FIRST Parody Fatigue and other Media Things [long]

[Metonym]

Woo I finally get to make my yearly convoluted post about how much I hate/love (49:51) the combination of creative media and FIRST. Trust me this is going to be a ramble, but I will totally get to a solid point about something...maybe not media related.

First off, Wil makes a very important statement that should resound with anyone doing creative work.

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

If you want to go do something, don't let FIRST be something that boxes you in...

Do what you want to do, but better than everyone else is what I tell myself. Who cares what other people make as long as you set the bar? And if someone else sets the bar higher just work upwards. Being a standard for cinematic excellence should obviously be your goal and nothing is stopping your work from reaching that goal except for the gap between idea and reality. If you haven't seen the video that I linked please watch it. It is something I refer to every time I finish a video because of how powerful the message is.

Now back to this whole talk about parody videos, which I think are 90% garbage because it is just FIRST capitalizing on one team doing an amazing job last year. FIRST holding video contests isn't a bad thing, but it also isn't something that we need to force on everyone. Having all of those video get played at events was a bad choice, I honestly wish we had cut them from the scripts at my events. The winner should absolutely be played once at every regional and once at DCMPs to spread their work, but the rest should be mentioned else where. They might have put in a lot of work but, I'll be blunt/harsh, that doesn't make their content good and bearable for the audiences at events.

Originally Posted by TheMilkman01

But part of me is sad because not many teams had the means to create quality parodies, and those that had potential are likely cringeworthy, but FIRST feels obligated to play them, which makes people sick of them. This arguably puts media and video making in a bad light for those involved in FIRST, which is somewhat heartbreaking for me, who has only been in FIRST for that reason.

People that want to make videos won't get annoyed or put off, they will see them and think "Wow, I could do 10 times better than those people." But obviously showing all the videos won't raise the bar by much. Showing the best video gives a gold standard, something to strive for, something to revere, and that is what I think makes better videos.

Originally Posted by TheMilkman01

On a side note, all of this has somewhat discouraged me from doing a parody that I've been working on for a while now--Rap God by Eminem. Yes, I know it's crazy, but I've already written it sooo, idk. Probably will just make extra sure the quality this time is great and not cringeworthy.

SCREW THAT. Make the video. Make it good...no make it AMAZING. Give it everything you got and show the FRC community that they can't make low tier videos. Did anyone tell Jordan and Jacob to make their amazing FRC music video, this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLQb4m2a5TQ. NO they did because they believed that it would be worth it for themselves (I am making an assumption, but it should be close to correct).

You saw FIRST as an opportunity to do creative work, but I think you should now see it as a way to inspire people to do better creative work. Inspiration is core ideal of FIRST so take it to heart and make awesome videos that inspire others to do the same.

As a bit of inspiration I want to leave off with a few videos that truly inspired me to create better content.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMA_r1oHOPQ - 1678's 2013 recap video of worlds. This video is what made me want to do highlight reels in the first place. 1678's videographer really impressed me and was the first person I looked for at Worlds in 2014 to thank for inspiring me to create better content.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jd32B0chAg&ebc - 610 does it again with a phenomenal video about what it is like behind the glass. It wasn't perfect, but it is the best attempt to this day to give a sense of what it is like to be on a drive team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjqFuNfbhOM - Another great highlight reel/recap video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCz2yTVPxbM - 27's chairman's video instantly led me to believe that they were going to win chairman's at worlds. Everything about it is great and unique, something that hasn't been achieved since then.

[HolyLandBrand]

Originally Posted by Metonym

snip snip

I think 2052 has made wonderful videos just like that as well- such as their chairman's video this year. I'm a huge fan of all the videos and youtube channels for the teams you listed, but a largely underrated one in FRC is definitely 2052's YouTube channel.

[Road Rash]

Another great thread. One of the areas I want to eventually help our second-year team with is with content creation and getting the word out. Having watched a few of the video's linked in this thread, I added a subscription or two and now know who to bug here for advice on video creation. I recently purchased some editing software for my kids and I was thinking about getting into it as well as I need to work on my content creation as well. Most of my personal uploads are just straight uploads with no editing.

[Sperkowsky]

Let me preface this statement by saying that I have done a lot of the media stuff for me team since I joined.

First may be more then robots but being real here its mostly about robots. First cares about videos a little. There is chairman's, a reveal, and the occasional contest. We are personally submitting for the DOW contest and I spent my entire Wednesday in a lab getting B-Roll.

Media is about creativity. We can not expect FIRST a robotics competition to do more video contests, awards, ect. There are already enough.

However, there is room for you to do your thing. Recap videos are cool. I have seen some teams do weekly shows. I run a weekly show called F4 and if you would like to be on and talk about media PM me and ill give you details. And then, there is event livestreams. That is another good place to have some fun with live video.

Overall, I am not too sure what your getting at.

Is your goal to get FIRST to accept STEAM and add more media awards?

[TheMilkman01]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

Media is about creativity. We can not expect FIRST a robotics competition to do more video contests, awards, ect. There are already enough.

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

Overall, I am not too sure what your getting at.

Is your goal to get FIRST to accept STEAM and add more media awards?

We can't expect FIRST to add more video competitions, as you said, but mostly because that alone won't help foster new media people. I have been involved in numerous recaps and weekly shows, which overall has been a great learning experience. In the post above, I was offering my reflections on the media experience within FIRST and the Parody Contest. Here's what I'm trying to get at, though, if it's any one thing.

FIRST, from the beginning, has been about STEM. That's nothing to be ashamed of and is quite impressive. However, sooner or later it is my opinion that they will need to add the Arts to STEM so they can continue to grow and flourish as an organization. STEM is critical and prudent––there's no denying that––but if it is to be recognized and appealing to the broader, general public, adding Arts is how you do that. I'm not trying to belittle STEM in anyway, that's one of the core things FIRST teaches, but through the Arts, particularly media production, teams will be able to make themselves more accessible, relatable, and appealing to FIRST outsiders who have never given serious thought to STEM or FIRST before. Essentially, it would help boost Public Relations in FIRST and open the doors for people who wouldn't have joined FIRST otherwise, all while putting them in a setting surrounded by engineers. There's already the potential to have media in FIRST and we need our business teams for finances, but adding the Arts just seems like a way to make that information more readily apparent to the public, especially in the digital age where the things most eyecatching gain the most attention. It also seems like there would be very few drawbacks. If it would increase members, add diversity, and attract more of the public, why wouldn't you want to go that route? Seems like "Making It Loud" to me and being "More than Robots" to me.

Anyway, that's just how I feel. Of course, you're free to develop your own opinion on the subject and, at the end of the day, FIRST remains a great organization all the same.

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

I run a weekly show called F4 and if you would like to be on and talk about media PM me and ill give you details.

Actually, could you link to that? I'd gladly give it consideration.

[GreyingJay]

Steve Jobs used to famously say that Apple wanted to be at the intersection of Technology and Liberal Arts. The context of his quote was more about using social sciences and other disciplines to guide their products, so it's not just technology for technology's sake, but the point still applies that in today's world, you need STEAM, not just STEM.

Apple doesn't really invent things - they repackage technology in new ways, and market the heck out of it. For example, Apple didn't invent the smartphone, but they made one that was intuitive, fun to use, and appealed to the masses instead of just to business executives. They made a bold (at the time) decision that a touchscreen would work better than a physical keyboard, which was a risky move. Then their marketing arm took over. But that's the point - marketing to them is just as important as the technology and product engineering.

FRC simulates the experience of working in an engineering company. You're given a proposal and system requirements (the game manual), and it's up to your "company" to make strategic decisions, design your "product", build it, hopefully test it, and ship it. Then you wait to see how well your product stands up against the competition (very literally), and refine as needed. The business subteams have a very realistic experience when it comes to things like raising capital, deciding on company branding, advertising, websites, social media engagement, competitive market analysis, etc.

I think even without FIRST's prodding, teams are learning that they need to step up their game with respect to video, websites, social media, and other "marketing" aspects. Teams have set high standards for video production by way of reveal videos and chairman's, among others. The rest of us learn by example.

I would treat video production capability like any other skill or equipment available to your team. If you have a CNC machine or mill, use it. If you don't, you have to make do without. If you have students with video production acumen, by all means, use it. The nice thing is that it's cheaper and easier for a team to learn some skills in video editing, or social media, or branding, than it is to buy and set up a new piece of machinery. The trick is in recognizing that the two are equally capable of changing the way your team operates.

[Shrub]

A friend of mine (who does not have a CD account) and I have been discussing this thread since it has been posted. On her previous team, she had a hand in many of the design aspects, both graphically and on the robot. I also was able to marginally aid in many of the graphic design/web design aspects of my old team. I know there were many, many things I could do to make it better. As someone who was taking four IB and an AP course, I knew I did not have the time. Even so, I value more what I learned in the process than the actual outcome of the website. I do not take comfort in knowing the website I helped design may have been better than someone else's.

I think it's important to realize that many of the teams who are producing videos for the FIRST parody contest have had little-to-no video processing experience. FIRST is composed primarily of high school students - it would be unfair to hold them all to an equally high standard, given the diverse areas where FIRST programs are held. Some teams are able to push themselves and have members solely devoted to producing media content. Some teams have members that are just learning and are doing the FIRST parody contest to test their video skills.

One may consider the videos bad, or cringe-inducing, but one should not somehow use those videos to judge the whole production value of a team. For many teams, this is the first opportunity some members have to be introduced to media production because they have an opportunity and a reason to they may not otherwise have (and would then have to focus their efforts on something else relative to team size and capabilities). I honestly think it's disrespectful to discredit team efforts that they have put into their team videos and not give them recognition because you're feeling cringe-y.

My friend and I do agree on other teams with higher levels of video production experience (or experience of any kind, really) sharing their knowledge and efforts with others. I'm honestly excited any amazed by some team's efforts. It's awesome. I'm glad that "more than robots" activities within a FIRST team are getting recognition, and that people are learning skills that include video production and design.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by Shrub

One may consider the videos bad, or cringe-inducing, but one should not somehow use those videos to judge the whole production value of a team. For many teams, this is the first opportunity some members have to be introduced to media production because they have an opportunity and a reason to they may not otherwise have (and would then have to focus their efforts on something else relative to team size and capabilities). I honestly think it's disrespectful to discredit team efforts that they have put into their team videos and not give them recognition because you're feeling cringe-y.

^This. Would you tell a rookie team "your robot struggles just do drive and looks horrible, can you stop playing since it makes all of us look bad to the potential sponsors and media?"?

[Metonym]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

^This. Would you tell a rookie team "your robot struggles just do drive and looks horrible, can you stop playing since it makes all of us look bad to the potential sponsors and media?"?

I really hope my post didn't come off saying that I discredit the work of these teams with little video experience, because I can admit that I started in a similar place. I can also acknowledge that Jess' point "The method may not always be ideal, but the act of inspiring in new ways is always good," is very true.

What I am afraid of is that these contests provide students with a few one off opportunities to make a video and then forget about making more videos because their team might not think it is important enough or because they lack the drive to continue. FIRST will always be robots first, but if they get past that phase and make videos on a regular basis I will be ecstatic because it means people are working to achieve something that I didn't when I was a student.

Originally Posted by Carolyn_Grace

This year, with the expansion of our committee, we have been able to up the professionalism of our videos. The students now have professional and college A/V people mentoring them. Here's our videos from this year so far: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...PrEcVFsO4KZ7qJ

Hey some of that is me!

[GreyingJay]

Originally Posted by Metonym

What I am afraid of is that these contests provide students with a few one off opportunities to make a video and then forget about making more videos because their team might not think it is important enough or because they lack the drive to continue. FIRST will always be robots first, but if they get past that phase and make videos on a regular basis I will be ecstatic because it means people are working to achieve something that I didn't when I was a student.

Well, I can tell you that when we started our new team in September, I asked for a show of hands who would be interested in doing some video or photography work on the team. There was not a single hand raised. I think because nobody really knew why they would want to make a video.

Now looking back, students have seen that there are many opportunities to make videos, not even counting the song parody contest:
- safety animation
- chairman's video
- video to loop on a display in our pit or at a community event
- robot reveal video
- recordings of workshops or other "seminars" we have
- video tutorials, for example to set up our image processing software on a Raspberry Pi

We have purchased some team licenses of Premiere Elements and have at least one student and two mentors interested in video production work. Next year we should be able to push this even more.

[TheMilkman01]

Originally Posted by GreyingJay

Well, I can tell you that when we started our new team in September, I asked for a show of hands who would be interested in doing some video or photography work on the team. There was not a single hand raised. I think because nobody really knew why they would want to make a video.

This is the case for most teams. If they don't understand the potential, how can we expect them to devote their time to it? Not only that, but they recruited people wanting to build a robot, not necessarily anyone wanting to make videos or go into business. It's not really something that most people sign up for in FIRST partially due to less demand, partially due lack of marketing FIRST that way.

Originally Posted by XaulZan11;

I really hope my post didn't come off saying that I discredit the work of these teams with little video experience, because I can admit that I started in a similar place. I can also acknowledge that Jess' point "The method may not always be ideal, but the act of inspiring in new ways is always good," is very true.

I 100% agree with this. I realize in my original post I may have come off as belittling the teams who put the effort into making a video, but this couldn't be further from the truth. I was thrilled with the turnout and watched every single parody in order to see what each team thought up and produced.

Originally Posted by Shrub

One may consider the videos bad, or cringe-inducing, but one should not somehow use those videos to judge the whole production value of a team. For many teams, this is the first opportunity some members have to be introduced to media production because they have an opportunity and a reason to they may not otherwise have (and would then have to focus their efforts on something else relative to team size and capabilities). I honestly think it's disrespectful to discredit team efforts that they have put into their team videos and not give them recognition because you're feeling cringe-y.

Again, I in no way meant to take away recognition from the teams nor wish to disrespect them. It is, like you said, perhaps their first opportunity to be introduced to media. It just bugs me a little that their first opportunity had to be this way. Rather than starting with a smaller competition that most teams would create better content on and learn more from scratch, FIRST opted to more or less bandwagon on the success of the FIRST Rhapsody parody and cause many teams just starting out in media production to have to create one of the hardest video genres there is to create. I'm grateful for the teams that pushed through and submitted, but I personally know at least one team that decided to take their parody off of YouTube after it received a heavy wave of dislikes with no feedback. That's what frustrates me. I see teams trying and not getting much support. I see FIRST create video contests but not seem consistent or engaged with them. When they do recognize them, they overplay them, which lessens the experience for some people. I understand both sides––that FIRST should recognize the videos, but also that some people are getting tired of them already. It's a tricky situation. We can't change the past, though, and it doesn't do too much good to dwell on it. I hope that in the future my team––and others––will be able to impact FIRST for the better through video production and see it gain traction to become widespread in our great community.

[Shrub]

Originally Posted by TheMilkman01

snip snip

Thanks for the clarification! I can definitely see what you mean, and I hope that FIRST consistently continues to have a video contest every year of some sort - not just to #makeitloud (which is awesome) but to promote quality content and encourage teaching others non-technical skills.

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by TheMilkman01

Actually, could you link to that? I'd gladly give it consideration.

Here is the link to apply - http://goo.gl/forms/ERSqG2YYLa
Link to channel -

It is just starting out but, it is a really fun community. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVd...irbn0f71skmVIA

[Jessica Boucher]

In my 17th season, I've seen a lot of things that wax and wane in the areas outside of the robot. The best example is the evolution of the animation awards, which used to be a huge deal - you were judged not by the judge crew but an assemblage of your peers who also submitted at that regional. Winning it at a regional was an honor, I've seen teams literally carry their animators onto the field. There was special time devoted at Nationals on Einstein to hear Autodesk brass talk about animation best practices, as well as a separate awards ceremony, and hundreds of students would show up.

Due to sponsor changes, it's now married to the safety efforts and played at every event. Although I miss the old days, I do appreciate how they've tried to give some honor to the way it once was. And honestly, I haven't found a safety video winner that I didn't like. (1)

It's tough to see HQ's marketing efforts shift, as well. In my day I've seen 8 different heads of that department, and I've seen the recycling of old ideas that are perceived as fresh because, well, no one at HQ was around when it was the old way and why we changed in the first place. (2) An example of this includes the switch from FIRST Robotics to FRC to FIRST Robotics Competition.

Back when I was graduating high school ('01), my choice to go to business school instead of engineering was considered sacrilege in the community. There were zero scholarships, and I was asked multiple times why I bothered to stay at all. There are multiple reasons I stayed, but the best answer I have is the skills you learn here will help shape your career. Even though it gets harder every year, one of the reasons I stick around is to tell that story - I know kids who focused in animation, writing, and other stem-adjacent skills that used those talents in other ways and have parlayed it into their careers. There are so many success stories that expand beyond STEM and if one more person stays a fan of FIRST because of it, you're helping other FIRST fans be born. In my eyes, that's great work.

Yes, building a parody video for the sake of an award that is not really well-defined smacks of bandwagoning, and the videos that aren't that stellar are hard to watch over and over. But, just as one robot can change the world, encouraging a student to think about a problem in new ways and take a chance on something new may inspire a whole new career. The OP speaks about how their video skills have improved significantly, and who knows what they or these kids who created a video will do with their lives. The method may not always be ideal, but the act of inspiring in new ways is always good.

And hey, I'll take this over a new rev of "the FIRST song" any day.


(1) Additionally, Automation Direct is also doing a fantastic job of carrying the torch into the Modern FRC era. They get it.
(2) It should also be noted that aside from the head of the department, there are some people who have been in HQ Marketing for a good amount of time who I am incredibly grateful for that handle the initial gatekeeping of ideas.

[TheMilkman01]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

It's tough to see HQ's marketing efforts shift, as well. In my day I've seen 8 different heads of that department, and I've seen the recycling of old ideas that are perceived as fresh because, well, no one at HQ was around when it was the old way and why we changed in the first place.

I can imagine. In order to be original, you have to understand what's been done before and it's not always that easy. How would you say that these ideas have impacted FIRST in general, and, if any, are there any consistently repeating trends?