Lessons from the Street: Capacity Building and Replication
Appendix 4: Excerpts from One-on-One Television
School Follow-Up Training
Note: One person who attended the group television
school illustrated in Appendix 3 received one-on-one, on-camera training
at a later time. What follows are excerpts from an analysis of the person's
television performance, written by the trainers.
Post Media Training Review Our media professional didn't think that there was a lot to be improved
on but was pleasantly surprised by your growth from our earlier session.
The reviewer felt that the makeup added greatly to an attractive and positive
appearance. She stated that your smile, literally, lit up the screen and
the colors in your tunic really brought out your skin tone.
Our reviewer agreed with our "practice makes perfect" axiom. She noted
that the message segment got better as you become more relaxed at delivering
it. However, she said that the message loses its effectiveness when it
comes across as memorized. She suggested that you write down key words
on a 4x5 card that will trigger certain thought processes. Our reviewer
stated that you know this subject better than anyone -- so when you speak
from the heart, it has a powerful effect.
The eye contact in your taped session was much better than in your television
segment which was reviewed prior to your training. Your tone was stronger
following the training and more confident and your message was interesting
and compelling.
Summary
You are a natural star. Your warmth, sincerity and enthusiasm radiates
when you speak. It is important to keep that quality which is inspiring
and effective with audiences. Now the hard stuff. The most important task
for you is to keep on your message and learn how to get in all of the information
in the short period of time allotted. To help ease anxiety over media appearances,
embrace each one as an opportunity to tell your very impressive story.
It will greatly help for you to memorize your message and practice it.
You will also need to negotiate with the television program and/or sponsors
for greater support, including scholarships, sponsorships, as well as concessions
-- assuring that your organization's phone number is on the screen, that
you have adequate time to talk about your program and that you are paid
AFTRA rates for some of your appearances.
The Message The opening message that we worked on contains the information you most
want people to remember about your organization. That same information
should be expanded upon and repeated wherever possible throughout the program.
Your vehicle is perfect. Everyone understands the concept of cooking food.
When you relate what people already are familiar with, your concept of
teaching academic subjects through the cooking, you’ve captured their attention.
(Say why it's necessary to read, write, divide, multiply, add, subtract
and do fractions, understand some basic principles of science, geography
and history to be a good chef.)
Tips To Remember
Following are some important items to memorize to include in
your key points:
Program was started by you and your husband.
Program gives kids a new lease on life, helps steer them through the troubled
waters of today.
Develops marketable skills while learning math, reading, speech, social
studies, geography and confidence.
Your organization is part of a coalition of grassroots groups giving our
youth a fair chance at life. After all, it does take the whole community
police, schools, doctors, families to raise a child -- a village.
Always include anecdotes -- success stories -- in your presentation. (This
will open the door for the interviewer to ask about the young men who failed
to stick with the program (if there are any) . . . so be prepared with
a positive response. Please don't allow any discussion of failure to take
much of the time and be careful not to let this kind of focus be the last
word. Remember, people often will remember most what they hear last about
such a program.)
During an interview, remember that because you may be finished with what
you have to say, the camera may not have finished with you! Please don't
look away from the camera or your interviewer. Continue to hold your beautiful
smile or make small talk with the interviewer . . . additional information
about the program, perhaps . . . until the interviewer indicates the segment
is finished.
Open your show with your message.
Remember to find out pertinent information before you do your show including:
Who is going to interview me?
What is the exact format?
When will I be on? How much time I have? How often will I be on? Will there
be other guests? Who?
If there is a taped piece or is the film about our program being shown?
Where is the film being played immediately before my interview or after
or during a longer segment prior to my appearance? Is the film being excerpted
or shown in its entirety?
Please put my phone number on the screen as well so that people can contact
me.
What information can I leave with the station for calls for viewers for
recruitment?
Can you send a car to pick me up?
What To Wear Tunic styled blouses with graceful sleeves narrowed and/or buttoned
at the wrist would work really well on camera with you. Round neckline
or small mock turtleneck look in the style of the blouse you wore on Sunday
are also flattering. As stated during the session, you should stay away
from open jackets.
Colors should be earth tones or compliments of earth tones -- including
russets and blue-greens, muted or bright.
A smock could be a standard option. Actually, a smock with a seamless
front (panel covering the zipper of buttons) will free you from the concern
of having to wear something of a complimentary color to the apron. A smock
styled in the same fashion as described for the tunic styled blouses will
work extremely well. The color of the smock will be in the color ranges
as described for the clothing. The teal smock with lettering in a strong
contrasting color that will not be washed out by the lighting will be very
interesting.