How to Get the Best "Reality" Out of Your Cast

Reality TV cast members can be the bane of any producer’s existence... Some are yellers, some are criers, some complain about everything, some talk your ear off, some are always hungry, some annoy the living sh*t out of you, some demand you to fly them internationally first-class because of a “medical condition” they never mentioned in their physical and otherwise have no evidence of existing, and some believe they could do your job better… if only you’d let them.

But most importantly, all of them have a story to tell -if only you can muster up some time in your 10,000-items-to-do-per-day schedule. I spend an awful lot of time talking with cast during pre-production, some might call it an "unnecessary" amount, but I believe it’s an investment that pays off big on screen. Much of Reality TV is based on voyeurism. If a reality show is done right, its if a Facebook comment section comes alive, gets personified and then broadcasted for millions to see (and comment on their message boards). If you get a dynamite cast, grab the popcorn and send in the gladiators of profanity!

Otherwise, when you throw your cast directly into the game and objectively view them like a scientist watching lab rats run thru a maze, you lose a human element of connection. "Connection" and "communication" can make or break a show. I find that transparency is key with contestants… and the “well, they signed up for this” mentality among producers won’t help you play your audience’s heart strings. It might sound overly simple, but being inquisitive and compassionate pulls more out of your cast than any surprise element would. The same goes for being upfront. In reality shows of yore, the more rug you could pull out from under someone, the better. It was all about the reaction to getting f**ked over… the only problem is that it put people's guards up and made producers untrustworthy. And that stigma still follows us around to this very day… like Pigpen’s stench cloud. Producers a tricksters hell bent and out to ‘get’ you for ratings.

I tried the “sugar vs. vinegar” approach with cast about 7 years ago and I was blown away with the results. They say flattery will get you everywhere, but I got even further. Cast members really started to open up to me. Being transparent was also a game changer. Telling cast what to expect eased their anxiety going into the episodes. Of course, I would always say that I couldn’t tell them everything, but even letting cast know there are “surprises” coming up helped them understand that there’s a game set up & planned and not a manipulative strategy by the producers.?

In exchange, the cast would open up to me in interviews. I didn’t have to go into “warm up questions” they knew what to say and would eagerly reveal themselves to the lens. The cast was performing, even though they weren’t ‘performing” because they felt comfortable enough on set to be their authentic selves. It took a couple months to gain this level of trust... but the proof, as they say, is on the screen.?