reality tv

Candid Camera

• 1948

• US

• Created by Allen Funt

• used hidden cameras to film pranks

• captured geniune human responses to the scenarios

The candid camera was originally called

• Canned microphone that was on the radio in 1997 before transitioning to TV

• transisitoned on August 10th of 1948

The original Amateur

• 1948

• US

• built on the radio legacy of major edward bowes Amatur Hour

• Ted Mack took over after Bowes passed away

• Show established the competitve talent show formula that directly inspured: STAR SEACH, AMERICAN IDOL, and AMERICAS GOT TALENT

The American family

• 1973

• US

• filmed by PBS between May and December 1971

• documentary —> followed daily lives of the loud family in Santa Barbara

• Originally intended as an observational protrait of middle class america

• captured the unexpected breakdown of the parents

• showed raw emotional drama that would define modern documentaries

The Real World

• 1992

• US

• inspired American Family

• MTV gathered seven to eight young adults to live in a shared residence

• became MTVs longest running program

• credited with launching the modern reality TV genre

Big Brother

• 1999

• Was orignally created in the netherlands

• 2000s it came to the US

• people are monitored 24/7

Survivor

• 2000

• Sweden

• adapted from Charlie Parsons sweedish series “EXPECDITION ROBINSON” in 1997

• executive producer Mark Burnett

• host Jeff Probst

• brought competitive game show to CBS in 2000

• unscripted TV as a prime time

American idol

• 2002

• UK

• Adapted from the UK format Pop Idol

• FOX introduced direct audience interaction via phone, web, and SMS voting

• paired with a panel of celebrity judges to critique singing performances

Reality series operate with what kind of budget?

• significantly lower budget baselines

Many reality productions are non-union. (T/F)

True

What is one notable expecption to reality TV?

• the editors guild

• members have negotiated strong agreements due to the immensse technical demands of cutting hundreds of hours of raw footage into compelling stories

Networks and streaming services typically produce reality shows through _______

thier own in house production arms

almost all creative talent - including showrunners and creators - operate under ________ agreements

• work for hire

Under work-for-hire creators ________ own the underlying intellectual property (IP) and usually do not share backend profits regardless of how sucessful the show becomes

DO NOT

Which kind of role are able to leverage enough power to negotiate profit-participation deals?

Only top-tier highly established reality producers

What is a format right?

the legal right to sell or recreate a concept of a show in different countires or markets

A format is the

• conceptual framework

• rules

• set structure

• operational blueprint of a show

• EX: the rules of Big Brother or Survivor

Distributors earn substantial revenue by

licensing these structural format rights to foreign buys who produce their own local language with local contestants and hosts

Rip-O-Matic

• A reel created using existing footage from movies and TV shows

• establishes the desired tone, pacing, and visual style BEFORE filming new material

Talent Sizzle

• A reel designed speicfically to showcase a standout host, acotr, or family dynamic around which the series will center

Teaser sizzle

• A short, high-energy teaser

• designed to hook network expectutives quickly with a high-concept premise

Standard sizzle

• A balanced video pitch

• 2-3 minutes

• outlining the concepts, rules, cast, and visual mood

Presentation Tape

• a longer taped sample demonstating how a full episodes gameplay, host interaction, or story beats will work in practice

Independant pilot

• A fully produced, standalone sample episode shot independently before pitching to networks

• EX: Etheria

Long term profit in unscripted TV comes from showing sizzle reels internationally rather than traditional rerun syndication (T/F)

false, it comes from selling FORMAT RIGHTS

Which shows originated from the US?

• Candid Camera

• The orignal Amateur Hour

• An American family

• The real world

Which shows originated outside the US?

• Big Brother

• American Idol

• Survivor

true or false the majority of reality series does go into syndication

false

they do not

 The primary economic value in reality tv resides in ____

FORMAT RIGHTS

Owners realize financial value by licensing the underlying show concept with the rules, structure, and format to ______

GLOBAL BUYERS

true or false very little money is made on syndicating the actual finished show.

true