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TV crews ‘depressed’ working on Reality TV

"More reality TV means less drama production," says one crew member in a new study on TV Crews.

2015-02-23_0034TV crews say working on Reality TV is one of the most depressing jobs in the industry -at least according to a study conducted by Victoria University.

Fairfax reports a study into working in the entertainment industry interviewed people across all facets of music, film, television and stage production.

According to Lizzie: “It’s very cheap TV to make and they’re hiring cheap camera crews to follow around reality stars or they’re not even stars at that point; they’re just random people that have been picked to be on television. But now because it’s just cheaper television to make, it’s like What Happens in Bali, it’s a very simple thing to put together.”

Another television worker, identified as “Syd”, added: “More reality TV means less drama production. And my area’s in drama. I mean it does employ technicians but it doesn’t sort of employ actors or the ancillary people that are involved with them and editors and there’s a whole bunch of people who it doesn’t involve in some way – it’s cheap television.”

It’s true that working in the darkest corridors of Big Brother for hours on end is no fun.

But I guess it’s all about perspective. There are plenty of people who just want to break into the industry.

19 Responses

  1. The posting of this article is bizarre. The very purpose of this blog is to provide reviews, criticism and news about television. I understand it is a posting about the people that work behind the scenes, but what purpose does posting an item like this serve? If you disagreed so strongly with the way it was originally written, and identified the dubious nature of the original article and its contributors, then perhaps that was reason enough to not post it.

    Considering you have spent some time in control rooms/on set, it may have been wise to comment from personal experience, observing the industry (which you say you have done), rather than rehash an article that undermines the hard work we do.

    I’ve worked on massive studio formats, shitty pilots (that paid my rent), huge successful international formats, original Australian formats, comedy, gameshows and panel shows. We go where…

    1. A bit odd to have someone tell me what the ‘purpose’ of my own blog is…. nevertheless, I’ve published many news posts where I am personally opposed to the content in it. ie. ABC cuts., ratings success of unchallenging content, views of other commentators, and random surveys such as this. News content is not just about me publishing “News David likes.” I think it’s positive this has drawn defensive responses. Fairfax comments have taken a different path, slamming the genre. So the ‘purpose’ of the blog has indeed given another side to the argument, which is where social media has a role.

  2. Just came back from shooting series 2 of “what really happens in” with a crew of seasoned professionals. It was not easy to make, and we had a ball doing it. I don’t know who “Lizzie” asked – I’m pretty sure she has pulled this “research” out of thin air – but it wasn’t any of this crew. I also work in drama, and if I had to compare I wouldn’t say drama crew were any happier about their job than “reality” crew. It’s a bizarre distinction anyway – we are all production crew who work on multiple formats.

  3. I work on My Kitchen Rules and have done every year since 2010 and I’m not depressed and neither is the amazing and talented crew I work with. Another quality article from TV Tonight….. Not!

    1. Leigh I’m happy to cop criticism, but beware shooting the messenger. The article was published in Fairfax, with a link. There is a reason ‘depressed’ had inverted commas in the headline as I deemed the original article to be very brief in its basis of such claims, quoting just two unnamed sources. I’m happy to stand by articles I have written regarding crews working in Australia, including those that have profiled various individuals and quiet achievers. As a free site these are things I am very proud of and the warm reception I receive from crews on sets I visit suggests TVT is appreciated.

  4. They should be thankful for the amount of hours etc they are needed for.It’s a job that’s in demand.They wouldn’t just do reality either some would cover big sporting events etc.How good would that be

    1. The Australian television camera operators would love to cover ‘the big sporting events’ but as for the Super Bikes at Phillip Island last weekend- that was a full Spanish crew and as for 6 weeks of the Cricket World Cup -thats an Indian/South African crew working at a third of the normal rate! As for the Grand Prix coming up next weekend-more overseas operators! Please don’t start me on the U.S. crew working on the Presidents Cup in 2011 at Royal Melbourne!
      Our federal and state governments are not sticking up for any local T.V.crews.

  5. Big brother, as with lots of other reality shows, are a ball of fun to make. I agree with BarryDBag, I’m not sure what that dig was in reference to?

    Additionally, rubbish TV isn’t the sole domain of reality. Drama crews work on shite as well. Not every show can be a Cloud Street or (early) Underbelly or a Paper Giants, etc…

      1. Big brother is the most fun to work on of all the reality shows. There’s also nothing simple about it.

        I’m so sick of drama people talking trash about making reality TV when most have never done it. It’s the margins that networks make on reality that allow them to make all that drama. Remember when Big brother, idol and biggest loser were striking gold on Ten? They were also the best years of local drama on that network.

  6. “Lizzie” and “Syd” clearly haven’t worked on reality TV. The crews are well-paid professionals who are experts at creating this type of television – it’s not the same people who make drama. Drama people wouldn’t last a day on a fast-paced, “all hands on deck” reality set.
    Yes, they’re long days. Yes, the contestants give you the sh*ts. But at least we’re working…and making shows that Australians actually watch.

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