Expedition Overland - 2015 Season

[deadly99]

I don't think it's a matter of "Don't like it don't watch it". I believe the "negative" views should be taken as feedback. If the bulk of folks all say the same thing then hopefully they will take these opinions into considerations for future edits. Of course it's their videos and they can do what they want, but in any "business", listening to the "customer" is a smart thing. When choosing what clips get cut and which get used, maybe...just maybe the driving footage will get used as a result of the "negative" feedback. At least this is why I chimed in. Not to be a jerk or negative but rather to offer feedback.

The viewers (expo crowd) are stoked on the vehicles and the exploring of places you need an offroad truck to get to. The "adventure" thing. The difference between a road trip and an expo trip. Just my opinion, but I believe the opinion of many others viewers.

The quality of the editing and filming is getting better and better...keep up the good work. Is it Wednesday yet?

 

[WillRunner]

I'm just appreciative that the XO Team provides a relational show for us to watch. These guys have been inspiring me to Get out more!!! I've been into overland travel for almost 10 years now, and having watched their shows and meeting some of them at the 2014 Overland Expo, I've started considering making plans to take my adventures to the next level. I think this is really what the show is all about... Inspiring more people to get up off the couch and live out their dreams! Life is too short.

 

[kmlacroix]

Personally, I enjoy the series'. Yes they a popular enough that sponsors want them to showcase their(sponsors) products. Self-sufficiency is talked about a lot on this site, and in off-road prep guides. That means stuff. Some people bring more stuff than others.

Just for reference Jacques Cousteau was able to do his research with money from Aqua-lung, Zodiac, National Geographic and other sponsors.

The original series is what started me on the path to explore, again.

Thanks for The series', looking forward to the next one.

 

[Pinstripe]

Same here. The micro aggression is in poor taste as well ("btw I bought stuff from your shop...") to inappropriately attempt to put more weight in their critiquing of the free content when they're two completely different threads.

I see no aggression of any kind. A critique (video) and compliment (customer service) can be made in the same post. If he was trying to push his opinion on them, he would have said 'as a customer of yours, I don't like...' something like that. See the latest rage posts on Target's FB page for example. :ylsmoke:

EO has never been about the vehicles or equipment.

Really? They have one of everything in those trucks - they have a water purifier!. They even specify leaving the chainsaw behind this season. They have a separate video showing their medical kit(s). If it was not about the trucks and equipment then they would not have asked for sponsorship from that 'x' company. There are plenty of people driving around the world with less equipment then the XO team.

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to see the trucks all fitted out, but considering how many shots we've seen of them driving in daylight with all of the light bars on says that the equipment 'showmanship' is part of the game.

If you don't like it, don't watch it. Simple as that.

That's not how you improve something. Those that provide constructive feedback are often your biggest supporters, if they didn't care they would just walk away and you would start to lose viewers.

People are misunderstanding what the critiques are about. It's not about the trip, or the help they are providing with T5. It's that we feel the edits are off. Let me give you three examples:

First, we say the vomiting was excessive and could have been portrayed in a more delicate manner - someone even gave a narrative of how it could have been done. Unless you're 20 and enjoy watching your friends puke their guts out, most people don't enjoy watching others vomit and naturally turn away. Yet the episode had multiple instances totaling 5-10 minutes of focusing on that. Then in the last episode, we're greeted with 5 minutes of teeth being pulled!! Seriously? Who wants to watch that? The teeth pulling did not add any enjoyment of the video, but took away from it. Fill that time with driving sequence, especially if they were lost for so long, a montage of wrong turns would have been nice to see and added to the viewers experience of being there, being part of the trip.

Second, we comment that the bangbus sequence was just so uncomfortable to watch, many people, including myself, skipped thru that. The response (totally appropriate) is that the edit does not show the ribbing and laughs that they had. Why not? If you guys had fun doing the ribbing, then we would have had fun watching. Instead we get to see the girls sitting there with a look of discomfort on their faces counting down the minutes of when they will be running out of the truck.

Third, we comment on the lack of driving sequences and are told there were tons of driving but they decided not to show it... Part of overlanding is the offroad driving, the adventure of getting out into the unknown and less traveled parts of a country. If the roads until now are easier then those in AK, then be it, but show us some GoPro dash cam footage as we want to see the roads, terrain, environment. There are more sequences of the boys eating then there is of driving.

So, as you can see, everyone here likes the trip and the location and I look forward to every Thursday morning (it's when I have time to watch these), it's just that the video edit is not portraying much overlanding/driving/adventure.

 

[Boost Creep]

Not offended, just trying to set the record straight. We didn't puke and scuba for a week straight but with 22 minutes you don't have time to tell every story.

out of curiosity, why edit them to 22 minutes? make em longer and show more of the stories. i doubt anyone would complain about longer episodes

 

[carbon60]

out of curiosity, why edit them to 22 minutes? make em longer and show more of the stories. i doubt anyone would complain about longer episodes

I'm also curious about the chosen length. Must be something behind the number?

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Because the standard network show is 22 minutes to allow for commercials. I would assume it's become a standard production timeframe

 

[oscar the grouch]

Finally was able to sit down and watch episode 6 with the lady. She was stoked about it and when it cut to credits before seeing what happened to the little girl she was a little upset. "Really we have to wait till next week???" Thanks for the great episode. Would love to be at that oasis with the hammocks. Looked awesome

 

[Honu]

I think that is the problem
it should have been wrapped up in one episode ? is this about a medical adventure in Guatemala ? or about a Central America adventure ?

Finally was able to sit down and watch episode 6 with the lady. She was stoked about it and when it cut to credits before seeing what happened to the little girl she was a little upset. "Really we have to wait till next week???" Thanks for the great episode. Would love to be at that oasis with the hammocks. Looked awesome

 

[Honu]

this is not pointed at you Kurt not at all more at the editing and decision making side of the guys who control the show hoping they are monitoring this thread ?

kinda agree with points pinstripe said above ! and others so here is some feedback

not enough of the adventure ? to much about the people on it and the interactions with each other or to say mostly with themselves most of which could be any camp anywhere and agree on the scenes etc.....


here is how I think in general adventures or trips break down the destination or the end point
being from Maui tourists often would drive out to Hana get out there and then say I don't get it nothing out there ? not realizing it was more about the journey and the stops on the way out ?
now IMHO driving to Haleakala was more about the destination than the trip up ?
Central America is more like Hana its about the trip not the destination so I understand that part of the show

most of what I know of Central America (lived there for a year) the roads are meant to get people from place to place and are not there as a fun side trip to challenge the 4x4 folks so can be rough but are kinda the same in many ways and the side routes are few and often just to get access to properties so really the roads are boring but the scenery is amazing but can blend together for a long trip so I understand the less 4x4 stuff going on

I know traveling Guatemala there are some INSANE scenery things to see out the windows but we pretty much saw very little
none of us care if you are rock crawling and winching just want to see the terrain and the trip


here is what I wish for feedback show more of the natural beauty as you travel maybe than the cut scenes of the guys talking and have then do a voice over as scenery is shown ?
in Guatemala as example if you travelled in hilly parts show the insane drops with no barriers ? show the simple little villages you pass along the way as you zoom past the crowded buses the old Toyotas etc..
some of the places you might have stopped for fuel that were kinda funky ?

IMHO way to much talk and showing food and all of you and to many repeat long cuts etc... ? I don't care about canned bean with mash potato dinner it does not add anything to Central America
again IMHO its just less time to show other cool things seems every show is you guys eating ? the party thing with the locals was cool as a example but the taco stands group getting sick the beach etc... boring


the expedition 7 folks had Bruce D along with sadly this one seems to be edited by someone really young trying to make a show about the guys traveling for there buddies to watch ? not being harsh giving feedback !

do feel half of it is very good just sadly the other half is kinda weak and really needs to be on the floor and could be brought up to the other half

I do think it will be interesting to compare this to the expedition 7 final product I think they were going to make a feature length show out of that ?

again I love it great job but there is almost nothing like this in the US market ? when I watch the OZ shows I find them more entertaining and a better feel for there target market
IMHO this feels like its trying to be serious yet comes off like those two guys show from OZ who are always clowning around ?

is this a Warren Miller type flick or a Nat Geo type of flick ? it seems like its trying to be both and that does not work pick a side and run with it

again look forward to see where you go with this

 

[Big50]

lol...the arm chair quarterbacks in this thread are a hoot but that comes with the territory when you pull something off that most can't. Loving this season just like the others.

 

[AaronK]

Because the standard network show is 22 minutes to allow for commercials. I would assume it's become a standard production timeframe

Which makes sense but it doesn't apply to their current broadcast format. Unless they're planning for the future. It'd be really cool to see an actual network pick this up!

Sent from my OnePlus One using Tapatalk.

 

[AA1PR]

so sad to see so many folks raining on their parade, they're doing what they want

I thought that this is what the hobby is all about

 

[Honu]

Not raining or quarterbacking giving feedback big difference

And the sponsors I bet would like feedback and get there money's worth
most folks who produce things like this want to make things better and most appreciate feedback with a production

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Wow, lots to digest and catch up on. I'll do my best. Lemme know if I miss something you would like addressed.

...This may have already been covered but how many episodes will there be in this season? Trying to gauge how long I have until I slip into a depression waiting for the next season haha...

Twelve episodes total, the first and final are full hour (television hour that is) length, so roughly 45 minutes.

...Then in the last episode, we're greeted with 5 minutes of teeth being pulled!! Seriously? Who wants to watch that? The teeth pulling did not add any enjoyment of the video, but took away from it. Fill that time with driving sequence, especially if they were lost for so long, a montage of wrong turns would have been nice to see and added to the viewers experience of being there, being part of the trip.

Exaggerate much?

It was a couple of minutes of teeth pulling, and that included some dialog about it from team members. Was that too much? Some would say yes, others said it was the "best episode to date" (including Season 1) and didn't have any angst about the tooth scenes. It's naive to think any production is going to please all, Clay and team are doing their best to present the story we had and make an entertaining and compelling video, I'm optimistic it's working based on viewership numbers (see my earlier reply for notes on that, episodes are gaining approx. 10k views each week), months ahead of S1 numbers. I'm participating in similar threads in a dozen different places, oddly ExPo is more fixated on the puking and teeth than all others combined? To be fair this thread is the most active thread on the subject outside of YouTube comments themselves.

...Why not? If you guys had fun doing the ribbing, then we would have had fun watching.

I can think of a handful of reasons, perhaps they didn't have production worthy audio, it lasted 30 minutes or more so it would take the entire episode which I can assure you would have garnered more complaints, etc. Perhaps the production team didn't feel it added much to the overall story? I'm torn on how and to what depth to answer future questions and comments here on ExPo as it seems some background just opens things up to more shall we say "input" I'm not hear to argue or defend, I'd love for everyone to enjoy the show and hope through my commentary I can help that happen.

...Third, we comment on the lack of driving sequences and are told there were tons of driving but they decided not to show it...Part of overlanding is the offroad driving

... it's just that the video edit is not portraying much overlanding/driving/adventure.

Says who? What is the definition of overlanding? I think Scott Brady has earned the right to lay down his opinion . What we were doing was as much "overlanding" as any trip I can think of. Everyone is entitled to their own definition... not going to argue that.

...the expedition 7 folks had Bruce D along with sadly this one seems to be edited by someone really young trying to make a show about the guys traveling for there buddies to watch ?

Expeditions7 also had XO's Clay along in fact that is where we really got to know each other. He was the main cameraman for Asia/Russia and South/Central America segments. Bruce D is an extremely talented photographer and cinematographer, no argument there.

...I do think it will be interesting to compare this to the expedition 7 final product I think they were going to make a feature length show out of that ?

Apples and oranges imo. Totally different trips so the feel and story wouldn't be remotely the same. The E7 production team has re-mastered all of the continent-by-continent video's, you can catch them here: http://www.expeditions7.com/videos. Well worth the watch imo!

...is this a Warren Miller type flick or a Nat Geo type of flick ? it seems like its trying to be both and that does not work pick a side and run with it

Why does it have to fit a format you're already comfortable with? Why can't it just be it's own show. Viewers are watching the show in vast numbers over season 1, does the format need an overhaul? Not trying to argue with you, I'm fully comfortable with the fact that the show will not be a hit with everyone and there will always be room for improvement... but you don't always go fixing something that isn't broken, particularly when it's a bit too late to be making changes. Fwiw they started editing the show the week after we arrived in Panama.

out of curiosity, why edit them to 22 minutes? make em longer and show more of the stories. i doubt anyone would complain about longer episodes

Because the standard network show is 22 minutes to allow for commercials. I would assume it's become a standard production timeframe

Which makes sense but it doesn't apply to their current broadcast format. Unless they're planning for the future. It'd be really cool to see an actual network pick this up! .

Correct, standard tv format which allows flexibility and future options without major re-work, re-editing. There may have been some sponsors that wanted episodes in the standard format as well. I'm not too up to speed there.


Just to be clear, I have zero control over creative content and editing, on top of that editing is likely for the most part complete the entire season so I don't know that any input will make a change this year? The production team has certainly heard the "we want more off-road" voice through my reports and others, it hasn't been ignored. I am confident you'll see a bunch more dirt time in episodes to come. Hang in there if your craving some dirt action!