Product Description

Do you have a concept for a reality TV show, but aren't sure about the next steps? Loaded with practical, step-by-step advice on the art and business of reality TV producing, and featuring insights from Mark Burnett, Dick Clark, and other top producers, Reality Check takes you from idea to...reality! At age 13, Michael Essany launched a lowly cable access TV talk show from his parents' basement in Valparaiso, Indiana. Fast forward to 2001, and Michael had turned his little talk show, The Michael Essany Show, into a multimillion-dollar project that quickly became one of the most talked about reality television shows. If Michael can do it, so can you. But be prepared for a lot of hard work and a few reality checks. This book includes compelling advice on how to:

* Better understand the nature, complexities, and potential of the reality genre
* Physically produce original reality programming
* Get past the gatekeepers and deliver quality pitches to major networks and production companies
* Legally protect yourself, your work, and your intellectual property
* Learn from glories and the gaffes of those who toiled before you
* Utilize the internet and other multimedia outlets to create and generate revenue from reality programming
* Avoid the professional pitfalls of the reality TV industry
* Parlay reality television projects into a successful and enduring career

* Shows you all the steps to pitching and producing a reality TV show
* Features contributions from industry heavyhitters including Mark Burnett, Dick Clark, and more!
* Offers information available nowhere else on the business, legal, and artistic aspects of reality TV

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Product Details

Publisher	Focal Press
ISBN	0240810309
Features	ISBN13: 9780240810300 Condition: New Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Format	Paperback
Author	Michael Essany
EAN	9780240810300
Label	Focal Press
Dewey Decimal Number	791.43612
Studio	Focal Press
Number Of Pages	288
Title	Reality Check: The Business and Art of Producing Reality TV
Publication Date	2008-09-01
Manufacturer	Focal Press

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Customer Reviews

Great book as a beginning guide.

Review by tvlover, 2010-08-01

I loved this book as an introduction to reality tv production. It gave good information on producing and case studies of reality shows. Like any book that's giving information on a genre, they had to give some history. I think they spent a little too much time on the history of reality tv and the shows leading to the recent past. But like any book trying to stay current, it quickly dates itself by not being able to give the most up to date examples of what's happening in reality. It's not a fault of the book; but with a genre that changes so rapidly and growing, this should just be seen as a beginner's guide.

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An honest approach to Reality TV

Review by Counterexchange Inc., 2009-09-03

I liked the book, It gave me an honest approach to how to sell a Reality TV show. Thanks

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Okay - well written opinion

Review by John Neron, 2009-08-24

The book is highly opinionated and as such, the opinions are universal to all biz - not just reality TV. So for the newbie, take heed.

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Impressive!!!!

Review by Keri Strung, 2009-04-15

An impressive author with another impressive book. But Groomology is still my favorite of the "Essany collector's set" :)

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Michael's personal journey, not much business and producing

Review by Marc W. Sterling, 2008-11-02

This book is barely about the business of producing reality TV. Other than an interview with Survivor producer Mark Burnett, I found little helpful information. The book is mostly about Michael's experience being in a failed reality show. It observes other styles of reality shows as one who would watch them and comment on them, but is almost totally void of any industry information.

Focal books are usually the standard for detailed industry information -- this book is not in that category, it is a personal diary, and not a insiders guide to the business of producing reality TV.

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