We recently connected with Thien Dragon and have shared our conversation below.
Thien, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
It was the summer of 2017. I was 23, freshly landed in Atlanta, Georgia. Back then, I was still hustling to become a full-time videographer and content creator, figuring out how to actually make a living from my creativity. At that point, YouTube AdSense was already bringing in $500 a month, and film gigs kept me afloat.
Understanding my journey requires looking back at my roots. I grew up in Longview, Texas, a small Southern town overflowing with hospitality, but utterly devoid of real artistic opportunities. My escape came through touring with my brother’s clothing and media company, Loyal K.N.G. We traveled across Texas – Dallas, Austin, Houston, you name it – creating content and shooting videos for clients. Somewhere amidst this whirlwind, I started my “RealTDragon” YouTube channel, which eventually generated more income than I ever dreamed possible.
But time marches on, and passions evolve.
So, to answer your question: After touring the US from age 16 to 23, 2009-2017 ish, I finally settled in Atlanta, honing my skills and figuring things out as I went along. Living off ramen and Kroger deli meats, I somehow birthed a version of myself who dared to dream. I discovered a world of possibilities unimaginable in small-town Longview. When I realized I could make $500 a month doing what I loved, I knew I could scale it. That meant freedom – freedom from the limitations of my small-town upbringing, freedom to become a full-time creative artist, and now, even a musician.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a jack of all trades. I have worked in social media, generating millions of views for myself and clients like Jellysmack or Made In Network. I have also worked in videography with commercial companies like acting for Marvel Entertainment & Oranges Aps or at events across the US, recently Fan Expo San Francisco as one of their crew camera operators. I assisted as a video editor on the documentary “Under The African Sun” for Rivers of Life, working with Respectful Productions’ director Derek Evans and producer Jamie Flanagan. I also work as a music producer for personal projects and clients. A recent accomplishment was having my music win the 2024 New York 48 Hour Film Festival for best “Original Music Score” in the film “October Moon” by Venie Gurrr.
Art is a very collaborative field, and being a good hang is everything. I prioritize kindness in every project. Whether I’m working on a large-scale project or a smaller one, you can expect my full passion and effort. As a child, I never imagined this diverse career path. I find myself involved in such a wide range of projects that it’s difficult to explain how it all came to be. I’m a Christian so I give thanks and praise to God & Jesus of course. Honestly with a little bit of luck and nurturing great relationships with good people. I’m proud to work with a lot of dreamers that strive for more. These are fields I didn’t fully realize until I stumbled upon working into them because of my friends that happen to need someone that could do what I did and the better I got at my skills the more work showed up at my door step.
I believe the key to success in most trades and professions lies in personal development. Before pursuing professional opportunities, I recommend undertaking personal projects or small paid gigs to hone your skills. This could involve video editing in Premiere Pro, visual effects in After Effects, or music production in Ableton or Fruity Loops. And always be prepared, because opportunities can arise unexpectedly.
I’m a strong believer in manifesting a positive future and the importance of daily prayer to keep my north star always in view. For example, I recently released my new album for the “Thien Dragon” project, titled “3000s” I had originally planned to release it in February after returning from my trip across Vietnam, Bali, and Japan. However, I felt a strong intuition to release it sooner than later. So on January 4th I trusted my gut, the day before flying out, I released the album on January 5th 2024. I received valuable input on the mixes from respected friends like Ben Scarflix, No Eyes and Micah Moore, and collaborated with Cody Vondell of Vondell 2000 to create the Thien Dragon 3000s logo. I even took the album photo myself. Within a few hours, the album was ready for release. And now, even before reaching Japan, I just booked a lil open mic to play at Space Orbit to showcase some of the songs from my new album. Playing in Japan has always been a dream of mine. I can’t believe I get to do it on my first trip there, thanks gut intuition lol. It’s a story I will remember for the rest of my life, thanks to the support of my friends who continue to believe in me.
The art is in the chaos. The flow state, like when filming a shot and capturing the perfect moment at the right angle or feeling the sound that needs to be played at a certain moment. I admire the works and processes of artists like Takashi Murakami and his post about the chaos of making art. I strive to bring my imaginations to life. Being an artist is like being a mage in final fantasy. You can imagine something in your head, and within hours, days, or months, you can bring that vision to life for others to experience and enjoy. It’s almost like casting a spell. Our laptops are our grimoires, and the click of the mouse cast the spell.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Consistency and hard work is the key. For 12 years, I diligently created one YouTube video every single week. It wasn’t until the last five years of that lifetime that I started to see significant returns.
Throughout this journey, I experimented with various content strategies and video formats. I produced music videos, short films, sketches, vlogs, and documentaries – you name it, I probably tried it. Eventually, I discovered my niche: cosplay and Spider-Man/Marvel sketches, and my channel took off. During this 12-year period, I also honed my filmmaking skills. Those skills from back then keep me fed now. I continue to work in the industry as a video editor, camera operator, or host.
The bottom line is: don’t give up! If one approach isn’t working, try a different angle. Continuously strive to improve your craft until you reach new heights. Find your niche and what you’re good at and blam profit???.
I’ve had a lot of opportunities come through friendships I made on the journey along the way so never forget to be kind, give back, and be a helper for those that need a hand. You never when they’ll need your help on a project you’d dream to work on. One example of that was working as a cosplayer/actor on the “Marvel Becoming” series by Marvel Entertainment. The back story was they needed a Spider-Man cosplayer that could bring the energy at a convention and also dawn the suit for the Spider-Man PS5 video game. Luckily my friend who knew me for my channel threw my name into the ring, and from there they contacted me and I got to work with them professionally to be apart of something I could only dream of as a kid playing the avengers game on the Super Nintendo. Then after that experience Marvel’s team thought of me again when it came time for the Spider-Man Far From Home LA red carpet movie premiere, so they got me out there for that. And with that my dreams of being a cosplay/marvel YouTuber was fully realized.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
All things come to an end; it’s just a matter of when. I believe that trusting your gut and making decisions that support your next steps are crucial for navigating life’s path. Better than droning on a job or past accomplishment that has been long done and over.
For me, I decided to step back from YouTube and acting to fully embrace my music & cinematographer journey. My goal is to integrate music and YouTube into a cohesive whole, while continuing to work as a videographer, camera operator, and video editor.
The pandemic significantly shifted my life. The era of organic YouTube growth was over, replaced by the short-form TikTok age and the rise of long-form content. I had to adapt. Instead of continuing to create cosplay and Marvel sketches that reached 300k subscribers & 100,000,000+ views on my RealTDragon YouTube channel, I decided to refocus my energy on music – something that still ignited my passion.
I think it’s working out haha. My music has gained momentum, being featured in film projects and culminating in a win at the NY 48 Hour Film Festival for Best Original Score. With my new album, I’m excited to share my music with a global audience, starting with my first show in Japan in a few weeks.
I made a conscious decision to let go of one pursuit to embrace another. With the same dedication and consistency, I know I will achieve my dreams again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tdragon.bandcamp.com/album/3000s
- Instagram: @Realtdragon
- Facebook: @Realtdragon
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thien-vuong?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: @Realtdragon
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@realtdragon
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/pSuSrn2yEnuSEdjd8
Image Credits
Thien Vuong
Nigel Marson