When Linda Dong started her YouTube channel, LeendaDProductions, in November 2011, she never thought she鈥檇 reach 127,950 subscribers with more than 12 million views.
She made her first videos just to share with her friends, but two months after starting, her about women and breakups attracted hundreds of views. Since then it鈥檚 received more than 115,000 views.
鈥淚 thought my mom must be clicking on my channel or my friends spamming it,鈥� said Dong.
The passion for storytelling and acting began early for Dong. She played with her father鈥檚 camcorder when she was young and took theatre in high school, acting in many productions. The 21-year-old communications and design student today has also done background acting for locally filmed shows Mr. Young, Arrow and Continuum.
Dong likes to poke fun at awkward experiences from her own life with videos like one on overenthusiastic teammates for ultimate Frisbee () and another based on individuals ogling and pestering her mixed-ethnicity friends with na茂ve questions (鈥淲hat Kind of Sexy Half Asian Are You?鈥�). She grabs friends and has even cast her two sisters in her projects.
Other topics include the city鈥檚 dating scene, university life and stereotypes of girls from various 麻豆传媒映画neighbourhoods, taking jabs at Commercial Drive鈥檚 preoccupation with the used and vintage as well as 鈥済oing broke鈥� if a guy was to date a girl who shopped in Yaletown.
Many of Dong鈥檚 videos are also based on growing up with strict, Vietnamese parents. Dong thought some viewers would relate to or enjoy watching her struggles, such as hiding a boyfriend while attending high school, complete with wary handholding and being dropped off in the alley behind her house.
Dong doesn鈥檛 think exploring Asian heritage is common in media.
鈥淲hen someone does it it鈥檚 very like, oh gosh, what is this video about?鈥� she said.
Dong likes to sneak in the casual consumption of bubble tea in her videos to publicize the Asian community. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 see it in the mainstream,鈥� said Dong, 鈥渁nd people do drink bubble tea.鈥�
But being a female comedian isn鈥檛 easy, said Dong. She was made fun of growing up for her sense of humour and, in a reality of the Internet, has received negative comments on her channel. Dong learned to accept the feedback (鈥淗aters gonna hate,鈥� she said), but it was important for her to receive the approval of her parents.
鈥淚 was supposed to go into business and work for some company in a suit,鈥� said Dong, who wants to pursue her passions.
The turning point was March 2013 when Dong won the award for best student video channel at the 麻豆传媒映画Social Media Awards.
鈥淭hem seeing me on stage winning that award and talking in front of everyone, that鈥檚 when they believed in something I liked doing.鈥�
Her father, Nha Dong, likes to repeat 鈥済ood job and high five鈥� whenever she reaches a milestone. 鈥淲e like that she鈥檚 doing OK and she鈥檚 very happy,鈥� said Nha.
Her channel hit 100,000 subscribers earlier this summer, with the number still climbing. Last month, she visited Los Angeles to meet with YouTubers ISAtv,
WongFuProductions, FungBrosComedy and AnnaAkana 鈥� all with massive followings nearing four million combined.
Dong has a few ideas for her future, inspired by YouTubers who have become entrepreneurs after building a brand online. She believes the connectivity and ease of uploading content allows anyone to dream big.
鈥淚 love the fact that I鈥檓 able to imagine something in my mind and bring it to life,鈥� said Dong.
To see Dong鈥檚 YouTube site, go to .
