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Enter Stage Left: The Real World of Reality TV
When MTV producers launched the hit television show, 'Real World' in 1992 about 7 people who are 'picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped, to find out what happens, when people stop being polite and start getting real,' who could have known that a new era in television was on the horizon. Since then, the number of television shows that have emerged in what has become known at Reality TV genre of television is innumerable. Since then shows of all types have on the screen of American television viewers. The shows are about just about everything that one can imagine. Shows about life at home, life in the office, life on the ranch, life as a stripper, life as a mother of multiple children, cooking shows, dancing shows, divorce shows, wedding show, remarriage show and dying shows, are the topic of reality television programming today. Everybody watches or is in or want to watch a once to be in a reality show of some sort today.
But what is the appeal? For producers and networks, it's all about the bottom line. It's largely a small 'cast' of non-actors who don't require you to salaries and large riders. Production costs are low as the camera crew is about all you need and there are no openly staged sets. One of the major points of contention in the industry is that there are few highly skilled professional writers required for the production or reality TV show as much of the dialogue is intended to be just that-real. Much of the script is managed in the editing room where storylines are developed and enhanced. This fact has been an unfortunate development of the reality TV genre explosion, the need for skilled writers has been significantly reduced.
For viewers, it's all about voyeurism, the ability to see into someone else's private life up close and personal supposedly with full transparency. People like to be privy to other people's problems. It gives a then of normalcy, the feeling that 'there is someone else out there who is like me.' Often it's also like watching a car accident or train wreck, it's unfortunate we go we probably shouldn't be watching but we watch anyhow.
The cast in the shows are permitted to experience the lifestyle of celebrity actors and actresses, without having to spend years honing their skills in the art of becoming a thespian. Why most cases they are not paid a significant amount of money they do have the benefit of the medium of television through which they can launch other business ventures, merchandising opportunities and potential for other television and special appearances.
Yet the revenue returns for reality shows that are hit can be phenomenal. The return on the investment when compared to trained actors, trained writers, expensive sets, large crews and complex finance structures is unequaled in any other genre, with the exception of documentaries. In short, what reality TV is a hit every one comes out well compensated.
With so much paper running around on the desk of everyone in show business, attempting to distinguish one storyline from the next is becoming more and more difficult. Recently Bravo TV had to eliminate two of its Housewives franchises from its program lineup as the storylines had become so saturated with the same experiences that viewers would no longer watching. Since then, the network has retooled its reality lineup with designers, chefs, and stylists to open up their own and the lives of others viewing audience.
One such way to distinguish your concept from the others is to prepare the treatment or storyline, film the pilot, produce a few episodes and tell your story. Numerous programs have gone from basic anonymity to massive popularity just from someone taking the chance to upload their video to an online venue and watch it catch on. In those cases there is little or none direct marketing and promotion performed by the venue. Only the platform is provided and the producer of the production is expected to manage the rest. In some cases the programs have even been picked up by major networks and even bigger budgets, writers, and sets.
Depending on the storyline, it may not take much to get started. A few friends, a camera or two, a well-prepared concept and time in the editing room and you may be pleasantly surprised by the finished project. Many independent film producers are concerned with the immediate payoff in getting their projects the public, yet those who were most successful on those alternative venues at a different vision in mind when they started. Their intent was to gain exposure, market themselves well, and capitalize off of the exposure that they acquired along the way.
That is not in any way a flawed strategy but in fact is worth some the only way that made me have ever been recognized. For those who believe wholeheartedly in the traditional route, they should continue to mail manuscripts, knock on doors, receive rejection letters and be told that there's no place for them at this time. For those who are willing however to step out into the new horizon of Internet television networks, they now have several solid examples of, Charles Trippy, star and producer of CTFxF, who launched a reality television show about his life with his fiancee turned wife in 2009 and has since experience more than 229 million upload views. Originally he only expected for the show to last for one year but in that time the success of the program has resulted in his extending its run.
While not many networks have the daily participation of YouTube joining a boutique Internet platform also has its advantages as sometimes it's better to be the big fish in a small pond. A small boutique operation has the potential to actually get involved with the marketing, promotion and public awareness of its programming. Blaze Television Network has the capacity to effectively utilize other platforms but also provide marketing support that is not found those standard mediums.
So what is the first step? Think about your story. What makes it unique? What would you want others to know about or are subject? Every story should have a plot, something that makes it stand out from everyone else's story. Do you have some unique accomplishment? Do you do something interesting? Take time and define your unique characteristics, write them down.
What else makes up your story? Think about those who are around you? How do they fit into your story? Do they have unique accomplishments or quirky characteristics? Think about the most in engaging people in your life. What would you want the world to know about them? Again take the time to write down those details.
Now begin to break story down into parts of the plot. These will become your episodes. What part of the story would be most interesting to tell in a 10 to 30 minute show? Prepare an outline detailing that story at the process by which you wish to tell it, i.e. first person, through the eyes of the dog, etc.
Once you have enlisted participation and support of friends and family, then it is time to think about filming. Purchase books from Amazon preferably used, and study the technique that is involved in developing your film production. Once you have the software to edit, have learned how to use it, and are ready to put it into practice go and film production.
When you have finished with the project, then it is time to upload it to the internet platform of your choice. Blaze Television Network is one such platform. Launched in 2007, the network has been around for what equates to decades in internet years, and is well established. The network is committed to the production, promotion and distribution of quality film projects of all genres and types. Aspiring and independent film producers would do well to consider them when placing their video productions.
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