Rob
diligently
studying
the
human
endocrine
system |
|
25
years
of
hormonal
enhancement
later |
|
Below is a letter from an NHE reseller to Rob, unfavorably critiquing his newly released training video (The Extique Video
Personal Trainer). Following this letter is
Rob's response.
Due to the personal nature of this correspondence,
the name of the sender and his company have been changed.
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 |
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From: Stanley
Burrows, president, ABC Fitness Supplements
Dear Rob,
Thanks for the
sample Video Personal Trainer. I checked it out and decided
not to carry it.
The
information presented is very good, but I don't think the video used the
medium very well. Video is not a good medium to present what
could be read. So much "talking to the camera" tempted
the finger on the fast forward button. Most of what was said
could have been voice-over demonstrations. A greater variety of
models would have helped as well.
The above is for
you to ignore or consider in your next video. Books and videos
work very differently! Good luck on this and your future
projects.
Sincerely,
Stanley
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From: Rob Faigin
Dear Stanley,
Thank you for your feedback on my video. As an
initial matter, I wholly respect your discretion to carry or not carry a given product. I
will continue creating products, some of which you may embrace others of which you may
disclaim.
I am keenly aware that I broke nearly every rule
of TV with the Extique Video Personal Trainer. My father used to work for CBS, and
currently (and for the last 15 years) runs a prosperous and well-reputed video production
company. Also, both of my brothers have impressive videography resumes; and my brother
Rick currently works in Hollywood in the television industry. All of my aforementioned
kinfolk strongly advised against the format I employed in the Extique Video Personal
Trainer. Hence, I am cognizant of the conventions of the video medium, and my decision to
depart from convention was deliberate and premeditated. I doubt I'll make another video
(despite the fact that the Video Personal Trainer says "Volume I"). But if I
were to, I would use the exact same format (except I would beg, borrow, or sell my car to
raise the money for a teleprompter).
Video is a uniquely difficult medium, because
TV-watchers expect to be entertained. Through the wisdom of hindsight, I realize that I
was in a no-win situation - which is why I'll probably never make another video. If I had given
people more of a "dog and pony show," the Extique Video Personal Trainer would
have been attacked on grounds that much unlike NHE, the video lacked substance and depth.
Instead, I took a no-nonsense approach and sought to pack as much substantive information
and instruction into the video as possible. Consequently, the video is attacked as
"misusing the video forum" or "boring."
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Before I continue, I trust you
watched the entire video. That being the case, you know that the first half is
approximately 70% "talking head" and 30% voice-over/demonstration; whereas the
second half is approximately 30% "talking head" and 70%
voice-over/demonstration. Thus, on balance, the video is 50% "talking head" and
50% voice-over/demonstration. Since it ran a few minutes under an hour, that means that a
total of 30 minutes of the video was "talking head." Interestingly (like most
people who critiqued the video), you thought the information was good, but you found that
the segments in which I "talked to the camera... tempted the finger on the
fast-forward button." Boiled down to
its essence, your objection to the Extique Video Personal Trainer can be stated thus: it
wasn't amusing enough. Granted, the amusement quotient was
low; but I'm interested in empowering people, not trying to
upstage Austin Powers. |
| Boiled down to
its essence, your objection to the Extique Video Personal Trainer can be stated thus: it
wasn't amusing enough... I'm interested in empowering people, not trying to
upstage Austin Powers. |
|
| It is a source of consternation
and sadness for me that people are willing to spend an hour or more watching and listening
to a stand-up comedian on TV telling dirty jokes, but unwilling to spend half as much time
watching and listening to an experienced trainer/author disseminate crucial instructions
about how to work-out. |
|
|
|
It is a source of
consternation and sadness for me that people are willing to spend
an hour or more watching and listening to a stand-up comedian on
TV telling dirty jokes, but unwilling to spend half as much time
watching and listening to an experienced trainer/author
disseminate crucial instructions about how to work-out. More than
any other single fact, I believe this explains why the United
States has become the home of the fattest and sickest people on
the planet. In law school, I served as a teaching assistant and
gave 3-hour lectures on hyper-technical legal matters, standing
behind a podium in front of a packed room of law students
furiously taking notes. The videotape of these lectures was in
high demand - there was a waiting list. The only reason why the
law students wanted the video was because they felt it would help
them get a better grade on the exam. So I guess people are willing
to watch somebody talk for a longer period of time in order to get
a laugh or score higher on an exam, but unwilling to watch someone
talk for a shorter period of time in order to improve their
health. I refuse to accept this fact, and I'll go to my grave
refusing to accept this fact.
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|
I
predicted
some resellers wouldn't pick-up the video -
and I was right. Others are not only carrying it, but promoting it. You were frank with me
(which I appreciate), so I'll be frank with you. Kjell and I were speculating about who
would sell the video and who wouldn't. I predicted that you, a pro-substance, anti-fluff,
health educator would support the video. But I was wrong (if I had a dime for every time
I've been wrong, I'd be able to buy a teleprompter).
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I am an idealistic
nonconformist and always will be. Because I feel that the Extique Video Personal Trainer conveys vital
workout information, I will continue to supply it to whichever resellers wish to sell it.
And I will provide the following guidance to those considering buying or selling the
video. If you want to learn how to work-out, invest 55 minutes and $23.97 on the Extique
Video Personal Trainer. If you want to be entertained, watch Saturday Night Live or
professional wrestling. Furthermore, I pose the following question: What's more important, special effects or making your workout
especially effective? If the former, then spend
2+ hours watching Luke Skywalker. If the latter, then spend less than half as much time
watching and listening to Rob Faigin. Either way, may the force be with you.
|
| What's more important, special effects or making your workout
especially effective? |
|
Sincerely,
Rob Faigin
A
viewer
takes
issue
with
Burrows'
criticism
of
the
Extique
Video
Personal
Trainer,
and
advances
criticism
of
his
own.
I
was
not
impressed
with
the
unfavourable
critique
of
the
video
from
the
distributor.
As
a
keen
resistance
trainer,
I
found
the
video
to
be
extremely
useful
in
covering
the
fundamental
biomechanical
elements
of
the
various
body
parts.
However,
there
are
two
criticisms
I
would
make
of
the
video:
1)
It
is
not
available
in
a
PAL
format
-
Australian/European
standard
(only
NTSC).
Therefore,
I
cannot
watch
it
without
going
to
my
friend's
place
who
has
a
NTSC
playback
system.
2)
If
it
is
the
only
video
you
produce,
as
it
was
alluded
in
the
Ask
Rob
section
of
your
website,
then
you
have
only
covered
arms,
chest,
back.
A
similar
video
covering
legs,
abs
and
shoulders
would
be
ideal
as
a
volume
2.
Andrew
Cairney
Melbourne,
Australia
ROB'S
REPLY:
Thank
you
for
your
letter;
both
your
words
of
approval
and
criticism
are
equally
appreciated.
Your
positive
assessment
of
the
value
and
usefulness
of
the
Extique
Video
Personal
Trainer
is
representative
of
several
letters
I
have
received
from
Video
Personal
Trainer
viewers
taking
exception
to
Mr.
Burrows'
critique.
Apparently,
Mr.
Burrows'
letter
-
in
which
he
affirmed
the
value
of
the
information
contained
in
the
video
but
refused
to
supply
it
to
his
customers
because
of
its
cinematic
shortcomings
-
has
touched
a
raw
nerve
among
those
individuals
who
are
sick
and
tired
of
health
vendors'
elevating
form
over
substance.
In
light
of
these
encouraging
letters
and
growing
demand
for
a
Volume
2,
I
am
rethinking
my
previously
stated
position
that
I
will
not
make
another
video.
Regarding
your PAL/NTSC-related
criticism,
I
regret
that
we
may
have
overlooked
the
needs
of
our
international
viewers.
I
will
look
into
the
feasibility
of
rectifying
this
problem.
Trevor
Beairsto,
Canadian
personal
trainer
and
co-star
of
Casey
Viator's
High-Intensity
Video
Series,
offers
his
assessment
of
the
Extique
Video
Personal
Trainer.
|
I
watched
your
personal
trainer
video,
and
I
have
to
say
that
it
is
very
solid,
both
from
a
motivational
and
instructional
standpoint.
I
really
don't
understand
that
gentleman's
comments
about
it
in
your
Ask
Rob
section
of
the
website.
I
found
your
one-on-one
segments
both
necessary
and
entertaining.
Your
physique
is
awe-inspiring.
Keep
up
the
great
work!
|
ROB'S
REPLY:
I
appreciate
your
compliment
on
my
physique.
If
I
ever
enter
another
bodybuilding
competition,
would
you
mind
being
a
judge?
|
Thanks,
too,
for
your
evaluation
of
my
video.
I
would
have
thanked
you
even
if
your
assessment
were
negative,
but
I'm
glad
it
was
positive.
It
seems
like
a
self-serving
statement,
but
I
have
found
that
there
is
direct
correlation
between
the
degree
of
a
viewer's
desire
to
learn
how
to
train
and
the
degree
to
which
he/she
appreciates
the
Extique
Video
Personal
Trainer.
It
is
probably
for
this
reason
that
the
video
has
garnered
the
most
enthusiastic
reviews
from
trainers
like
yourself
who
crave
knowledge
not
merely
to
facilitate
their
own
pursuit
of
physical
self-improvement,
but
also
to
heighten
their
professional
competence.
|
| .
.
.
I
have
found
that
there
is
direct
correlation
between
the
degree
of
a
viewer's
desire
to
learn
how
to
train
and
the
degree
to
which
he/she
appreciates
the
Extique
Video
Personal
Trainer.
It
is
probably
for
this
reason
that
the
video
has
garnered
the
most
enthusiastic
reviews
from
trainers
like
yourself
who
crave
knowledge
not
merely
to
facilitate
their
own
pursuit
of
physical
self-improvement,
but
also
to
heighten
their
professional
competence. |
|
|
One
women
(a
friend
of
Kjell's
who
evaluated
the
video
at
his
request
right
after
it
was
produced
before
we
started
selling
it)
who
has
no
interest
whatsoever
in
resistance
training,
bluntly
assessed
the
video
as
"awful."
A
couple
other
people
with
an
aversion
to
iron
expressed
a
similarly
unfavorable
opinion
of
the
video.
Kjell
(president
of
Extique)
was
a
bit
unnerved
by
these
early
reviews,
but
I
reassured
him
that
if
I
were
forced
to
sit
through
an
hour-long
instructional
video
on
the
subject
of
gardening
or
sewing
I
couldn't
possibly
have
anything
but
a
negative
opinion
of
it
because
I'd
be
bored
to
tears.
Since
then,
feedback
from
customers
has
validated
my
far-from-brilliant
(but
nonetheless
elusive
to
some
people)
theory
that
an
informational
product
cannot
be
meaningfully
evaluated
by
someone
who
lacks
the
slightest
fleeting
impulse
of
curiosity
concerning
the
subject
matter
to
which
the
product
pertains.
|
| .
.
.
an
informational
product
cannot
be
meaningfully
evaluated
by
someone
who
lacks
the
slightest
fleeting
impulse
of
curiosity
concerning
the
subject
matter
to
which
the
product
pertains. |
|
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