LEGO Masters week 2 exit interview
Posted by Huw,
LEGO Masters USA is now in full swing. The second episode was broadcast this week and the first couple were eliminated.
Each week we'll be bringing you an exit interview but to avoid spoilers for those of you watching on catch-up or via some illicit website (like me) we won't reveal their names above the fold.
So, if you've watched it already and want to hear from the losers, read on...
This week Kara and Jessie were eliminated.
What did you take from your experience on LEGO Masters and how will it help you move forward?
Jesse: For me, my mind is so blown that I made it this far, even if it’s just for a moment. I got to share my enthusiasm and my love for LEGO, be on a team, and I was able to meet some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met with on that set. So that’s exactly what I’m taking away. I’ve gained so much. And I think if you asked the other teammates, they would say the same thing. Even the two that make it to the finale would say the same thing. It was a new and amazing experience. So, to me, it definitely was not a failure. It was a major accomplishment that just had a little shorter shelf life.
Kara: I wish we could have had the opportunity to show our skills and our building more. I feel like when we were building the spaceship and it crashed and burned before it was supposed to, we made the most of it. We knew we had to present something, so we created a theme that everything was on fire and everything had been destroyed. We made the best of the situation that we could rather than just say we are done and there’s nothing we could do about it. That last hour we turned destruction into a crash of art, and I wanted the judges to take that into consideration.
Hopefully, even when things don’t go your way and there’s unforeseen obstacles or events, you just make the best of it. Press on and be proud of what you’re presenting. I’m thankful that we did have something to present and I felt like Will did a great job destroying it.
Also, I feel like in the first episode, we didn’t actually lose four hours by changing themes. We realized we needed to get on the same page and that Jessie wasn’t excited about it. I came with my best friend and I wasn’t going to leave without my best friend. I didn’t want anything to impede our friendship. We were there to have fun--it wasn’t because we were struggling. And that’s when we came back to the drawing board and thought, “You know what, it’s never too late to change directions!” And we did, and I think that we had something to be proud of displayed at the end.
Is there anything that you would have done differently in the two challenges you participated in?
Jessie : I was pretty pleased with what we did for the Dream Park. I think for the second one, the Space Smash, we could have made some structural improvements and make it a little bit more sturdy.
Kara : I wish we would have spent more time on the drawing board, really sketching out our vision and taking the time to sit down and think before jumping in. But once you find out what the challenge is, you’re just so anxious to get your hands on the bricks. That’s kind of a lifelong lesson for me. You just want to get started. You’re just so anxious. I really needed to sit back and think it through and make sure to communicate with Jessie because my ideas and her ideas can be very different. In our past, we have not built a lot together as a team, though we have endless hours of building separately doing our own projects. I mean, I can finish her sentences and she can finish mine, but we can’t expect each other to imagine the thoughts in our heads. As a team, you have to know each other’s work strategies to do a joint task successfully. So, yeah, I would have spent more time discussing and planning with Jessie.
Jessie : I agree completely.
What was the most difficult aspect of the two challenges aside from the time limit?
Kara : One of the things that was difficult was when the judges would come around and point to another team and compare our progress. That got into my head a little bit. In the first challenge we were directly across from Aaron and Christian, and within an hour they had erected this giant Ferris wheel! That was very unnerving and intimidating because in our first hour we were still trying to master the idea of the duck! Seeing what the other teams are doing and how they’re progressing, and then getting back to your own little table is daunting. It is a long time to stay focused and stay on task even though after it feels like it goes by so fast.
How much interaction like feedback or assistance did you have from the judges, Will Arnett and the guest stars during the episode?
Kara : The judges made their way around to each table, and they wanted to know what the storyline was, what our theme was, and what direction we were moving in. And obviously, we definitely wanted to take into consideration any suggestions they had. In both episodes, when they did offer constructive criticism, we listened and we adjusted. I think maybe with the spaceship, we probably should have listened and adjusted earlier and quicker in terms of laying it on its side. Everything that they suggested we took to heart because they are the LEGO Masters!
Jessie : We definitely appreciated their feedback, and we did listen to it. It’s unfortunate that the construction did fall apart in the end. But they were very, very helpful and we appreciated it. Everyone was very helpful. That’s what they were there for.
Kara : Will was very easy to banter and interact with. He was fun! At one point (and they showed it in the episode) he did offer to help as we were turning the spaceship. He is funny and humorous, but you don’t know in a serious situation if you can really take him seriously or not. When he offered to help, I looked at him like, “Are you being serious? Are you being funny? Because I need your help.” Of course, when he realized I was very serious he backed off so that we could continue letting it fall.
What was the environment like in the build area? Did teams share ideas or was there more playful trash-talking like we saw in the episode?
Kara: There was a time in the first episode when Jessie was responsible for making our rocket spin. We were next to Crystal and Amy, and they were very helpful with making it spin. In terms of reality competition shows, it was very hard to compete against the other teams because you respect their talents, you love what they do, and you want to learn from them. There was no negativity between the teams in any capacity. Or I never saw any of that if there was. Each time something sad happened, like when Timber Town got stuck, we all had a lump in our throat. None of us wanted to see any of the builds from any builder not work or function. Knowing all the work that goes into everyone’s builds, you’re just so proud of everything that was produced.
What would have been the perfect challenge for your team if you could have chosen one?
Jesse: Wow, that’s a good question. Maybe something like your favorite place on earth? Where would it be? What would that look like to you?
Kara: We’ve taught for forever together for many, many years. We’ve worked with a lot with children, so I think many of the ideas that we had on the drawing board, even before the competition began, were stories, or books, or movies. Maybe a Grimms’ Fairy Tales theme. Definitely something children-related and storytelling for sure. And thankfully, that was a huge part of what the judges were looking for. They didn’t want just a creation--they wanted the story behind it.
How did it feel being two of only six female builders on the show?
Kara : I think it was fabulous that there were six of us! I love the fact that girls are getting more involved. And it’s not a just girl/boy thing. There seem to be more men actively involved in LEGO, but I hope our presence on the show can help change that. There are so many avenues for LEGO to be in our everyday life, and I think women can make some amazing things happen as they build. Hopefully we played a small role in that.
Jessie : Oh, yeah. Absolutely!
What was your favorite craft services food on set?
Kara : I would have to say the Jelly Bellies. The snack room they had on set was amazing! They were very good about offering a variety of protein snacks or healthly food, but they gave us a fair amount of junk food that was very much appreciated during those long hours of building.
Jessie : Yeah, the Jelly Bellies were my favorite too. Oh, how many I ate of those!
What have the reactions been to you being on the show? Some have called your team their “Favorite 80s Moms” and commented you were some of the most expressive people on TV.
Kara : Some of the other team members told me not to pay attention to what people say online. I didn’t even know what was being said, so curiosity got the best of me. I am exactly who I am today as I was when we were filming. I hope that people realize it’s not an act. I just am very intense and very excitable and have high energy. That’s truly how I am. I have facial expressions and big hair, but that’s kinda always been me, and I wouldn’t change that for the show or for critics.
The message I want to share, particularly after all of this, is that we’re all so different, but we can be comfortable being in our own skin and sharing our talents. On the show, we all were from very, very different walks of life and each of our backgrounds and demographics were unique, but LEGO was the common denominator between all of us which helped us have a solid foundation of friendship.
Jessie: The reaction has been very positive and even humorous at times for me. I am absolutely thrilled to see so many people who love LEGO rally around us and the show. The fan base is amazing, and it’s been fun to see them get excited about something new.
As adult fans of LEGO, what are your favorite LEGO sets?
Kara : Fort Legoredo is definitely my favorite set. In terms of themes, I love Pirates of the Caribbean, Toy Story, and the Lone Ranger.
Jesse : In general, I like anything that’s movie-related, but my favorite theme is Star Wars.
Have either of you gone to a LEGO convention or participated in the greater LEGO fan community?
Kara : I wish I lived on the West Coast because it seems like they have so many more opportunities right now to convene and introduce our LEGO club. I’m going to St. Louis in June, and if Jessie can find anything going on in Hawaii we’ll both be there! (laughs).
Jessie: Yeah it is a little bit more tricky finding a fan event here but I’m hoping to get to the mainland to attend an upcoming LEGO convention.
Where can we follow you and your future LEGO creations online?
Kara: I’m involved in several LEGO Facebook groups online, and I’m starting to get involved in the Springfield LUG. I would love to start another LEGO club here in the Rogers area. Currently, my LEGO community is with children, but I’d like to get involved more with adults. So I’m looking for opportunities where I can get involved. Hopefully some of my fellow contestants can help me with that.
Jessie: I build primarily with children, so I haven’t done a lot online. I have a lot of videos and photos at home, I guess.
What advice would you give to a future LEGO Masters contestant?
Kara: Go into it with an open mind and with some ideas up your sleeve. And do your research on previous LEGO Masters seasons. We watched the Australian version which was extremely helpful. When you first get on the show, you’re getting to know the Brick Pit and you’re getting to know the teams, and you’re getting your on-camera jitters out of the way. There are so many new things right off the bat. Go into that first build as prepared as you possibly can be, and have some ideas up your sleeve for sure.
Jessie : Know what you’re getting into. Really work on not being nervous or anxious, but go in it with a total “play and have fun” attitude. You’ll have a lot of fun.
Do you know who won, and if not, who are you rooting for?
Kara : We definitely know who won, though I did have a very strong feeling early on who would make it to the finals.
Jessie : I can’t root for one team in particular because each builder has such incredible talent!
Thanks to Dave at The Brothers Brick for conducting this week's interview.
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31 comments on this article
So now we'll be getting these interviews every week? And how long until Huw closes the comments again?
I could almost have understood it if Brickset got a unique opportunity to talk to the contestants, but if it's carried out by Brothers-brick anyway, why not just leave it to them? Especially considering how uninteresting this is unless you've actually been able to see the episode and how fed the readers are with these promotions anyway?
Sorry, I just feel these articles have generated a lot of bad vibes lately, and can't see any reason we need any more.
Good episode and I think it'll get better as the show continues. As an AFOL I'd love to see the unique building techniques a little more closely. When there are fewer teams, I think we'll get to see the builds more.
Also, Will Arnett is not my favorite as a host, but I think he'll improve too. This is new for everyone involved, so I think there's definitely a period of familiarizing/adjustment.
Thanks Dave for the interview!
@axeleng , this week it was conducted by TBB because our US correspondent is on vacation, but going forwards it will be a joint effort.
I believe there is a lot of interest in the series and it's easy enough to watch from outside the US if you want to, so we will continue to publish the articles.
However, going forwards, starting with this article, we will put them in a 'TV Shows' category which you can hide should you wish from your news preferences page: https://brickset.com/profile/newspreferences
@axeleng not sure your particular situation but personally I have never had anyone from Brickset show up on my doorstep telling me I had to read something. If there is an article on the internet I’m not interested in I (wait for it)..... don’t read it. We all have control over the content we consume.
Personally I have been watching the show (legally) and find it interesting and creative! Although the concept of blowing up LEGO last week was traumatic...
@John_Rhodes, where is it you live? ;-)
@John_Rhodes said:
" Personally I have been watching the show (legally) and find it interesting and creative! Although the concept of blowing up LEGO last week was traumatic... "
We definitely applauded Jamie registering his official dislike for destroying the models. :)
Well, I guess I don't mind the articles themselves that much (even if I do consider them gossip rag material), it's more the excessive censoring of the comments that has ticked me off. First the debate got a bit heated in the first contestant interview and a large amount of comments got deleted, then Austinpowers' short comment on the second interview got deleted and that thread got closed, before you closed the "Meet the judges" thread just for good measure. I feel you particularly give Austinpowers an unfairly hard time just 'cause he doesn't buy any PC BS and that he openly dares to approve of clone brands.
Sorry, having grown up with (uncensored) Usenet I still can't get used to moderated web forums. Also I feel Brickset tries too hard to get a status as a semi-official advertising channel, and therefore have a low tolerance towards clone brands and expects debates to be just a family-friendly as Lego's actual websites and catalogs.
On the positive side I'm torrenting the episodes right now, so I at least can see what it's all about.
I've seen both episodes and unfortunately the tone of the show is wildly different than other iterations in other countries. It was painful to watch some of the candidates and how AFOL are portrayed. The whole "destroying a model" has also nothing to do with the hobby, or I must have missed something.
It is encouraging to read that so many viewers like the show. In contrast, I am sorely disappointed in the first two episodes. For my liking, there is far too much focus on drama, real or otherwise. I feel like I could be watching any dumb reality TV show.
The builds so far have been intriguing, and I would very much prefer that be more of the focus. Even cooking shows, that still feature drama, find a way to educate the audience on techniques and styles. I feel this show has really missed the mark there.
Yes, I understand that an AFOL will be far more into the building than the general public and that a pure focus on builds might not be marketable on network TV, but I believe TLG has sold itself short on an opportunity to enthrall and engage a potentially vast adult audience on the joys of LEGO for adults.
Again, it is good to know that so many others are enjoying the show. More exposure is always better.
Watching the Space Smash episode on Wednesday was a combination of grief and awe (the slow-motion shots were great but the whole fact that they were intentionally obliterating LEGO builds made me hurt inside a little). Great show, and I plan to continue watching.
I think AFOLs are, as always, forgetting that Lego makes toys. Most kids LOVE smashing their Lego creations. Stop being Lord Business. Put away your Kragl.
It is funny; I don’t quite understand the negativity towards destroying models? It’s all a bit of fun!
Anyway, having watched the first two episodes, I think I still prefer our Aussie version. It’s typically laid back, the participants aren’t reality television OTT, and Hamish was a good fourth wall-breaking host.
I think that will be the only episode where something gets intentionally destroyed as part of the challenge. I found it fitting tho that it was the space build episode where the models ended up getting destroyed, given that was how I spent my youth building with LEGO too!
Everything I built with LEGO in my youth was intended to ultimately get destroyed (mainly spaceships and vehicles), usually by flinging them down our long enclosed narrow carpeted stairwell which was perfect for containing all the flying parts! Granted, I was mostly building with standard bricks and plates so not a lot of smallish greebly bits that could get easily lost or broken. Still tho, kinda regret cracking most of my vintage trans-yellow windscreens and bricks.
I don't like seeing LEGO parts get broken! That was nerve wracking. Jessie and Kara seemed really kind and fun, sad to see them go!
I've watched both episodes and to be honest, I was expecting more and I'm disappointed. There are some talented contestants but something is missing and I dont quite know at this point. I dont finish watching and go wow or that was interesting.
Are people really still whining about "censorship" on every Masters article? Grow up, sit down, and stop complaining when you have to see a black person or gay couple on TV. I didn't think this would even have to be an issue on Brickset.
The "only six builders on the show" comment actually makes me smirk, because there are only 20 contestants to begin with. At 6:14, that's probably more gender-balanced than most AFOL conventions. Certainly it's closer than the LUG I'm a member of.
@OttoT:
You've definitely missed something. The last UCS ISD speed build attempt ended with the model being chucked off a balcony. Two years ago at Brickworld Chicago, Simon Liu ran a game based on Battleship where a bunch of prominent Space builders all brought in fleets of capital ships to use as the ships on the playing field. At the end of every 1:1 round, any ship that had received enough hits to be "sunk" was permanently destroyed by being smashed on the floor (they threw a tarp down, but otherwise it was a hard concrete floor). The final round was then held between any players who had even a single ship survive their earlier rounds (all "hits" were reset), and the resulting teams played until only one side had any ships left (I think those ended up being destroyed just for kicks). The same year, the trainheads were doing some sort of railroad demolition derby, basically driving two engines at each other full speed and smashing them into each other to see which one survived. I've also see a _LOT_ of people (including two former members of our LUG) finish out a show by pushing their models off the end of a table into a waiting box, because they planned to scrap the model afterwards anyways. And I remember watching a Mindstorms challenge where the goal was to make a "space elevator" that would climb a vertical column and knock a ball off the top. Steve Hassenplug made a bot that would just drive straight up as fast as it could. Nobody said the bot had to descend back down the column...
Not all destruction is intentional of course. One year at Brickworld Chicago, a 6' tall model of Barad-Dur showed up as boxes of more or less loose brick, and the original builder along with several sympathetic convention-goers stayed up all night Friday to rebuild it before the public arrived in the morning. One of the guys in our LUG had a ~5' tall building get knocked off a table at Brickworld Indy, which exploded all over the floor (it was based on a rather unadorned office building, so he was able to get every kid who found out about it to help put it back together again).
@Schmopiesdad:
The important things to remember here are that:
A. Not every LEGO thing needs to be the _same_ LEGO thing. If you've been to an AFOL convention, and really sampled what the event has to offer, you'd know that there are as many different types of things to do as there are different types of AFOLs.
B. Part of the point is to show non-AFOLs that it's not just a kid's toy, and maybe demonstrate to some closet AFOLs that there's a thriving community of like-minded people out there.
As for the shortcoming...well, people understand food. Everyone eats it. Not everyone understands complex building techniques, and what _we_ consider to be very basic stuff could seem revolutionary to Lay-FOLs, like when they explained what "SNOT" means. And if we're being brutally honest, they could probably dedicate an entire episode to SNOT construction techniques and never once bring the contestants out onto the floor.
@MegaLucario:
The one pseudo-complaint I have on this is that it seems like it's "all or nothing", with little to no apparent direct control of the direction of conversation...until the entire thread gets locked down. It really sucks to show up after the workday is done, read the article and a huge pile of comments, find something you really want to contribute to the conversation, or a question you want to ask...only to find out that the thread is locked when you get to the bottom.
@jimmer said:
"Good episode and I think it'll get better as the show continues. As an AFOL I'd love to see the unique building techniques a little more closely. When there are fewer teams, I think we'll get to see the builds more.
Also, Will Arnett is not my favorite as a host, but I think he'll improve too. This is new for everyone involved, so I think there's definitely a period of familiarizing/adjustment.
Thanks Dave for the interview!
"
Yeah, that’s the biggest negative to the show right now, the lack of building being shown. Like how the winners built those tentacles. Once the teams get cut to four, I hoe we start seeing more, I know there’s only so much they can show with 8 teams in an hour long show. I could’ve done without the unneeded drama shown though, could’ve made better use of that time.
Don't have access to the show itself but the performative anger happening in these threads makes for just as good of a reality tv experience.
Sorry, not kept up with all this hype (we’ve already had two series of Lego Masters in the UK without any hype).
Anyway, a serious question, and apologies if it’s been asked before, by why isn’t this US version called Legos Masters?
Thanks for the exit interview and I appreciate how you've avoided spoiling the result. I wish FOX and the producers of the show had decided to go with a more natural tone on the show using fewer reality game show- like tropes, but that is not the way for FOX typically. I can still enjoy the fact that these teams of Lego builders get to be involved with something pretty cool though.
I actually think the US version is far better than the UK version.
@Paperballpark said:
"I actually think the US version is far better than the UK version."
I've only seen trailers of the UK version. But get a hold of the Australian version if you can -- I saw it after seeing the US version and like Aussie @chrisaw, liked it better than the US version.
Huw, can you share where to watch the show outside US, particularly in Europe? I can't find any source, paid or not. :-(
^ hdmo.tv
Aw man! I liked them! Especially Maria's bug hair
DON'T stop these posts they're great!
@weareallkosh:
Because "LEGO" is an adjective, and can't be pluralized.
@Huw said:
"^ hdmo.tv"
Thank you!
LOVE THIS POST! Look forward to more of these. The Lego community is amazing and I'm glad I got into it!
Thanks for the exit interview - glad there will be more for each team. I hate how choppy it is with for or five seconds per shot before cutting to another camera shot. They need to show the builds longer so people can understand better. I would also like to have more explanation or instructions from either the builders or judges.
The drama really needs to stop. What's the message to kids here, it's okay to belittle someone like Sam has for two weeks, or have a meltdown like Flynn and force the other person to pick up your slack? Even if the drama is real, they don't have to show it.