Comments on: Stilgherrian Live Alpha: lessons from episode 1

By: 4fthawaiian

4fthawaiian — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:54:01 +0000

I have still yet to watch the stream, but I’m enjoying your thoughts on improving the program. I found point 5 all too poignant, as I used to do a lot of “stage work” in my youth. This was always our rule number 1: never touch your face, as it always looks like you’re picking your nose

I also quite like the point about the direction and time structure. I think exploring the inherent “looseness” of the format makes for much better viewing — if we wanted a “traditional media” show, they’d be easy to find. Have some fun! Get the shits and walk off the stage after the first song (well, figuratively speaking). The spontaneity is all part of the fun for you and the viewer.

I’m making it a point this week to keep the time slot open to watch the live broadcast.. Did you ever find anyone to give you a redundant screen capture recording? I use ScreenFlick, and would be happy to help in this capacity. Let me know if you’re interested.

By: jay

jay — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:21:17 +0000

Ah yes, known knowns and unknown knowns

By: Stilgherrian

Stilgherrian — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:27:45 +0000

@jay: In alpha mode, if something is a “known problem” that’s scheduled to be fixed later, no further effort is expended. Camera angle is one of those issues.

When I get my new Macbook Pro, I’ll use the built-in iSight as the main camera rather than the Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 sitting on a desktop tripod. The angle chosen was one where the tripod and cable didn’t get in my way, with little thought beyond that because I needed to focus on the audio issues.

I’d framed the shot with me at the lower right so there was room for the talkback callers’ picture-in-picture on the top left. It was only when I reviewed the recording on Saturday that I discovered the callers didn’t appear! They were visible on my screen, and I didn’t know you guys couldn’t see them as well as not being able to hear them.

I’m sorting that out with Ustream support this week.

By: jay

jay — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:26:22 +0000

I thought you wore the stress well, able to narrate and tell jokes without breaking into a sweat or leaving too much silence (oh, the nose thing was a nervous tick! :-). Stage presence perhaps? I am curious about your choice of location and camera angle. It is TV, after all and not radio. I think this has been a wonderful experiment and you should do more. Your point about content vs packaging is spot on. Content is king. Your point about having the live show at the same time every week is spot on also. Particularly for those wanting to participate. (I would liked to have attended but family life, ie children, got in the way) This is tv. As much as we perceive the Television medium will lose dominance, there are still so many sheep that will tune into CSI every week and have a routine built around it, I know I have been guilty when i need a slick US TV fix and let my brain stop working. However you have the point of difference that your episodes are viewable later as archives and portable too.

P.S. Happy birthday for yesterday and please excuse my punctuation, I’ve had a nightmare day!