Iron Flatline Posted October 9, 2008 Share #41 Posted October 9, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I believe all modern executives should undergo a day of basic media training. There's no way around it these days unfortunately. That shouldn't distract from the product though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Hi Iron Flatline, Take a look here Shocked by Kaufmanns performance in S2 video. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
delander † Posted October 9, 2008 Share #42 Posted October 9, 2008 But most of us (at least on the English language part of this forum) are not in or from Germany. Here (UK) it is standard practice when referring to people in the third person to simply use their surname - I don't see where a lack of respect comes into it. On a side-note, there has to be something rather pretentious in the use of Dr. (and other academic titles) outside of an academic environment. You see a lot of it nowadays with company chairmen (often with just an honorary Doctorate) styling themselves this way. I have a Ph.D (as, I suspect, do many in this forum) and would find it a bit embarrassing to be referred to as Dr. Watts. I guess it's different in Germany … As another English 'doctor' I have to agree with all of this. There must be quite a few British politicians entitled to use 'Dr', imagine how they would be laughed at? There is a difference in cultural approach to qualifications, large parts of mainland Europe are keen on titles. The UK and I think the USA take a more relaxed approach. However in the UK photography world many people like to plant LRPS or similar after their name at every opportunity. I dont know why they feel the need to. One should simply feel confident and comfortable with oneself. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
diogenis Posted October 9, 2008 Share #43 Posted October 9, 2008 I very much prefer Dr. Kauffmans "human" and "sincere" approach than anything else that is "manufactured" and cut for media presentation. These people are executives and they work for real, while quite the opposite is true for politicians. Not everyone can perform like Steve Jobs, and thats not needed either Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted October 9, 2008 Share #44 Posted October 9, 2008 I am a bit tired of those "supersmart" executive guys: Dailymotion - The Last Laugh - George Parr - Subprime - subtitulos, ein Video von erioluk. subprime, crisis, pythonesque, last, finances I would like to see an interview to Peter Karbe, even if he isn't a showman. R. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted October 9, 2008 Share #45 Posted October 9, 2008 ...Not everyone can perform like Steve Jobs, and thats not needed either Thank God... Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted October 9, 2008 Share #46 Posted October 9, 2008 As another English 'doctor' I have to agree with all of this. There must be quite a few British politicians entitled to use 'Dr', imagine how they would be laughed at? There is a difference in cultural approach to qualifications, large parts of mainland Europe are keen on titles. The UK and I think the USA take a more relaxed approach. Actually, Germany isn’t that much different in this respect. The German Chancellor, for example, is rarely referred to as “Dr. Angela Merkel” (on the other hand, a former Chancellor preferred to be addressed as “Dr. Helmut Kohl”). Using “Dr.” as part of the name is more an Austrian thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted October 9, 2008 Share #47 Posted October 9, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Doctor, Dr. is like Ph.D. in the USA. It isn't usual to use Doctor in Spain, even in the University. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan States Posted October 9, 2008 Share #48 Posted October 9, 2008 Thank God... Regards, Bill Here here! I'll take a square for an Apple CEO if my Iphone will stop crashing:D Seriously, it's HARD to do these videos. I've done a few training videos for my company and it all seemed like a great idea until the camera pointed at me. Instant brain death! Is my nose REALLY that crooked? Man am I loosing my hair...What the hell am I talking about here? While I'm totally put off by the pricing Leica is going to I still admire their efforts on this new camera. Of course at the current rate of things here in the states we'll all be living in old VW micro buses in a year, so I won't have to worry at all about the price of Leica products! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted October 9, 2008 Share #49 Posted October 9, 2008 I very much prefer Dr. Kauffmans "human" and "sincere" approach than anything else that is "manufactured" and cut for media presentation.These people are executives and they work for real, while quite the opposite is true for politicians. Not everyone can perform like Steve Jobs, and thats not needed either Thank God... Regards, Bill Nothing wrong with Mr Jobs, he's the right man for his company and products. The same for Dr Kaufmann, he's exactly the right man for Leica, imho, and the video presentation was spot on for the S2 launch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooky Posted October 9, 2008 Share #50 Posted October 9, 2008 I think Kaufmann was fine and naturally straight forward. He exuded a sense of ownership and pride in marque and product. He's putting his money into the company and he's actually putting himself 'out there', or 'out here' for we, the Leica user. Can't remember a time when (other than print media) that a camera company executive, and this case, an owner, did so. I think we're lucky to have such a chance. If I did that, they'd probably do 30 'takes' before it was okay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 9, 2008 Share #51 Posted October 9, 2008 I did about 8 takes on my video and still sounded like a bumbling idiot. I almost want to be cut out completely. If your not doing this stuff on a regular basis it is extremely hard to get in front of a video camera and actually make any statement and be polished at it. Dr Kaufman seems like a very nice man but again he is not a actor and/or is not trained at this stuff . Frankly there is no need for him to be. I viewed him as a honest , sincere guy that takes pride in Leica and himself. I think most folks actually prefer him in his natural voice and demeanor and the same for his two employees. To me it is a non issue. I buy what his company makes if it fits my needs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted October 9, 2008 Share #52 Posted October 9, 2008 I did about 8 takes on my video and still sounded like a bumbling idiot... Most anyone short of a professional actor will have a hard time effectively delivering a long pitch. It should have been broken up into smaller well paced pieces. And a lot more rehearsal and direction would have helped. The problem is that video and film as a communication medium has been around for some time with the expectation of very high standards. So a polished product is what we expect. There is always the posibility of a concious or subconcious conclusion that if the presentation is amatuerish or not high quality then the product may not be so good either. This is the same reason that top photographers get hired to make products or people look good in ads. I don't think it will make much difference though. As I doubt if many potential buyers of the S2 will buy the camera based on anything said by the people at Leica. The camera will have to stand on its own merits. Dieter Zetsche, the german CEO of Daimler/Chrysler, couldn't couldn't sell Chryslers either, and he was a much better pitchman in well produced commercials. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted October 9, 2008 Share #53 Posted October 9, 2008 I looked again just now & the German version is distincly less 'orrible but still rather. A few comments on the technique: - lighting is not flattering at all - looking down into the camera is unacceptable perspective (for me at least), eye level or camera slightly looking slightly down makes more sense - cutting scenes in a continuous message with weird emphasis on words/phrases makes the message less convincing & is very VERY distracting - who thought of the camera movement? Needs to be shot. It's all over the place - left to right, right to left, to-and-fro, close to head&shoulders and back again. Visual rollercoaster. The message is simple so the camerawork should also be. Go into his office set up the camera - roll and keep talking with/to him for ½ an hour. Collect the relevant phrases - stick together & your done. Natural & convincing, no need for acting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 10, 2008 Share #54 Posted October 10, 2008 apart from lack of respect for the German culture, presumably? Yes, but it cuts both ways and my point (which I didn't make very well) is that one social or cultural norm doesn't need to trump another. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 10, 2008 Share #55 Posted October 10, 2008 I also find the use of the bare patronymic mildly insulting since in my experience it is usually used, in the media and elsewhere, in a pejorative manner. I disagree but I accept the norms surrounding the usage of the bare patronymic (as you put it) are not entirely clear cut. I suspect the English obsession with class underpins a lot of this uncertainty. It wasn't that many years ago that it was customary to make a distinction between a 'gentleman' and a 'non-gentleman' in this way - for example, the English cricket captain was Mr. Jardine whilst one of the players would be, for example, Larwood. We've moved on (a little) from the days of rigid class distinction and deference and I'd like to think that the dropping of honorific titles (for the purposes of making references in the third person) is part of that change in attitude. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptomsu Posted October 10, 2008 Share #56 Posted October 10, 2008 Actually, Germany isn’t that much different in this respect. The German Chancellor, for example, is rarely referred to as “Dr. Angela Merkel” (on the other hand, a former Chancellor preferred to be addressed as “Dr. Helmut Kohl”). Using “Dr.” as part of the name is more an Austrian thing. Come on Michael, this is not just an Austrian thing ..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted October 10, 2008 Share #57 Posted October 10, 2008 I can distinctly recall Newsnight interviews on the BBC where the person being interviewed was adressed as Dr. this or Dr. that (also if they were from the UK). So not only Austria, or Germany. In the Netherlands this is unusual (unheard of). My impression is that in Germany they take this more seriously, Austria no idea. Happily in Germany the Frau prof.dr. thing has pretty much disapeared I believe (this was how to address the wife of a professor, ridiculous). In the NL an academic title is a balancing act between respect and ridicule. If you deserve it fine, if not then dead meat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted October 10, 2008 Share #58 Posted October 10, 2008 I can distinctly recall Newsnight interviews on the BBC where the person being interviewed was adressed as Dr. this or Dr. that (also if they were from the UK). So not only Austria, or Germany...../QUOTE] It's certainly not the case in the UK that academic titles are routinely used outside of academe, other than in correspondence, in fact it would probably be considered mildly pretentious to insist upon it. Doctors of medicine, of course, but otherwise unusual. Titles such as professor or Doctor might be used in a TV, radio or other public debate or documentary, where appropriate, to introduce an expert commentator, but that's about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted October 10, 2008 Share #59 Posted October 10, 2008 After reading this, I'm going to suggest to Mel Brooks to rename his Broadway show as, "Young Doctor Frankenstein" in order to show more respect for the German culture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted October 11, 2008 Share #60 Posted October 11, 2008 A storm in a teacup... I will personally call the dear leader of Leica: Dr. Kaufmann, but I also don't think it is worth a huge thread and a lot of concern. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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