Today we’d like to introduce you to Minh Nguyen.
Minh, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a YouTuber who goes by the name of Doppoganga (pronounced as doppelganger). Everything had started when I had attended Anime Boston in 2008. Since then, I have learned a lot about the anime/arts community, and love the atmosphere. I had started to learn martial arts after I was inspired by several animes including DragonBall-Z and Samurai Champloo, I had also learned how to write songs and even poetry, as well as how to edit videos, I am determined to learn more as I go.
Today, I am continuing to shoot videos and exploring more conventions as well as other out-of-state conventions to expand my knowledge and inspire others.
At conventions, I tend to perform on stage (from which I have won numerous awards), in addition to shooting videos involving other cosplayers (those who dress as their favorite characters).
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the main struggles I have had is coping with my depression as well as many personal matters.
As time goes by, there will be moments in life where you are going to want to quit and sometimes, you feel as if you should give up everything and start over again.
A personal struggle of mine was primarily family.
Being born in the US and not having to deal with the struggles my family had gone through, my family wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer but I had decided to pursue a different career path and they strongly disapproved.
I know that they only want what is best for me but I know I can make them proud in another way but until that I continue to deal with the stress of disappointing them and on-going societal pressures.
My work allows me to cope with these factors, and these struggles continue but having so much support and the many creative opportunities that I have makes them seem less daunting.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My content consists of comedy skits, action scenes, and music videos with anime, cartoon, and video game references.
I had started my YouTube channel in 2011. It was originally meant for music, but as time went by, I learned that with my knowledge of music, filming, and martial arts choreography, I wanted to create something unique. Why stick to one thing when you can get out of your comfort zone and do something you enjoy more? If you have more than one or two talents, don’t hesitate to combine it. You can make a difference no matter the size.
I’m known for shooting videos that involve these cosplayers and having fun inspiring others to move forward with their dreams. I aspire to show others that they can live their life and follow their dreams, be it in music, film, arts, or even cosplay. Anything is possible!
I have many proud moments being involved in this community, we don’t often think about the fact that cosplayers spend so much time making their own outfits, or even just buying them and piecing it together and because they dedicate so much into making them, when they are asked to be in a photo or video it makes them feel as if all of their efforts were worth it. Be it a short sequence or a long process, I feel proud making those I work with or spend time with proud of their hard work and skill in making the character come to life as well as make sure they have fun.
Even though a vast majority of the cosplayers I have worked with do not have much experience in acting, I make sure my directing is to the point and that the choreography was simple and safe. I want to make sure they’re comfortable with the scenes they do and want them to have fun.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I feel the proudest when I meet my fans and they tell me how watching my videos has helped them with their depression or has inspired them to follow their dreams. (I was once very afraid of not being a good role model but my work has shown me in many ways that we are all appreciated, and I want to continue to do this and make a good impact on the community as well as inspire others and make them proud!)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/Doppoganga
- Email: doppoganga@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/Doppoganga
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Doppoganga
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/doppoganga
Image Credit:
Gregg Snider, Amy Young, Raymix-1000/Images
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
