Ratings or reality? You decide...

I have a bone to pick with the television production companies of today. And it’s a big bone. A moral bone.

These production companies strive to be truthful, to be real, to be raw. And they do this through ‘hard-hitting’ shock-umentarys about ‘real life people’ in ‘real life situations’, all under the guise of ‘raising awareness’. You know the shows I’m on about; Channel 4’s ‘The Undateables’, BBC’s XXX and so on.

Don’t get me wrong, I can’t knock their sentiment or their intentions – I genuinely believe that as people, a greater understanding of one another is something the whole world could benefit from – and so I am completely and entirely behind anything that can help give people a greater appreciation of our fellow man.

But while their heart is in the right place, I can’t help but think that the way these production companies are going about it is somewhat…contrived.

When you look at the sort of material independent film makers are creating, it is the very definition of real and raw…this is because they don’t have thousands and thousands of pounds for the editing and post-production niceties…but it’s also because the subject is true to their heart, or because they have a genuine passion for the message they are trying to convey. This is when we get the unedited truth of reality. And it can be beautiful.

Just look at this wonderfully true, remarkably real and also naturally beautiful film from Will Robson-Scott as he follows a skateboard enthusiast with Asperger's.

http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/will-robson-scott-graeme

This is the epitome of what I see independent film-making as being all about.

In comparison, it is the opinion of this lovable little blogger, that studios or production companies create something with the goal of chasing those all important ratings. They do this by making sob stories or pity cases out of the subjects when, one could argue, the focus should be on celebrating how these individuals deal with their various medical/psychological conditions, and look to generate more of an understanding into what the condition is and what it means for people who have it…

I know I sound bitchy, and I do appreciate the value of the role studios play in both disseminating important messages as well as assisting independent film makers – without the money made from the viewing figures achieved through the rating-chasing shows, there would be no independent arm – no Fox Searchlight, for example – to seek out the budding talent who go on to be the Edgar Wrights and Shaun Meadows of this world…and yes, the shows they make do indeed raise awareness about their individual subjects, I just think it could be done in a more neutral – or dare I say, positive – light that shows how people who don’t live ‘normal’ lives, manage to live happy lives all the same…y’know?

I guess what I’m saying – if I’m saying anything at all – is that we should be allowed to be more in tune with what other people are going through…not the studio’s, BBFC censored version, but real, raw, natural people…or in the words of Graeme; "we should be more in tune with nature"

Just a thought…

(image taken from the Facebook page this hyperlink)