lets make your own reality show using tools you may already have by schatar sapphira collier

Let’s Make Your Own

Reality TV Show… Using Tools You May Already Have

By Schatar Sapphira Collier

LET’S MAKE YOUR OWN REALITY TV SHOW USING TOOLS YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE SCHATAR SAPPHIRA COLLIER

2 www.LetsMake.tv www.NewVistaStudios.com

Let’s Make Your Own Reality TV Show

Using Tools You May Already Have

By Schatar Sapphira Collier

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter 1 The Power Of Production Chapter 2 Producing Your Own Programming Chapter 3 Your Cast Chapter 4 Your On-Camera Look Chapter 5 Location Chapter 6 Scenes Chapter 7 Directing and Camera Angles Chapter 8 Lighting Chapter 9 Audio Chapter 10 Music Chapter 11 Editing Your Show Chapter 12 Getting Paid Conclusion Congratulations!



Yes, it’s true. You can create your own reality productions with the resources that may already be available to you! Although you may not realize it, you can use the webcam on your computer, laptop, tablet or even the camera on your phone to record.

When it comes to the entertainment game, I put in years of research. I even did my college thesis on entertainment. There is a big difference between the people who know what they are doing and the ones who are just winging it.

That lack of information and failure to make a plan could end up costing you a lot of time and money unnecessarily. So, make sure that you listen closely to the tips I am sharing with you in this e-book about producing with tools you may already have.

Plus, once you have your developed your plan based on this information, there are now more new opportunities to make money with your video productions than ever. I will introduce you to a few of these methods in this e-book.

When I received an opportunity to produce my reality TV show “What’s Next? The TV Series” for TV, I immediately developed a plan, grabbed a camera and went into production.



The series consisted of 13 episodes and each show was a half hour, produced with 24 minutes of content with room for commercials. Some of the segments were interviews in which I asked people questions. I had many amazing guests.

In other episodes, the cameras followed me to my events such as live performances, red carpet interviews, and award shows. We delivered the episodes on time and on budget. The series aired on the Sky Channel in Europe.

Preparation is the key to a smooth production. In this section, I will explain some of the areas that must be planned before you begin taping. The first thing I decided was the type of show I wanted to do and what would be included in each episode.



The Power of Production

Let me tell you a story. One of the guests on my show had a friend in Europe who called and told him that he was at home relaxing, flipping through the TV channels and that he jumped up when he saw his friend on air on my show! My reality show had a way of connecting two friends on two completely different sides of the world.

Here is a bit of history about reality TV. “An American Family”, a production widely accepted as one of the first reality shows actually aired on PBS in 1973. It was a 12 part documentary series which featured a Santa Barbara family called the Loud family. Although many other families have been featured on shows over the years, this particular production opened to door to reality tv as we know it today.

So, while reality TV programming is not new, with the boom of more channels internationally, there are now new opportunities for shows to air and have an impact on society.

There is a lot of power in producing. So, use it wisely.



Producing Your Own Programming

What is producing?

One definition of producing is: to cause a particular result or situation to happen or to come into existence. The same goes for your production. Your production can be a catalyst for fulfilling some dreams for yourself and others.

Think clearly about what you are taping before you record it. Think about things such as the type of show you would like to produce, your camera angles, your cast, your scenes, your location, your on-camera look, your audio (the sound), your lighting and editing. Here is some information to help you get started with the process of producing your own programming.

What Type of Show Would You Like To Produce?

Think about the type of show you would like to produce before you begin production. Write it here: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



More specifically, what type of show would you like to make: A cooking show? A stunt show? A comedy show? An interview talk show? A show about you and your friends? The list of possibilities are endless.

Describe your characters, location, conflicts, drama, problems and solutions. Don’t make it long, Who has time to read all of that? But do get directly to the point because reality TV is all about problems and solutions. Describe it here: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Recognize that there is power in the image, power in the media and power in what you are creating to tell your story.



Your Cast

Who is going to be on your show? Casting is extremely important. Therefore, it is important to make key decisions about your cast early. Do not wait until the last minute.

Will your show involve one person on camera only? Will it be just you? Or will you interview someone else? Are only they on-camera? You can do a broadcast with one person - you talking in front of the camera. - or will you both be on camera? You can get your friends together to create the scene. Describe your ideal cast here:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



When you are taping, pay attention to the eyelines ( where the person on camera is looking). One thing that helps when you are taping the scenes is to make sure all of the eyelines of the cast members are right for the type of show you are taping.

Directing Tips

Eyelines for interviews:

The person who is being interviewed should be looking just off camera (looking right next to the camera, but not directly into the lens)

Another style is to have the person look straight into the lens with their answers.

Eyelines for scenes with friends:

In most reality programming, although the cast is aware that the cameras are there, it is their job to not look directly into the lens. Looking into the camera breaks the scene.

So if you and your friends are creating a scene, be sure to not look directly into the camera.

If you are with a group of friends and your scene involves a talk show style, it is ok for the host to look into the camera when they are



speaking to the audience. Take a look at some of your favorite talk shows and notice that at the beginning, the end, and near commercial breaks, the talk show host may look into the camera and speak directly to the viewers. Otherwise, they are generally looking at their guests when they are speaking to them.

Be sure to have a talent release for everyone who participates in your production. A talent release is an agreement that gives you permission to record your cast as well as to publish and distribute that recording. The payment terms will also be included in the release. Here is sample text from a sample talent release:



Sample Talent Release Form

Date: __________________________

Talent Name: ____________________

Project Title: ____________________________

I hereby consent for value received and without further consideration and for the compensation of _____________________, the use (full or in part) of all videotapes taken of me and/or recordings made of my voice and/or written extraction, in whole or in part, of such recordings or musical performance for the purposes of illustration, broadcast, or distribution in any manner.

at __________________________ on ________________________ (Recording Location) (Date) by __________________________ for ______________________________ (Producer) (Producing Organization)

Talent's signature__________________________________________________ City____________________________State ____________________

Email________________________________ Phone:________________________

Date: ____________

If the subject is a minor under the laws of the state where the taping occurs:

Name of Minor____________________________________

Legal guardian _________________________ ___________________________ (sign/print name) Email Address _____________________________ Phone___________________________________

City ________________________ State ______________________

Date: ____________



Check your local city or county for guidelines for taping in your location. There are also other versions of language for your talent release available online. Find something that is appropriate for your production. If you would like to register your production as a union production which will allow you to cast professional union members and performers on your show, contact SAG-AFTRA on 323.634-8100 to get the answers you need on how to do this. When you call, ask the operator for the Signatory Department.



Your On Camera Look

Think about your on-camera look in advance. What kind of look do you want to have on camera? What would you like your cast’s look to be? Do you want everyone in jeans and sneakers? Should everyone be dressed up?

This look is important because it helps to establish your brand and the brand of the show.

Plan your look in advance and give your cast wardrobe suggestions too. This way, they know what to bring to set and what they can leave at home.



Another thing to note is that now, since a lot of production and photos are in full HD, it means that people watching can see more detail than they could before.

There are even some make up lines that are specifically formulated for HD. Some of the other make up lines can look cakey on screen so choose wisely. If you can, do a hair and make-up test of your look on camera before you start taping. Many celebrities wear lashes as well on screen. I know I do. Strip lashes are convenient to put on quickly before taping and they can make a dramatic difference on screen.

If you do not know how to put on lashes, you can take my lash course in which I share on-camera lash secrets.

The course is www.udemy.com/lashysteria and the website is www.lashysteria.com

http://www.udemy.com/lashysteria

http://www.lashysteria.com/



Also, make sure you have washed your face thoroughly, gotten all of the sleep out of your eyes and brushed your teeth before you get ready to go on camera.

What would you like your on camera look to be as well as the styling, wardrobe and on-camera look of your cast? Describe it here: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Location

The location is where you plan to do your taping.

Are you taping in your room? Maybe your friend’s living room with the wall painted that cool color will be a good location?

Is your background clear of clutter?

What about taping in your back yard?

Watch some of your favorite shows, and notice the backgrounds. Are they are interior (indoor) shots or exterior (outdoor) shots?



Where would you like to tape your show? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What locations are available to you? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Think of what resources are available to you and find a location that works.



Scenes

Now that you have selected your type of show and chosen your cast, it is time to decide what you want the scenes to be.

Think of how long you want your episode to be. Are you doing a 3 minute segment? A five minute episode? Or perhaps you are ambitious and decide to do a full half hour or one hour program.

Think of the scenes to fill this time. Nicole Richie’s reality show on AOL has full segments that are about 5 minutes each. The link to an episode of her show is here:

http://on.aol.com/video/style-signals---candidlynicole-517775397?icid=bottom_related_thumb_1

How long would you like each of your episodes to be? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

http://on.aol.com/video/style-signals---candidlynicole-517775397?icid=bottom_related_thumb_1



What would you like to see happen in that time? What scenes would you like to see? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Make your notes in advance so that when you are ready to tape – whether it is you by yourself or a group of people – everyone knows what the scenes will be about.

For example, if you and your friends are taping a bake off, they should all know in advance to bring their cooking supplies and their baking pans. Or if you are planning to host your own talent show or talent competition, everyone knows to warm up their singing voices in advance or to bring their tap shoes to the taping.



Directing and Camera Angles

While the producer is managing the cast and crew, the director is picking the camera angles. When you watch some of your favorite shows, notice what camera angles and techniques they use. You can experiment with camera angles by taking quick pictures and videos on your phone.

When you are watching these shows, notice if they are using a wide shot, medium shot or close up. A wide shot covers more area while a close-up zooms in on your subject.

Look at the photos for examples of framing for a wide shot, a medium shot and a close-up.



Photo 1 – Wide Shot

Photo 2 – Medium Shot

Photo 3 – Close Up



Photo 1 is a wide shot, photo 2 is a medium shot and photo 3 is a close up.

When deciding the look and camera angles for your show, also watch some of your favorite programs and see if the camera appears to be completely still or if it is moving.

If it looks like it is still, it may be on a tripod or attached to a stationary device, like your webcam. If it appears to be moving, it may be handheld or on a dolly – a piece of equipment specifically designed to hold the camera as it rolls to create the appearance of smooth movements.

Decide which style you would like for your show before you start taping and then set it up.

If the only resource you have to use for recording is your phone, you can still do a show. If you want to record with your phone in a stationary position, you can set it on a flat surface and prop it up on something like a desk, on a tripod, or set your phone in a photo frame.



Photo Courtesy of www.10DollarElectronics.com

What Is A Tripod?

A tripod is a stand that holds your camera in a stationary position. The size and type of tripod you use depends on the type of camera you have. If you have a bigger, heavier camera, you use a bigger tripod. When you have a smaller, lighter camera, you can use a smaller tripod, The photo above shows a portable tripod that is 6 inches high.

You can set your camera on a tripod to get those stable, non-shaky shots.

In order to produce in true HD, you must record in HD as well. HD cameras are now more readily available. Plus, HD looks great on



screen. Do you have access to an HD camera or video camera? Does your phone record in HD?

It is better to start with the highest quality and resolution from the beginning. If you have access to it, work with it. Technology is constantly changing and evolving. Today HD is standard, 4K is increasing in popularity, and 3-D is making yet another resurgence. The main thing is to use the best of the tools you have available to you. You can always upgrade to the next new thing and then there will be another “next new thing”.



Lighting

Make sure that your lighting is good from the beginning. Shooting during daylight hours is a good way to start if you have access to day time hours to tape. You can also use lamps if you do not have access to full studio lighting.


You can use a light kit like the one shown above to light parts of your scene and even to provide lighting when you are using your webcam to tape.



Make sure there are no shadows on your face or on your cast members’ faces when you are taping. All of your scenes should be well lit.

Lighting Tips

Tip: One tip is if you are doing a horror scene, you can put a light under the face and shine it upward. This gives a zombie type look to the face.

Tip: If you are doing reality style programming, well lit scenes and bright colors generally work well. For example, on shows like Jersey Shore, the interior of the house and the bedrooms had bright colors that were very well lit in many scenes. These types of things, colors and lighting styles help to create the technical style and feel of the programming.

Tip: You can shine a light behind the head of a cast member when they are facing the camera and depending on the other lighting, which can give an angelic glow.

Tip: When webcasting or recording yourself with your webcam, here is a way you can boost your lighting. You can set two lights on your face, one on the left and one on the right. That way there is no shadow on either half. Then, if you have access to it, place a third light right in front of you, but not between you and the camera , to fully light your scene.




The USB light in the photo above is really convenient when webcasting because it plugs right into your computer or tablet’s USB and lights you.

Plus, no electricity or batteries are required so it’s handy for taping on-the-go or when doing exterior scenes. It works totally on phantom power from your computer or tablet.

You can do all kinds of fun and creative things with lighting but the main thing is to have your scenes well lit from the beginning, regardless of whether you are doing night shoots, day shoots, interior or exterior shots.



Audio

Make sure your video’s audio levels are strong and clear from the beginning. Although you may be able to boost the sound or clean it up in editing, that creates more work. Do yourself and your editor a favor by having clear sound from the beginning. This includes your voice, narration, music and sound effects.

Make sure your mics can pick up the voices clearly.

Make sure there is not a lot of wind or a loud air conditioner near where you are taping.

If there is a noisy appliance on while you are taping, just turn it off. Remember to turn it back on when you are done taping.

When you are webcasting, an external mic such as the type shown below may assist you in recording. Plus, even when you are done



recording, you can still use this mic for Google voice, Skype calls, and other types of video conferencing.


Should you have access to other types of mics like a lavaliere (a body mic), a boom mic or other professional on camera mics, those can also work.

Good audio makes a great difference.



Music

Plan your show’s music ahead of time as well.

Think about your theme song. What music would you like to have for your show opening, show ending and during the transitions between segments?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Music also helps during some of the most dramatic scenes. This is known as underscoring.

You can use some of your own original music in your productions. You can also see which of your friends or even local musicians may have music you can license to use in your shows.

There are websites you can find that connect you with music and musicians with whom you can communicate about licensing their music.



Regardless of which music selections you make, when you mix your audio levels – the voice levels with the music levels - be sure that you can still hear your voice and your cast members’ voices clearly over the music.



Editing

Your editing style is an important part of your show’s style as well. Fortunately, there are many tools and different editing software available to make this easier for you. Some popular ones are Final Cut, Avid, Adobe Premiere, iMovie, Camtasia and Window Movie Maker. Even if you do not have access to these editing programs, you can now edit right in Youtube. So now, not only can you record your video directly into Youtube, but you can edit it there as well.

When you go to Youtube, look for the option that allows you to record directly from your webcam.



Here is a picture of the Youtube editor.

You can use the Youtube editor to edit your video and publish it. Pay attention to the icons and features on the page to maximize your experience while in the editor. You will even be able to output your show in HD.



Which editing software do you plan to use for editing your show? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Make your mark. Be as innovative as you like. Now, you can create your own unique styles of production using these very tools.



Getting Paid

There are many options for getting paid for your productions. If you are one of the lucky few, someone may license your show or idea. You may also find sponsors or local advertisers.

You could do a crowd funding campaign with Kickstarter or Indiegogo. You could also get a grant. One of the clearest monetization models is YouTube.

Many successful Youtubers regularly create content, upload their content to the Youtube platform and get paid for their videos.

You can upload your videos to Youtube too. When you load your videos on Youtube and have verified your account, click the button to “monetize” your video. This allows ads to run before your videos as well as during your videos depending on the option you select.



Here is a screen grab of my actual Youtube channel page. See where the monetization tab is? I have circled it in red for you. Here also is a close up of the Monetization Tab.

. Make sure you click it each time you upload a video. If you do not see the monetization tab, check the page to see where you can validate your Youtube account. If it still does not show, check the help center.

Once you have monetized your videos, Youtube will pay you $1 for every thousand views you receive. Once you have gathered $100, they will send you the money collected from your video views.

As your views get considerably higher, they pay higher rates. Once you have over 10,000 subscribers, the numbers are higher too and you may have the option at that time to have a paid channel. Look into your Youtube options as well as other options for distribution of your shows.

Take control of creating ways you can get paid for your productions.



Congratulations!

You have now completed the e-book “Let’s Make Your Own Reality TV Show Using Tools You May Already Have”. Continue to watch the techniques you see in your favorite TV programs and movies and see how you can include them in your productions. Continue to notice the casting choices made on these shows as you submit yourself for auditions or even when you hold some auditions of your own for your productions.

For more information, check my other classes and sites:

www.LetsMake.tv

www.10ThingsIWishIKnew.com

www.Lashysteria.com

“Lashysteria: The Ultimate Guide To Using Lashes To Enhance Any Look”

www.udemy.com/realitytv101

Schatar Sapphira

http://www.letsmake.tv/

http://www.10thingsiwishiknew.com/

http://www.lashysteria.com/



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