Reality Television Production - Assignment Example

REALITY T.V, HOW REAL? What is new about reality television production is the way in which viewers themselves are summoned to get inside the mechanics of the industry and offer their bodies and labour up to the image-making machine for free (Alison Hearn)  With the advent of time there has been a considerable improvement on entertainment front. There was a time when people used to wait agonizingly for the stipulated time for their favourite T.V serial or soap and that too once in a week. That continued for some years, only to be added with more variety and panache so as to make people addict towards the ‘IDIOT BOX’. The lust for more never ended and the people desired for 24 hour television. They demanded and their wish was reciprocated. Now the television shows were there on a remote-click. Change is the essence of life. How could the people be delimited with over-dose of fictitious stuff? The sense of humour, expectations and need for change kept on mounting. Then there came that ultimate innovation which really can be called as a revolution in the field of television industry. Reality television started capturing the viewers’ mind. Reality television is a genre of television programming which presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors. Although the genre has existed in some form or another since the early years of television, the term reality television is most commonly used to describe programs of this genre produced since 2000. Documentaries and non-fictional programming such as news and sports shows are usually not classified as reality shows. Reality television covers a wide range of programming formats, from game or quiz shows which resemble the frantic, often demeaning shows produced in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s (such as Gaki no tsukai), to surveillance or voyeurism-focused productions such as Big Brother. Such shows frequently portray a modified and highly influenced form of reality, with participants put in exotic locations or abnormal situations, sometimes coached to act in certain ways by off-screen handlers, and with events on screen sometimes manipulated through editing and other post-production techniques. Here it becomes indispensable to throw some light on the modus –operandi behind this reality television. At the first place, it is there to provide opportunities for the commoners. But by obliging them, aren’t they meeting their own ends? Such shows are covering the bulk of the prime time on television everywhere in the world these days. Just imagine the huge financial expenses the producers would incur, had there been the professionals playing part. These common people, in the search of a bit of fame and meagre income throng at the auditions’ sites. This is just like ‘killing two birds with one stone ‘. By roping in the novices and capturing their innocence give that much needed texture to these shows, which is the pre-requisite for any reality show. For instance ‘American Idol’, the show which has got the huge viewer ship. It has yielded fruits just because of its participants. The viewers take keen interest in the show because they know that the participants are from them. They have admired their innocence, their honest tears, their jubilation and that triumphant look, making the commoners believe that one day they could be the one enjoying that limelight. This hope is the real lubricant for this machinery of reality television. The participants toil hard for months competing with each other and anxiously wait for the climax. The climax is just for a couple of them but for the rest of them it is an anti-climax. The most exciting part of such shows is the audience polling. You never know till the very last moment as to which way the pendulum will swing. This exhilaration makes the people glued to their T.V sets. Everyday like devout pilgrims the people pay due respect to these shows which have become the part and parcel of their lives, so much so that they consider them as a nice appetizer. The buzz about the ripened show is not only confined to the electronic media only but to the print media as well. Now one may say that there is overfeeding of such programmes but they too can’t deny the fact that these shows are providing opportunities for so many people. One must say that the monopoly of a particular actor or any other professional no longer exists. People love these shows for the raw emotions and the originality. The newer the concept, the more is the enthusiasm. But there is some cause of worry too. Are there any parameters to check the authenticity of such so called ‘reality-shows’? Who don’t know about ‘Big-Brother’? This is the show which dwells upon testing the endurance of the occupants who are made to live in a lavish confinement for 80 odd days. There is a marked difference, instead of the common people it takes celebrities from vivid fields. The last ‘Big Brother’ season has been known for all the wrong reasons. Shilpa Shetty, the popular Indian actress was racially abused by Jade Guddy, the British actress. You never know, whether it really happened or it was a deliberate ploy to shoot the ratings. Any way the show ended with all sorts of apologises and the way Shilpa turned out to be the winner was an anti-climax. Now we discuss a cloned show of ‘Big Brother’ which is ‘Big Boss’. Ironically, the show is aired from the Indian origin. For the season year 2008, Shilpa Shetty was the host. All the participants were from the Indian origin, but Jade Guddy. Accumulating all those flops of the Indian idiot box, ready to devote 84 days in hibernation (alas! no Option left) and trying to create some spice which is natural to happen because “empty Mind is a devil’s workshop” Reality T.V seems to be the need of the hour. They are selling like hot-cakes. But with The policy of trying to create mountain out of a mole, is taking the shine out of these Shows. For instance inviting Jade Goody was the initial melodrama which was just fabricated to put some spice in the show. It was evident to all that Shilpa and Jade would be a nice encounter. It was a deliberate ploy to seek viewers’ attention. For the first two days Jade was the centre of attraction of all and media was no exception. Gradually she was evacuated on the pretext of her ailment. Firstly, if she was that unwell why the hell was she called and why did she agree? Secondly, the director didn’t impose enough faith in his contestants that’s why he had to create hype. The above incidence bring to the fore the issue which is gradually catching the contemplation of all. Are the humble viewers being robbed of their sentiments? Are these shows getting scripted? If this is so, the real essence of reality television will be finished. Then what after ‘Reality T.V’ is a million dollar question. It is the high time that the directors and producers do some soul searching so as to do their job in a candid manner. If we talk about the real life capturing on the T.V shows, one must ponder about the role of the celebrity host, hostess and judges. There is a hoard of inviting the most vehement of the celebrities. In the talent hunt shows their presence works as a catalyst. At least, for an initial few days till the raw viewers get themselves acclimatised with the novice participants. Then there are those expert comments, which are most precious not from the participants’ point of view but from the viewers’ perspective. The people are under the impression that these comments make them enriched with precious advice which otherwise is very rare. The celebrities are paid handsomely for the job. If this is not enough, the judges quarrel on the sets whenever there is a conflict of opinions. They create that much needed hype to provide some more substance to the show. Now who can believe all this? One must brood over the fact whether they really fight or are made to fight. Now we concentrate on the money pouring out of this business. Firstly the input is too low but the output is massive. We can articulate so because the facts are crystal clear. The sets are used for all sorts of money-minting business for it is evident that the platform is aired world-wide. The periodical votes through SMSs and internet polling are the best example of money making. Apart from this, these platforms are being used by the film production companies to promote their new releases. This is surely a big boost for these T.V shows for they really are getting handsome amount for such promotional campaigns on their behalf. This has been a dual profit for not only are they harnessing their shows for their own benefits but are also adorning their sets with star-attraction. Last but not the least, the sponsorship benefits is the cherry on the cake. So, profits and profits drizzling in from all quarters. To conclude one can say that the reality television sells. But to provide it an unyielding future it should be made sure that the faith of the viewers should not be toyed with. Anything which is based upon artificial facts should be avoided. As a viewer’s perspective anything which is true and original is welcomed and embraced delightfully. True test of these shows lies in the fact that no one can point the finger at their authenticity and originality. “Truth is a jewel which should not be painted over; but it may be set to advantage and shown in good light.” (George Santayana) Source Citation Reality television-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ,2001 www.wikepedia.org 30 Nov. 2008, 1:27P.M (GMT) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/reality_television What an Idea Big Boss? 29, August,2008 www.writingcampus.com 30 November,2008,2:30P.M (GMT) http://writingcampus.com/referral/77726ef4 Malhotra, Meera, “Orient Book of quotations” Quotation By George Santayana Edition Year 2004 Read More