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2023-05-26 Β |Β β±οΈ 18:07 Β |Β ποΈ 69.4K views Β |Β π 6.3K likes Β |Β π¬ 1.7K comments
Pea formally introduces her assistant, camera operator, and roommate Lucy to the audience. The episode is a casual, sisterly conversation that reveals the behind-the-scenes reality of running the YouTube channel, Lucy's personal life, and the dynamics of their living arrangement. It's lighter than Pea's typical cultural deep-dives but gives viewers a genuine look at the person behind the camera.
How Pea and Lucy met β
- They connected about two years ago on Facebook β Lucy was looking for a job, Pea was looking for an assistant
- Lucy had zero experience with photography or video production
- Pea hired her because of her "really positive vibe" and the fact that she's always on time
- They've been working together and living together ever since
- Patrons already know Lucy from behind-the-scenes content, but most regular viewers haven't met her
The reality of making YouTube videos β
- Hardest part of the job according to Lucy: getting people to smile on camera β most Filipinos are too shy and Lucy feels like "a cheerleader" doing hand gestures to coax smiles
- Street interviews are especially difficult: people will agree to be interviewed, then see the camera come out and either say "no thanks" or just walk away
- They spend five to six hours looking for and interviewing people, only to produce nine or ten minutes of edited content
- Lucy's favorite parts of the job: traveling (they've been to many locations), the food, and coffee everywhere they go
- Pea admits she's "seriously OCD" about lighting, sound, and framing β making her difficult to work with sometimes
- Despite the tension, they describe their relationship as being like sisters
The editing grind β
- Pea spends roughly five hours editing for every one hour of raw footage β often pulling all-nighters
- She spends almost as much time answering YouTube comments as she does editing
- Lucy is learning editing, but Pea keeps that role because editing is her storytelling process: "the part of editing is the process of telling the story"
- Pea acknowledges she needs to hire another person but hasn't yet
Living together β
- They split chores β cooking, cleaning, laundry
- Lucy's favorite dish Pea cooks isn't specified by name (transcript unclear), and Pea's favorite of Lucy's cooking is chicken inasal β grilled chicken that's juicy inside with a charred outside
- Neither has a dishwasher (Pea notes she doesn't know anyone in the Philippines with one), so when they're too busy to cook and clean, they just order delivery
- Best thing about living with Pea, according to Lucy: "She's always happy and sings a lot"
- Pea's singing quality, per Lucy: "so-so" β and the cats don't like it either
- Pea sings in the shower on a Sheldon-like bathroom schedule
- Strangest thing about living with Pea: "You don't wear clothes β you're always naked"
- Pea's confession: she's a "home nudist" of sorts β she doesn't prefer to be naked, she just doesn't care whether she is or not; she'd be fine if everyone walked around naked all the time because "picking out clothes and then having to wash them is a pain"
- Lucy's advice to Pea: "Relax sometimes β you work too hard, slow down and smell the mangoes"
Lucy's personal life β
- Age 40, though Pea says she looks 20
- Has a local boyfriend who is 31 years old β Pea is surprised by the age gap and calls him Lucy's "boy toy"
- Pea teases Lucy about coming home "walking funny" and claiming it was from bending over in the garden β "now I know what you're really doing"
- Lucy sends 50% of her income back to her family, sometimes up to 75% depending on their needs
- Hobbies on her days off: gardening at her mom's place β she grows bananas, eggplants, and papayas on a small farm
Lucy's future plans β
- She promised Pea she'd stay as her assistant until Pea reaches one million subscribers
- When she made that promise, she didn't have a boyfriend β now that she does, Pea asks if she's keeping it; Lucy says yes, her boyfriend can wait
- Lucy and her boyfriend want children but agreed to save money first before starting a family
- Their priority order: job, saving, then baby
- Pea jokes that subscribers should help her reach one million so Lucy can "leave" β then asks Lucy to teach her future child photography before she goes so Pea has a replacement
Behind-the-scenes note β
- The video opens with an explanation of cat cages visible in frame β two of their five cats are sick and isolated for medication
- Format is different from Pea's usual style β more casual, personal, and filmed at home