A different perspective...

As you already know, I have worked in Reality TV for a few years and my experiences are a big reason why I began to write this blog.  I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with a previous colleague of mine who still works in Reality TV as an Associate producer for VH1. I thought by bringing in a different point of view from someone who still works in the genre on a daily basis would be interesting. I was able to ask him a few questions and get his perspective on Reality TV...

Me: for my readers, can you introduce yourself and tell us your name and official title at VH1?

Brandon:  My name is Brandon Williams and I started out as a Production Assistant and for the past 2 years I have been an Associate 
Producer on various shows and projects at VH1.

Me: Whats are some shows that you have worked on? 


Brandon: I have worked on Chopped, Project Runway, Kim and Kourtney take New York, The Entertainer in a basement affair, just to name a few and most recently 40 Champions of Cute and 40 Fails part 2

Me: So how did you get your start in Television production?... 

Brandon: I moved to NYC from outside Boston because I had a connection in reality TV. I'd been trying to break into TV or Film and took the first opportunity I could. This was about July 2009.

Me: Having worked in Reality TV... how do you feel about it?...

Brandon: Reality TV has a place in our culture. Since its inception about 10-15 yeas ago, people have been waiting for it to disappear. I don't think it will at this point but it will shift with our culture. 

Me: That's and interesting perspective, which do you prefer... reality or another genre altogether?

Brandon: I like both sides of TV that I have worked in. I've worked reality and like working it for personal reasons. Usually a bigger crew and the comradery is much better. I've worked on scripted clip shows for VH1 and like that side because I get to be creative and have major input into the show. 

Me: In your opinion, what is Reality TV's effect on society?...

Brandon:  I don't think reality has a major effect on society. I think society has a major impact on TV. (look up OJ Simpson bronco chase). This was the start of a major shift in the way the US wanted to watch TV.

Me: What do you think the future has in store for Reality TV... will it even be around?..

Brandon: Reality will have a place on TV for a long time due to several reasons. People like to imagine themselves in situations and reality TV offers that. The poker boom (I classify it as sports and reality TV) of the early 2000s is an example of that. Poker can be played by anyone. People can imagine themselves winning all that money, how they would  play a hand, how they would react. Reality is very cheap to produce versus scripted TV so the networks and channels would prefer it over any other show, besides Jersey Shore reruns.

I have to send a special thanks to Brandon Williams for giving me some time out of his busy schedule making TV to sit down and talk to me for my blog. I'll let this marinate for a while and on my next blog entry I will post my response to what Brandon said in the interview.

Real Reality...

While working in reality TV I always had my own idea of a reality show. My thoughts for a reality TV show would be more of an expose than a dramatic scandalous reality TV program. Having seen all that goes on behind the scenes first hand I always thought it be cool and revealing to have a show that focuses on the show within the show. I would focus the show on probably the most underrated and definitely most underpaid members of Television production in every aspect... the Production Assistant.  Having been a Production Assistant early in my career I know the perils that you can face, often times asked to do the impossible in the most improbable of situations. Many of my experiences as a "PA" sucked, and I think capturing some of those experiences would make for great TV. I know the show would never take flight because it would expose many of the people who think they are the masterminds behind a production as frauds, and also uncover the many un-truths within reality TV.

If I wasn't bound by confidentiality agreements I would be able to go in further detail and really "let the cat out of the bag" but unfortunately I cannot. But having been there trust me when I say that what you see on the screen is NEVER what actually happened. My show would follow PA's during there typical 14 hour day of work on set, and at some point the REALITY of it all will draw the audience in. My peers and I often fantasized of sneaking in a camera to work so people could see what really goes on and how ridiculous it can be, my show would be just like this, except legal... lol

In my opinion a realty show on the behind the scenes happenings of a reality production would make for great TV. Maybe then the raw uncut truth of what really happens would open viewers eyes so they could finally see the crap they watch on TV for what it really is.