Sunday Centerpiece: An Interview With Cinefunk — GIF Maker, Video Editor, YouTube Nuisance

If you have watched a recorded Florida State football game online in the past five years, chances are it came from one of Cinefunk’s many channels.

The well-known Florida State user has over 3,600 followers on Twitter and has likely amassed over a million views on his videos posted to YouTube. Almost every game from an FSU football season in the past five years made it online, thanks to his work — even if they didn’t stay online, due to YouTube copyright strikes.

In addition to his videos, Cinefunk and his GIFs have become the stuff of legend on social media. Just on Saturday night, he did it again — this time pasting the faces of Mike Martin and LSU head coach Paul Mainieri on UFC fighters.

Safe to say, Cinefunk is known for a lot of things. His identity remains anonymous, though his brand certainly isn’t hiding in the shadows. His cheesy GIFs and video replays have made him one of the most likeable FSU personalities on the internet.

The Daily Nole writers and Cinefunk have enjoyed a mutual relationship for quite some time. When we used to write articles reviewing games and breaking down the plays, Cinefunk and his recordings were all we had. Even from a fan standpoint, watching his high-quality videos helped relive some of the more exciting moments of the past few years.

Lead Writer Clint Eiland exchanged messages with Cinefunk this past week to get an inside look at one of the most creative FSU fans to grace social media.

CE: Revealing as much personal info as you’d feel comfortable with, what’s some of your background?

Cinefunk: Grew up in both Tallahassee, Florida and Richmond, Virginia. I was a nerd, who played sports. I was the kid that loved to hit others on the field, while swinging by your house later to fix the family computer.

(I) attended FSU, but dropped out as I was having more fun with the social aspects, eventually deciding that I needed more debt in my life, so I headed to art school.

Graduated that, got lucky and landed an unpaid internship at a production company, which started my career in film. Did 13 years as a first/second camera assistant, loader, and later DIT for feature films and television.

As for fandom, my grandmother wanted me to be a (Georgia) Dawg — almost achieved that — my mother is a (Florida) Gator, but around eight (years old) or so, I met my best friend and saw the garnet and gold light.

CE: When did the name “Cinefunk” come about?

Cinefunk: So the name “Cinefunk” sadly does not have a fun or exciting origin story. Basically, I needed a new junk YouTube to share FSU games that I had been recording back in 2011 or ’12 to friends and coworkers on set. Didn’t care to use my other junk email, which was named Daftfunk, and everything in the film industry is Cine-something, so Cinefunk it became.

I actually was planning to delete that account, and create a new one, but I received a message from some guy in Southeast Asia thanking me for allowing him to watch FSU football. I got confused and came to find out I had forgotten to make the video unlisted, and from that point on, I became a man of the people.

CE: How long does it usually take you to make a GIF? What’s your favorite GIF you’ve ever made?

Cinefunk: Making a GIF can be easy or a total pain in the ass, depending on what you want to accomplish. Something like a GIF of a play takes 30 seconds, while a clip needing lots of effects and attention could easily take an hour or two. My challenge is always making something good while keeping it bad. Since its in the GIF format, we’ve already accomplished one level of bad, now to keep it at that level.

As for my favorite GIF, that’s a tough one. Here are some top (choices) in a no order: Chaos robot (Reggie Northrup), OG Jimbo (Fisher) Birthday, Jalen (Ramsey) Space Odyssey, Jameis (Winston) Force Awakens, Publix subs. But I feel my favorite is not really a GIF, but it was my 2016 Seminole Kombat intro.

CE: Have you ever considered taking a video editing job for FSU? Do you want to?

Cinefunk: In the past, I definitely would have taken a job with FSU doing this kind of media, but these days, I really love where I’m at. Of course, if they need freelance work, I’m always available and right down the road.

CE: Have the YouTube copyright strikes ever escalated to something beyond just an annoyance? Like, has any ACC official ever been upset enough to contact the page or anything? In general, do you think the whole issue is going to prevent you from doing uploads in the future?

Cinefunk: YouTube strikes are just a part of the process, but they’ve definitely increased over the years. They’re mainly just an annoyance as most of these accounts are junk accounts and I have more in reserves. Strike one down and three more shall rise up! Also, due to the increase in video upload sites, you can always find my games, but you either have to check my social or do a little hunting. Funny enough, the whole strike thing can actually be fun to see how YouTube/people detect the copyrighted content.

CE: Speaking of future plans, is there anything that FSU fans should be looking forward to from you (in terms of FSU-related content)?

Cinefunk: As for future plans, I have a few things in the comps for fall that I’m working on (new stickers/magnets, hype video, new GIF method). We’ll have more game edits this fall, hosted on Dailymotion at all times as a backup, so if you can’t get it anywhere else, go there. I appreciate everyone sticking with me through all these account bans, as it keeps it fun for me and as long as I’m having fun, Cinefunk will continue to do his thing.

CE: What’s a fun fact that most people would be shocked to learn about you?

Cinefunk: I can out-cook any southern mother or grandmother. My grandmother’s last action was transferring her Southern Cooking essence to me, imbuing me with the power to bend lard and space to my will. Oh, and I will also destroy anyone in a sandwich making competition; my father was an engineer, and I was made manager of not one, but two subways at the age of 16.

Clint Eiland is the lead writer for The Daily Nole. Follow Clint on Twitter @ClintEiland. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.