Re: [m0ng00se007] PD Factory Team X-Project Update 2

[ianmdrennan 2]

DZ.com has put it on the front page if anyone wants to read it as one article

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=705

Performance Designs Factory Team

[CKSCUBA 0]

will they release a Full Video of the whole thing with all the swoops ect.....

I honestly thought the Video narration was somewhat of a parity at first or something not serious.

They kept showing a person who i assume was the pilot sitting and drinking coffee. kind of a strange edit.

I dont think that everyone would have a desire to join the PDFT. Some of us have families, many of us are not good enough, and I am sure their are many that dont have the desire.

I am also sure that it would be a dream of many to be part of the team.

I bet it would be unanimous that everyone would love to watch a total video of it and learn what the process was and the inside information in how people were picked.

Chris

[AggieDave 6]

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bet it would be unanimous that everyone would love to watch a total video of it and learn what the process was and the inside information in how people were picked.

With the right editing and narration, a show like that could have the potential to be a special on Discovery or similar. Real positive exposure for the sport.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[ianmdrennan 2]

Honestly, probably not. While parts of the process were documented, we did not have a camera on us 24x7, which would be required (I think) to do the entire process justice and give editors enough footage to work with.

I think the video's you guys have seen will be it, bar of course some clips turning up here and there.

Hope you're at least enjoying the information that's been shared
Blues,
Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[eUrNiCc 0]

Thanks for a very well written summary of the event through your eyes Ian! All of the candidates had some really amazing stories about their lives, skydiving careers, and what it would mean to them to make it on to the team. I think that Harry and Alex did an awesome job of capturing it all and editing such a huge amount of raw footage together into a short YouTube-able piece... especially considering the time constraint that they were under to get them posted to the PD Blog.

I'm not sure how the general public would receive a "reality show" about something like the X-Project, but it certainly would be nice to see Canopy Piloting get some more positive exposure in the mainstream media.

Egad, A BASE life defiles a bad age.

[frost 1]

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a show like that could have the potential to be a special on Discovery or similar. Real positive exposure for the sport.

give it up already, public will never see it as a sport or us (well, you) as sportsmen. Lets just enjoy our "exclusivity". but no holding hands, ok?
:)

[AggieDave 6]

I know that I'll never been seen as a serious athlete, but it would be nice to get some positive exposure. Its either that or we hold hands while we compare each other's chest straps.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[NeverTooLow 0]

Congratulations to all participants, even more to those who finally made it into the team.

[CKSCUBA 0]

I would have loved to make it and film it in a whole reality show were multiple cameras following everyone everywhere with challenges ect..

not a survivor but a bit of amazing race, American idol, survivor, and that model show with Tyra Banks.

Then every jump, every swoop ect....

give us like 12 camera guys it would have been informative funny entertaining and give the sport huge exposure.

the OCC Chopper show is about them fighting and building motorcycles.

This show would be about extreme athletes viaing for spots on the most exclusive & prestigious skydiving team around.

i think it would have been awesome.


Everyone is being kind to the folks who put it together but it could have been done much better and could have been put together as a product to sell as a dvd.

if they video it impromptu and just shot it here and there and didnt get paid for it and did it for kicks then fine.


it just sucks there was in my opinion a chance for some serious media exposure and possibley a unique extreme realilty show.

i appreciate the footage and people taking the time to post the videos to youtube.

I just think it could have been so much more.


I would also love to have several candidates write a few paragraphs in reflection of their own experiences, at least here on Dropzone.com

Ian's article was a nice article but it was more of a well written corporate puff piece with not one negative reflection. i think it balanced more on the feel good positive exposure then the true reality of the event. It is not like we want the dirt but would love to read a few more peoples account of their experience.

It would be great to get a recount of the experience, their own personal story on how they arrived at that moment in their lives and their skydiving career. What they thought of the competition and Selection process. How challenging it was and what did they learn from the experience or how it changed them. How the competition stacked up and how fair did they find the process. Some of the candidates allready know the member of the PD team and i am sure it was the first time for some of them also.

Then it would be great for the candidates to poll and score every other candidate to see who they thought was top or would have made the best selection.

Hopefully some others will share and write hear about the good, the bad and the interesting.

I know everyone here would read every single word.

This was a definite first for the sport.

It would be fastening reading everyone's separate account of the whole project and what the truly thought

[ianmdrennan 2]

Well, I'm glad it wasn't like you described for a number of reasons.

First, the atmosphere you perceive to have existed during the tryouts just wasn't filled with the drama some of you hope, or think, happened. It was a very positive experience, all round, for everyone - I believe.

Second, I doubt the experience would have been as positive if we'd had camera's on us 24x7 and treated this experience like some sort of circus. It would have fostered, I believe, a negative environment and EXACTLY the opposite of the team building experience it was.

Did it ever occur to you that the team didn't want a "unique extreme realilty show" and that they were looking for something deeper?

My personal thoughts.

edit:

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Ian's article was a nice article but it was more of a well written corporate puff piece with not one negative reflection. i think it balanced more on the feel good positive exposure then the true reality of the event.

Sorry you feel that way. The article was nothing more than the experience through my eyes. Not a corporate puff piece, or anything else to satisfy anyone else. It was written to describe what happened, through my eyes. If there wasn't any negativity in the article, it wasn't because I wasn't trying to put it in there - but rather that I didn't experience it.

Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[eUrNiCc 0]

Disclaimer: I am in no way sponsored by or associated with PD or the PD Team other than being one of the 15 candidates who was chosen for the X-Project. This is my opinion...

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Ian's article was a nice article but it was more of a well written corporate puff piece with not one negative reflection. i think it balanced more on the feel good positive exposure then the true reality of the event.

This couldn't be further from the truth. If PD wanted to create tension and a sense of competition between the candidates to create a "unique extreme reality show", they easily could have. The "true reality of the event" was absent of competitive scheming, alliances, backstabbing or whatever drama you might be imagining. I walked away, having not been selected for the team, with no negative feelings and heaps of respect for all who were involved.

In actuality, the PD guys were out to get to the core of all of the candidates, away from the DZ environment that we're used to, and decide who would be the best fit for the future of the PD Team. Expressing the depth of that part of the process on video is all but impossible.


That being said, I think that Ian's article was a very accurate and uncensored account of the events that took place & I'm awfully glad that I was lucky enough to be a part of it all.

Egad, A BASE life defiles a bad age.

[za_skydiver 0]

Ian's article was a nice article but it was more of a well written corporate puff piece with not one negative reflection

You are very cynical. Not everything is about money these days, even though it might seem like it.

I have known Ian since before he started skydiving, in fact, i was there when he did his first jump. He was a friend to me when i really screwed up, and a friend just because. His article about the experience can only be taken as a honest reflection. If you knew him, and read it, you could see the amount of his emotion that went into it.

Well done Ian, I thought it was really good.

Some dream of flying, i live the dream...

[gainer 0]

Having met Ian and the PD guys only once at the world meet I have to say I believe what Ian has said. Secondly when I chatted to JC and Shannon they told me a little bit of what they are planning and from what they told me they succeeded 150%. Congrats to the 4 on making it.

[CKSCUBA 0]

Shut up Eric!!

i would direct you and buzz having the fist fight over

Strong - Vs - Vector on this reality show.


As Director of this reality show

i would have buzz wear one of his yellow bandanas and a matching yellow Sumo Wrestler Thong with the " Strong " Logo on the waist band

You would wear the bathing suit that Borat wore sunbathing with the Sigma/vector logo on it with a Non-Sail Jvx Ball-Cap.

then it you both wear your tandem rigs and the bell rings and its 3 - 1 minute rounds.

first guy who deploys the others drougue first wins.

are you in?

I have a high def camera and 3 Hc sonys. we can get every angle.

Chris

[ianmdrennan 2]

I screwed up the detach of part of this thread from the swoop forums - my apologies. CKScuba, I've included your post here so it doesn't get lost.

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Ian’s article was well written but only reflected one opinion and one perspective. PD knows Ian and trusted him to write a positive reflection of the Xpansion. It was written very politically correct with nice things said about all. Overall Ian was very gracious in his winning and loosing selection. Very hard thing it must be to write about. “ Sorry Ian we are not choosing you now ( so you lost out ) but you are on deck for any other expansions and projects in the future ( so Ian didn’t loose he kind of won also) thanks Ian we will call you if and when we need you.”

Ian and the other guy are in a strange boat, I would call them winners.

Calling everyone one a winner, or saying that anyone of the candidates would be good picks and writing this stuff-

“ After breakfast the introductions began, lead by the PDFT and John LeBlanc (who blew off a meeting to spend more time with the group!).

I would expect Ian to write his article the way he did but would love the perspective of others and what they thought of the process. I know 100% that someone in the group of 15 didn’t like the process and thought the team had their mind made up before or had about an 80% idea. Then what of the competition was it all real or not. How fair did competitors find it and does everyone feel it was fair. How could have it been different and made better.

See with Ian writing an article for PD and I think he is restricted in what he can say from his heart and how truthful he can allow him self to be without jeopardizing his on-deck position.

Others who came and went from the project can freely express themselves.

So Ian wrote a very nice article but that’s what I call a corporate puff piece

As far as reality tv shows go and calling me cynical is a bit off. I don’t mean the way reality tv is done today. I don’t mean the backstabbing and plotting and nasty competition like survivor and all those stupid games they play.

I am talking about the transparency and reality and behind the scenes and the complete coverage of every angle. With cameras in the bunk house, during the interview, on the plane, in the shower, around the camp fire, during the deliberations, during the meetings ect.. Have exposure complete and a camera everywhere and open it up reality t style. Not about money but about exposure and not about negativity but about truth.


that type of reality show it would have been awesome for the sport and of course paint it all in a brotherhood of skydiving light and good will and positive and safe.

You guys got to have some TV show vision here. I think a perfect opportunity was missed to turn the Xpansion project into a cool sport reality show, and with prize money.

Friendly competition, a bit of drama, no fighting or pulling hair, exposure for the sport, cool stunts and swoops, and the best man or women wins. Make it 6 episodes of competition and interviews and or skydiving challenges. No eliminations or alias or backstabbing crap. Every episode do a short expo on different disciplines of the sport also to take up the time slot. Freeflying, rw, CRW ect….

At the end award some prize money, award the 4 slots and 2 runner up’s PD sells more canopies and the public positive exposure to the sport of skydiving increases 50 times.

Ian is a fine chap and wrote a nice article and is a fine ambassador to our sport and always has time to answer swoop questions and share his knowledge.

My dream would have been not to be on the PD Team but be the Director of the Reality show it should have been.

chris

Performance Designs Factory Team

[CKSCUBA 0]

Cant say i like the way you moderate never have.

Cant handle any criticism of your article and misuse your moderator self. You forget this America with the freedom of speech thing ( which allowed you to write your article in the first place ) You cant handle rebuttals that way it shows no character or security.

Your profile pic says it all, you all alone out for your self. You semi abuse and use your moderator status for your own gain or protection. You should reflect why you didnt make the team and wonder is it the way I moderate the forum and the perception others have of you.

Some of your trust issues you spoke about in your self reflective time in your article can be translated into other issues. example you don't trust anyone but your self, or you think your too good to jump with other who are not as good as you, or you don't want to jump with other afraid others may have more talent then you.

locking the thread and moving into another non swoop forum so your peers don't have to read any criticism is a bit cowardliness. You wrote it you should be able to defend it. It is however just one persons opinion and i guess you dont want anyone else to share theirs on the process.

Is everyone supposed to love your article just because you wrote it?

You cant pick and choose and hide and move and delete things you don't agree with.

I hate to bust your bubble no Pulitzer prizes for your article. It was well written but it was quite a kiss behind puff piece. I am not saying that wasn't the truth and i did like some of what you wrote but read it again and think of others reading it and imagine what is thought. read your comments like your plotting your revenge and the amazing part where you guys formed an assembly line to load wood in the truck like that was some amazing feet you couldnt have done with out the xproject. read it alowed and see how cheesy it is.

I for one seriously think a reality type show and competition would have been something that may have been sold to the net works like spike tv or something . think of the exposure. Alot more then your well written article.

In my opinion you should have made the team. taking away nothing from jessica she is an amazing talent but diversity they really need a women on the team in this day and age.

If they were so split then they should have just added you and the other guy because it would have been the right thing to do.

You have to have courage, character and conviction, to speak the truth but also to unselfishly serve others. If your going to be a walking self proclaimed ambassador for the sport you have to first have to start here and moderate more fairly and respect others who disagree with you or have a counter point.

[DSE 5]

In no way is this meant to be an argument....
How many reality shows have you pitched? How many distribution targets have you hit? How much do you know about today's reality TV distribution model?

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a reality type show and competition would have been something that may have been sold to the net works like spike tv or something

You know this has already been attempted, more than once, right? In our sport? Sometimes...life just has to move and can't wait for a decision by a board or NATPE rep.
I think Ian's piece is very well written, and it comes from his point of view from the inside. His view might have included pink elephants running through the room at breakfast that no one else saw, but they would still be part of his perspective, wouldn't they be?
All I'm reading from your post (and maybe I've got it wrong too), is that you have a personal itch with Ian and used his article as a means to scratch that itch.
Win or lose, tie or die...it was an experience that many of us would have taken on had we offered the talent and personal skills required to make it as far as they did. I for one, very much enjoyed reading about it from Ian's viewpoint. I'd like to read someone else' viewpoint as well...but it hasn't been yet written, to my knowledge.
Attacking Ian at a personal level is pretty low, IMO. It takes guts to write that sort of a piece, and express personal emotions. Of course one expects the work to be criticized, but to attack the foundation of the work, the emotional expression of the work?
Seems that there is more than objective criticism at play here.

[humanflite 0]

For what its worth I think it was a well written and gracious article.

Nice one Ian

A great acheivement in getting to the last 6 in such a talent pool.

[ianmdrennan 2]

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Cant say i like the way you moderate never have.

You're entitled to that opinion. I certainly have my opinions of you, and what you contribute to the swoop forum The fact that you've been banned a few times (none them by me by the way), are a testiment to your history.

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Cant handle any criticism of your article and misuse your moderator self. You forget this America with the freedom of speech thing ( which allowed you to write your article in the first place ) You cant handle rebuttals that way it shows no character or security.

If that were true I wouldn't have moved this to an area that I don't moderate. The swoop forum is about swooping, the discussion took a turn to discuss an article on DZ.com's front page that I wrote. I felt it was more appropriate to be general skydiving. It's also a forum that I don't moderate so you should be happy - I can't abuse my moderator secret decoder ring here.

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Your profile pic says it all, you all alone out for your self.

You're right. I'm in this for myself. The hundreds of hours of free coaching, discussion, mentorship I've dedicated my last few years to (some of them to your son) are totally selfish.

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Is everyone supposed to love your article just because you wrote it?

Not at all. I have no issue with anyone who doesn't like the article. If I did I simply would have deleted your posts. Please feel free to go back and check that they are all there, or here - where it's appropriate.

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Some of your trust issues you spoke about in your self reflective time in your article can be translated into other issues. example you don't trust anyone but your self, or you think your too good to jump with other who are not as good as you, or you don't want to jump with other afraid others may have more talent then you.

You're welcome to draw whatever false conclusions you will. I remind you that I sat with your son, and you, giving you as much knowledge as I could after a swoop meet. Don't really believe that shows the selfishness you appear to feel I have.

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In my opinion you should have made the team.

Oh please, read your post. You spend half of it telling me what a terrible person I am. How I'm an abusive moderator, and then you turn around and say I should have made the team? Absurd.

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If your going to be a walking self proclaimed ambassador for the sport you have to first have to start here and moderate more fairly and respect others who disagree with you or have a counter point.

My friend, the only person who has showed a lack of respect is yourself.

I'm done with you.

Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[divnswoop 0]

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Your profile pic says it all, you all alone out for your self.

Funny coming from a guy who uses the word "I" thirty times in one paragraph in the "about me" section on myspace.

[CKSCUBA 0]

thats why they call it my space. It is a bio page you dont have one?

i am glad you wasted time counting. I's

Who else am i supposed to speak about on my my space?

nice try

[popsjumper 2]

Tampa Bay?
The tone of your posts does not make a good case for the nature of the atmosphere there....I'm sure the Dobson's just love you.



On a more personal note, I don't think you would have fit very well into the PDFT scheme of things, do you?

I believe that you are the first person I've ever heard say such bad things about Ian. I guess that's a BEER post?

Or...are you just angry that the presentation was not what you wanted to see?

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[davelepka 4]

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I hate to bust your bubble no Pulitzer prizes for your article. It was well written but it was quite a kiss behind puff piece.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I'm not sure I would take editing notes from a guy who wrote this -

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I honestly thought the Video narration was somewhat of a parity at first or something not serious.

'Parity' is defined as equality. The word you were looking for was 'parody', which is defined as a 'humorous version of a serious subject'.

I'm all for letting spelling/grammar errors slide on the net, but if you're going to cast aspersions against anothers writing, please expext the same in return.

Your technical abilities aside, what exactly is your problem here? You really have a great deal of sand in your vagina over an issue that really doesn't merit such attention.

Who are you to judge the content of Ian's piece? I could see if you were editing the technical aspects (as I did to your post above), but the content is what it is. The whole purpose was to share his impressions of the event, which he did.

[klingeme 1]

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I'm all for letting spelling/grammar errors slide on the net, but if you're going to cast aspersions against anothers writing, please expext the same in return.

Expext?



sorry, I couldn't resist.

Mark Klingelhoefer