Reality check : the business and art of producing reality TV / Michael Essany.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Essany, Michael, 1982-

Contributor:

Christine Hikawa Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Reality television programs--Production and direction.

Reality television programs.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 260 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam ; Boston : Focal Press/Elsevier, [2008]

Summary:

Do you have a concept for a reality TV show but aren't sure about the next steps? Loaded with practical advice on the art and business of reality TV producing and featuring insights from Mark Burnett (Survivor), Dick Clark, and other top producers, Reality Check takes you from idea to ... reality! At age 13, Michael Essany launched a lowly cable access TV talk show from his parents' house in Valparaiso, Indiana. Fast-forward to 2001, and Michael had turned his little talk show, The Michael Essany Show, into a multimillion-dollar project that quickly became one of the most talked about reality television shows. If Michael can do it, so can you. But be prepared for a lot of hard work and a few reality checks of your own. This book includes compelling advice on how to: Produce original reality programming, Get past the gatekeepers and deliver quality pitches to major networks and production companies, Legally protect yourself, your work, and your intellectual property, Learn from glories and gaffes of those who toiled before you, Utilize the Internet and other multimedia outlets to create and generate revenue from reality programming, Avoid the professional pitfalls of the reality TV industry, Parlay reality television projects into a successful and enduring career.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Welcome to Reality 1

Documentary Reality 5

Competition Reality 6

Celebrity Reality 7

Personal Improvement and Makeover Reality 8

Renovation and Design Reality 9

Professional Reality 10

Forced Environment Reality 10

Romance Reality 11

Aspiration Reality 12

Fear-Based Reality 13

Sports Reality 14

Undercover Reality 14

Chapter 2 Reality's Long Reel 17

The Ordinary Star Is Born 19

Regurgitated Reality 21

Chapter 3 From Fantasy to Reality 45

Waking Up to Reality 46

Down the Beaten Path 49

If You Build It, They Will Come 51

An Unwanted Reality 56

Chapter 4 Facing Reality 63

Taking a Swing at the Pitch 64

Developing the Pitch 68

Making Your Pitch Stick 71

Chapter 5 The Show and Tell of Reality TV 77

New Portals to Stardom 78

Straight to Video 79

Ditching the Disclaimer 127

Chapter 6 Producing Reality 135

Planning "Unplanned" Television 137

Putting the Pieces Together 138

Production Basics 141

Chapter 7 Where Ethics and Reality Collide 145

Walking the Reality TV Plank 147

Baptism by Fire 148

The Ethics Checklist 150

Pushing and Shoving the Limits 151

Meeting Mr. Murphy 155

Chapter 8 The Ugly Reality 157

The Dangerous Dotted Line 158

Fear Factor 159

Personalized Protection 165

Chapter 9 Fit for Reality 167

Fit for Duty 168

The Right Stuff for Reality TV 169

Chapter 10 Living Reality 181

Beware of the Energy-Sucking Idiot 186

Bend It Like Burnett 188

Chapter 11 Reality Baggage 191

Reality Television: The Flapdoodle of Modern Broadcasting 193

What's So Bad About Reality TV? 197

Carry-On Baggage 200

Chapter 12 Random Secrets of the Reality Trade 203

Skip the "Where." Get to Work 203

Buy Low. Sell High 205

Become a Production Intern 206

The IMDB Factor 207

Build a Digital Resume 208

Cracking the Email Code 209

Watch Critically 211

Chapter 13 Avoiding the Reality Drive-Through 213

The Juggling Act 216

The $60 Battle Plan 218

Talking the Talk 220

An Emergent Trend 220

Chapter 14 Making Sense of Reality 223

Where We've Been. Where You're Going 224

Something Borrowed, Something New 225

Lots of Eggs in Lots of Baskets 226

Life's a Pitch 226

Homemade Reality TV 227

Power of Attorney 228

The Dirty Work 229

Cultivating a Career 230

YOUniversal Reality 231

Glossary of TV Production Terms 233.

Notes:

Includes index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Christine Hikawa Fund.

ISBN:

9780240810300

0240810309

OCLC:

226314497