ABOUT XJ2 CREW
XJ2 Crew is an online media brand, including YouTube videos, Photo galleries, Blog postings, Facebook group, and Web site, designed to interactively share the travel experiences of an American family in Asia. The three Coolidge Brothers (Johan (J1) + Xander (X) + Jaden (J2) = XJ2) frequently do what they enjoy most... travel. By traveling, documenting, and sharing their views, the media developed by the XJ2 Crew can become helpful resources for FAMILIES who travel together.
The Coolidge Brothers were born in the USA, but are currently based in Taiwan. The initial media content produced by the XJ2 Crew focused on Tainan City, which is known as the historic and cultural capital of Taiwan. They have traveled to practically all corners of the island nation, and will eventually produce media content from many parts of Taiwan to help travelers who are considering visiting Taiwan.
They have also traveled to other destinations in Asia, and they will document trips to other Asian countries as the XJ2 Crew as the campaign continues. Travel in Asia is produced in English language, but there was also a USA Tour in the Summer of 2018 to produce episodes for a Mandarin Chinese speaking audience who want to learn about American travel destinations. That is possible, since the brothers are fluent in English, Chinese, and Taiwanese.
The Coolidge Brothers hope that by sharing their experiences, they can inspire more children and teenagers to explore more of the world around them. To them, EXPERIENCE is the BEST teacher. They consider the entire world as their back yard, and each travel destination as a living classroom. The brothers love watching YouTubers and their father wanted his sons to have a chance to be on YouTube doing something they enjoy. We hope that more young people can pursue their dreams and more people can support the dreamers.
Johan is the oldest son, and he is the thrill-seeker of the family. He is not afraid to show personality. He is growing up to be a respectful and thoughtful young man. He is creative and designed the XJ2 logo. Johan enjoys a fun and active social life with his classmates. He has placed in speech contests and has done well academically, and he has a strong interest in science and math. Johan is a high school student.
Interests and Abilities Include: Traveling, Singing, Dance, Video Games, Basketball, Tennis, Music Composition, and Multilingual (English, Chinese, Taiwanese, Atayal languages).
Xander is the second son, and he is the athletic achiever of the family. His strengths also include critical thinking, reliability, and strong will and unwavering dedication. After practicing hard for years, his tennis team won the National Championship in Taiwan. He is the son who can spend hours reading a good book. Xander is currently in junior high school.
Interests and Abilities Include: Traveling, Tennis, Singing, Video Games, Cooking, Fine Dining, Greek Mythology, and Multilingual (English, Chinese, Taiwanese, Atayal languages).
Jaden is the youngest son, and he is the expressive, dramatic member of the family. He strengths include creativity, compassion, generosity and charm. He has a huge heart for animals. Jaden shows amazing creativity in school. He has an excellent singing voice, but he still feels nervous in front of an audience. Nonetheless, he may be the son who becomes a famous or actor. He is an elementary school student.
Interests and Abilities Include: Traveling, Tennis, Basketball, Singing, Video Games, Trains, Animals, Pokémon, and Multilingual (English, Chinese, Taiwanese, Atayal languages).
Tony Coolidge, the Producer, does just about everything for the XJ2 series. He produces, organizes, writes, shoots and edits the videos. He also designs, codes and maintains the web site. He is an avid traveler, and has enjoyed visiting many countries. Seeking a way to share the travel experiences with his wife and children, and to give his sons a taste of their dream of being YouTubers, Tony embarked on this project.
Experiences Include: 34 years as a creative professional, 28 years as a web development and marketing specialist, produced media projects in the USA and Taiwan, a correspondent journalist based in Taiwan.
PRODUCERS
All online media content created for XJ2 Crew is produced by Tony Coolidge, and is owned by Bridge Studios (橋樑工作室 Taiwan) and HybridWeb (Austin, TX USA). Mr. Coolidge has been an Internet development and marketing specialist since 1995, and he has been a media (Film, TV, Internet) producer since 2004. By combining the expertise and resources of the media production company in Taiwan and the Internet marketing company in the USA, the XJ2 Crew has the tools needed to successfully share its media content internationally.
Tony Coolidge moved to Taiwan in 2009 in order to develop media through Bridge Studios and international cultural exchange projects for the ATAYAL organization. Shu-min Coolidge also assists in the production of the videos, and is trilingual, like the Coolidge Brothers.
BACKGROUND
Tony Coolidge, an American, married a Taiwanese woman named Shu-min in Orlando, Florida in 1999. They started a family, and gave birth to three sons, Johan, Xander and Jaden in Florida. During their life in the USA, Shu-min was a translator and Chinese teacher, and Tony had his Internet development and marketing company, HybridWeb. HybridWeb expanded to offer more services, including web site design, programming, SEO, marketing, and media production. Its clients came from all over the USA, and Mr. Coolidge started working on more international projects. After producing the award-winning film, Voices In The Clouds, with Director Aaron Hosé, and Producer Chris Bremer, and the ATAYAL organization, Mr. Coolidge made the decision to move his family overseas. In his view, it was the best decision for his family. Not only could the children grow up becoming bilingual (actually, trilingual), but they could experience a broader range of experiences through travel from their new home.
During their time in Taiwan, the Coolidge family enjoyed many adventures, and many times just went out without any plans or destinations in mind. That is when they seemed to discover the most unexpected, interesting experiences. It was during their travels that the family bonded most easily. They traveled to most of the island of Taiwan, including Penghu and Kinmen. They also explored Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and New Zealand.
With many people following their travel videos and photos, and with the Coolidge boys wanting to be YouTubers, it made sense that the family would put their expertise and resources to make that dream come true. In the Summer of 2017, the XJ2 Crew YouTube Channel was launched as a family effort and in the Summer of 2019, this web site will be launched as an online travel resource. We hope you enjoy what we share, and share it with others. Be inspired to go out and explore your world as a family.
