Our 1st TV Show Audition Tape: Please Give Us Tips on Being Better - Wolters World
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Date: 2022-02-04
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Comments and reviews: 10
Melissa
First of all, your warm personalities shone through and you worked well together on camera. I think you'd be an engaging couple on a TV show. Mark, sometimes you talk pretty fast and sound breathless; in your travel videos it's one of the ways you demonstrate your passion for your subject and I find it charming, but for TV you'd probably need to slow down and smooth it out a little.
But my main concern was a lack of focus in terms of your topic. It was especially confusing at first, when you were standing in front of a quad with buildings and grass and talking about a bowling alley in Wisconsin. Later you explained where you were, but by then it was almost too late. I don't know the audition requirements, so topic coverage may not have mattered, but I wanted you to tell us why you thought the cornfield was worth telling America about. How long has it been there? How much corn do they grow every year? Who manages the field? Have they learned anything important to corn farmers (or corn eaters) in these corn-speriments? Does the whole town show up in August with a vat of melted butter and a huge salt shaker? :-)
Thanks so much for the great travel videos!
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First of all, your warm personalities shone through and you worked well together on camera. I think you'd be an engaging couple on a TV show. Mark, sometimes you talk pretty fast and sound breathless; in your travel videos it's one of the ways you demonstrate your passion for your subject and I find it charming, but for TV you'd probably need to slow down and smooth it out a little.
But my main concern was a lack of focus in terms of your topic. It was especially confusing at first, when you were standing in front of a quad with buildings and grass and talking about a bowling alley in Wisconsin. Later you explained where you were, but by then it was almost too late. I don't know the audition requirements, so topic coverage may not have mattered, but I wanted you to tell us why you thought the cornfield was worth telling America about. How long has it been there? How much corn do they grow every year? Who manages the field? Have they learned anything important to corn farmers (or corn eaters) in these corn-speriments? Does the whole town show up in August with a vat of melted butter and a huge salt shaker? :-)
Thanks so much for the great travel videos!
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lebell79
I've watched dozens of your videos and like you guys.
The things that I like about you guys I can't see in this video.
Here's a short list:
- Framework too static, visually nothing is happening.
- as someone else mentioned in the comments already: sync your clothing. It needs to look 'cohesive'.
- You got tons of footage, edit in more footage of local things to get a more 'show, don't tell' vibe and an entirely different presentation.
- You basically got all the proper ingredients for let's say a pizza but you're trying to come up with lasagna.
That said, I'm confident you will be able to figure it out and come up with your own unique way, just dig from the tons of footage you already have, ask people with professional or amateur experience in camerawork and editing to help you out or give tips etc.
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I've watched dozens of your videos and like you guys.
The things that I like about you guys I can't see in this video.
Here's a short list:
- Framework too static, visually nothing is happening.
- as someone else mentioned in the comments already: sync your clothing. It needs to look 'cohesive'.
- You got tons of footage, edit in more footage of local things to get a more 'show, don't tell' vibe and an entirely different presentation.
- You basically got all the proper ingredients for let's say a pizza but you're trying to come up with lasagna.
That said, I'm confident you will be able to figure it out and come up with your own unique way, just dig from the tons of footage you already have, ask people with professional or amateur experience in camerawork and editing to help you out or give tips etc.
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Waters
Finding the balance between being who you are in your other videos and being slightly more professional - that isn't easy to do. For example, what most of us love is your natural way of sharing what you have experienced in a conversational way that really gives us solid information. Having said that, you do lack a little professionalism in your approach. Stay focused on the camera and point the camera to the background, not yourself. Stay connected with each other but not in an I'm nervous so hold my hand way. Have a script ready but not word-for-word, to keep you from repeating things or forgetting. You can be personable but you also have to come across as experts. You have to hook us quickly and tell a story we can relate to. And TV is going to be a lot less forgiving than You Tube. Good luck - I'll watch.
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Finding the balance between being who you are in your other videos and being slightly more professional - that isn't easy to do. For example, what most of us love is your natural way of sharing what you have experienced in a conversational way that really gives us solid information. Having said that, you do lack a little professionalism in your approach. Stay focused on the camera and point the camera to the background, not yourself. Stay connected with each other but not in an I'm nervous so hold my hand way. Have a script ready but not word-for-word, to keep you from repeating things or forgetting. You can be personable but you also have to come across as experts. You have to hook us quickly and tell a story we can relate to. And TV is going to be a lot less forgiving than You Tube. Good luck - I'll watch.
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Spammer
Mark, Jocelyn, you asked for it. I really enjoy your regular posts, in which you almost never talk about yourselves, so why did you do that so much in the demo? I am sure that you were invited to throw your hat into the ring because you normally concentrate on educating the viewer, not telling us about your credentials. Others have negatively commented on the hand holding - I agree. I understand you were nervous, but why? The aerosol cream in the mouth was simply juvenile; is the proposed programme aimed at 5 year olds? What follows is old school, but then so is Pythagorus' equation. Tell them what youre going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them and make the subject the backdrop of your opening shot.
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Mark, Jocelyn, you asked for it. I really enjoy your regular posts, in which you almost never talk about yourselves, so why did you do that so much in the demo? I am sure that you were invited to throw your hat into the ring because you normally concentrate on educating the viewer, not telling us about your credentials. Others have negatively commented on the hand holding - I agree. I understand you were nervous, but why? The aerosol cream in the mouth was simply juvenile; is the proposed programme aimed at 5 year olds? What follows is old school, but then so is Pythagorus' equation. Tell them what youre going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them and make the subject the backdrop of your opening shot.
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Chris
I love your videos (although I would like a bit more candid travelling stuff. What I particularly love is that you are a family travelling the world doing what most people dream of. What your audition isn't is what you bring to youtube - an amazing family enjoying life. This isn't a bad thing because I am sure this isn 't what TV wants. Personally I would rather you forger TV and stick with youtube. put a little more polish onto your youtube vids, feature more family life and more general destination stuff.
I love your Youtube and Instagram. If TV doesn't work out (and selfishly I would rather it didn't: ) you will always be loved on YouTube. Next time your in Edinburgh would be happy to buy you a beer or two!
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I love your videos (although I would like a bit more candid travelling stuff. What I particularly love is that you are a family travelling the world doing what most people dream of. What your audition isn't is what you bring to youtube - an amazing family enjoying life. This isn't a bad thing because I am sure this isn 't what TV wants. Personally I would rather you forger TV and stick with youtube. put a little more polish onto your youtube vids, feature more family life and more general destination stuff.
I love your Youtube and Instagram. If TV doesn't work out (and selfishly I would rather it didn't: ) you will always be loved on YouTube. Next time your in Edinburgh would be happy to buy you a beer or two!
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Alicia
I just discovered your videos and have been binge watching. Some of my suggestion on this audition (which is likely too late, but my 2 cents worth) are that the framing is off. I'm easily distracted by background junk and the garbage can is bugging me. I prefer the framing on the other videos, more close-up with a great background. Maybe start the video with an intro of who you are. If that is your son, maybe finding a way to not have him wandering around behind you (also distracting. No hands in pockets or holding hands or side-hugging. I realize you are trying to stop the nerves, but they want to know youll be good in front of the camera. Youve proven that with your other videos so try to show that. Good luck!
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I just discovered your videos and have been binge watching. Some of my suggestion on this audition (which is likely too late, but my 2 cents worth) are that the framing is off. I'm easily distracted by background junk and the garbage can is bugging me. I prefer the framing on the other videos, more close-up with a great background. Maybe start the video with an intro of who you are. If that is your son, maybe finding a way to not have him wandering around behind you (also distracting. No hands in pockets or holding hands or side-hugging. I realize you are trying to stop the nerves, but they want to know youll be good in front of the camera. Youve proven that with your other videos so try to show that. Good luck!
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Alan
The thing that I have always enjoyed about WW videos are the way you keep it real! Good concise information that really works. So many travel shows in fact showcase touristy things or luxury resorts that really don't enhance the travel experience. I have always found that when you get off the beaten path, take the time to meet new people, maybe leave your comfort zone a little, it can be a really incredible learning experience. I visited Paris for the first time recently and your videos helped us to have an amazing time. So I can only say just be yourself and keep doing what you are doing, it really makes the joy of travel that much better!
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The thing that I have always enjoyed about WW videos are the way you keep it real! Good concise information that really works. So many travel shows in fact showcase touristy things or luxury resorts that really don't enhance the travel experience. I have always found that when you get off the beaten path, take the time to meet new people, maybe leave your comfort zone a little, it can be a really incredible learning experience. I visited Paris for the first time recently and your videos helped us to have an amazing time. So I can only say just be yourself and keep doing what you are doing, it really makes the joy of travel that much better!
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Nicolas
To me Mark seemed more relaxed and natural in the video and. I'm so sorry I haven't caught on to his wife's name yet. but she seemed much more scripted and nervous, which gave her an unnatural and less engaging quality than I'm used to seeing from her in regular videos. I agree with someone else that said that there was too much rumping around in the script. But, other than that you have to really go with your gut with how you think the people you're auditioning for want you to perform. It's a much more dramatic version of a job interview, that's all. Break a leg! ;)
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To me Mark seemed more relaxed and natural in the video and. I'm so sorry I haven't caught on to his wife's name yet. but she seemed much more scripted and nervous, which gave her an unnatural and less engaging quality than I'm used to seeing from her in regular videos. I agree with someone else that said that there was too much rumping around in the script. But, other than that you have to really go with your gut with how you think the people you're auditioning for want you to perform. It's a much more dramatic version of a job interview, that's all. Break a leg! ;)
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briarfriar
I appreciate all of your videos, and would certainly watch any series in which you were presenters. The only thing I will add just because I don't see it here is that if there is a media / production department at the university where Mark teaches, it may be worth approaching your colleagues there to find some students who want to get paid to produce shows like this to do some of the work for you. It's a win-win. You get your professional video, they get a great finished product to add to their portfolio. Just a thought. Thanks for your work.
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I appreciate all of your videos, and would certainly watch any series in which you were presenters. The only thing I will add just because I don't see it here is that if there is a media / production department at the university where Mark teaches, it may be worth approaching your colleagues there to find some students who want to get paid to produce shows like this to do some of the work for you. It's a win-win. You get your professional video, they get a great finished product to add to their portfolio. Just a thought. Thanks for your work.
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PokerNomad
I was wondering the whole video what it would be about. You should tell in the beginning what I can expect in the video. But I guess being this was an audition it was more about the presentation than the message. Presentation wise I think you two look good together, very comfortable, relaxed, good voices. You look like nice friendly people who want to tell me a story and because you look like normal people and not like those CNN news anchors, I am more inclined to believe you. The holding hands is a little weird though.
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I was wondering the whole video what it would be about. You should tell in the beginning what I can expect in the video. But I guess being this was an audition it was more about the presentation than the message. Presentation wise I think you two look good together, very comfortable, relaxed, good voices. You look like nice friendly people who want to tell me a story and because you look like normal people and not like those CNN news anchors, I am more inclined to believe you. The holding hands is a little weird though.
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