Reality TV

   I haven't been around a TV for a while and I house 
sitted for someone a couple of weeks ago.  They had 
cable.  I was enthralled by the reality TV shows, Storage 
Wars, Auction House, American Chopper, American 
Restoration and a couple of others.  The thing that 
amazed me was how the shows main participants would turn 
to the camera every once in a while and take the viewer 
into their confidence.  For example, they might lower 
their voice and say something like: "Bob doesn't know 
Charlie moved the hammer," or "the customer wants this 
done in a week, but I'm going to have to set back other 
projects to get it done."  This was powerful production 
work.  The show's character's conversations with the 
camera were honest, unnerved and bringing the audience 
directly into the show.  Phenomenal camera work.
    Another major part of the appeal to me of these and 
other shows is the work place routines.  I used to enjoy 
Barney Miller and Hill Street Blues for the same reason.  
It was a view into a work place and I could relate to 
this from my workplace.  I see an extension of this in 
several of these shows like American Restoration and 
American Chopper.  Not only do I get to see how a sheet 
metal pounder or sand blaster is used, but I see the day 
to day conflicts and responsibilities similar to what I 
experience in my own work environment.
   So I'm wondering:  how far can we take the politics.  
Can a show take a viewer into their confidence a few 
times and then turn on them, like people do in real life 
workplaces. Characters take the viewer into their 
confidence a few times, like, "Eddie and Paul fight alot, 
but... " or "If he doesn't get his act together I'm gonna 
...".  And then, all of sudden, there's gossip about you.  
I guess the show would have to figure out a way of giving 
the viewer a name, or tag, or something, and then all of 
a sudden you, the viewer are ostracized for something or 
another, because there was a comment or gossip made about 
you or something you did.  Maybe you were supposed to 
watch something and it moved wrong or something.
   I think this new camera technique has the potential to 
open up some doors.  I'm already seeing it used on other 
programs. Get amateurs to talk honestly to a camera is no 
easy trick.  Plus the camera and production crew have to 
trail these guys all day, with chords, cameras and 
microphones, and then get everything to look natural.  
I'm sure it's not easy and were witnessing some new 
production styles developing that are going to take a 
major role in the industry.


kbushnel.sdf-us.org/contact.html