OFFICIAL Eorzea's Next Top Model Discussion Thread

[EorzeasNTM]

RONGI MAIL!!!

As the Youtube models are submitting their final submissions for their 8 rounds, I've been thinking, and I want to bring this up with you guys.

LadyVal brought it up during Cycle 2, a Photoshoot mentor. How does everyone else feel about it?

I wanted to try it out for Cycle Youtube, and the process has been as such.
1) The model submits one photo per round.
2) I critique each shot. Sometimes, the photo submitted are absolutely awesome. And I tell them to not change a thing! Other times, I have told them to uncenter themselves, change their outfit or background, or rework the lighting. The only thing I think I have tried not to do is tell them to rework the entire concept they have for the shot, just tell them what I think they should do to make their concept come together as a good screen shot.
3) The model then submits up to 3 photos, and of those 3 (+ the original photo they submitted) I tell them which I liked the best.
4) On November 30th, the Model will be submitting their final selections to submit to the judges.

Honestly, I have absolutely LOVED the experience. And I've seen 4 of the models final submissions so far and they really took my critiques to heart and submitted some great photos.

I would absolutely love to bring this Mentor System to Cycle 4, if our community (we need a name! ENTMers?) wants it.

Unfortunately it does open up the "The mentor purposefully told me something bad so I would get eliminated!" can of worms. The only way around this that I can see is making the Mentors Critiques public, possibly here on the forum, but without showing the Model's photo (because it ruins the surprise and allows other models to copy ideas!). If anyone else has any suggestions for how we can eliminate this problem from creeping up, please let me know!

I trust myself, and I hope all of you trust me as well, and the YT models are more than welcome to post their critiques I have sent to them here so you can all see that I put my heart into each critique to help the models succeed. The only problem is, I am planning on entering myself into Cycle 4, either the boys or girls contest, so we will need a new Mentor to step up...One that pinky promises not to give bad critiques to help their friend/favorite model win the competition.

The floor is open for discussion! ^^

Also, after discussing it with the other Judges of this Cycle, we are considering introducing a Judge's Save in Cycle 4. This would involve a majority vote from all 9 judges to pass (5/4). This is also up for discussion, so please share your thoughts.

My proposal for the Judging Save is that for the model to qualify for the ability to be saved, they must have a position in the Top 3 in at LEAST 3 rounds, which means the first Judging Save cannot start being used until Round 4. Example: Model A comes in Second in Round 2, Third in Round 3, Fourth in Round 4, First in Round 5, and is Eliminated in Round 6. Because she was in Second, Third, and First in Rounds 2, 3, and 5, she qualifies for the Judge's Save, and the Judges can vote to save her. If 5 or more of the judges agree, the Model will be saved from Elimination. And of course, this can only happen once per cycle, and it must happen before the Final 3.