OFFICIAL Eorzea's Next Top Model Discussion Thread

[EorzeasNTM]

I seem to recall Rongi sending an email to the contestants at the beginning with the theme for each week all the way to the end (or something along those lines).

Actually, I sent all models who made it into the top 40 the complete list of 17 photoshoots, then gave them three weeks to submit placeholders or the actual picture, with the option to continue to send in re submissions until 1 hour before the round it belongs to begins.
Most models sent in Placeholders for the last 10 rounds or so, and have slowly replaced them as the contest has gone on.

I can only think of a handful of models who have only resubmitted one or two times since Prelims. Jayzan is one. Maxwell is another. I think 2 or 3 times tops?

People's Placeholders were the best too. I think it was Vahns, maybe Rons, but all of them were him in a jester suit. Lol!

[LadyVal]

I just did a little bit of reading and catching up, and thought of an idea to pitch (if possible) that I had pitched to Rongi previously.

I think the contest was set up reasonably, and I know Rongi has a soft spot for all of the contestants, and I think that somewhat hampers him from being critical when he gets the initial photos. Hence the 80% crystal background moment. And I totally don't mean that as an insult, Rongi is just a big teddy bear. I just think the contest could use a mentor figure.

I am a big fan of Project Runway, and I think it would be entirely helpful and completely invaluable to have someone give critical feedback on each shot. So in my head some brave volunteer would review every photo the week before it is posted and give feedback to each model, in terms of "This doesn't really have 80% crystal background," "I'm worried the overall strength of the picture is weak," "Your outfit clashes with the background." Things like that, not tailoring the picture to their personal taste, but making sure every photo is truly strong and the voting won't be a landslide one way or the other. I think it would also take the pressure off of Rongi (and Tyriont too) of holding up technical requirements, and it would also be less of a shock for any model who thinks "Awh yeah I'm going to rock next week!" and gets a landslide of "I hate your picture," from the regular voters. Obviously this mentor wouldn't have a say in the votes, but would just be the person who cheers people on and tells them how they can improve their work-in-progress shot before it is put up for the voters.

Just a thought.

[Santherelle]

I just did a little bit of reading and catching up, and thought of an idea to pitch (if possible) that I had pitched to Rongi previously.

I think the contest was set up reasonably, and I know Rongi has a soft spot for all of the contestants, and I think that somewhat hampers him from being critical when he gets the initial photos. Hence the 80% crystal background moment. And I totally don't mean that as an insult, Rongi is just a big teddy bear. I just think the contest could use a mentor figure.

I am a big fan of Project Runway, and I think it would be entirely helpful and completely invaluable to have someone give critical feedback on each shot. So in my head some brave volunteer would review every photo the week before it is posted and give feedback to each model, in terms of "This doesn't really have 80% crystal background," "I'm worried the overall strength of the picture is weak," "Your outfit clashes with the background." Things like that, not tailoring the picture to their personal taste, but making sure every photo is truly strong and the voting won't be a landslide one way or the other. I think it would also take the pressure off of Rongi (and Tyriont too) of holding up technical requirements, and it would also be less of a shock for any model who thinks "Awh yeah I'm going to rock next week!" and gets a landslide of "I hate your picture," from the regular voters. Obviously this mentor wouldn't have a say in the votes, but would just be the person who cheers people on and tells them how they can improve their work-in-progress shot before it is put up for the voters.

Just a thought.

To me that takes a large element of the contest out of it.

It is the job of the contestant to follow the rules, to find a good location, to pick out a good outfit and to take a good shot.

They shouldn't have to run it by someone to know if it follows the rules, looks good, etc..

It is a contest to see who does those things best.

Winning and losing is part of the fun, it shouldn't need to be mitigated.

[LadyVal]

To me that takes a large element of the contest out of it.

It is the job of the contestant to follow the rules, to find a good location, to pick out a good outfit and to take a good shot.

They shouldn't have to run it by someone to know if it follows the rules, looks good, etc..

It is a contest to see who does those things best.

Winning and losing is part of the fun, it shouldn't need to be mitigated.

It wouldn't mitigate the competition at all, it just solidifies that everyone is on par at the same level and gives them a chance to rethink their approach possibly. Like Vahn's snow shot. He wanted to do a simple, modeling approach that focused on him. The voters said it was boring. He (probably) didn't think it was boring, and Rongi probably didn't say "Hey Vahn that picture is boring compared to the others this round," so Vahn would have been a stronger competitor had he had a mentor to say "You know I've seen the other shots and to really contend you either need to make this shot entirely about you or give the background more energy." Idk about you but I have more fun competing when my competitors are giving their all, not when they're stumbling and falling and making me look the best by default. The way it seems you want this competition to go would be like if the real Top Model show had like silent cameramen on the shoot site and no shoot directors and the models never got to see their own shots until they were all being judged.

[EorzeasNTM]

Round 11 is slowly coming up. My internet at work is SO slow tonight I can't edit the names onto the pictures very fast like usual. ; ;

@Nariko I got your email! A reply is coming s-s-sooooooon! =^-^=

@LadyVal How are you? We all missed you! ^^

@Yuni A little early there aren't we? o_o;

[Minorinz]

@Yuni A little early there aren't we? o_o;

it's an introductory!
I think this round will be really tough ;w;

[Tyriont]

First off regarding the 80% crystal cluster (lolpuns), I am nowhere -near- as nice as Rongi and will happily reject a photo that I feel doesn't meet the guidelines! Also, I've been careful when setting round themes to avoid anything like that again. The themes are clear, but lack any specific requirement like that so I'm aiming to avoid a repeat of a situation like that.

Regarding the point about a mentor, I sent this out in an e-mail to my judges, but I'm going to post it here as well now that I've done so.

As noted in the forums, for each round I would like to get at least a short sentence of feedback for each model from you that I can post in the thread, with the intent of constructively helping our models improve. I will keep the comments anonymous, but I feel pretty strongly about the responsibility of the judges to help our models get better with helpful, constructive comments! Lead the way for everyone else If anyone has any issue with that, please let me know now.

I want every single model to get feedback from the judges. I don't feel its too heavy a burden to write out their thoughts - they have to view the photo to judge it anyway! This way, we get the benefit of Val's suggestion about helping the models improve without sacrificing the contest element, as Santherelle pointed out.

[NarikoStar]

Rongi (and Tyriont if applicable) ~ how would you like me to forward my contact information for YT. Or should I hold off till Sat's casting call ;O ?

[EorzeasNTM]

Holy cows! Welcome back Val! <3

Nariko, you can email me at EorzeasNTMlol@yahoo.com. ^^

[Tinsley]

i could really use a mentor right now i tell ya.

gonna go with the eeny meeny miney mo method of picking a shot to send in for next round (if i make it through), me thinks. aughhh!