MTV to do Show on Sorority Life

[James]

Just FYI . . .


MTV backs ``Sorority'' documentary
By Melissa Grego

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - MTV has pledged its support to a documentary-style series tentatively titled ``Sorority Life.''

The series would highlight the day-to-day life and drama of a sorority on a U.S. college campus. The sorority and campus have not been determined yet.

``We can't deny that things go on, things like hazing,'' creator Sergio Myers told Daily Variety. ``My position is to provide an opportunity to members to come forward and tell their sides of things. ... We really want to get in there and look at how a more than 100-year-old tradition has been somehow preserved.''

Myers, whose credits include several episodes of ``The E! True Hollywood Story'' and feature-length documentary ``Heaven's Gate: The Untold Story,'' will serve as executive producer with Catherine Finn, his partner in 7 Ponies Prods.

Myers and Finn also hope to produce a follow-up project focusing on a fraternity.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS

[IowaHawkeye]

I don't know if these were the same people, but a sorority on my campus was approached to be filmed and documented and our Greek Advisors "STRONGLY ENCOURAGED" against it.

[NeonPi]

Hey ladies ...

All the NPC groups have sent memos out to their chapters to NOT to co-operate with this production ... it was found that MTV's motives may not be as alturist as everyone would hope it would be...

Remember, Rolling Stone did an article on Greek Life at Ohio State a few years back ... and it didn't look great from the OSU point of view ...

[SigmaChiCard]

95% off the subject, but it's in the 5% I wish to divulge. Near my home town is an abandoned Tuberculosis clinic voted amongst the Ten Scariest places either in the US, or on Earth (I forget), and it's too going to be filmed on Mtv, for FEAR, and has already been filmed, it's just waiting to be shown, for one of those reality-based shows on television. I believe it's ABC though, and they were going around our campus practically pleading for Sigma Kappa to stay in the house over night, but for one, none of them would because it's scarey as hell to go near, plus there have been several dead bodies found there, and last but not least, their chapter refused to let them go on the show, even if they wanted to. Well, they could, but not achknowledge SK on the show at all. I wish they'd gotten to do it, because when I went, I went with some of their girls and we all freaked out just stepping barely inside of it.

But I guess the primary purpose of this text is to point out that if these girls here weren't allowed to do it (they're allowed to do most things they wish, which is a positive by all means), then I would guess most chapters would discourage a group, guy or girl, to do it. I think if it is done well though it could reflect a very positive light on Greek Life. Too bad it's not ABC or NBC doing it though, Mainstream America growing up on a couch often doesn't hold an Mtv report as the most substantially accurate report there is.

[DeltAlum]

MTV is a poster child for sensationalism. (It used to be called Yellow Journalism) At one point they were supposed to do this same kind of program on fraternity life. I think probably every national fraternity in the world strongly suggested that their chapters NOT cooperate.

I don't see much of a chance for anything good for the Greek System to come out of a project like this.

Look at how the portray Greeks on some of their other programming.

If they approached me, I would run the other way.

DeltAlum

[SigmaChiCard]

If they held true, and did what all journalists should do, what I believe Louisville-native Hunter S. Thompson refers to as Gonzo-journalism and just went around with greeks and showed what it is we actually do, I don't see how anything negative could come out of it. It seems to most of the world that if we fear being honestly portrayed on the media, then we have something to hide, that's the mindset of mainstream America. I won't jump to say it's a poor conclusion to make, on their part. If the world saw that 98% of the time we're out doing stuff for school, for the local community, and basically for anything that we can do something to improve then how can that be misinterpreted? All we'd have to do is shove the positive in their face the way the negative typically is. Otherwise, the worst case scenario is always assumed. A shitty truth, but a truth nevertheless.

[AlphaChiGirl]

About the RS OSU article, and all "exposes"...they're just using what we give them. It's like what Heather from RW1 said, "How can (the cast members) be mad, when we gave them what we used?". Just a little food for thought.

[ZTAngel]

I know that Zeta has a rule that we cannot be on TV without national's permission. The only ones who can speak on behalf of the chapter is the president and someone else (I think the house advisor). I remember a year ago when one of the fraternities on our campus was involved in a bit of news drama over an incident. The media ran rampant through Greek Park Drive (the road all the greek houses are on). I just remember our president saying, "Do NOT speak on behalf of this chapter!" I hope that other sororities take this advice. MTV will probably do nothing but try to make the chapter look awful. And, if they make XYZ at one school looks bad then XYZ will probably be thought that way at all schools. I just think that MTV coming to a sorority can only hurt and not in any way help.

[GeoffZ]

I agree with AlphaChiGirl. MTV can only do so much manipulation with footage. If a Greek organization acts poorly than that's what's going to show up on TV. I think this could be a really good idea for the right chapter. MTV could suprise us and show sororities in a positive light. Just my opinion.

[LexiKD]

I think it opens the door to all kinds of issues.

[mccoyred]

My thoughts EXACTLY. No NPHC group would even consider this offer, either.

Originally posted by localsororities
Since no nationals will touch this with a twenty foot pole, They will probably go out and find a local GLO that that is the stereotype MTV wants to portray, and that thinks the publicity would be a good idea.

[DeltAlum]

Make no mistake about it. (Does that sound familiar?)

A good editor and writer can make Billy Graham sound like Hitler.

A simple good night kiss will turn into an ongoing orgy. A beer with a friend will turn into a drunken party. A request for a favor will turn into hazing. A (non secret) Greek ceremony with candles will turn into a Satanic ritual. A hug between sisters will become a lesbian relationship.

I'm not condeming or taking a moral stand on any of the above in this case, but think about the sensational editing and visual effects techniques and use of sound effects and music you've seen and heard, and none of these is a stretch. And all of the members, not just the chapter will be unfairly branded.

These folks know their craft well -- they know a lot more about it than any college student. It's a losing proposition for any sorority misguided enough to go along -- no matter how good a chapter they are.

[Lil_G]

I have to agree with the gc community on this one. Do we honestly think they're out to state the truth about greek life, or is it gonna be showing what the audience wants to hear - sensationalism (as Delt Alum noted). I don't think the target younger audience is tuning in to read facts and statistics - which many, btw, are future rush.

[Dejajeva]

Being a brand new greek- I have to admit that I had never seen the positive side of greek life. I had to study and research before I found anything along those lines. Greek life (both sorority and fraternities) have such a sterotype- for instance, in some states, they wont let sororities have houses. They are considered whore-houses.

Isn't there something we as greeks can do to help put this awful sterotype to rest? Couldn't we negotiate with the producers that we'll only comply on the gaurentee that we approve before it's shown?

Any ideas?

Jess

[DeltAlum]

Deja,

Do you ever watch MTV? I still have a teenager, so I do.

These producers already know what they want the program to say, portray and look like.

A program about nice college girls doing community service, getting good grades and being good school citizens just isn't going to sell. They want alcohol, drugs, sex and hazing -- something to perpetuate the stereotype.

No producer in his/her right mind will accept pre-censorship, which is basically what you are suggesting when you say negotiate. And no producer will give up creative control which is what "approval" is tantamount to.

Given the track record, no matter how you cut it, this is probably a bad deal.