E6 n n ENT SUNDAY SUN MARCH 22, 2009

Television jam.canoe.ca/Television RRealGEe Tal Dreaming of stardom? Well, school is in for all you reality TV wannabes

NEW YORK — Ten years how to be a better public “I was raped when I was after Big Brother, tthere’shere’s nnoo speaker. Others, like barman 17,” one young woman said end in sight to the reality TV Nicholas Rolon, are aspiring to the shocked “ohhhhs” of phenomenon. In case you movie actors. Th e group forms the class. One guy said he’d MARIE-JOELLE PARENT/SUN MEDIA needed proof, New York now a circle. Th ere are several eaten his own excrement, and “They nicknamed me Bu� boasts the world’s fi rst reality cameras rolling courtesy of further disgusted the room Geek because I had a good TV school. You could call it some Japanese by adding, “and body but an unattractive Getting On Th e Show 101. journalists and a I’d do it again.” A face,” says Jason Prager About 40 students, as documentary team woman talked about (above) of Beauty and the diverse as you’d fi nd on from Columbia surviving cancer Geek-fame. Prager credits a New York City subway University. and another said she the New York Reality car, packed a studio on 8th Th e school has had an abortion at TV School, founded by Ave. right next to Madison garnered media age 14. Th e guy next Robert Galinsky (right), Square Garden recently. attention from to her admitted to with getting him started A $139 fee gets you a 3½ - as far away as Marie-Joelle smoking pot before in the business. hour workshop at the New Australia since class. Th e girl next York Reality TV School. it opened last Parent to him revealed You can also opt for a June. Th e school’s IN NEW YORK her weakness for fi ve-week seminar founder, 43-year- elderly Jewish men. for $299. Some, like old Robert Galinsky, enters the An Asian student told the entrepreneur room. Th is acting coach got group he’s bisexual. Another Leo Fernekes, the idea to create the program said he hates his parents. are here to a year ago. He also created the “It’s not necessarily a good learn website fi ndmyaudition.com. idea to tell a sex-themed “You have to make your story, that’s not what interests mark in 30 seconds, so the us,” said Lisa Tanania, a idea isn’t to be eccentric, but casting director on hand to authentic,” he said. “Dance give advice and do some like there’s no tomorrow,” recruiting. “All you need is he added abruptly. one sentence that the casting All of a sudden, a Biggie director will remember.” Smalls song started playing “People will do anything and the studio was turned into to get on TV. You see it all, an instant nightclub. Dancing transvestites, transsexuals, under neon lights surrounded people who get undressed. by strangers is defi nitely Th ere’s nothing I haven’t one way to break the ice. seen,” said Robert Russell, Th e presentations came a casting director talent right afterward. “For a casting scouting for Big Brother 11. director to remember you after “One girl took the plane from seeing thousands of other Iowa just to meet me.” people, you have to learn to But he doesn’t seem to tell your story in two minutes,” have found that ever-elusive Galinsky said. Th en he asked diamond in the rough tonight. the group to reveal an intimate So what does it take to secret and opened up a whole impress? “I’m looking for the MARIE-JOELLE PARENT/SUN/SUN MMEDIAEDIA Pandora’s Box of weirdness. X-factor; it’s instantaneous. I SUNDAY SUN MARCH 22, 2009 ENT n n E7

REALITY TV: YA GOTTA LOVE IT Three reasons to love reality TV, according GE T to New York Reality TV School founder Robert Galinsky: 1. It gives visibility to minorities ignored up until now by the television industry: Overweight people, anyone with acne and the physically disabled. 2. It allows debate other than from o� cial points of view. These are ordinary people expressing themselves. 3. Everyone has the right to leave their mark on the world. The public can more easily identify with stars of reality TV.

TEN COMMANDMENTS

MARIE-JOELLE PARENT/SUN MEDIA OF REALITY TV TheThe so-calledso-called D-Listers,D-Listers, whowho havehave workedworked onon realityreality TVTV showsshows includingincluding BachelorBachelor UK,UK, TheThe Mole,Mole, AnimalAnimal Planet’sPlanet’s GroomerGroomer HasHas ItIt andand Survivor,Survivor, o�o� erer encouragement.encouragement. 1. When you speak, use see it right away,” he said. American to be chosen for Even though reality “I” at all times. Never At that point it was time Bachelor UK. PPaulaul GGrassi,rassi, televisiontelevision hhadad iitsts UU.S..S. ddebutebut say that you’re an for the Perp Walk portion of the blue-collar guy who was inin 11973973 wwithith An American actor. Everything you the evening. Th e students on the show Th e Mole, ssaidaid FamilyFamily on PBS, it was MTV’s say must be candid. made a line that everyone it got him an independent Th e eR eRealal W oWorldrld in 1992 that 2. Answer the question has to cross, one by one, movie contract. blastedblasted tthehe cconceptoncept iintonto oorbit.rbit. while being showered with Th ere’s also the school’s “It’s“It’s ggoingoing ttoo ccontinue,”ontinue,” ssaidaid asked. insults. Galinsky off ered protege, Jorge Bendersky, a Russell.Russell. ““PeoplePeople aarere oobsessedbsessed 3. Maximize all some examples to inspire the 36-year-old dog groomer with andand iitt wwillill nneverever ddisappear.isappear. opportunities to troops. “Th is girl just killed a strong Latino accent and RealityReality TTVV hhasas cchangedhanged tthehe market, network and her mother,” he said. Th e arms covered in tattoos. His faceface ooff ppopularopular ccultureulture fforever.”orever.” publicize yourself. insults come fast and furious dream was getting chosen “Th e reality TV craze for the fi rst person up. for the Animal Planet show, goesgoes hhandand iinn hhandand wwithith tthehe 4. Don’t walk in with “Th is is to build an Groomer Has It. HHee fi nnishedished Internet,”Internet,” aaddeddded GGalinsky.alinsky. ““It’sIt’s a wall. Keep the emotional immunity. Some third thanks to Galinsky’s tips. democracydemocracy eexpressingxpressing iitself.”tself.” sensitive material on shows are really hard and Since June, hundreds of Recently, however, the fever the surface. you have to be ready to be students have gone through pitchpitch hhasas hhitit ssomeome nnewew hhighs.ighs. attacked,” he explained. the school and its founder is Th e ea uauditiondition f oforr America’s 5. Say yes as often as Next item on the schedule even thinking of expanding to MARIE-JOELLE PARENT/SUN MEDIA NextNext TTopop MModelodel ccausedaused ppanicanic possible. was a talk from some Canada before long. Some of Big Apple barman Nicholas Rolon, an aspiring movie actor, last weekend in midtown 6. Maintain a daily D-list celebrities such as Jason his students have managed to hopes he has fi nally found his ticket to fame and fortune. Manhattan. Hundreds of girls drama diary. Prager of Beauty and the Geek- secure spots on shows such started running after a bomb fame. “Th ey nicknamed me as America’s Got Talent aandnd sessions that he says can Th ere are still a few success scare. Six women were injured. 7. Show confi dence, Buff Geek because I had a Survivor, ccontractsontracts wworthorth pay up to $17,000. He even stories in the mix. Jennifer More dramatically, British Big not cockiness. good body but an unattractive an average of $30,000. managed to get sponsored Hudson’s Oscar win quickly Brother pparticipantarticipant JJadeade GGoodyoody 8. Don’t overdo it. face,” he said. What did he get But it’s no easy job by his favourite clothing erased all memory of her learned she had cancer during out of the experience? “My prolonging reality TV celebrity label by wearing their T-shirt American Idol letdown. Who a taping last August. She’s now 9. Don’t sell your revenge,” he said. “Th e girls long-term. Billy Garcia, a on the show. And for some remembers that Elizabeth living out her fi nal days with personal agenda. who laughed at me all through Survivor aalumnuslumnus ffromrom ttwowo extra cash, there’s always Hasselbeck was eating the cameras rolling around 10. Practice your story my teenage years want to be seasons ago, is still reliving famousphone.com, the maggots on Survivor bbackack iinn her. A morbid show, yes, but and do some soul- my friend on Facebook.” his 15 minutes of fame even website where people pay 2001? She’s now one of the for Russell and others in the Next to him was Marshana though he was cut after the between $50 and $100 to have most opinionated hosts of business, “it makes good TV.” searching. Ritchie, who bragged about second show. He speaks to a phone conversation with Th e Viewand a star supporter — Marie-Joelle Parent being the fi rst African- groups and does autograph obscure reality TV celebrities. of the Republican Party. [email protected]