Rush/First year Documentary
 

I received this e-mail today. I'm not sure how valid it is, especially since Anneka's e-mail address was not included in the forward, but I though it would be an interesting (hopefully drama free) discussion.

Kelli


"Hello all. Thanks so much for your e-mails. My name is Anneka and I'm casting our new documentary series, 'First Year.'

"We are getting TONS of e-mails from college students interested in MTV documenting their sorority or fraternity experience. The next step is getting all the proper clearances, which is the hard part. If you are prospective member or a current member of a sorority or fraternity, you can help by getting some initial feedback from your chapter, your chapter's national office, and your school administration. We will then follow up with formal requests.

"Many national offices are hesitant about opening their Greek letter organization up to media coverage for fear of negative publicity. While we understand their concerns, we would like the opportunity to better explain the kind of documentary we're doing.

"MTV News & Docs is developing a new documentary series chronicling the diverse transformative experiences of young people. We will follow a group of unconnected young people as they each embark on an experience that promises to change their lives. However different their individual experiences may be, their stories can be woven together to tell one universal story about our hopes for change and the rites of passages we undergo to become the people we want to be.

"This kind of long-term cinema verite documentary series is unprecedented for MTV. We want to document people's lives for up to a year because of how long it takes to really see someone going through a life-changing experience. We are following young people through a variety of experiences, one of which we hope will be joining a sorority or fraternity. This is about being a fly-on-the-wall for the first year of something new, exciting, and intense. It is not about doing an investigative report on hazing or binge drinking! We do our best to produce non-judgmental documentaries -- unlike some of the more heavy-handed network news magazines -- by letting people tell their own stories, warts and all.

"We're looking for schools and sororities/fraternities that would allow us to follow a student through the rush/pledge process then through the first semester or two as a pledge/member. (We work with small production crews and would not shoot 24-7!) Since open access is crucial, we may not have the necessary approvals in time to document Spring rush. We will shift our production schedule to shoot in the Fall if necessary. This may mean that we cannot document YOUR story, but you can help ensure that we document Greek life at your school by beginning the approval process for us.

"If you email me, please include all previous correspondence so I can keep track of your story. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks,
Anneka"


[This message has been edited by 12dn94dst (edited February 08, 2001).]

From what I read on the MTV casting call website, it is valid. MTV is doing a documentary which will follow a pledge during the process. I don't know if Anneka's legit, but I do know that the project's for real.

My chapter has already discussed this and we all felt that this was a bad idea. I know that we've all seen how MTV likes to spice up its dramatic content with their other reality based shows, so it would probably be easy for the directors to twist things around.

IMHO, rushing and pledging are two very important and special experiences that can only be truly understood by the individual and his/her chapter. I know that there may be some people who disagree with my opinion, but I feel that there are other avenues to explore if they really wanted to document a "real life changing experience".

------------------
*I'm an Alpha Gam...Yes I am, Yes I am!*

I'm with you OohTeeny! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif The process can only be controlled by the people who do it, and once it's out there, it's out there. If your GLO or Chapter is made to be perceived in a different/negative light, you can't take the show back. it is already out there for millions to see with a sensationalist spin on it. For that, I wouldn't risk it!

soror6 http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/cool.gif

I would say there is a 99.999% chance that NO national office will agree to this. Greeks have just been burned in the media too many times, and even the supposedly "positive" articles I've read have a kind of sneering sarcasm to them. The only route for them would be to go would be a local fraternity or sorority, and even then they would have to go through the school administration.

For anyone who believes that MTV's "reality" and documentary shows are the least bit honest, Joe from Real World Miami wrote a book called Living in Joe's World. He told how many of the romantic moments with his girlfriend were completely staged and that almost all of the cast were nothing like what they were portrayed on TV. I think if Jesus Christ Himself went on the Real World they'd end up making him look bad to heighten the drama.

Maybe I'm a little over optimistic, but with the org having the final say on what's aired & rights to the footage, it could be the best thing to happen to greek life. I think that if people got to see a loving & positive pledgeship & the other great things about GLOs, it could change their minds. I doubt it will happen though. It would be nice to see good press about greek life, especially on a station like MTV, they have tons of influence.
Heidi

I don't agree with the entire concept. I have a feeling they're more concerned with the pledge period than the first year as a full member. I'm just thinking about the "True Life" shows they've had on (that I've seen). They've followed a few girls who got implants, some other girl who wanted to be a porn star, and a guy's first year playing pro football. It may be just me, but I noticed a "it's not as glamorous as it looks" spin to the shows. The lighting was muted, most of the comments from the people were about their doubts/concerns and there was this whole "undercover investigation" feel to it. Is this REALLY what we want amid all the negative press we're already getting? If so, I would hope the national body of the organization that agrees to do this has their legal counsel go over the contract with 3 fine tooth combs, because that contract may come back and bite them in the butt.

I think I've posted on this topic before, but here's my take on the MTV thing.
I'm totally against it, even if it's free publicity. I'd urge all the Greeks to stay away from it because of the fear that some "bad chapter" could spoil it for all of us. We know they're out there...and knowing our luck they'd be what every GDI stereotypes as a sorority/fraternity and MORE!
I can't help but think (like the rest of you) that it wouldn't be a fair documentry. Most documentries are unnarrated however MTV has the choice to show what they want and don't want. And as mentioned above in someone's post, MTV is ALL ABOUT high drama. No one will watch something on that show for long if it doesn't involve scandle.
I give this idea two thumbs down!

I wouldn't have a problem with it if MTV followed several people - and showed all of their experiences equally, not just the bad ones. Also, I would be OK with it if it was presented in an unbiased, informative matter. I would hand more credibility to 60 Minutes or Dateline. But lets think here... what type of person is going to put themeselves on TV during this (what I believe to be) very personal time? They are not going to be the type of person that any of us would want to be representing us. Also, what kind of chapter is going to want a pledge that has a camera crew following them around? They will be a chapter that is willing to sacrifice the true pledge experience for publicity's sake.

The chapters that didn't invite the person back would be portrayed as villians, the pledging experience will be represented as grueling, the actives will be portrayed as "all-knowing, superiour" bitches, etc. I think that everyone can see where this would go. And what if the person doesn't get a bid????? Oh... the Greeks think they are too good for our heroine. Ugh!

And do they want to be there during initiation? Capter meetings? Rituals?

I hope that this never gets off the ground because I know that they stupid people of the world will look at MTV as a real news organization - rather than a music network that never playes music!

Well, that is how I feel. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Allie http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif

I've had a thirty year career in broadcasting.

I suspect that MTV "News" is looking for sensationalism.

Greeks should stay away.

If anyone really believes otherwise, I have some nice oceanfront property to show them just West of Kansas City.

DeltAlum

I agree with almost everyone. I think its a bad idea. What I think needs to be done is for us to have an all greek show on one of the networks. Not about what MTV wants to do, but something that can help change the animal house image the media portrays us with. I think eventually we are going to have to petition this to the networks. I mean when are things going to change with the media and are they going to recognize us more for the positive things we do? I believe in the interest of fairness, eventually we all are going to have to take a stand at some point or we'll keep on taking the heat "staying away" that effects our organizations. When is it going to stop?

Kevin

[This message has been edited by Miami1839 (edited February 09, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Miami1839 (edited February 09, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Miami1839 (edited February 09, 2001).]

Of course they are going to hope they see underage drinking, binge drinking etc because who wants to see 90% of what greeks do. Even if they do get an organization to do this and everything is what greek organizations do and they find one underage person drinking at a party, they will focus half their show just on that one little incident. It will end up looking like if your underage and wanna go drink...go to the "frat" party. We just started dry rush here a couple of years ago and from what i hear most colleges have dry rush as well. So if they wanna film just rush i would think it'd be pretty boring. The only stuff they would film would be about rushee's asking what they think of such and such fraternity and the brothers making derogatory comments(i know not all fraternities bash each other but a good bit have their comments including me :-))

I know my National sent out a letter in the most recent President's Packet asking them to stay away from MTV for basically the reasons outlined above.

Let's face it REAL greek life wouldn't make MTV. Just for the same reason no regular people end up on "The Real World"