The Value of Mentorship

[@reubenmccann7135]

I have ADHD. Never have I ever watched a video that naturally felt like you were speaking directly to me. I wouldn't and couldn't distract from what you have to say.

[@RyanLawless]

I remember watching all of your films on Vimeo, being utterly and completely fascinated by the culture that Tom Sachs created in his studio that, in turn, facilitated your filmmaking within that space, and how that all fed into the image of the studio and the reputations of everyone working there. Thank you for contextualizing your experience with Tom, and also on getting your Simpsons moment by way of your upcoming project with him.

[@laurakampf]

I loved every second of this video! so glad you are here on KZbin. Really enjoy your Zine too ❤

[@ramdarass]

I teared up and cried at 3:21. As an artist and designer who has largely felt unseen and under-appreciated for my contributions, I so appreciate you for your statement.

[@ramdarass]

The most valuable technique a mentor can share with the mentee: 13:45

[@maknee__]

I’m so glad I found this channel.

[@utsavghosh6495]

Me too, thanks to Van and thanks to the internet

[@EntirelyHonest]

Van you may not know it, but you're my mentor! Thank you for your work ❤

[@DanielPinheiroo]

you are a inspiration Van, thanks for these videos

[@NemoSampaio]

This is the best testimonial about art, inspiration, mentorship, generosity, gratitude I've ever seen in my entire life... So inspiring!

[@filmmoviePRODUCTIONS]

Interesting to watch this video this week

[@OllieDoe-wr1rr]

The curtain has been pulled back, we knew the truth all along. Tom is self-obsessed, image-obsessed, and exploitative. Don't trust anyone who sells NFTs (and don't listen to anyone who buys them).

[@devonallie]

Finding Sach' work after following you and Casey for so long, I was blown away at the similarities but also the wonderful ways in which you both diverged.

[@pete1704]

I followed Casey for many years, loved his fast moving content, then one day Van featured…. The rest is history.

[@2doord743]

Beautiful video, Van. Thank you as always for sharing your raw emotions. I’ve long told my girlfriend it breaks my heart that I’ve never had a mentor, even having always searched for one. Maybe one day.

[@jacksongoldman407]

This is one of my favorite videos you ever made. I relate to it in so many ways. Stepping into the boxing gym for the first time in meeting my coach I felt the same way as you did stepping in to Tom’s studio because I knew my life would change forever.

[@mcmaschio]

Van you are a mentor to me and im sure im not alone on feeling this way … thank you Van 💯🔥

[@HeJaJo]

4:18 this is my experience with watching Van

[@whbjr.6400]

You guys have lived such full, interesting lives, I feel like I'm just existing and not really even contributing. I do have a poem published at the library of congress though

[@IsntThatRandom]

That is amazing you should be really proud of that 😃

[@lgerback34]

I have the same feeling but when I talk to people about my life they think it’s an interesting one, whereas I don’t. It’s all relative. I would love to have achieved what you have, by the way.

[@DrewWillson]

i feel that way a lot, it's such a convincing lie we tell ourselves!

[@SnausageFingers]

the character of work is different for everyone, recognizing your individual character and being encouraged to find it is priceless.

[@DA-bb1jc]

The ending of this was so good. You're a true artist, Van.

[@NomadOverNormal]

Oh man I needed this episode! I look up to your format when I create my own videos. To see the lineage of inspiration is so cool.

[@gui_tun]

I am at 13:57 where the best work comes. Very well explained, It requires commitment, only through full-on commitment apprentice can attain that level.

[@ian-wilson]

Thank you for sharing your stories. My first time hearing Tom’s name was from my mentor. We grow from their inspiration and direction.

[@pahwraith]

My friend amy who is a cinematographer. Who invited me to learn on a project of hers. 🙏🏾 It changed my life. It was stepping on that set and going “yes. This is everything ive always wanted to do. This is where I can finally be useful”

[@jeremywofford4257]

Good morning Van. TGIF. You might not see this, but it is my duty to offer a bit of gratitude. Mentorship can be direct or indirect. I’ve been a long time fan since one of my professors (mentor) showed me 10 bullets maybe around 13-14 years ago? It resonated. I have made a successful business for myself based on my connection with people and my own guiding hierarchy of work ethic and principles. Watching the Spirited Man series I realize how much of myself and my character is a manifestation of imprinting from you and Casey. It’s a way of viewing the world and it’s a way to see the cracks. I’m glad to see you again, and I’m happy to see myself in you again. Simply, thanks

[@ryaneasterling8945]

You had a quote in this video that explains why I love your content so much (4:44): "I went into the studio, where things were, you know, works in progress, but I understood. Oh, THIS is ART... I understand why this is art. I understand what makes this ART." I appreciate the sentiment in each video, but I can truly appreciate the artistry and technique that goes into each film. Thanks for what you do!

[@legallycolorblind]

The raw emotion in the beginning of this pulled me in even more. You're awesome Van

[@vito3608]

God I love your videos so much. Thanks, Van. Seeing that “New vid by Van Neistat” notification really cheered me up, it’s been a rough month. You’re an inspiration to me.

[@HabanosChris]

Hey buddy. Hope this next month goes better. Van’s videos have inspired me too.

[@vito3608]

@@HabanosChris Thanks, bud. I’m doing my best to stay spirited :) big hugs!

[@laserdummy]

I can't tell you how influential your work has been for me, Van! The way you talk about Tom reflects a lot of feelings I've had myself over the years since I first discovered "Ten Bullets", which is indeed a cult classic and life guidance for many of us young creatives. I am so glad you keep on posting videos like this, and showing us more of your experience and thought process. This might be my favorite "Spirited Man" upload ever. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@asweetiepiebtw2032]

WOWOWOWOW. one of THE best explainations of how art is not intellectual. and VAN delighted for your collab with your fellow artist. the love you have for the entrance into his studio. for YOUR experience. what a moment!

[@billpatterson7237]

Sachs inspired it Casey mastered it Van perfected it

[@vito3608]

By the way, subscribing to the patreon is 100% worth it. His zines are mesmerizing and his livestreams are extremely entertaining. Trust me on this one, go subscribe now. GO!

[@muneebelahi7580]

@@chris-cx5dz a self published hand made magazine

[@dillisse]

Whenever I’m in a rut regarding work I go to 3.12 the part where Van meets Tom Sachs for the first time. And then I realize how lucky I’ve been with the mentors in my life. Your videos hit home in ways you can’t imagine Van.

[@recklessjunkie]

Wow that was invigorating for me. It Just shows how much Tom had an impact on you and how you think very highly of him and how much you care about him. I had to pull over to watch that part again I’ve had those moments before and it’s so powerful thanks for sharing that moment. ❤

[@Havenotats]

This may be one of the most important videos that i've seen in a while man. I'm in the position of trying to switch professions into photography & I believe I need mentorship, thank you 👏

[@audiovisualrangel]

It is unbelievable how deep this videos speak to me. Thanks a lot Van

[@GoFarAway5338]

In a messy, disorganized way on my end, I resonate with this story. The part about how you realized that you belonged and that you connected with Tom made me smile. In my case, this sort of blessing was only in moments of the past....snippets of conversations, encounters that at first seemed out of place, but actually were beacons. I remember those so vividly. Lessons came as remarkable failures. It's apparent the way in which you transferred lessons from your time with Sachs into your own work. Now it's your signature and that continues to evolve. This video was a gift. Thanks.

[@Felix-ld3hn]

"the most creative one is always the most intimate one" thanks for sharing that moment with us at @3:20 Van. I get it, from a nobody to all of a sudden into Sachs' life, being part of the American culture... must be a shock to you at that time. Rachel Williams, the daughter of Todd Williams. In downtown Manhattan, the circle can be very small sometimes; u are never that far from someone famous....It's fascinating sometimes things come in a full circle. Sachs worked at Ghery's furniture shop after schooled at AA @11:47 that progress sounds exactly like an architecture studio, junior design working with start architect, push and pull within this creative environment. and eventually u learned enough and tired of long hour and low pay then u leave and start something of your own.

[@JosueWithContext]

Wait a minute?! You made Color? That’s one of my favorite videos of all time! I made my kneaded eraser videos based on that style and it’s still currently one of the top videos about kneaded erasers. Thank you for such amazing work 😌

[@ju-ppa5542]

This is the single best video I have ever seen. I realise now that what I want to create is problem solving art.

[@pete1704]

I just love your content! You have extracted from me a type of sprited man, since ISO in in Australia, I have built myself a great man cave/workshop. It’s place where I’m surrounded by endless tooling and seemingly endless materials. My family is not typically “hands-on” so, some years ago I completed an apprenticeship in plumbing. This opened up so many doors and opporrutunities to get creative. In the past 2 years I have completed countless smaller projects with my friend, our largest project to-date has been rebuilding a vintage caravan. Not really trying to keep the originality of it, just modernise in its original shell. So, far after 2 years it’s going really well.

[@xealit]

3:45 "when you are looking at things that are centuries old, it is hard to understand...why it was art" - I think nope, if you look at something and it is hard to understand why that was art, it was a fashion. It is not hard to understand why Andrea Palladio's buildings are art. Or also Haussmannian & artnouveau Paris. Real style and beauty do have the quality of timelessness to some extent. "in Tom Sachs studio I understood "of this is art", this is art that I can make and I understand why this is art, what makes this art. Later I understood that art conveys a feeling, that the artist once experienced, and it conveys a feeling onto observer." - that's part of the while picture. Not every craft is an art piece. Real art has to have a superior level of skill and insight in it.

[@shopliftfilms]

You inspired me as a kid Van. The skits you did in the Neistat show were very interesting.

[@whbjr.6400]

That's some fucking life you have lived, my friend. Thank you for sharing it (and the spirit of these moments). You truly are an artist!

[@gigidodson]

While I am not a creative person, I truely admire those that are. I married a creative man and while he drove me mad, his creativity was in large part why i loved him. I never understood the need to spend 3 weeks carving a piece of wood with a knife. He had wood working tools , but he liked the way his pocket knife worked better. I never understood why he gave it away once done. Why did he need to keep it? Those with that genius spark that can look at the mundane and see the secrets inside are on a different wave length than the ordinary. I admire the dedication. Great video. as always.

[@dougscott188]

It is remarkable how you can tell a story and have archival footage from the past. the consistent documenting of your life maybe your greatest art.

[@freedomjosh]

So happy I got in before 1000 patreons! So much value Van! Keep up the good work!

[@timbrady4427]

Your video’s never do not entertain me. Your emotion when retelling the moment you walked into Tom’s studio made me gasp, you found your tribe. I have a son who is yet to find his, I imagine when he does, this will be his reaction…it filled me with joy and then sadness if he does not find them.

[@Allenpearl-n3u]

Amazing synchronization! It was totally meant to be to meet Tom and how much influenced your life. Thanks Tom🙏

[@rickg2234]

Its blowing my mind how often our libraries match. Fourth Turning.. and now a Joseph Campbell reference. I am also a shop teacher. Kindred Spirted Men!

[@sagarpatwal]

You manage to say or do something within first 90sec that makes me hit like. Every time. It's incredible.

[@ryanmiddleton7014]

Fantastic! Mentors changed my life; from a directionless teenager to a man of discipline and dependability. I now look to give back. Thanks for the reminder, Van!

[@mikerockwood8988]

Neistat did it! I feel that this video is one of your best so far. Not sure why, but I just feel it. Thanks Van.

[@bmxbanditdude]

How remarkably wonderful. Hello from Melbourne, Australia.

[@vaibhavchauhan7894]

You have become better at presenting over your KZbin videos. This was a great video. Keep growing.

[@Daveforaday]

Thank you so much for sharing this experience, you’re influencing / mentoring many of us through your generosity of video creation. Much love.

[@giffica]

This is gonna sound weird but I normally don't like most of your videos. Just a personality difference sorta thing, but I found this video incredibly insightful and deep. I'm commenting just to let you know that I got a lot out of this video, and I appreciate that immensely.

[@ChrisPolinsky]

You are on fire with these. Thank you!! All the love from Camarillo.

[@MiguelMeola]

Been on a binge of these videos and I cannot stop. Fantastic work Van!

[@freezepink]

You are my mentor, love how organic you are. It's like the world around you is yours and yours only, unadultrated

[@williamtylerast]

every time i watch your videos, it kinda feels like snapping out of it. like i get distracted by work, life, videos, sleeping. the cycles. and the way you talk about art brings me out of those cycles or makes me aware im in one. It's very helpful. there are other things that take me out of cycles but not many ive been able to put my finger on. thanks for creating and sharing

[@LewisJD33911]

Sublimate your creativity into someone else’s work. Great line

[@Canadianinvestor97]

Since watching Casey pre-vlog back in 2013, I’ve always wished he would admit the influence of Sachs in his work and studio. Van is not afraid to give credit where its due and I respect that.

[@djstarsign]

Same.

[@paulgreengod]

He doesn't like Tom

[@Fatbloooood]

Deadon! This answer the Patreon question that was 🔥, the mentor becomes the mentor

[@randallnewton]

I just discovered you and these videos a few days ago. I guess when the student is ready the master really does appear.

[@filippobincoletto2503]

That's a super great story and I'm very positive that you cold have had that chance and the way enhanced you as creator, artist and person. Sounds like a realized kind of everyone's dream

[@kalkkunaglu9517]

I have felt this value of solving a problem while creating. This is the future. Great vid Neistat, great to see all these dots connect from my timeline with you going together with Tom Sachs and getting a guggenheim slot early on while also working with random model who turned out to work with the creator of tiger king. Small worlds

[@katherinehayward4082]

I feel smarter after watching your vlogs! Thank you for sharing your experiences🙏

[@ivan_valerian]

Tom is a great artist that needed to convey his arts into visual media Van is a great media artist that needed a subject to convey A match made in heaven I would say

[@dannyderrick]

Thank you for making such valuable content and making the internet a better place.

[@CasualViewer-t4f]

Such a cool video. It’s interesting that Sachs informed your creative journey which in turn your’s informed Casey’s. You all have a distinct voice but there is a shared set of finger prints on all of your work which I find beautiful.

[@richardsnook3277]

Thanks Van, this video made me realise some of the people in my journey had far more influence over me than I realised. We are all products of those we allowed to discipline and shape us and be our mentors. I remember difficult moments choosing to submit to these people and how it is those moments where the character was formed. Such a powerful video.

[@TheCanadianBubba]

So much rings true, those welcome home moments definitely imprint on us... best in life to you and yours.

[@BennyTheGinger]

Fuck yes man. I’m so happy to see you crushing it!

[@rafazundt]

I have recently discovered your channel, and I am now totally hooked. thanks a lot!

[@joeyxiaqiaoyi6617]

I saw Tom Sachs's Chanel Chainsaw in the MET museum for the first time in my freshman year in college, that's around 2013, and I decided to become an artist/sculpture since then, and Tom's working doctrine has always been in my mind.

[@TechographyTimes]

Wow Van, thanks so much for sharing your experience. Also thanks for introducing me to so many great books! You are a Spirited Man!

[@superman21ob]

great arc in the video with the beginning and ending, i really enjoyed that

[@ezeqkr]

Wooooowwwww 👏👏👏👏👏👏 the end Was so great! Thanks for the video a need to see this

[@vaexperience]

What a great video

[@klausheat]

This video is sooooo valuable. It's incredible...

[@scottjones8100]

Eloquent and powerful! You really brought out a mentor's ability to teach the basic disciplines, and then to catalyze your talents to realize your own creative potential. And rock-solid credible, from a man who lived it. This stuff is gold, Van. And the way your gratitude to Sachs shines out of you: the window you gave us into your emotion when you beheld his studio made me feel a little of that awe, too.

[@Neontrifle]

I was so pleased to see AvE credited on one of the early Sach's, or your, movies . It seems like Sach's must watch him because he got one of the NASA knifes.

[@erik_lonnroth]

This video is so good on so many levels. So much life wisdom. So inspiring. Such good storytelling.

[@JasonFiske]

Thank for the inspiration! What a wonderful story.

[@Ponzuu28]

😂 OMG The virtues of a freak out!!! I honestly haven’t laughed so hard in a long time that was literally the funniest thing I’ve seen in quite some time!! The sounds of the gun going off is actually like the sound of the keys hitting the paper with the typewriter! Wish I had a quarter of the creativity that goes on in that brain of yours would be something I will cherish! I have a painting of Vladimir Kush, I know what it’s like to look at a painting and have the art hit you in the chest so hard it’s like your heart skips a beat! The painting I have reminds me of the love my late husband and I had for each other❤️ not having a mentor in my life I call you mine ❤️

[@laxfan1238]

Holy shit this quality!!!!!!

[@tylerwimmer4287]

Please do a video about making the spirited man stamp. I want to homemake a stamp. You inspire me. Much love.

[@ericvega1]

I think this is the most beautiful story to me because when I discovered the work of Tom and Van, I found what my purpose in life is. Thanks for always sharing your thoughts and talents

[@vmretatell9854]

Min 10:38, now I get the min 12:24 from 10 Bullets. By Tom Sachs.

[@jasonrichards3373]

Thank you van!!!

[@catchme123581321]

I love your eyes, Van !

[@internationalBFF]

Love that you told this story.

[@davidmirza1366]

Thank you for this video, Van :) !

[@mr_white743]

So good! Inspiring, loving the back stories van. and you have so many awesome clips showing the process. Thank you

[@dennisvazquez3080]

When I was in jail the Simpsons was one of the most important events/TV shows for almost everyone in the jail block. If you made any noises while they were watching it you would be threatened with bodily harm. I've never been able to watch a full episode of the Simpsons. Tom Sachs studio made a NASA Leatherman tool (either a Charge or Wave) that added a lot of Swiss Army knife functionality to it. You can't bad mouth anything an artist like Tom Sachs does because you will either be viewed as someone who doesn't understand art or possibly something worse. Tom Sachs loves glue guns and I think if he was left all alone with his glue gun he would be eternally entertained. As far as the NASA Leatherman, after I saw a KZbin video about it I discovered an incredibly creative and competent guy whose KZbin channel is called mylifemodding. His creation was almost exactly the same as the Tom Sach's NASA Leatherman but his video came out after Tom Sach's NASA Leatherman release. I think the title of mylifemodding's video is Down To Earth Leatherman. How does Tom Sachs do it? It's almost like organized crime.

[@JapiSandhu]

I appreciate my mentors more now, I will make a tribute to them now thanks for the inspiration

[@powerfuljackglass]

fuckin love this channel, always gets me a lil teary eyed

[@LessLonely]

Neistat Already did it...brilliant

[@freezepink]

I am so in awe of neistat brothers !

[@dapiddiboy]

This Spirited Man always gets excited when he watches a video of yours for the 3rd time and he notices that he didn’t give you a thumbs up yet and can do it.

[@JCRoShow]

This was everything I needed today! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@CrzyMFT]

I love how you love Sachs