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Draft:Van Neistat

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  • Comment: Per the feedback in the prior decline and at the helpdesk. Athanelar (talk) 15:51, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
  • Comment: Most sources are either intreviews, Youtube videos by his brother, or Lists, none of which can be the basis for the establishment of notability. Most of the sources mention him only in passing, not in depth, usually when talking about his brother. Not a notable person on its own. F.Alexsandr (talk) 23:06, 29 December 2023 (UTC)
Van Neistat
Born (1975-03-27) March 27, 1975 (age 51)
Maine, United States
OccupationsYouTuber, filmmaker, director
Years active2001–present
Known forThe Spirited Man (2021–present)
A Space Program (2015)
The Neistat Brothers (2010)
iPod's Dirty Secret (2003)
RelativesCasey Neistat (brother)
Websitevanneistat.com

Van Neistat (born March 27, 1975) is an American YouTuber and filmmaker. He is the creator of The Spirited Man, a YouTube series combining hands-on repair and toolcraft with personal essays on sobriety, fatherhood, and emotional honesty.[1] Neistat describes the videos as "industrial essay films," combining elements of industrial film with personal essay.[2]

Neistat's earlier work in film and television includes the HBO series The Neistat Brothers (2010), the feature documentary A Space Program (2015), and the 2003 short film iPod's Dirty Secret, which prompted Apple Inc. to introduce a battery replacement program for the iPod.[3][4] In 2006, Filmmaker named Van and Casey Neistat among its annual "25 New Faces of Independent Film."[5] He has collaborated extensively with artist Tom Sachs and filmmaker Werner Herzog.

Early career and iPod's Dirty Secret

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Neistat began working in artist Tom Sachs's studio in 2001 as a fabricator, where he and his brother Casey Neistat began making short films with consumer-grade digital video equipment.[6] In a 2016 Document Journal interview, Sachs recalled that Neistat had smuggled cameras into the studio and shot his first film on the clock; rather than fire him, Sachs told him to keep making films.[6]

In September 2003, Van and Casey Neistat created iPod's Dirty Secret, a short film documenting their frustration with Apple's refusal to replace the battery in an 18-month-old iPod, quoting a replacement cost comparable to buying a new device.[4] The film, in which the brothers spray-painted warnings over iPod advertisements on the streets of Manhattan, was posted online and attracted widespread media coverage, including from MIT Technology Review[4] and The Globe and Mail.[3] Apple announced a battery replacement program on November 14, 2003, less than two months after the film's release.[3] The film predated the launch of YouTube by two years.

In 2006, Filmmaker named Van and Casey Neistat among its annual "25 New Faces of Independent Film," recognizing their work in digital filmmaking.[5]

The Neistat Brothers (HBO)

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In 2008, HBO acquired The Neistat Brothers for a reported $2 million, ordering eight episodes.[7] The series, written, directed, and starring Van and Casey Neistat, aired in 2010.[8][9] Each episode comprised experimental short films spanning six weeks in the brothers' lives. The Hollywood Reporter described the series as "charming, witty, low-key, even lower-tech, disarmingly honest and deceptively simple."[8] The Washington Post also reviewed the series.[10] Variety covered the series premiere, noting its unconventional format for cable television.[9]

Film career

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Collaboration with Tom Sachs

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Neistat has worked with artist Tom Sachs since 2001, initially as a studio fabricator before becoming the primary filmmaker documenting Sachs's projects.[11][12] Their collaborations include the short films Ten Bullets (2010), Color (2012), A Love Letter to Plywood (2012), How to Sweep (2014), and The Hero's Journey (2017), as well as films shown at the Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin.[11] In a 2016 interview with BOMB Magazine, Sachs described their films as "sculptures" that are "rough and fast, but also concise."[12]

A Space Program (2015)

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Neistat directed, shot, and co-edited the feature-length documentary A Space Program (2015), which documents Sachs's installation "Space Program 2.0: MARS" at the Park Avenue Armory in New York.[13] The film premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2015[13] and was distributed theatrically by Zeitgeist Films, opening at the Metrograph theater in New York on March 18, 2016.[14][6] The film holds an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 72 out of 100 on Metacritic.[15][16]

The Hollywood Reporter reviewed the film at SXSW, crediting Neistat as director and director of photography.[13] Slant Magazine described the film's narration as having "a cadence akin to Guy Maddin's."[17] Vice[18] and Document Journal[6] also covered the film's release. In a StageBuddy interview, Neistat and Sachs described themselves as among "the last generation with a visceral, biographical relation" to a pre-digital world.[19]

Paradox Bullets (2018)

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In 2018, Neistat directed Paradox Bullets, a 23-minute short film narrated by Werner Herzog and starring Ed Ruscha and Tom Sachs.[20] The film was screened at Gagosian gallery and featured in a public conversation between Sachs, Herzog, and Neistat at Frieze Los Angeles.[21] Dazed and Cultured Magazine covered the film's release, identifying Neistat as writer and director.[20][22]

The Spirited Man (YouTube)

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In 2021, Neistat launched The Spirited Man, a YouTube series combining hands-on repair and toolcraft with personal essays on sobriety, fatherhood, and emotional honesty.[1] The series was initially funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised $120,443 from 1,158 backers, exceeding its $67,000 goal.[2] Neistat describes the videos as "industrial essay films" — combining elements of industrial film with personal essay — "sort of like a newspaper column, but with image and sound."[2]

Neistat has appeared as a guest on podcasts including Bertcast with comedian Bert Kreischer,[23] the Rich Roll Podcast,[24] and a conversation with Jack Conte, CEO of Patreon.[25] He was also featured in Inc. magazine's Behind the Brand series.[26]

Filmography

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YearTitleRoleNotes
2003iPod's Dirty SecretCo-creator, filmmakerShort film; with Casey Neistat
2008Dinner PlansDirectorSegment for T: The New York Times Style Magazine; Daytime Emmy nomination[27]
2010The Neistat BrothersCo-creator, writer, director, star8-episode HBO series; with Casey Neistat
2010Ten BulletsDirectorShort film; Tom Sachs collaboration
2012ColorDirectorShort film series; Tom Sachs collaboration
2012A Love Letter to PlywoodDirectorShort film; Tom Sachs collaboration
2014How to SweepDirectorShort film; Tom Sachs collaboration
2015A Space ProgramDirector, cinematographer, editorFeature documentary; SXSW premiere; Zeitgeist Films distribution
2017The Hero's JourneyDirectorShort film; Tom Sachs collaboration
2018Paradox BulletsWriter, directorShort film; narrated by Werner Herzog; starring Ed Ruscha and Tom Sachs
2021–presentThe Spirited ManCreator, filmmakerYouTube series

Awards and nominations

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YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2008Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding New Approaches – Enhancement to a Daytime Program or SeriesNominated[27]
2021Streamy AwardsEditingNominated[28][29]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Casey Neistat's brother hits 300k YouTube subs in a week with unusual video series". Dexerto. 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Mason-Hill, Owen. "Direct your attention: Van Neistat pioneers the Industrial Essay Film". The Middlebury Campus. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "iPod's 'dirty secret' wins Web fans". The Globe and Mail. November 27, 2003.
  4. 1 2 3 Kushner, David (February 12, 2004). "iPod's Dirty Secret". MIT Technology Review.
  5. 1 2 "25 New Faces of Independent Film 2006". Filmmaker. Summer 2006.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Abbie, Blake (March 18, 2016). "Tom Sachs and Van Neistat on "A Space Program"". Document Journal.
  7. ↑ "25 New Faces Picks the Neistat Brothers Sell Series to HBO". Filmmaker. July 2008.
  8. 1 2 Garron, Barry (October 14, 2010). "The Neistat Brothers – TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  9. 1 2 Lowry, Brian (June 2, 2010). "HBO's 'Neistat Brothers' Left Me Speechless". Variety.
  10. ↑ Stuever, Hank (June 4, 2010). "The Neistat Brothers review". The Washington Post.
  11. 1 2 Wissot, Lauren (March 17, 2016). "Director Van Neistat on A Space Program and Collaborating With Tom Sachs". Global Comment.
  12. 1 2 Chang, Chris (March 31, 2016). "Tom Sachs and Van Neistat". BOMB Magazine.
  13. 1 2 3 "'A Space Program': SXSW Review". The Hollywood Reporter. March 16, 2015.
  14. ↑ "A Space Program". Zeitgeist Films. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  15. ↑ "A Space Program". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  16. ↑ "A Space Program Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  17. ↑ "A Space Program". Slant Magazine. March 14, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Tom Sachs Brings the Noise and 'A Space Program' to SXSW". Vice. 2015.
  19. ↑ "The Last of the Analogues: An Interview with Tom Sachs and Van Neistat on Creating 'A Space Program'". StageBuddy. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  20. 1 2 Waite, Thom (October 7, 2018). "Tom Sachs's new film is narrated by Werner Herzog". Dazed.
  21. ↑ "Tom Sachs: Paradox Bullets". Gagosian. January 29, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Tom Sachs Takes Aim at the Paradoxes of Morality". Cultured Magazine. February 15, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Bertcast #481 – Van Neistat & ME". Bertcast. September 8, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Van Neistat Is The Spirited Man". Rich Roll Podcast.
  25. ↑ "A look inside filmmaker Van Neistat's creative process". Patreon Creator Hub.
  26. ↑ Elliott, Bryan. "Behind the Brand with Van Neistat". Inc. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Daytime Emmy Awards (2008)". IMDb. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  28. ↑ "11th Annual Nominees". The Streamy Awards. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Streamy Awards 2021 Nominations Announced". Deadline. October 2021.
[edit]

Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:American YouTubers Category:American filmmakers Category:American documentary filmmakers Category:People from Maine

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