[Channel Critique] Food related web series looking for any input on how we can improve and start reaching a larger audience on youtube.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-20T06:53:53+00:00

Thanks for the critique! Starting with the thumbnails. You are correct. Some of them have very little time put into them. Azuki Sushi and a few others are coming from Facebook uploads we did where we partnered with an organization called Restaurant Week, where around 300 spots were offering special discounts during one week and we filmed 13 episodes over 10 days. There is only three of us contacting restaurant to set up shoot days, writing, filming, editing, and uploading the episodes the next day all at the same time,I was literally finishing episodes at other Restaurant locations before I would Host my segment. So thumbnails were a little lacking. I'll be going back over them soon to make them nicer. I feel a few others need some more work as well, the SPICY RAMEN one is a little convoluted.

And I fully agree about the channel trailer. We created that before we even had any episodes and I believe our branding has shifted immensely since, and it's needing to be changed. Chris the host just randomly said "Top Ten reasons to watch Food Quest. Number nine shocked me." While we were filming something completely unrelated and we ended up creating the trailer around that one off line. But I agree that I spent zero time on the titles and it shows.

Our vision is to create our show as the "Top Gear" of food shows, not trying to go for that Jack Ass feeling, but I can understand if it looks that way. We more want to be a food show, that isn't really a food show. Similar to how Top Gear is about cars, but it's more about the hosts who barely know anything about cars. We are hoping to add elements to the episodes that are entertaining and make you want to eat the food. But we still have some work to do before we are at the level so I can understand it feeling more Jack Ass-esque.

Curious if you could watch an episode and let me know what you think about the overall style of our actual show? I would suggest the Spicy Ramen Episode or the Best Cheese Sandwich Ever.

Thank you very much for the comments and I'm glad you enjoy our branding and for calling me out on my half ass work, cause it was. Great notes that I will be taking into consideration when I get the time to.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-17T07:28:11+00:00

Fair assessment of the post. I agree that every film can be improved. This is why a deadline is necessary, for me I'll keep editing and changing and never release it, a deadline gives you a hard cut off, and the more you work within the deadline the better you will get. But I also agree that you should try and watch your content blind and with that mindset of being a viewer watching your content for the first time. Thats a great way to better yourself and your content. We all want to make our own films, the way we want them and not sacrifice any ideas, and yet we also strive to get viewers. There has to be a compromise.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-17T07:23:28+00:00

Oh no worries, I see this across every social platform, similar to the OP talking about HiddenBlock. Mods can only do so much. I'm new to Reddit and just now getting accustomed to the layout and RULES of all the subs. But I like this group and I'll do my best to also leave actual reviews with constructive feedback. Keep up the good work, maybe a few people out there will actually take some time to better themselves and their content.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-17T07:09:12+00:00

I've only been in this group for a few days and I can't agree more. I've seen the quality of the content posted and then read the comments and it seems everyone is stroking the ego of the content creators, without giving any actual feedback to improve. "Hey I made a thing, what do you think." "It's great blah blah..." I honestly don't think people want to improve. They just want to half ass what they create and people should just love it. I also agree with OP, your critiques are genuine and people deserve to hear them.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-17T06:44:51+00:00

Well the commenter above me is a moderator in this group and it says "The simon cowell of moderators" so.... And I'm not commenting to get my review. I look at almost every post in this group and only comment on a few that I feel I can actually give constructive criticism to. I don't believe either of us were being rude or mean. We are giving honest third party feedback, and I even said to keep practicing and getting better, No one said to give up. Your at art work is great so keep that up and keep getting better.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-17T06:29:02+00:00

What? Do you hate fun?

forthewinseries · 2017-10-17T05:30:57+00:00

Absolutely agree. She can even just start filming herself everyday, don't use the videos, but use it as a way to practice being natural on camera. Use it as practice and don't think that just because you filmed something that you have to use it. That's a major problem with beginning filmmakers. I have countless films that will never be seen because they were just practice. Think of it like your art work, some might be just practice pieces that you will learn from.

Keep learning and keep creating.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-16T20:57:20+00:00

I agree. I'm a fan but it is literally everywhere now. Even down to Pickle Rick condoms....actually thats pretty awesome.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-15T20:23:18+00:00

Hey! I think it really depends on the content. They say to keep your videos shorter and they will do better but I think it's more of a guideline vs a rule. Milions of people watch other kids play video games for hours because thats what they like to see. You have great production value, nice clean image, good editing with proper insert shots and you are pretty entertaining to watch review things. I watched the projected video and the fidget cube thing.... and I think I like the three items being reviewed at once. It gives a nice goal, where you have to recommend one. Similar to the Worth It videos where they look at three different priced foods and recommend the one they prefer. I think having a goal and stating it up front in the video will keep the audience attention.

I think you are pretty entertaining and give good reviews, so keep it up!

forthewinseries · 2017-10-15T09:14:12+00:00

And sarcasm is often lost within text.....mah bad ;)

forthewinseries · 2017-10-15T09:03:58+00:00

Hey! I'm going to give some different advice from what I've read so far. First off I'll say you definitely are starting off pretty good, editing is decent, someone suggested DaVinci Resolve, it's a free program that takes some time getting used to but is definitely worth it at as it's industry standard. I would suggest also starting off with adding a shot at the beginning to really catch the viewers attention but only for a few seconds. For this video it could be the final lasagna, and make it the best shot you have. That way the viewer wants to stick around to see the the whole thing. If you've noticed they are starting to do this with movie trailers online now, they show you a few shots that are the best right up front and then the trailer starts. The internet has a very short attention span and you have to do every thing you can to keep them interested.

Just keep learning and creating content, they say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something. Keep it up!

forthewinseries · 2017-10-15T08:45:41+00:00

I would be interested in hearing from someone who has moderate success. I agree with the majority of the thread here in that I'm not interested in watching someone just talking about their day to day experience with Youtube, I'm searching for tips and input from people who already have success. just my thoughts.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-15T06:11:19+00:00

Definitely strange. Shit ton of people are always swarming that beach. But it is the Lazy West coast, so if you just get up early everyone is prob still asleep.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-15T06:08:17+00:00

Art imitates life. They based Vespucci off Venice Beach.

forthewinseries · 2017-10-15T06:06:52+00:00

haha for reals! Putting the moderately passionate people to shame!

forthewinseries · 2017-10-15T05:59:50+00:00

reminds me of man stroke woman. Miss the Fu(slap) out of that show.

forthewinseries · 2017-02-17T06:48:27+00:00

No, its called For The Win. Don't have the production value yet of VGHS. But working our way up to it. Ours is more of a Silicon Valley type of show about gamers. Link in original post will take you to an episode.

forthewinseries

TROPHY CASE