TechStars, Lies & Videotape • Hacker News Board

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#11

Post by badclient » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:03 AM UTC

melanie_io wrote: post #9

badclient wrote: post #4

This actually reflects poorly on TechStars that they gave so much access to a media source without proper negotiaion and/or enforcement. To the OP I say "what did you expect?". If you are not versed with the media and yet agree on giving them hours and hours of access, you will get some twisted final product more times than not. Also why PR firms still exist.

You are right - this is exactly what I DID expect would happen - even though it was sold to us as a documentary on a business channel. Unfortunately, every company in our TechStars class was forced to participate. So, the decision for all of us was: drop out of TechStars or do the show.

To me, Techstars owes you an apology more than Bloomberg.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#12

Post by veyron » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:04 AM UTC

Bloomberg in general is terrible. From the financial side, they leak information to others, so the rule of thumb is to never talk to them unless you are absolutely desperate to raise monies.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#13

Post by staunch » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:05 AM UTC

pedalpete wrote: post #6

Do people here think TechStars is somewhat to blame in this? they are the ones who are running the incubator and hosting the companies. Why would they bring in this sort of outside factor into an already challenging environment. If they were unaware of how the show would turn out, I suspect all they needed to do was speak to reality tv producers (other than those who produced this show), and they would have been told…

I'm sure YC has been asked to participate in this kind of thing and they've declined. After watching this show, it's clear that they showed good judgment.

I do think there's room to do a quality documentary on YC or TechStars, but the dramatic reality show format is inherently crap.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#14

Post by badclient » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:06 AM UTC

pedalpete wrote: post #6

Do people here think TechStars is somewhat to blame in this? they are the ones who are running the incubator and hosting the companies. Why would they bring in this sort of outside factor into an already challenging environment. If they were unaware of how the show would turn out, I suspect all they needed to do was speak to reality tv producers (other than those who produced this show), and they would have been told…

As I stated below, I largely believe Bloomberg did its job and techstars owes a big fat apology to their cos for putting them in this situation without covering all bases.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#15

Post by swanson » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:09 AM UTC

I was aware that stuff was probably being edited and I think Melanie and Jason Baptiste got an unfair shake. If I am reading this blog post correctly: the production crew spliced together two unrelated bits of audio ("LinkedIn for fashion") and then played it off like it was actually said? And that it was the new pivot for the company?

That's messed up.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#16

Post by melanie_io » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:13 AM UTC

dannyr wrote: post #10

melanie_io wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are right - this is exactly what I DID expect would happen - even though it was sold to us as a documentary on a business channel. Unfortunately, every company in our TechStars class was forced to participate. So, the decision for all of us was: drop out of TechStars or do the show.

Melanie, Props to you for showing up at the reunion show despite how you were portrayed. I guess that last show was part of the contract too right?

I did not have to show up last night. But I also did not want Bloomberg to be able to guide / direct the last word on ToVieFor. In addition, Tisch and Cohen fought VERY hard to make sure the finale episode was positive, which I knew ahead of time. They felt just as disappointed and betrayed by Bloomberg as I.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#17

Post by chrislloyd » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:13 AM UTC

This American Life's "Gossip" episode had a story from someone working on a reality TV show. TL;DR Everything is staged and drama is fabricated if it doesn't exist.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/444/g...

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#18

Post by mixmax » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:13 AM UTC

Well, that's showbusiness for you.

I have friends in media and showbusiness, so I've seen these things from behind the scenes, and have a good feel for the dynamics. Media is about getting customers just like any other company, and their product is stories. They try to make these stories as appealing as possible, just like any other company tries to make the product their customers want.Truth plays second fiddle to a good story.

Oftentimes we think the media is engaged in a search for truth, justice and a real portrayal of how things work, but unfortunately that's not the how it is. They are there to sell you entertainment, and if the truth isn't sexy enough they'll pimp it up until it is. That's how it works.

On a broader note this is a huge problem for democracy - what we believe to be a guard against lies, bad politics and corruption is in reality just entertainment created by for-profit corporations with no interest in keeping a government honest or multinational corporations on the right side of the law. It's about business. Big business.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#19

Post by melanie_io » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:14 AM UTC

swanson wrote: post #15

I was aware that stuff was probably being edited and I think Melanie and Jason Baptiste got an unfair shake. If I am reading this blog post correctly: the production crew spliced together two unrelated bits of audio ("LinkedIn for fashion") and then played it off like it was actually said? And that it was the new pivot for the company? That's messed up.

No, they literally just made it up, and paid a narrator to do a voice-over.

Re: TechStars, Lies & Videotape

#20

Post by swanson » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:15 AM UTC

melanie_io wrote: post #19

swanson wrote: post #15

I was aware that stuff was probably being edited and I think Melanie and Jason Baptiste got an unfair shake. If I am reading this blog post correctly: the production crew spliced together two unrelated bits of audio ("LinkedIn for fashion") and then played it off like it was actually said? And that it was the new pivot for the company? That's messed up.

No, they literally just made it up, and paid a narrator to do a voice-over.

Yikes - that's even worse...