WHEN to critique?

[adamdiehl]

I'm a firm believer in the outside influence. Practice doesn't make perfect, it makes permanent (you can practice with wrong technique all day long!). It takes an outside influence to say, "Here, try this." In the music world - its a private instructor. For videos, its the same thing - we need to be told, "That sucked" when it does (in less harsh words of course!).

We just put some NOS onto our video ministry at church. We bought a MacPro, Final Cut Studio, paid a freelance guy in our church to teach a team of volunteers how to make a video, etc. We're looking at a PT hire to manage the volunteers (and other things) even.

Those of you who are long time CMNers might remember me. Since that time, I have now taken on the role of Worship Arts AND Kids Pastor (our former kids pastor became a FT missionary and we couldn't make another hire). For this video ministry, I am going to rely on a new PT staff hire to train new video volunteers, and walk them through making good videos. But its getting to the point where leadership needs to get out of the way and let them edit and film without a leader over their shoulder - gaining confidence.

Okay so to the nitty gritty...

There will always be a little bit of back and forth when leadership wants the video tweaked a little, and the editor goes and tweaks it. But, especially while working with volunteers, there comes a point where you just SHOW the video, but hope for a little better next time. I know you never really finish a video, you just stop.

So my question is this? WHEN should we do the FINAL critique?
A) "We're going to go ahead and show this in 2 days, but next time . . ."
B) "I let it go ahead and show last Sunday, but next time . . ."

Timing is everything. (A) On one hand, I don't want to discourage them by letting them see their final project on a screen all the while thinking, "Pastor Adam was right - oh man..." (B) On the other hand, I don't want them wishing I had given them one final opportunity to improve the video, "If he had just TOLD me beforehand I woulda fixed that."

I'm confident in my ability to communicate a critique positively, although this post doesn't allude to that. I'm asking about TIMING.

Thanks CMN!

[Paris MkVI]

That's can be a touch cookie sometimes, the timing.

Be careful of the "v" word and make sure these folks see themselves as Kingdom servants.

If they have no previous experience - well, you can teach anyone the mechanics of shooting and editing. But the rest will take lots of time (likely years) to develop the skillset.

I would use the "pre-emptive strike". Make a plan for evaluation and approval that includes viewing and feedback at specific points in the editorial. Share that plan, with the verbalized understanding that not all projects will be approved for use.

Between deadlines, pastoral requirements and experience levels, no promises can be made for any project. Then just shepherd them as best you can.

With the editorial plan in position up front, everyone knows what to expect.

[tedanderson]

One thing that has always stuck with me was the adage that says, "Without a deadline, nothing gets accomplished."

IMO finishing a video project tends to yield more motivation, staff retention, and better results than spending an undefined amount of time perfecting it. Every video that I produce leaves room for learning experiences. On one hand I hate the fact that I have to leave some ideas out of my current video just so that I can use them in my next one but at the end of the day, everyone is happy to see their video within a short period of time and they are completely oblivious to what the video could have been.

So every time we say, "We could have done______" we really should say, "Next time we will do________"

So to answer your question, you set a deadline for completion and then that will be your final critique. You never really know how good your video is until it has been received by your audience. It's something about sitting there with them that gives you a perspective that is different from what you see in the editing room.

[Esoteric]

I give the final critique when I see the video. Then I tell them what they have to do the next time to make it better.

Mike

[petereit]

You might want to consider using Hillsong's Creative Brief in your project definition stage. It can help identify some problem areas before you commit to the production stage.

As others have said, a deadline is a great motivator. The question becomes "is this acceptable" rather than "is the the best it can be". Establish a point in the creative process where you're far enough along to get a feel for the finished project, but not so far that you can't make changes, and make that a project review point. Then establish the "drop dead" point where you make the decision, "Do we use this or not?".

Always conclude every project with a lessons-learned meeting.

[sempei13]

I'm a volunteer. Keep that in mind.

I used to hate it when leaders had me tweak things. I've gotten to the point where I know what they want before they say it. It feels good to answer, "Already did it" to a request.

We provide feedback over the production cycle and also after the video is shown. You need to cast the vision (and believe it) that the video might not be used (see story of one of David's "mighty men" risking his life to give David a cup of water that he poured out for an example of the attitude you want). I've told my leaders not to use videos that didn't turn out before.

Don't be picky just because it's not what you imagined. Try and look from the congregation point of view.

Don't lie either. You want your people to grow. Some things can be fixed. Your artists want to do their best. Some things can't. One time someone told me at midnight, "we need to get a shot of a local car dealership." It was too late. If it needs to be shorter, or be color corrected and they have time to do it, ask them. If not, talk about it in a couple of days (not weeks or months, btw).

Paul

[D.R.HADDOCK]

There is no one way that will work effectivelly on all people,
As a team leader you must get to know your team members,
and all there little quirks,
So you should then consider the best way and time to approach them.
I always look for the right time to comment on there performance,
So consider the person, then carefully pick your time.
Some people willl happily accept genuine critisism any time,
Some others you have to pick your time carefully.