DukeOfFortuneMan Interview
Among the “founding fathers” of poop, DukeOfFortuneMan - or simply The Duke - is one of the most loved. Normally quite reserved, The Duke took the time to share his views on poop, tell us what he’s been up to recently, amuse us with his sharp wit, and tell why we haven’t heard a word or seen a new video from him since October of 2007.
Let me start at the beginning, the way these interviews tend to. You’re regarded as one of the “founding fathers” of poop. It’s pretty well established that you and the others in the original circle of friends who made the first poops didn’t intend for this to turn into a big internet trend the way it did and that you were just making videos for fun. Nevertheless, you are a well-known figure among poopers. People enjoy your videos enough to re-upload them on their own accounts so that others can watch them. What do you think of your popularity, especially among the many members of what has been called “the poop community”? Is it something you enjoy or dislike, or are you indifferent about it?
I’m pretty indifferent. It feels too snooty to say “Myes, I’m an original.” , especially because of my recent laziness.
When your Youtube account was suspended, you uploaded one video, Liquid’s Business Skills (which is one of my favorites, actually), to your alternate MrPoopCookie account then you seemed to vanish from Youtube. That was back in October of last year. Why did you stop uploading videos to Youtube? Have you lost your interest in making videos? Do you still make videos but not post them on Youtube?
2 reasons I’m gone.
1. A video codec made my movie maker weird. The cuts go .2 seconds earlier than they are supposed to. It’s annoying as hell.
2. Video games (Brawl mostly), and school (5 AP classes is a hassle), and the bewb tewb, of course. I didn’t lose interest, just free time. I’ve been trying to make movies, but they all turn out 1 and a half minutes long, and I always go for 3. I might combine them all ,or just get some more Dexter’s Lab.
You’ve never been part of the forum and never associated yourself with YouChewPoop. Is there a reason you never made connections with the rest of the people who seem to enjoy these videos, outside of your own circle of friends?
Time, laziness, and I go in and out of liking forums. Currently, I’m out of the whole forum discussion centre thingy.
A few of the “founding fathers” have expressed disdain for the categorization of these videos as “Youtube Poop.” SuperYoshi said that he’d have much rather it to have been called nothing at all. And what is and isn’t poop has been a heated topic on the forum. How do you feel about identifying the videos with a name?
Eh, helps for organization, but not for annoyance. Personally, with videos that are misleadingly named, a good label isn’t bad. It has made the whole thing drift from annoyance to entertainment.. I’m for it and against it, and come out neutral. Although I like the “founding fathers”, Jefferson and Washington bitch too much about the whole England thing, if you know what I mean.
KingNecroPope said in his interview that his policy in making videos is that “he doesn’t use shit; he just makes it,” meaning that he chooses his video material based on what he likes. You’ve used Hey Arnold, Inuyasha, Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, and Looney Toons, among others. How did you – or do you – choose your material?
I like most of the aforementioned shows, but sometimes bad shows work too. If it’s something I want to make a tribute to, or something that works, or something with animation loops and bad dialogue, I’ll use it. I have no real pattern. To me, it works or it doesn’t. I don’t use InYasha too much, but when at Yamino’s, do as the Yamino does.
Now I’d like to talk about probably the material choice that had the biggest impact on the trends in the videos: CDi. You were the first person to use Zelda CDi clips, in your video The Best Zelda Game Ever. Yaminomalex said in his interview that he “knew damn well the cd-I Mario/Zelda stuff would become viral.” Obviously, a lot of people thought the clips were funny in the beginning, but that changed over time and created with it copious amounts of edrama. What do you think of what became of CDi clips in poop?
Too overused. I know people don’t get around too much to download, but they should get some torrents going or something. I would be fine with the cd-I if people didn’t insist on using the same few jokes. It’s like that moron who keeps saying “very nice”, obviously quoting Borat, a brilliant work. But if the guy thinks the joke will not depreciate in humour, he’s (or she’s. You can’t be sexist. Women can be morons too.) wrong.
It seems to me that the “founding fathers” are often very selective about the poop they watch. Tetsuo9999 says he only follows a few of the newer generation of poopers. What is your interest in newer poop videos, if any? Are you a fan of any poopers? Have you just continued to stick with your circle of friends?
AntiEHTAN or whatever his name is; he’s godly good at this. KingNecroPope definitely has his moments. It’s not that I choose not to watch all the new guys; it’s just that I stopped checking new poop at random since half of it is “HERE IS THE MAP, BITCH.” The really good stuff by the new guys goes tends to go unnoticed.
What’s your favorite poop from someone else?
Eddy is Thirsty, or thristy, or whatever that was called. Genius. Father’s garage.
Which one of your own videos do you like the best? Why?
One of the Futurama ones. Maybe it’s Fry’s Fantastic Triassic Future 4. I like it because it has Zapp Brannigan, and the candy is sure sweet.
Researching your videos and style was problematic for me, since your alt account has only seven of your videos on it, and it’s virtually impossible to figure out which video came before or after which with the re-uploads from other people. Your first Youtube video, Trent is Basically White (which your friend Yaminomalex uploaded), and the last one that you uploaded, Liquid’s Business Skills, have similar styles, with a lot of emphasis on comic juxtaposition. What can you tell me about your style and how it changed over time?
I like contrasting, animation loops, and the like. Also, I take a semi-long monologue, and try every combination of words that sounds good, then put no pauses between them. I did an amazing one of those on a Jetsons poop, but it went explodey, and my Movie Maker lost it all. That’s why it’s unfinished.
On a bit more of a personal note, what is video editing to you? What is or was poop to you? Is it just a hobby? Is it art? Why do you enjoy about it?
It’s a hobby, and a thing to do when bored, like writing and necrophilia. I enjoy it for reasons I still don’t understand. It’s halfway between art and nonsense to me. It is poop, and it rules the destiny of those fated to be taken in by its shitty allure.
YouTube Poop has become something very big, especially recently. I’m not sure if you’re aware that the popular vlogger YTWatchdog made a video about poop and linked his fans to YouChew. Another site, SquidCan, wrote an article about poop as well, discussing it in terms of Dadaism and art. Though you seem to mind your own business and not get involved much, do you have any thoughts the future of YouTube Poop?
It’s gonna get more bleeps and music videos, but I’m just speculating. I doubt Poop will become THE new form of mainstream entertainment, and I doubt we will get some TV action, but it’s a new thing, and it’s getting bigger. Eventually, we may need to get some air fresheners.
And now, my parting words:
Keep your pimp hand strong. Peace.
Liquid’s Business Skills
Interview conducted by RabbitSnore on 4/26/08. Special thanks to Yaminomalex for making this interview possible.
