By Christine Song
What do these words remind you of? Most likely a star-packed movie set with upscale paraphernalia and a relentless director trying to capture the perfect take. Well, although I have never been to a movie set, never met any acclaimed director, and am certainly no star, I have, however, had the opportunity to frequent a set of another nature. If you’re a fellow X-er, or just a compadre, you should be familiar with MTV. I don’t mean the false generic name for music videos. I’m talking about the television channel your mother would love to see you swear off. As one of the newest members of its team of VJ’s, the MTV office and studio have become something of a second home to me. Because this job is a little different from tutoring or translating or any other DFLLite favorites, I thought perhaps I could share some stories. It all started one sunny afternoon when my sister, a friend, and I headed for Idee Department Store for MTV’s audition. Although I went with a faint hope of becoming the next VJ, I was really actually quite skeptical. There was, after all, the stereotype cast on show business that you cannot get in without connections. But I went anyway, for fun, and to check out the contenders on the scene. The procedure consisted of two steps. You do your shtick at Stage One and if they like you, you qualify to march onto Stage Two, where a random ballot is given with a task assigned. Does this sound like a video game/treasure hunt? Well, it certainly felt like one. Anyway, the best part of the day was to see what people came up with. A man performed a Charlie Chaplin-esque skit while muttering unintelligible Japanese (he turned out to be Taiwanese). Another came with his coffee maker and, well, made coffee. Then there were singers and dancers and rappers and, believe it or not, an Elvis lookalike, and more singers and dancers. I presented the week’s pop charts in English and proceeded onto the next part of the show, where I was assigned to talk about two movies. Maybe it was my English, or maybe they liked the way I introduced the flicks. Whatever reason it may have been, they made their decisions promptly and two days later I was informed I had been selected as one of the ten contestants up for Round Two. The following weeks consisted of taping various shows on our part and further selection on their part. Four months later, there are three of us left who have officially become a part of MTV Taiwan. During this period, I met just about every singer with a current album, taped numerous episodes of different shows, appeared in two concerts, had my hair styled, my official VJ shots taken, and attended a press conference. Therefore, to say the least, these people have stupefied me with the efficiency with which they work. Up until now, I have never posed for a non-Polaroid shot and then seen the photograph within an hour’s time! I must admit this job proved much more challenging than I imagined. Like many people, I am sure, I truly believed talking to a camera–and only a camera!–a piece of cake. I mean, come on, what’s there to fret about when there is no live audience? Well, many things, as it turned out. There are still the jitters, with or without an audience. (I attribute this to the awareness that my performance is at the disposal of anybody who owns a TV set.) When I finally got over this initial stage, there was the need to develop a TV persona. I have to distinguish the difference between talking to a friend in person, when they can see and hear and feel and smell you, and speaking to a multitude through the camera, when I become two-dimensional instead of three. It becomes, consequently, essential that I adapt the technique to attract viewers’ attention through voice and body language and then somehow turn it into personal charisma. This would involve observing myself on video and repeated practice. As if that were not enough of a task, there is also the way you look at the lens, both for TV and photographs. Stay focused; show your better side. Look happy, but not unnatural. Ugh! Is there a book to teach you this? But of course, this job is supposed to be fun, and that is exactly what it is. I get to look nice with my hair done and clothes fitted. Although I have to do my own makeup, I have a stylist who generously offers pointers. The people I work with are superb; they show me a sense of humor different from that which I have known. I am very lucky, because MTV Taiwan is a nice establishment in a business often reputed to be not so nice. I am receiving a kind of training not normally accessible, and have been able to keep my life as a student. So I guess the most important thing right now is to enjoy it while it lasts! #Volume 6 Issue 3 a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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