Reality TV kicking goals for diversity

If our drama productions are a bit slow in mirroring the changing face of the Australian population, then Reality TV is leading the way.

Open casting calls on shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, Australian Idol, MasterChef Australia, Australia’s Got Talent have by-passed traditional casting methods and resulted in a higher proportion of cultural backgrounds appearing on our television screens.

As he explained to TV Tonight, 18 year old Ian Kamau has his sights set on winning FOX8’s Football Superstar which has its third season premiere tonight. The reality series gives him a shot at winning a professional contract with Brisbane Roar.

“I was born in Kenya. We lived there for seven years and I moved over here in 1999. So I’ve been living in South Australia ever since,” he says.

“I had an interest in Football back home in Africa. When I moved to Australia my dad enrolled me in a club and it just started from there.

“I started when I was about 8 or 9. I did training sessions once or twice a week and games on Sundays. Football is probably the most popular sport in Kenya.”

Kamau says he decided to try his luck on Football Superstar at the suggestion of one of his coaches. Now having made it through the tryouts he is competing with 15 other players and living in a shared house under the eye of producers, North One Television.

“I didn’t find it too difficult. I just gave it my best shot and I’m happy to make it through,” he says.

“When you first get here it’s more of a competition. But as you get to know the guys you start to get close and form friendships. Whenever we play you feel that it’s a competition. But there’s not much you can do about it.”

Kamau has been living in Adelaide for 11 years after his parents moved to Australia as skilled migrants. He speaks highly of his formative years in Australia, saying he didn’t have trouble fitting in.

“When I got here it was pretty easy. I found school went really well. I’ve got a good group of mates. I think it was just a normal childhood,” he says.

Football Superstar has a mix of boys from diverse cultures including Australian, European, Middle Eastern and African. It follows other FOX8 reality shows that have had reality contestants from multicultural families. In Ultimate School Musical: Fame there are students with parents from Portugal, Vietnam, Tanzania and Madagascar. The Contender Australia had boxers from Polynesia, Afghanistan, Thailand, Russia and the Congo.

North One’s Head of Programming Adam Kay told TV Tonight the Football Superstar‘s cast is representative of Football’s diverse mix in Australia. Over half the boys in the series have ties with other countries.

“If you look at the cultures in the A-League they mostly come from mixed backgrounds, particularly from Eastern and Western Europe,” he said.

“But we’ve had boys from Sudan, Kenya and war-torn countries. We’ve had a couple of Ethiopian boys, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and some Lebanese and Syrian boys. Across the board it’s very representative of refugees who come to Australia. They seem to be taking up Football more than they are taking up the other codes.”

Kamau is simply hoping he has a shot at winning the series and ultimately one day play for his dream team: Barcelona.

“They play beautiful football and they’ve always had the best players in the world there,” he says.

“I’m hoping to come out with a contract. If not it could be good publicity to help get my name out there and help in my career.”

First he will have to prove he has the skills to survive the rigours of Reality television.

“In the first few days it took a lot to get used to it, but as the time’s gone on you do get used to it. There’s always a camera in your face or someone telling you to do this or that,” he says.

“But it’s part of the show so it’s all good.”

Contestants:
Jeremy Walker, 17
Devon Gibson, 18
Julian Zullo, 19
Philippe Bernabao-Madrid, 18
Jared Austin, 19
Liam McCormick, 17
Aaron Turner,18
Jesse McDonell, 17
Nicholas Krousoratis, 16
Ian Kamau, 18
Jesse Fuller, 19
Ahmed Yakou, 19
Elias Tsintzas, 19
Alessandro Stazio, 18
Miki Petkovic,17
Troy Ruthven, 19

Football Superstar premieres 7:30pm tonight on FOX8.