SUPERSTAR AWARD winners, a little while ago. The Award for Making People Talk went to David Bruce Bates, Jr. whose charmingly raw documentary-style shorts and off-the-cuff interviews with the likes of Christian Slater and Robert Wilson got the blogosphere – and the entertainment industry – buzzing. David kindly agreed to an interview.

(David talks to Christian Slater: Video Below)

Davidjr.com is an entertainment site featuring yourself on-the-scene around New York City, in action and comedy shorts. How did you come up with the inspiration for the concept behind David Jr.com?

David: When I was growing up (in Westport, Connecticut) people would tell me I should be a comedian. I was way too shy to get on stage in front of people, that’s when I realized I could entertain people all over the world with the internet. I started my website in 1996.

What is your method for getting behind the scenes and do you prepare at all in advance with what you might ask?

David: I’ve been filming stuff on the streets in NYC for a while and a few years back, VP of GEN ART FILMS, Jeff Abramson, gave me an opportunity to actually be “invited” to red carpet events… it really worked out and now I get invited to film, fashion and other cool events. I do prepare in advance but when I show up it’s a matter of reacting to the energy of the night. Really just going with no expectations, improvising, keeping an open mind and having fun.

Q: Out of all your experiences on DavidJr.com? What is your favorite and why?

David: The more off-the-cuff the better… Prince Max, Christian Slater, Colin Hanks, Ed Norton, John Malkovich and Kristen Bell…. well over 100 celebs by now. Each video, whether it features a celeb, or just going to the movies with my friends (King Kong, Star Wars 3) is produced in a very natural, conversational style. There are no bright lights, mic in face or camera crew.

One of your other projects is Streaming Museum which runs real-time exhibitions in cyberspace and public space on seven continents accessed via Internet and in high visibility public locations. Can you tell us the premise behind this and any exciting events we should keep an eye on in the future?

David: Streaming Museum is a new hybrid, cross-reality, Museum of the 21st Century. The exhibitions are produced with international curators and cultural organizations.

The key is that we are presenting an entertaining mix of pop culture with fine art which attracts a larger audience for both. And it’s FREE cultural content for giant screens in public locations and “on demand” via the website and Second Life. There are several bi-monthly exhibitions in the planning stage and people can sign up on the website to be notified about opening dates and parties at the public locations and Second Life.

Do you work on any other non-web projects in your spare time?

David: No.

Cool belt buckle! It has truly become a big part of your “brand”. What was the thought behind that?

David: In 2004 a co-worker got a name buckle and I thought how cool it would be to use something like that as my LOGO. People get a kick out of it.

(Video: Kristen Bell)

Where do you go from here? What are your dreams for beyond what you have achieved to date?

David: I’ll keep making videos for my website… celeb, fashion, arts, action videos, street scenes, etc. etc. — I would love more access to EVERY kind of event that goes on in the city. And would be great to have davidjr.com on-the-scene in Asia, South America, Antarctica… all over the map.

But most of all, I would like to have the opportunity to produce the scripts I’ve written and have a half hour variety show (www.davidjr.com/tv) on a TV channel + web = with the backing of a major corporation. I’ll always keep doing what I’m doing – creating for my site, which is tied into the access I get.

What celeb or person would you most like to meet and why? What would you ask them?

David: Bill Cosby. The Cosby Show is my favorite comedy show of all time. I’d love to film him interacting with random people on the street and acting out different situations for my “Street Scene” series.

What would you ask Britney Spears if you met her?

David: Wanna go to karaoke with me?

Any final thoughts you might like to share?

David: Just put yourself out there and see where the Velcro sticks. My name is “davidjr.com”