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ConceptCore Shoot Schedule Jun 24 – Jul 6 2026 13 / 13

Shoot Podcast Workshop Event Buffer TBD

D 01 / 13
D 01 / 13BufferWed Jun 2026Prep day
Buffer

Prep day.

LocationNew location — TBA

Pre-shoot prep day. No on-camera production — crew installs at the new location in the evening.

Timeline

18:00Gear delivery + unload at the new location
19:00Lighting plot install
20:30Sound + monitoring check
22:00Backup gear staged, sign-off

Gallery

D 02 / 13
D 02 / 13Shoot / TahirThu Jun 2026Interview + YouTube
Shoot

Tahir — Interview + YouTube.

LocationNew location — TBA

Tahir's flagship interview + four YouTube verticals: Sketchbook, Artbooks, Personal Work, Career.

Timeline

09:00Tahir arrives — wardrobe + mic check
10:00Interview block 1 — Sketchbook + Artbooks
12:30Lunch
13:30Interview block 2 — Personal Work + Career
16:00B-roll capture
18:00Wrap

Gallery

D 03 / 13
D 03 / 13Shoot / TahirFri Jun 2026Chapters + Trailer
Shoot

Tahir — Chapters, Assignments, Trailer.

LocationNew location — TBA

10 chapter intros, 5 assignment walkthroughs, trailer A-roll, and the rest of the B-roll bank.

Timeline

09:00Wardrobe + teleprompter sync
10:00Chapter intros 1–5
12:30Lunch
13:30Chapter intros 6–10
15:30Assignment walkthroughs (5)
17:00Trailer footage + final B-roll
18:30Wrap

Gallery

D 04 / 13
D 04 / 13Event / CoreSync 2Sat Jun 2026Jama / Tahir / Joseph
Event

CoreSync 2 — Jama, Tahir, Joseph.

CoreSync 2 — three industry talks at ConceptCore Campus. Live only, no recording.

Timeline

15:15Speakers arrive — sound check + PC check (45 min before)
15:45Doors open
16:00Jama Jurabaev — "State of the Industry"
17:00Tahir Tanis — "Personal Work Matters"
18:00Joseph Cross — "Art Direction for Games"
19:00Informal hangout + refreshments
~22:00Wrap

Gallery

D 05 / 13
D 05 / 13PodcastSun Jun 2026Jama × Tahir
Podcast

Podcast — Jama × Tahir.

LocationNew location — TBA

Conversational podcast — Jama hosts, Tahir is the guest.

Timeline

10:30Both arrive
11:00Mic + lavalier check / recording starts
13:00Wrap

Gallery

D 06 / 13
D 06 / 13Workshop / ShootMon Jun 2026Joseph Cross — 1hr capture
WorkshopShoot

Joseph Cross Workshop — 1hr capture.

LocationNew location — TBA

Workshop is the main act. We capture one focused hour for social/trailer cuts + one student-feedback take.

Timeline

10:00Workshop starts (crew not yet on site)
11:00Crew arrive, set up B-cam at the back of the room
11:15Lavalier on Joseph; roll on teaching + 1-on-1 corrections
11:45Capture the student-feedback take (clean audio + framing)
12:00Wrap, pack out before lunch break

Gallery

D 07 / 13
D 07 / 13Podcast + ShootTue Jun 2026Joseph + guest / Niemeyer
PodcastShoot

Joseph Cross podcast + Espace Niemeyer.

Long-form podcast AM, cinematic Espace Niemeyer location shoot PM.

Timeline

10:30Both podcast guests arrive, mic check
11:00Podcast recording starts
13:00Podcast wrap, lunch
14:30Travel to Espace Niemeyer
15:30Scout + setup at Niemeyer (dome + exterior)
16:30Cinematic shots — interior dome with Joseph
18:30Golden hour — exterior Niemeyer
20:00Wrap, return

Gallery

D 08 / 13
D 08 / 13Shoot / JosephWed Jul 2026Chapters + Trailer + B-roll
Shoot

Joseph Cross — Chapter Intros + Trailer + B-roll.

LocationNew location — TBA

10 chapter intros, trailer cutaways, and the full B-roll block.

Timeline

09:00Wardrobe + teleprompter sync
10:00Chapter intros 1–5
12:30Lunch
13:30Chapter intros 6–10
15:30Trailer A-roll — cinematic cutaways with Joseph
17:00§07 B-roll block — hands, set, atmospheric, portfolio reveal
17:30Joseph released — B-roll continues set-only
18:30Wrap

Gallery

D 09 / 13
D 09 / 13Shoot / JosephThu Jul 2026ITW + YT + Assignments
Shoot

Joseph Cross — Interview + YouTube + Assignments.

LocationNew location — TBA

Trailer interview, 4-format YouTube set, and the first 2–3 assignment briefings.

Timeline

09:00Joseph arrives — wardrobe + mic check
10:00Trailer interview — 8 beats with variation takes
12:30Lunch
13:30YouTube — Sketchbook / studio tour
14:30YouTube — Artbook deep dive
15:30YouTube — Personal Art
16:30YouTube — Career Origin
17:30Assignment briefings — first 2–3 walkthroughs
19:00Wrap

Gallery

D 10 / 13
D 10 / 13Workshop + ShootFri Jul 2026Joseph Cross — Final Day
WorkshopShoot

Joseph Cross Workshop — Final Day + Wrap.

LocationNew location — TBA

Workshop final day. Student work review filmed + wrap interview with Joseph.

Timeline

09:30Students arrive
10:00Workshop block 1 — final reviews
12:30Lunch
13:30Workshop block 2 — final reviews
15:30Student showcase
16:30Wrap interview with Joseph
17:30Workshop wraps

Gallery

D 11 / 13
D 11 / 13Buffer04Sat Jul 2026Overflow / Rest
Buffer

Overflow / Rest.

LocationOff-site

Overflow / rest day. Held open for spillover production from the week.

Timeline

All dayOverflow / rest — held for spillover production.

Gallery

D 12 / 13
D 12 / 13Buffer05Sun Jul 2026Overflow / Rest
Buffer

Overflow / Rest.

LocationOff-site

Overflow / rest day. Held open for spillover production from the week.

Timeline

All dayOverflow / rest — held for spillover production.

Gallery

D 13 / 13
D 13 / 13TBDMon Jul 2026Sheng Lam (TBC)
TBD

Sheng Lam workshop kickoff (TBC).

LocationTBA

Possibly Sheng Lam's Prop Design workshop kickoff (runs Jul 6–10 if confirmed).

Timeline

TBCTo be confirmed with Aurel.

Gallery

§ 01 / 08
§ 01 / 08Playbook01Format briefChapter Introduction
Chapter

§ 01 — Chapter Introduction.

The job

Make the visitor want to buy the course.

Length

60–90 seconds polished, ×10 chapters per artist.

What we record

One discrete take per chapter. Two main cameras + occasional third + dedicated B-roll. Each chapter intro pre-scripted around six locked beats — the artist doesn't improvise the hook.

The six beats

  1. HOOK (0–5s) — one bold, contrarian, or unexpected line. Cold open.
  2. EMPATHY (5–15s) — name the student's frustration. "I know why you're here."
  3. PROMISE (15–35s) — three concrete things they'll learn. Not abstract.
  4. OBJECTION (35–55s) — pre-empt the "yes but" they're already thinking.
  5. ENGAGE (55–75s) — tell them how to consume the chapter ("watch + repeat", "build alongside").
  6. PAYOFF (75–90s) — show the final image. "By the end of this you'll have ___."

Artist brings

  • 1 hi-res hero portfolio image per chapter (for the payoff reveal)
  • 1-paragraph outline per chapter (so we can pre-write hooks together)
  • Wardrobe with contrast against the studio palette

Traps to avoid

  • Delivering all 10 in one long sit — energy decays after take 4
  • Improvising the hook on camera — it never lands
  • Same body posture for every chapter — visually all 10 look the same
  • Wide flat coverage without B-roll — the cut has nothing to breathe with

Success looks like

10 cuts each under 90 seconds, each one earning the next click on the landing page.

Example video — Bart chapter intro

+ Drop Bart chapter-intro video here
§ 02 / 08
§ 02 / 08Playbook02Format briefAssignment Briefing
Assignment

§ 02 — Assignment Briefing.

The job

Make the student picture the finished result before they care about the steps.

Length

2–4 minutes polished, ×5 assignments per artist.

What we record

Each assignment opens with the PAYOFF VISUAL at second 0 — the finished example the student will produce. Then the brief, then the tips, then the trap, then the connection to the next assignment.

The five beats

  1. PAYOFF VISUAL (0–10s) — full-screen finished example. Caption: "by the end of this you'll have made this."
  2. WHAT IT IS (10–30s) — the assignment in one sentence, on camera.
  3. THREE TIPS (30s–2m) — each shown with a screen capture or process snippet, NOT three minutes of talking head.
  4. THE TRAP (2m–3m) — "students tend to do X. Don't. Do Y instead."
  5. CONNECTION (3m–end) — one sentence on how this feeds the next assignment.

Artist brings (critical)

  • 1 hi-res image of your own finished version of each assignment's deliverable (5 images total)
  • Brief notes per assignment: the brief, 3 tips, 1 common student failure mode

Traps to avoid

  • No finished examples = no payoff visual = no "wow" → no emotional hook
  • Talking-head-only for 8 minutes — boring even with great content
  • Director coaching baked into the audio — long re-takes burn editing time
  • Inconsistent lengths (one is 2 min, one is 8) — breaks the rhythm

Success looks like

5 cuts that drop at chapter ends, each one makes the student want to start the assignment immediately.

Example video

+ Drop assignment-briefing example here
§ 03 / 08
§ 03 / 08Playbook03Format briefTrailer Interview
Trailer

§ 03 — Trailer Interview.

The job

Source raw material for a 60–90s direct-sell trailer.

Length

30–45 minutes of raw Q&A → cut to 60–90 seconds polished.

What we record

Structured interview around the 8 trailer beats. Multiple takes per beat — we pick the strongest in edit. Director coaches for variation between attempts ("now say it with more energy", "try the same line shorter").

The eight beats

  1. COLD HOOK — one bold opening line over a portfolio reveal
  2. PORTFOLIO — fast cuts of the artist's actual work (no voice)
  3. IDENTITY — credentials in one sentence, the titles you shipped
  4. PHILOSOPHY — what makes you different from how everyone else teaches this
  5. PAIN — what most concept-art teaching gets wrong
  6. PROMISE — three concrete things students will learn
  7. EMOTIONAL CLOSE — your "why I care"
  8. CTA — masterclass URL beat

Artist brings

  • Pre-written identity line (1 sentence: name + role + titles)
  • A first draft of your "why I care"
  • Curated 15–20 hi-res portfolio file (for the trailer's portfolio reveal)
  • Game-footage licensing status (which titles you can show in trailer)

Traps to avoid

  • Memorizing exact lines — reads as stiff
  • Apologizing between takes — the team WANTS multiple takes
  • One-tone delivery — vary "energetic / reflective / matter-of-fact" passes per beat
  • Skipping the cold hook — without one, the trailer never starts

Success looks like

5–8 strong sound bites per beat → 1 cinematic 90s trailer + a longer version for the landing page.

Example video — Sheng Lam trailer

Sheng Lam trailer thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube
§ 04 / 08
§ 04 / 08Playbook04Format briefYouTube Interview
YouTube

§ 04 — YouTube Interview.

The job

Earn attention. Build relationship. Get views. Sell nothing.

Concept library

10 ready-to-shoot concept templates built on May 2026 YouTube research — optimized for ConceptCore's shipped-AAA artists.

Open YouTube Concepts

Length

8–18 minutes per video, ×3–4 videos per artist for the launch burst.

Four standard formats

  • SKETCHBOOK / studio tour — artist walks through their physical sketchbook + workspace, then does a live drawing demo at the end
  • ARTBOOK deep dive — artist picks one hardcover artbook they're passionate about, walks page-by-page
  • PERSONAL ART — artist's personal project / world / passion outside paid work
  • CAREER ORIGIN — how they got to where they are; this is the cold-discovery video

Coverage standard

  • A-cam OVERHEAD of whatever the artist is showing (sketchbook page, artbook spread, screen with personal piece)
  • B-cam CLOSE PROFILE of the artist's face
  • For Personal: monitor in frame showing the actual piece being discussed
  • Always roll BOTH cameras — never audio-only

Artist brings

  • Physical sketchbook (any one they actively use)
  • 1–2 hardcover artbooks they're genuinely passionate about
  • For Personal: a screen-ready folder of 5–10 personal pieces
  • For Career: 1–2 hi-res images per career stage (early work → first job → current)

Traps to avoid

  • Filming any of these audio-only — Personal + Career WAVs from SHOOTING2 are orphaned because cameras weren't rolling. Never repeat.
  • B-cam blurred when it should show what the artist is showing
  • No on-camera presenter intro at the start of the cut — algorithm needs the face hook
  • Picking 5 artbooks shallow instead of 1 deep — depth wins on YouTube

Success looks like

3–4 publishable videos that feel like the artist invited the viewer into their studio. Algorithm picks them up. Comments are conversation, not just praise.

Example video

+ Drop YouTube-format example here
§ 05 / 08
§ 05 / 08Playbook05Format briefPodcast
Podcast

§ 05 — Podcast.

The job

Long-form conversation. Audio is primary deliverable, video is secondary.

Length

60–90 minutes raw → 45–60 minutes audio + optional 3–5 minute video reel.

What we record

2–3 person conversation at the long wood table. Shure mics on booms, big diffuser softboxes, wishbone chairs. Three cameras: A-cam close on guest 1, B-cam close on guest 2, C-cam wide for B-roll.

Setup

  • Each guest mic'd on their own track
  • One engineer at the laptop (out of primary frame)
  • Coffee or water at each seat
  • Phones off the table

Artist brings

  • Nothing required. Format is conversational.
  • If discussing a specific topic, 2–3 reference points (book / film / project) is enough.

Traps to avoid

  • Scripting it — kills the conversational energy
  • Interrupting — leave silence after questions for the guest to think
  • Fixing wardrobe between takes — continuity breaks the cut
  • Going past 90 minutes — energy collapses, edit becomes painful

Success looks like

A 45–60 minute listenable podcast that stands on its own. Optional teaser reel for paid social.

Example video

+ Drop podcast example here
§ 06 / 08
§ 06 / 08Playbook06Format briefWorkshop Capture
Workshop

§ 06 — Workshop Capture.

The job

Capture the artist actually teaching real students. Social-proof B-roll for trailer + standalone "behind the scenes" content.

Length

All-day presence on workshop days. No fixed cuts to deliver.

What we record

  • Artist teaching at the front (wide + close)
  • Artist 1-on-1 with students at desks
  • Student work over-the-shoulder
  • Group dynamics, candid energy
  • Final group photo at end of day
  • 2–3 short "what surprised you today" reflections from the artist on camera

Coverage

  • 1 main camera (handheld or shoulder, mobile)
  • 1 B-camera locked off for static wide
  • Mics: artist lavalier + room mic

Artist brings

  • Just teach normally. Cameras are background presence, not the point.
  • Will be asked for 2–3 short on-camera reflections at end of day. Sentence-level, off the cuff.

Traps to avoid

  • Interrupting the teaching flow for shots
  • Asking students to "do that again" — only capture real moments
  • Filming students whose release isn't signed — confirm release status before any face is in frame
  • Production being too visible — the room reads as performative

Success looks like

30–60 minutes of cuttable workshop B-roll + 2–3 short reflection sound bites usable in the masterclass trailer.

Example video

+ Drop workshop-capture example here
§ 07 / 08
§ 07 / 08Playbook07Format briefB-roll Block
B-roll

§ 07 — B-roll Block.

The job

Capture all the non-talking-head material the edit needs to breathe.

Length

60–90 minutes at the END of each shoot day. Half of it doesn't need the artist.

What we record

  • HAND close-ups (pen on tablet, finger on keyboard, hand on sketchbook)
  • SET DETAILS (lamp, plants, framed art, coffee mug, wood grain)
  • ATMOSPHERIC shots (blurred plant, blurred desk, slow drift)
  • ARTIST WORKING — overhead at the Cintiq, no narration needed
  • PORTFOLIO REVEAL angles — artist's pieces filling the frame on a monitor
  • EQUIPMENT — microphone, headphones, wacom, books
  • WALK-IN / SIT-DOWN shots (artist arriving at the desk, putting headphones on)

Why this matters

Every chapter intro and the trailer NEEDS cutaways to break up the talking head. Without this block, the edit has no variety and reads as static.

Artist brings

  • 20–30 minutes for the hands / portfolio / walk-in shots
  • Remaining 30–60 minutes is set-only, artist released

Traps to avoid

  • Skipping this block when shoot runs over — chapter intros pay the price
  • B-roll that mirrors what's already on the A-cam — needs to be different framings
  • No system for tagging — 60 unlabeled clips = unusable

Success looks like

20–40 short tagged snippets (hands / set / atmosphere / process / portfolio) ready to drop into chapter intros, assignments, and trailer.

Example video

+ Drop B-roll example here
§ 08 / 08
§ 08 / 08Playbook08Format briefContent B-roll
Content B-roll

§ 08 — Content B-roll (Faux Tutorial).

The job

Capture "at-home tutorial" footage — staged demonstrations that look like the artist filming a casual YouTube tutorial from their own desk. The editor drops this into masterclass chapters, assignments, and trailer cuts as cutaway material to break up the studio talking-head. Different visual register from § 07: § 07 is cinematic / atmospheric, § 08 is "the artist's tutorial channel".

Length

30–60 minutes per artist, shot in their actual home or personal studio. Aim for 4–6 distinct "fake tutorial moments" per session.

What we record

  • Artist at their own desk, demonstrating a small technique
  • Talking to camera as if explaining to a YouTube audience (without actually teaching the full thing)
  • Over-the-shoulder of the Wacom / iPad
  • Tight on hands, pen on tablet
  • Tight on screen
  • Optional phone-style framing for added authenticity (one segment shot vertical, casual)

Coverage

  • 1 main camera (could be phone OR proper cam — the casualness is the point)
  • 1 over-shoulder cam for the Wacom/screen
  • Screen-capture running in parallel
  • Lavalier mic on artist
  • The artist's own lighting — not our gaffer setup. Authenticity dies under broadcast keys.

Artist brings

  • A few techniques they often demonstrate informally — no scripting
  • A piece of work-in-progress they can poke at on camera
  • Their normal desk wardrobe (sweatshirt > tailored)
  • Permission to leave the desk messy — pre-tidied breaks the illusion

Why it matters

Masterclass chapter intros need visual variety beyond studio talking-head + § 07 B-roll. Content B-roll fills that gap with footage that feels like the artist posts at-home demos. It makes them look approachable, prolific, and human — and it gives the editor an entire second register to cut to. Bonus: chunks become standalone YouTube Shorts / TikTok posts.

Traps to avoid

  • Don't over-produce — our broadcast lighting on the artist's home desk kills it
  • Don't shoot it at our studio with our setup — at the artist's space or it doesn't work
  • Don't add director coaching artifacts — these need to feel candid
  • Don't make them too polished — the rough cut is the brand
  • Don't shoot the full tutorial — capture moments that cut clean

Success looks like

30–60 min of cuttable "home tutorial" footage per artist that drops cleanly into chapter intros + trailer cutaways, and yields 3–6 standalone vertical clips for Shorts/TikTok.

Example video

+ Drop a reference home-tutorial example here
CONCEPT 01 / 10
CONCEPT 01 / 10YouTube01ProcessPipeline Reverse-Engineer
Process

Concept 01 — Pipeline Reverse-Engineer.

The hook

"I made this for ARC Raiders. Here's every layer."

The angle

Industry artists rarely show full layered breakdowns of shipped work — NDA scope, legal sensitivity, or just plain rare. When they do, it's the most-shared format on the channel. ConceptCore's direct relationship with shipped artists IS the moat — the audience watches because it's the closest they'll ever get to the actual studio file.

Length / Format

12–18 min documentary-style breakdown. Studio interview + screen-capture of the PSD with layers being toggled.

What we shoot

  1. Cold open on the final shipped frame, full screen, 3 seconds
  2. "I'll show you every layer behind this." Cut to artist on camera.
  3. Walk back: final → render → block-in → silhouette → first thumbnail
  4. Talking-head intercuts on each major decision ("this is where I almost gave up")
  5. End on the final frame at full res, hold 4 seconds

Sample titles

  • "Every layer behind this ARC Raiders concept frame"
  • "I spent 47 hours on this Battlefield shot. Here's why."
  • "How a Marathon environment goes from rough sketch to final"
  • "The 9 stages of a shipped concept (PSD on screen)"

Thumbnail pattern

Split-screen — final shipped frame on the right, the earliest rough on the left, thin red line connecting them. Mono "X HOURS" badge in corner.

Why it works in 2026

Long-form is back (Dec 2025 algorithm surfaces 15+ min videos on browse). "I worked at [studio]" is the highest-CTR pattern for industry-credentialed channels. Commentated process beats silent timelapse 2:1 on retention.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Don't reveal anything still under NDA
  • Don't romanticize — show the abandoned attempts, not just the heroes
  • Don't bury the voice under library music
  • Don't compress process for pacing if it kills the honesty

Best artist fit

Tahir (Battlefield, ARC Raiders, Restorers), Joseph Cross (Marathon, Destiny). Both have shipped frames they can legally show.

Example video

Trent Kaniuga — daily process thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References

CONCEPT 02 / 10
CONCEPT 02 / 10YouTube02CritiquePro Paintover Live
Critique

Concept 02 — Pro Paintover Live.

The hook

"A Battlefield concept artist reviews your portfolio."

The angle

Sinix Design built 1.24M subs on the paintover format — community-submitted work, real-time paintover with commentary, never trashy. Industry-shipped artists doing the same have unique authority and have rarely claimed the format. The brand fit is Sinix's: never sneer, never rank, always unlock.

Length / Format

20–30 min. Screen-cap of paintover + face cam in corner + lavalier.

What we shoot

  1. Submitted piece full screen, 5 seconds, no commentary
  2. Artist voiceover: first read — what's working, what isn't, what they see
  3. Real-time paintover in the artist's actual tool
  4. Thinking-out-loud on every decision: "I'm pushing the silhouette here because…"
  5. Side-by-side reveal at end with one-line summary of the unlock

Sample titles

  • "A Battlefield concept artist paints over your portfolio"
  • "Why your concept art reads as 'student' (and the fix)"
  • "Industry paintover: 3 portfolio pieces, 3 unlocks"
  • "Concept art portfolio review — what would actually get you hired"

Thumbnail pattern

Two-state. Submitted piece left ("BEFORE"), paintover right ("AFTER"). Artist face top-right, subtle expression. One word centered: "UNLOCK".

Why it works in 2026

Paintover format proven at 1M+ subs (Sinix). Adding shipped-game credentials makes it unique on YouTube. Service-mode content (vs. judging content) earns subscribes. Authority + craft transparency = highest retention class.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Never rank pieces 1–10
  • Never imply the artist wasted years
  • Don't paint over the whole piece — leave their work visible
  • Don't pick a piece that's obviously beginner; pick pieces that are 80% there

Best artist fit

Any articulate artist. Tahir for character/keyframe, Joseph Cross for environment, Jama for visdev/illustration.

Example video — Sinix Paintover Pals

Sinix Paintover Pals 15 thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References

CONCEPT 03 / 10
CONCEPT 03 / 10YouTube03LocationSketchbook in the Field
Location

Concept 03 — Sketchbook in the Field.

The hook

Artist + sketchbook + a striking real location, drawing what's in front of them.

The angle

Almost no concept-art YouTube does location shoots. ConceptCore has access to Lugdunum Museum (Zehrfuss brutalist, Lyon) and Espace Niemeyer (Paris 19e). The location IS the hook. James Gurney built a channel on plein air. Adam Savage built sustained views on his "Maker Tour" model. Same instinct, applied to concept art. French/EU concept-art YouTube has no dominant player — open lane.

Length / Format

12–18 min. Location shoot, A-cam handheld + B-cam tripod wide + lavalier. Permits required.

What we shoot

  1. Cold open: artist walking into the space, sketchbook in hand. Wide of the architecture.
  2. Why this place — 30 seconds on what's visually unique
  3. Sit-down: sketchbook on lap, location in frame
  4. Real-time drawing — what's catching the eye, what would they push if this were a brief
  5. Wrap with finished page next to the actual subject

Sample titles

  • "I sketched Lugdunum (Lyon's brutalist museum) for a sci-fi game"
  • "Drawing on location: Niemeyer's dome and a concept frame"
  • "Concept art in the wild — atelier sketchbook session"
  • "How would I redesign this for a film? On-location sketch."

Thumbnail pattern

Artist with sketchbook in foreground, dramatic architecture behind them, one-word location tag ("LYON" / "PARIS"). Subtle natural light, no shock face.

Why it works in 2026

Location-based content is severely underserved on art YouTube. Sketchbook format already proven (DrawingWiffWaffles, Sketchbook Skool). Cinematic — feeds 2026's preference for high-production-value content. French/EU concept-art YouTube has no dominant player.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Pick locations connected to a concept-art use case (Niemeyer = retro-futurism, Lugdunum = brutalist sci-fi). Pretty alone isn't enough.
  • Don't fake the sketch in post — the live drawing is the format
  • Don't over-narrate — let the location breathe

Best artist fit

Environment artists. Tahir for sci-fi (ARC Raiders environments), Joseph Cross for stylized worlds (Marathon).

Example video — Adam Savage at the Met

Adam Savage — Met Conservation thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References

CONCEPT 04 / 10
CONCEPT 04 / 10YouTube04ChallengeOne Hour. One Brief.
Challenge

Concept 04 — One Hour. One Brief.

The hook

Time-pressure constraint with an industry artist. Clock in frame the whole time.

The angle

Time pressure forces real decisions, and the format is built for retention — viewers can describe the video in one sentence. Ross Draws' "character generator challenge" works at 1.4M subs. No one runs this format with AAA-credentialed artists at scale.

Length / Format

10–15 min cut from 60 min real. Studio multi-cam + screen-cap + face cam.

What we shoot

  1. The brief read on camera (one sentence — e.g., "design a tribal scavenger for a post-collapse setting")
  2. Clock starts. Real-time work.
  3. Thinking-aloud on every choice
  4. Cuts to face cam at the panic moments
  5. Final reveal at 60:00. Honest debrief — what would I push with more time?

Sample titles

  • "Ex-DICE artist designs a character in 60 minutes"
  • "Sci-fi environment in one hour (talking through every decision)"
  • "ARC Raiders concept artist takes the 60-minute challenge"
  • "60 minutes. One brief. One concept artist."

Thumbnail pattern

Artist mid-stroke at the Cintiq, clock visible on screen ("00:43"), final piece previewed top-right. Subtle concentration face, not shock.

Why it works in 2026

Constraint formats have built-in stakes — describable in one sentence. Real-time process is where retention lives in 2026. Industry credentials add authority — "ex-DICE" / "ARC Raiders" framing. Built for series — every artist can run with their own brief.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Don't pre-design off-camera. The honesty IS the format.
  • Don't add fake commentary in post — what was said live is final
  • Don't pick an impossibly tight brief — let the result be respectable
  • Don't fake the clock

Best artist fit

Any artist comfortable working real-time on camera. Strong fit for Joseph Cross, Tahir, Sheng Lam (prop design challenge variant).

Example video — Ross Draws challenge

Ross Draws — Character Generator Challenge thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References

CONCEPT 05 / 10
CONCEPT 05 / 10YouTube05DuoTwo Artists. One Prompt.
Duo

Concept 05 — Two Artists. One Prompt.

The hook

Same brief. Two industry artists. Separate desks. Reveal at the end.

The angle

TikTok has 2-Artist content; YouTube long-form has barely touched it. ConceptCore is one of the few setups in the world with two industry-credentialed artists in residence at once during shoot weeks. The "ARC Raiders artist vs Marathon artist on the same prompt" framing is unique on YouTube.

Length / Format

15–25 min. Studio multi-cam, 2 desk stations, 2 screen-caps, 2 face cams.

What we shoot

  1. Both artists in frame, brief read out loud
  2. Work splits — split-screen or hard cut between stations
  3. Mid-session check-in (no peeking at each other's work) — each describes where they're going
  4. Final reveal — both pieces side by side
  5. Mutual critique — friendly, professional, the brand value

Sample titles

  • "ARC Raiders vs Marathon: same prompt, two concept artists"
  • "Two industry artists, one brief — who would you hire?"
  • "Joseph Cross vs Tahir Tanis: 90 minutes, one concept"
  • "Same prompt, two AAA artists. Watch them split."

Thumbnail pattern

Split-screen vertical. Two artist faces top, two final pieces bottom. One word centered: "VS". Restrained — no shock faces.

Why it works in 2026

Structurally engineered for engagement: "who's right" keeps comments alive. Two industry credentials on screen = doubled authority. Underbuilt on YouTube long-form (TikTok has it short-form). Built-in payoff at the reveal — high satisfaction score.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Don't fake the competition
  • Don't manufacture drama in edit
  • The mutual respect at the end is half the brand value — protect it
  • Don't pair two artists whose styles are too similar — pick complementary DNA

Best artist fit

Pairs with different stylistic DNA — e.g., Tahir's grounded sci-fi vs Joseph Cross's stylized worlds. Future pairings as new artists join.

Example video — McCaig × Ortiz

Iain McCaig & Karla Ortiz thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References

CONCEPT 06 / 10
CONCEPT 06 / 10YouTube06CareerThe Money Episode
Career

Concept 06 — The Money Episode.

The hook

Career-truth long-form sit-down. Money. Layoffs. What studios actually pay. What they actually expect.

The angle

Marc Brunet ("ex-Blizzard") and Trent Kaniuga ("ex-Riot/Epic") built their channels on industry-truth content. The lane works. Service-mode content done by people who lived it. ConceptCore's artists have multi-studio careers — they can answer questions other people can't.

Length / Format

30–45 min final cut from 45–60 min raw. Studio interview rig + B-roll of artist's portfolio intercut.

What we shoot

  1. Cold open: artist on screen, single sentence ("I worked 7 years at DICE. Here's what they actually paid me.")
  2. Career origin — first paid job, what it paid
  3. Studio life — what's a day really like
  4. Money — salaries, contracts, freelance vs staff (concrete numbers if comfortable, ranges if not)
  5. Layoffs — what happened in 2023–2025
  6. Advice — what they'd tell their younger self

Sample titles

  • "What a Battlefield concept artist actually makes"
  • "I worked at DICE for 7 years. Here's the truth no one tells you."
  • "Concept art salary: an honest conversation"
  • "The money side of being an AAA concept artist"

Thumbnail pattern

Artist talking directly to camera, subtle reaction expression. One word: "TRUTH" or "MONEY". Small euro/dollar sign as accent if appropriate.

Why it works in 2026

Industry-truth content is exclusive to industry artists. Money/career topics drive massive watch time consistently across niches. Long-form is back — 30+ min is favored on browse. Service framing (vs gossip) builds brand goodwill.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Don't doxx specific colleagues
  • Don't break NDAs
  • Don't make it a complaint piece — the goal is honest service to aspiring artists
  • Don't be cagey about numbers — vague answers kill the format. Ranges are fine; "I won't say" kills it.

Best artist fit

Artists with multi-studio career arcs. Tahir (Tencent → Embark / DICE), Joseph Cross (Bungie / Marathon), Jama (Lucasfilm / Marvel / ILM lineage).

Example video — Trent Kaniuga / Blizzard

Trent Kaniuga — Life as a Diablo 3 concept artist thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References

CONCEPT 07 / 10
CONCEPT 07 / 10YouTube07Studio TourDesk Tour
Studio Tour

Concept 07 — Desk Tour.

The hook

Artist's actual workspace, walked through. Every object earns a beat.

The angle

Adam Savage's Tested workshop tours pull millions of views per iteration. For concept artists, the tour is the books that shaped them, the tools they've owned 15 years, the weird object on the desk with a story. Studio tours rank in art-YouTube's most-watched formats by retention. Production-light, highly repeatable.

Length / Format

15–25 min. 1 cam handheld + 1 locked-off wide + lavalier + 1 light. Best shot in the artist's actual space (home/personal studio).

What we shoot

  1. Cold open: artist seated at desk, frame freezes on one specific object
  2. Walking tour — every object earns 20–60 seconds
  3. Reference library — the books that shaped them
  4. The weird object — the unexpected thing on their desk and its story
  5. End back at the chair, working briefly on something

Sample titles

  • "Inside the desk of an ARC Raiders concept artist"
  • "Every tool a Marathon artist actually uses (and the ones that don't matter)"
  • "Studio tour with Joseph Cross — 12 years in one room"
  • "The desk of someone who shipped Battlefield"

Thumbnail pattern

Artist seated at desk, subtle smile, real room visible behind them. One detail circled (a specific object). "DESK TOUR" mono badge small.

Why it works in 2026

Workspace tours have high baseline view counts (Adam Savage's iterations all > 1M). Authenticity premium — viewers love real spaces, not curated ones. Sustained retention — viewer keeps watching to see what's next. Production-light = easy to repeat across artists.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Don't pre-tidy. Pre-tidied looks like a sponsored placement.
  • Don't make it a brand showcase — no Wacom or Adobe pitch
  • Don't pick objects only because they're rare — pick objects with stories
  • Don't shoot in a sterile co-working space. Best in the artist's home or personal studio.

Best artist fit

Artists with workspaces worth showing — strongest if it's THEIR personal space, not ours. All four current artists work.

Example video — Adam Savage shop tour

Adam Savage — Tour of My Shop thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References

CONCEPT 08 / 10
CONCEPT 08 / 10YouTube08DocumentaryA Day With…
Doc

Concept 08 — A Day With…

The hook

Short documentary. Host shadows an artist for a day. The craft, routine, and process is the story.

The angle

Anthony Padilla's "I Spent A Day With…" pulls millions per episode (100M+ playlist views). Format is proven; needs to be adapted with restraint for a premium artist brand. Host (Aurel or chosen presenter) is proxy for audience curiosity — not the star. Documentary format is enjoying a YouTube renaissance in 2025–2026.

Length / Format

20–30 min mini-doc. A-cam + B-cam shadowing, edit-heavy, music license or original score.

What we shoot

  1. Cold open: tease the final piece they'll make
  2. Morning — host arrives, artist's routine, first coffee
  3. The actual work — process, decisions, blocks, breakthroughs
  4. A meal with the artist (the conversational center)
  5. End-of-day reveal of what they made

Sample titles

  • "I spent a day with the concept artist behind ARC Raiders"
  • "A day inside the studio of a Marathon environment artist"
  • "Following an ARC Raiders concept artist for 24 hours"
  • "Inside one day of a working concept artist (no studio PR)"

Thumbnail pattern

Host + artist in frame, looking at the same thing. Subtle natural light. Tag overlay: "A DAY WITH [NAME]". Doc-style composition — not vlog.

Why it works in 2026

Documentary format in YouTube renaissance (2025–2026). Proven series mechanic. Cinematic, edit-heavy = high perceived production value. Once made, evergreen — re-served by algorithm for years.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Requires real editorial discipline — don't half-do this
  • Don't make it a vanity piece. The host is the proxy, not the star.
  • Don't fake intimacy — the real moments are unscripted
  • Avoid heavy music — let conversation carry

Best artist fit

Artists who are genuinely interesting humans (technical skill is given). All four current artists qualify.

Example video — Anthony Padilla

Anthony Padilla — I Spent A Day With thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References

CONCEPT 09 / 10
CONCEPT 09 / 10YouTube09InterviewThe Long Conversation
Interview

Concept 09 — The Long Conversation.

The hook

60–90 minute sit-down. Full conversation. Full publish.

The angle

Long-form interview is back in 2026. Brushpoint and Art Cafe (Maciej Kuciara) prove there's serious appetite for multi-hour concept-art conversations. Bobby Chiu's "Chiu Stream" pulls 50K–300K per episode. The lane is mature; multi-cam podcast rig already exists; industry guests already in residence during shoot weeks.

Length / Format

60–90 min raw → publish full + 45–60 min edited cut. Podcast rig (3 cams, booms, big diffusers) + screen-cap of artist's work intercut as B-roll.

What we shoot

  1. Cold open: artist on screen, identity line + one strong opinion
  2. Career arc (15–20 min) — how they got here
  3. Philosophy (10–15 min) — what makes their work different
  4. The work (15–20 min) — walking through 3–5 specific pieces with commentary
  5. The industry (10–15 min) — current state, frustrations, hopes
  6. Closing — one moment they think about / one piece of advice

Sample titles

  • "Tahir Tanis — concept artist for ARC Raiders, Battlefield, Restorers. 90 minutes."
  • "The full conversation: Joseph Cross on Marathon, Destiny, and what comes next"
  • "How to think like a concept artist — Jama Jurabaev full interview"
  • "Sheng Lam — prop design and the studio life. Long-form."

Thumbnail pattern

Artist face direct to camera, mid-thought expression. Name + key credit text bottom. Optional small "FULL CONVERSATION" badge.

Why it works in 2026

Brushpoint and Art Cafe prove the format pulls 50K–300K+ per episode. Long-form is favored on browse feeds in 2026 (Dec 2025 algorithm shift). Industry-credentialed guests are the unique-on-YouTube hook. High channel-level signal — algorithm rewards consistent long-form depth.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Don't script tightly — the conversation has to breathe
  • Don't go past 90 min — energy collapses
  • Let silences happen — they hit hardest in edit
  • Don't over-edit cuts — long-form viewers want flow, not chops

Best artist fit

All four current artists. This is the workhorse format that uses ConceptCore's existing podcast rig — highest ROI per shoot day.

Example video — Brushpoint × Naughty Dog

Brushpoint — Jeremy Huxley thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References

CONCEPT 10 / 10
CONCEPT 10 / 10YouTube10SketchbookPage-by-Page
Sketchbook

Concept 10 — Sketchbook Page-by-Page.

The hook

Physical sketchbook. Overhead shot of hands turning pages. Voice over backstory of each spread.

The angle

DrawingWiffWaffles built 1.2M subs on this format. Sketchbook walkthroughs are high-retention, intimate, production-light. Industry artists doing sketchbook walkthroughs are rare — most pros either don't keep one or won't show it. ConceptCore's relationship with the artist unlocks this content.

Length / Format

15–25 min. Overhead rig + lavalier + single light (very simple). Same rig as § 04 YouTube overhead.

What we shoot

  1. Cold open: artist holding the closed sketchbook ("this is 5 years")
  2. Page by page — each spread is a story; rapid through repetitive pages, slow on the ones that matter
  3. Highlight 3–5 pages that earned their current career step
  4. End on a recent page that's alive right now (in progress, or recently sold)

Sample titles

  • "5 years of sketchbook from an ARC Raiders concept artist"
  • "Every page of my Battlefield sketchbook (and the stories)"
  • "The sketchbook from before I got hired at DICE"
  • "Industry concept artist sketchbook — page by page"

Thumbnail pattern

Top-down shot of an open sketchbook spread, hands visible turning a page, artist face top corner. One-line callout: "5 YEARS".

Why it works in 2026

Proven format — DrawingWiffWaffles, Sketchbook Skool, Helen Wells Artist all run on it. Industry-shipped sketchbooks are rare and high-value. Intimate, slow-paced = high retention. Production-light = repeatable for every artist visit.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Don't skip pages because they're "not finished" — those are often the best
  • Don't add music too loud — the voice carries
  • Don't pre-curate too aggressively — the unfinished sketches are part of the truth
  • Don't shoot it as a portfolio reel — this is the working book, not the polished one

Best artist fit

Artists with a strong physical sketchbook practice (most concept artists qualify).

Example video — DrawingWiffWaffles #27

DrawingWiffWaffles — Sketchbook Tour #27 thumbnail▶ Watch on YouTube

References