Essay Reality Tv

Vanessa Ramos 0217865
LIB 110.AC
Mikal Gaines
15 October 2013
Reality T.V. Is A Dream

Is your dream to be on reality TV? As we flip through the channels there is always a reality TV show on. Reality shows have taken over the new generation of television. From being a star chef, to showing off your fashion skills, to even finding love, reality television will influence you in a way that you picture yourself on the show. Not only catering to teenagers watching their favorite celebrities live their lives on television but to adults living their dream of finding love or even being a professional cook. When we watch the show the contestants are treated like stars and they are living a dream come true. This is what makes us want to be on the TV. But are they really living a dream? The producers do a good job to trick us in to thinking it is a great life. The truth is we do not know exactly what the contestants go through. When we find out the reality about reality television our dreams are changed. Edward Wyatt writes an article about how producers treat the contestants. “TV Contestants: Tired, Tipsy and Pushed to Brink” gives a completely different outlook on reality TV. The producers do what they need to do in order to get viewings and to make money. When writing the article the contestants were described as “convicts on a jailbreak” (Wyatt). The producers confiscate the contestants’ books, CDs, phone, and all personal belongings. The contestants face long workdays. They are not covered under the Hollywood workplace rules. This means that they are not technically qualified for meal breaks, minimum time off between scenes or even minimum wage. Some of them receive little to no pay at all. When signing up for the show the contestants have to sign a disclosure that will enforce the protection of the producers. The contestants cannot reveal what happened on set. Some of the disclosures expire after three years. This allows the contestants that were interviewed their safety. In order for the programs to “encourage wild behavior” they use “isolation, sleeplessness, and alcohol” (Wyatt). When combining alcohol, no sleep, and no food it will make people act crazy. When filming reality TV none of it should be scripted. Diana Eng was on “Project Runway” said that she was so exhausted after a 18-hour day, “One morning they scared me so bad I jumped and screamed,” she said. “They said that wasn’t good, so I had to pretend to wake up again” (Wyatt). This demonstrates that some parts of the program are scripted. Producers state that the contestants know what they sign up for; their contracts specify what happens. The reason that the contestants are kept isolated is “to ensure fairness and prevent cheating” (Wyatt). But even after the contestants go through hell and back they are still thankful for the experience that they got to have. Some of the experiences have landed the contestants amazing jobs. Some of them have their dream job. They may not have lived their dreams on reality TV but after the reality they now live their dreams. According to Michelle Tsai she wonders “Are Reality-TV Actors Professional?” She begins the article with talking about the show, Kid Nation. These children work 14-hour day, which would not be allowed if they were professional actors. This goes against labor laws as well. The only way that a person is considered a professional is if they are using their talent to entertain the audience. An example is if you go on American Idol you are not considered a professional. If you get kicked off American Idol then asked to come back and entertain, you will then be considered a professional. According, to, “The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists decides who fits into which categories” (Tsai). The treatment of an individual on television is all decided on whether they are professionals or not. Reality TV treats their contestants like game show hosts. They receive a confidential agreement that they have to sign. This agreement is quite strict in order to protect the producers, such as not being able to sue for humiliation and physical injury. The contracts strip away all of the contestants rights. They also do not get nearly as much money as a professional, “The kids who finish get a stipend of $5,000 and have a chance to win $20,000 each episode, but the show can withhold the money until after broadcast” (Tsai). When it comes to professionals they work under union rules. They work so many hours a week until overtime will kick in, also health and retirement benefits. If the kids on Kid Nation were under the union they would only work nine hours a day and have to have time for school or tutoring. If a professional wanted a pay raise, a strike can be created and allow the raise. A reality TV star may not have the same right, all they can do it walk off set but not get paid at all. There is a large difference between the treatment of a reality TV star and a professional star. All our dreams are to be a professional star and get the high life treatment. No one wants to be treated like a “convicts on a jailbreak” as the first article puts it. Wyatt describes the actual treatment of the contestants of the show. He obtains all of his facts but interviewing past contestants. Many of the contestants had similar responses on how poorly they were treated. Wyatt also gives the information that every contestant needs to sign an agreement or contract. In this contract it is written on the poor conditions that the contestants will be working with; lack of sleep, many work hours, and alcohol consumption. If the contestants do not want to go through with the deal they did not have to sign the agreement. They know exactly what they will experience and it is their choice. If Wyatt wanted to make this article stronger on how poorly the contestant is treated he should have not said that they had the knowledge of the treatment before the show. This just shows that the contestant cannot sit and complain of how badly they are treated. In the second article the author Tsai also talks about the treatment of the contestants on reality TV. She compares the treatment of the contests to the treatment of professional actors. This article was much strong than the first one. She also talks about the contract agreement but she does not focus on just the poor treatment and how it is not right. She focuses on the difference between how a reality TV star is getting treated for doing the same thing as a professional actor will do on some TV shows or movie. Reality TV can be a producer creating a movie out of your life. You are just like an actor but you are not receiving the same benefits. Tsai does a great job on explaining how the reality star gets treated compare to an actor. The reality star works long hours for multiple days; an actor only has to work a certain amount of hours and for only certain days. The pay is also a large difference. The fact that Tsai added the price tag to the article gives a better understanding of how large the difference is. Tsai’s article actually opens the reader’s eyes on how reality TV is not a big dream once given the opportunity. We all want the high life and large living. Most of us want the star light on our favorite reality televisions but now reading these articles are those still our dreams? Both articles put our dreams to an end. Works Cited
Tsai, Michelle. "Do the contestants on a reality show count as professional actors?." Politics, Business, Technology, and the Arts. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2007/08/are_realitytv_actors_professional.html>.
WYATT, EDWARD. "For TV Contestants, a Harsh Reality - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/business/media/02reality.html?ref=realitytelevision>.

Cited: Tsai, Michelle. "Do the contestants on a reality show count as professional actors?." Politics, Business, Technology, and the Arts. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2007/08/are_realitytv_actors_professional.html>. WYATT, EDWARD. "For TV Contestants, a Harsh Reality - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/business/media/02reality.html?ref=realitytelevision>.