Nir Rimon, an actor and TikTok star with over 5.3M likes and 103K followers, tells how it all began,
and what he thinks about combining the web with acting studies.
“It started completely by accident,” Rimon opens. “I was discharged from the army into a lockdown. I was out of work and took my time. A little before that I’d made those quarantine clips with friends.
There was a dance clip that caught on and I was really flattered that people were noticing me. I innocently continued with parody clips about a musical everyone knows, and comparison clips between then and now.
I wasn’t looking for it to serve me as an actor, I had no declared goal. Pure fun, and it became a creative tool I keep refining. When the audience came, I understood I could leverage it. (Read more about opinion leaders)
What characterizes your audience?
It’s looking for pure entertainment value and loves the characters I do. It’s pure escapism from the news.
I get quite a few comments that I make people’s day.
The age range is very broad, from elementary-school kids to people my age. There was a period when I was a substitute teacher in elementary school, and I’d promise the kids that if they behaved nicely — we’d make a clip together at the end of the year.
When the end of the year came they’d already forgotten about it, to my relief, but there’s no doubt it helped me as a teacher, and the principal even gave me props.
She didn’t see it as something improper and uneducational, like the worries of many parents?
The principal actually gave me her full support. My content is family-friendly and there’s nothing improper in it. I was never interested in being provocative or producing provocative content. A very small percentage of trends becomes controversial and generates headlines.
The truth is it’s an enabling, empowering network that grants a lot of knowledge to young people and in general… I’m exposed to a lot of boys and girls who talk about gender or body image and it’s really inspiring. I’m very proud of them.
As for the question of when to open an account and when to develop content — that’s a discussion in itself and it’s the parents’ responsibility.
Do you feel responsibility toward your audience too?
Absolutely. I’ve been doing it for two years now, I believe in the audience and in our shared path. If I see an inappropriate comment, I’m alert to it and I delete it too if necessary.
How much has the web changed you?
Where I am today is unbelievable. I was a bit of an outsider kid, shy.
I wasn’t in a complete place socially, and I didn’t get the attention I would have wanted. Very few of my friends knew I had a comic ability. When you meet me for the first time it’s not the immediate thing you see.
While uploading the content, I get a hug and supportive comments from the audience, and it’s a kind of corrective experience.
I remember that at the start, an advertising company asked me to do a street survey and I immediately refused. I got scared.
Today I’m with much more confidence in social situations, approachable, and I really enjoy it. Quite a few conversations begin thanks to random encounters in the street, and I no longer apologize for saying I’m a web star and an actor.
How do these two terms sit together?
They complement each other very much. The web allows me creation, skill in filming and editing. In a world of home auditions, it sharpens both that and my acting ability. I keep in constant shape, and I don’t see myself waiting for any phone call. Today it’s creation and a livelihood at the same time.
What do you say about the trend of web stars working in television?
It depends on the content creator, and in my view it’s not coincidental. I’d like to believe it’s first of all thanks to talent.
The views and followers can open doors for you, but the burden of proof is ultimately on you.
On TikTok there are casting directors too. Even Keren Alrom follows me, so there’s room for everyone, and I don’t expect to get a role with Avi Nesher thanks to the web. For that I’m studying and developing to be the best actor I can be.
So what’s the secret? Where does it work for you compared to others?
I persist with it over time, really enjoy it and don’t deal in view counts. I film only what interests me, and I don’t try to ingratiate myself or chase a trend. On the contrary, when there’s a trend I make a joke of it.
I’m so committed that, despite the workload I have in acting studies, with countless assignments, I get up early on Saturday and film a number of clips for the coming week. It’s really important to me, and I’m my own number one critic.
We live in a very challenging country — what about biting satire? Is that a voice you want to make heard?
There are quite a few creators who are very good at stating their opinion in a sharp, uncompromising way, and they do it well. I still don’t blend my private life in and I lack political involvement. It hasn’t been an issue for me until now, but it’s definitely a goal and something I’m developing in.
Is there a fear of losing it?
No. I always feel there’s a new audience, I don’t feel it’s exhausting itself. It’s growing and developing.
A message to the nation?
Think less, do more.
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