Esnyr Ranollo talks us through HAYSKUL CRUSH MOMENTS, his biggest production yet, and the magic of shared nostalgia.
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Ah, high school. There’s no experience quite like it. After some time passes, we look back on our teen years with a mixture of embarrassment, amusement, and perhaps even a hint of fondness. What a simpler time.
Plenty of TikTok creators riff on the high school experience in their content, but one creator is known for capturing it in a distinct way through dedicated, high-effort executions. Esnyr Ranollo, or esnyrrr on his socials, grew to become one of the most popular content creators over the past couple of years. His high school skits, featuring a roster of distinct characters based on people in the high school setting, has earned him millions of views, likes, and followers over on TikTok.
@esnyrrr Every may school program talaga😭✋🏼
♬ original sound Ranollo – Esnyr
The way he’s able to reenact core high school experiences in an engaging and relatable way—by himself, no less—shows his creativity and commitment to entertaining his audience. Recently, Esnyr took that to the next level on his most ambitious project yet: HAYSKUL CRUSH MOMENTS. The 12-minute YouTube skit is set in an actual school, was done with a cast and crew, and features a handful of storylines all about those core high school crush moments that we’re all too familiar with.
Esnyr’s HAYSKUL CRUSH MOMENTS has now reached over three million views in just four days, and we caught up with the content creator regarding the big production, his growth as a creator and artist, and telling stories that resonate. Read on for what he had to say below.
UNIVERSAL EXPERIENCES
Featuring Esnyr himself in about a dozen roles (yes, we counted), the start of a potential new love team to root for with the introduction of main love interest DLSU-Dasmariñas student Shan Vesagas, and several cast members to fill the school halls, HAYSKUL CRUSH MOMENTS is a compilation of classic, cheesy, or even cringy high school romance tropes and moments.
In true Esnyr form, he plays each role so well that you almost can’t believe they’re all played by the same person. From rowdy basketball varsity guys to quiet, judgmental loners, he hits the nail on the head of several student archetypes. Each line, action, or microexpression between the pairs or couples shifts each of his characters further and further away from each other—a testament to the characterization and portrayal of each persona.
The character of Precious and her “love story” with newbie Shan takes a front seat in this video, and Esnyr admits he’s got a bit more love for her than other characters. “She just reminds me of mga kaklase ko na dating kinikilig sa classroom,” he shares. He knows that plenty of audiences relate to the desperation and cringe-worthy but amusing antics of Precious—he does, too. “Medyo nakarelate din ako sakanya kasi gano’n din naman ako sa high school, lalo na yung mga nagpapatulak sa canteen o kaya may crush sa kaklase.”
@esnyrrr ANOBA WAG KA NGA GANYAN!! BAKA DI NA KO AABSENT😡
♬ original sound – 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 ✧˚ ·
Every embarrassing moment, whether those you’ve witnessed in real life or through a screen (or done yourself, don’t lie!), is presented in an engaging way. From the classroom teasing and banter to the foundation day wedding booth shenanigans, making excuses to see your crush in the other room to the games of Truth or Dare that felt like the most thrilling or terrifying moments of your life, Esnyr’s crush moments are almost universal experiences. And you can’t help but watch as you relive your own. It’s as enrapturing as any blockbuster rom-com.
ART IMITATES LIFE
@esnyrrr EKSENA NG MGA CRUSH MO SA SCHOOL BE LIKE
♬ original sound – shio
Beyond the giggles, Esnyr thinks that the reason his content sees so much success is because personal experiences are often so relatable. You’re not the only one to make a fool of yourself in front of a crush or suffered through a pop quiz.
“So thats why yung characters na ginagawa ko, inspired sila sa stories ng ibang tao rin,” he says. “Hindi lang ako, syempre. Kumbaga may times na inaask ko yung friends ko or yung family ko kung ano ba yung mga naging experiences nila nung highschool and yun yung ginagawa kong inspiration or hugot.”
The creator had shared before that he’s amazed at just how many people relate to his content. And he still is. “Up until now, iba parin yung fulfillment & excitement every time nababasa ko yung mga reactions nila na nakakarelate sila,” Esnyr muses. “Na-aamaze po ako na as generations passed by, we [still] share the same experience as students. Sobrang saya po na nareremind tayong lahat about our highschool life.”
Nostalgia is powerful, able to make us long for different, simpler times—no matter how immature we were back then. Those experiences shaped us, and remembering them reminds us of the good times and all the craziness of growing up.
GOING BIGGER
From minute-long, green-screened, and portrait-mode skits on TikTok to a full HD production on YouTube, Esnyr has stepped up his game. Aside from his friends and family’s constant encouraging and support, he wanted to give his audience a “refresh,” and bring something new to the table. It was time for him to give his viewers an upgraded and extended version of his content with a more realistic set-up.
“Naisip ko din kasi na, since I have the resources naman na—which is because of the people’s support—deserve naman nila mabigyan ng high quality school content in return,” he continues. “Above all, gusto ko rin magpasaya ng mas maraming tao and makapagbigay-aliw at nostalgia hindi lamang sa isang platform kundi sa YouTube na din.”
It wasn’t smooth sailing from the beginning, though. “Nahirapan po talaga akong simulan kung paano siya gawin,” Esnyr remarked. But thanks to the crew he handpicked to work with him, including Jester Demata, Alec Quizon, Ruby Ann Murillo, Jefferd Ubera, and Jonas Aubrey, they were able to find what was needed to make his concepts a reality. “Everything started from scratch talaga and grateful ako na willing po sila to do this [project].”
From starting out not even having any acting experience, to finding his niche, to working on Shake, Rattle, & Roll Extreme (2023), Esnyr’s grown from being a small TikTok creator on his own to becoming a creative force in his generation. And HAYSKUL CRUSH MOMENTS is clearly just the beginning.
Images from @esnyrrr on Instagram. Screencaps from HAYSKUL CRUSH MOMENTS.
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