New cringeworthy QF John Travolta safety video

[oz_mark]

Re: Captain Highhat replaced by JT

Another thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../new-cringeworthy-qf-john-travolta-27013.html

 

[anat0l]

I like the new video. It presents itself a bit more naturally than previous safety videos, and I like the background music better. That comment has nothing to do with my like, dislike or complete indifference towards John Travolta.

The JT "edification" of QF crews is a little bit cheesy.

There is a good balance between the facets of quality in this video, i.e. it's not cheesy or baby talk, but easy enough for people whilst still maintaining a serious edge, for example, by using real human actors (not real situations, but that's difficult to achieve without either a big budget or actively scaring people half to death).

I still think QF should provide "signposts" for the various sections of the safety demo. Similar to the "checklist" safety video of old days, but not in that cheesy manner. Maybe have a highlighting banner at the top or bottom showing what section is being explained. It also allows people to know how much longer we have to listen. Whilst that may sound counterproductive, hearing line after line after line isn't useful for people if they can't put it into perspective.

Finally, they've actually made the lifejacket section a lot better! It still could be improved, but at least we don't have to hear about how QF have "the type of lifejacket which clips together and tightens as shown". I don't bl**dy care what type of lifejacket QF has, as long as it keeps people afloat and you tell me how to actually don it!

 

[Leumas]

I think the revamp may have been a response to market research when polling 20-30 year olds who associated QF with being an airline that your parents travelled on & that QF was seen as the 'maiden aunt' of airlines.

Maybe the powers that be thought a bilt of 'Hollywood' would appeal to the younger generation although there's a fair chance that JT who's 56 might actually be older than Capt Hello Again. :idea:

'Maiden aunt'... Is that like a spinster? I'm starting to see QF in a totally different light now, and not all of is good...! :shock:

I'm sure Capt JT appeals to a large audience, everything from Saturday Night Live and Grease, to Look Who's Talking (remember that?), to Pulp Fiction to other scientologists. Yes, I know he's a cerified pilot as well, but every time I see QF wheel him out in his full pilot uniform and he starts saluting people, it just makes me want to puke.

 

[Leumas]

Back to topic, I actually find the video isn't too bad and an improvement. The narration is much better and friendlier.

The only thing I find odd is the bit at the end where they mentioned about info on DVT. Looks like they couldn't fit it into the script or simply forgotten about it?

 

[wingspan]

After a trip to CBR last night from ADL via SYD, I've now seen this video a good dozen times or so. I looked less at the video and more at the people around me to see what the reaction was - and found, positively, that people were more attentive. Some people giggled at JT on screen, some people turned and coughed their heads when otherwise they'd have been buried in their books or magazines. So I think, one month in, that it's still working well and that people are being more responsive.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

'Maiden aunt'... Is that like a spinster? I'm starting to see QF in a totally different light now, and not all of is good...! :shock:

I'm sure Capt JT appeals to a large audience, everything from Saturday Night Live and Grease, to Look Who's Talking (remember that?), to Pulp Fiction to other scientologists. Yes, I know he's a cerified pilot as well, but every time I see QF wheel him out in his full pilot uniform and he starts saluting people, it just makes me want to puke.

Although it's quite quite a full pilot uniform anymore as they've stripped the honorary QF Captain of his badge so his cap looks quite bare & would probably be more suited to a bus conductor.

I don't think the word team goes with aviation, an aircraft has a crew if you play basketball you are a team.

I don't like the way he casually refers to "the guys on the flight deck" & it's not about gender as guys can refer to males or females, I just don't feel it's respectful.

Guys sit round a bar, drink Millers & watch baseball, whereas crew are in command of an aircraft.

 

[anat0l]

FWIW I flew two 767s the other day. The ex-BA aircraft I flew in the morning didn't have the new JT safety video, but the other domestic configured 767 I had in the evening did have it.

When I was watching the video, it skipped slightly at the end when they took a shot of the flight deck. I assume they were saying something like, "Remember, we're here for your safety, so please follow our instructions at all times", but I didn't hear the exact words.

 

[Australian]

shesh - yeah i like the video ... it's nice touch in terms of profile ~ let's not get precious!

 

[Mal]

Captain Travolta's video angers flight crew

Captain Travolta's video angers flight crew | The Daily Telegraph

A NEW Qantas safety video introduced by Hollywood actor John Travolta has been labelled "cringeworthy" by the airline's flight attendants and pilots, who are annoyed he calls them a "team" instead of a crew.

The three-minute demonstration video, played before take-off on every domestic and long-haul Qantas flight, has angered cabin crew who say a "real pilot" - like Captain Richard de Crespigny, credited with saving 466 lives on the failed QF32 flight from Singapore - should front the message.

 

[Blackadder]

So what if they are called a team, are those objecting to it implying they don't work together as a "team".

 

[rtyuiop]

So what if they are called a team, are those objecting to it implying they don't work together as a "team".

At a guess, they're objecting to the horrible corporate speak that's sapped all meaning out of the word "team" (I know I would, if I had an alternative word like "crew" which neatly applied to my industry)!

Danny

 

[Blackadder]

Speaking from both a public perception viewpoint, and someone who is part of a team I have no objection to it, to my way of thinking itt hasn't been diminished by "corporate speak" and represents a group of like minded individuals working together to achieve a common goal.
They go on to say it makes them sound like they are working at McDonalds, but don't McDonalds refer to there staff as crew.

 

[Fifa]

They go on to say it makes them sound like they are working at McDonalds, but don't McDonalds refer to there staff as crew.

I had a good laugh at this!
crew training | McDonald's

(And what's wrong with working at McDonalds?)

 

[anat0l]

Whilst I wouldn't mind having the Captain of the saved QF32 flight as the front of a safety video (or at least at the end), or even reading the demonstration live (whilst it is being demonstrated), this story is in essence really ridiculous.

Being called a 'team' is demeaning and likening to that of working at McDonalds? My goodness......

I accept that MBA training and sappy what not has somewhat diminished the real essence of some words, such as 'team', but if we don't use those words then there aren't any others and in time people are going to be claiming that those alternative words will be corrupted to. So to all of those people, get the hell over it, and quickly. I'm sorry, there's no other way, unless you can make up a new synonym that's not able to be corrupted.

I have no objection either way to saying "cabin crew" or "team". Perhaps one key objection of the latter is that it relies on the listener to connect "team" with the crew, which may or may not be intuitive, especially for those with limited English skills or different work cultures where 'team' might not be explicitly used (although it would be implicit when one is acting on behalf of a company).

Overall, thanks for the paper for putting out one of the safety videos (because I don't think Qantas's YouTube page has a copy), but the whole thing is still a beat up, and those that are complaining about it - fine, I guess there are problems, but I don't buy them.

I still find QF's video better than a number of others out there. Don't get me started on videos that use animations - nothing per se really wrong but at least there are still videos where real people demonstrate real world tasks for real world emergencies.

 

[medhead]

(And what's wrong with working at McDonalds?)

Nothing but would you want the crew at macdonalds to be flying your aircraft.

 

[mannej]

There is a very similar article in this morning's Sunday Times. The language used by the reporter comes across as very similar to the OP (although they are not the same), and there is reference to the OP in the article.

On the issue of using a "real pilot", do you use JB747, Captain deCrespingy or the Captain on QF72? Would they be happy to do something like that?
The old safety video had done its dash (with a real pilot), and I say good on QF for thinking of something different. By the discussion, it looks like JT does get attention.

Although I do understand where the FA's are coming from, they do need to ask themselves what is the best way of getting the message through, and if it is to make the video "corny" etc then so be it.

 

[Fifa]

Nothing but would you want the crew at macdonalds to be flying your aircraft.

Definitely not - but working at Maccas is how some pilots help pay for their private & commercial licenses!

 

[docjames]

Captain "Hello again"??

 

[ChrisCunard]

It got everyone aboard our 767 flight last night to sit up and pay attention.

Mission accomplished!

 

[ReLoad]

Something totally new and different, a media beat up, shock horror.

On DJ the other day the FA said there were ejector seats attached to the smoke detectors, I'm guessing that the media will seize that and run a 4 page spread on it too.