MTV and Sororities

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by Cloud9
Just a side comment...it also annoys me that MTV is so far from what it originally intended for, i.e. MUSIC TV...now, what the hell does this show, real world, road rules, or jackass have to do with music yo??? It turned out to be just another network catering to teeny boppers and luring viewers with shock tv dammit! ay!

Cloud9 -- excellent point. I guess there's more money to be made in trashy SUPPOSEDLY real-life shows than in music videos. In my opinion, MTV should change its name to TTV - Trash Television. It's definitely the king of that.

[RUgreek]

Originally posted by trixxi
As someone who was in the commercial for the "sorority life" show, I can speak first hand about how editing completely changes things. We were all asked questions and gave short responses to those questions. One question was what you would say to someone who doesn't like sororities. Some of us gave answers like "you might think that it's all about parties, but really..." and they just used the part that said "parties." They asked us specifically about the social scene so we said, "yeah there are parties, but that's not our focus" and they just use "parties." You'll notice that there are no complete sentences, just two or three words because they used our words COMPLETELY out of context. They never asked us what the real reason was for our joining a sorority in those interviews. They just added that in during post-production. Therefore, I urge all of you to think critically about what you see. Realize that's it's only a tiny fraction of what they shot, that we might say things like "she's this or that, but i still love her as a sister" and they could cut that second part out. Also, they clearly can take our answers to one question and pretend they've asked us another. We are not selfish girls, and we aren't out to ruin the reputation of any house. We thought that we could dispell some of the stereotypes that exist. That is why we entered into this and that's what we'd hoped to have gotten out of it.

I'm afraid I can't disagree with any of the recent posts to this thread. Whatever promises made to you and your chapter, you will not see the wholesome good entertainment that you've been hoping for. Mtv knows that no one will watch a show about good girls in college living together. If they want ratings, they are going to really give you a run for your money. I just can't see any other way this show will profit them unless it's trash tv. Someone broke up with their boyfriend, a sister cheated on another, fights, conflict, partying, sex stories, drugs, if you think you made a small comment about it, Mtv will exploit it as far as they can.

Don't let the fact that the producer was greek fool you, in the business world, money is the real initiative. Ladies, I hope we all have just gone on and on about the worst possible situation and that it's just a bad dream. I sincerely hope that none of this happens, but whenever GLO's and the media mix, nothing positive ever materializes. Just my opinion, and trust me, I want to be wrong!

- RUgreek

[DeltAlum]

"catering to teeny boppers"

Yup, that's certainly a main demographic for MTV.

I was thinking about that yesterday, and, frankly, it bothers me as much at the moment as anything else.

I worry that parents are going to see this and forbid their kids from even thinking about rush -- or the impressionable kids will see it and decide that it's real and either be totally turned off, or want to go Greek for all the wrong reasons.

The fallout just keeps spreading.

[rushqueen44]

Originally posted by LeslieAGD


Side note: To rushqueen44 - Legally Blonde was not based on a real sorority...They observed a sorority prior to filming...there is a big difference.

Glad to see you got the point I was making.

To clear things up for you, I was referring to a point made by someone else. She said that Legally Blonde was based on a real sorority, so she couldn't see why this TV show was that much bigger a deal. My post was intended to demonstrate the difference between a movie based on a sorority (observed before filming, or whatever else) and a TV show filmed documentary style about a real sorority.

I used the term "based on a real sorority" in reference to terminology already used in this thread. Sorry you didn't pick up on that. I am well aware of the story behind Legally Blonde.

[SIGMA_INSIDER]

33Girl and Serenity seem to have the best perspectives on this whole issue. They have a few posts on the topic, so read 'em. It's time to stop espousing this "we have better judgment than locals because our HQ told us not to do the show" attitude. If your national sorority was approached for the show and the HQ didn't care what you did, do you really think it would be turned down? Please! Now that the show is coming on in two weeks, you can either ride this wave, watch the show, enjoy it for its entertainment value and use it to your advantage when Fall Rush comes around, or keep pointing fingers and criticizing. I urge you to do the former. Who knows, it might turn out a little rocky at first to get people watching then have some redeeming qualities. That's what I'm hoping for. And if not, "Any publicity is GOOD publicity".

[maggieaxid]

ok, i agree with you on the lets just see aspect, sigma-insider. But, the "any publicity is good publicity" is not a true statement. I work in PR. that idea you have in your head is not a valid one.

[SIGMA_INSIDER]

I disagree, every sorority will get PNMs who want to know if they're anything like the girls they saw on TV, etc. If you are like Sigma, thats great, if not, you have an opportunity to tell them why you're not, why youre special and why they should rush. This is a great opportunity. You can use it no matter how the show turns out. Fine then, how about "Any publicity that doesn't involve constant fighting, drugs, sex and alcohol is good publicity" (as far as this show is concerned).

[TrojanGirl]

I don't see this as a local versus national issue. I know there were plenty of locals who said no. What the sigmas did is done and gone and there is nothing that ANY of us can do about it. I think it now has to go to this. . . hopefully any other GLO aproached by MTV will know what their true intentions are and RUN THE OTHER WAY.
I think the best thing we can do is NOT watch Sorority Life. It will only drive up ratings and encourage this kind of show. I also think that ANY positive publicity GLO's can get would be good right now too. Anyone have any ideas on that?

TG

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by SIGMA_INSIDER
And if not, "Any publicity is GOOD publicity".
[/color] [/B]

Sorry, but I strongly disagree with that statement. And I'm sure that anyone who has seen a negative article about their GLO plastered on the front page of a newspaper will back me up on this.

Originally posted by SIGMA_INSIDER
If your national sorority was approached for the show and the HQ didn't care what you did, do you really think it would be turned down? Please!

I can tell you right now that MTV would have been shot down in a heartbeat whether National HQ was involved in the decision or not. I can remember a while back when several of my girls got e-mails from MTV requesting that the they try to get their chapter to be represented on the show. The overall reactions included disgust, disbelief and a vehement "Hell no." And that was before word came down from National HQ that DZ members shouldn't participate.

I've also seen local GLO members posting on GC saying that they objected to the show's concept and declined to participate as well, so it's definitely not a matter of local vs. national here.

Seeing that this show is seems to be a series and not just a one timer, I dont think anything is wrong with watching at least the first episode. Will I tune in after that. Probably not. (I dont really watch MTV that much anymore as it is. Like someone said, it went from being about music to something totally different).
Also I dont see this as a National vs Local issue either. If 90% of the orgs on your campus turned them down (Nationals and Locals) wouldnt you think something might not add up with the production?
Another thing is that their lawyers should have made MTV put in the contract, that they get to view all the edited/final cut shows and give them copies of them. That way if MTV changed anything they could sue. Why wasnt this done? I mean we know they have to edit stuff? But thats easier said then done now.
Finally is Sigma going to get girls in their next rush who saw then get 30 mins of fame and want their share to? Or are they going to get girls based on the real character of their org?

[trixxi]

I know it's going to be imposible to defend Sigma, but I feel as though it's unfair to judge so much knowing so little about what happened with us this past year. Greeks always complain about being judged by others and yet you're now turning and judging us without knowing all of the facts. Perhaps this was a bad decision, but we don't know that yet. Certainly we knew that the show would not be all positive. Nothing is completely positive, and I think we felt comfortable with that because we have so much confidence in our organization. But to address a few things that have been brought up: 1)we did not know about the other oganziations who'd turned this down or why they had. We have no nationals and no advisors to speak of. We did ask advice of those around us and, knowing us and who we were, they thought it would be a good experience. 2) it took us months to come to this decision, and after talking with the creator for that long about every concern we had, we felt confident enough to accept his proposal. 3) I really still believe that after all is said and done, we will be portrayed positively. I have never seen a real world with a cast member who is completely bitchy or annoying or whatever and who never has any redeeming qualities. Even Amaya was redeemed at the end of Hawaii. I think this show will have a lot of things in it that aren't "true" or "real", but I also know that they captured incredible moments of sisterhood that I'm sure they will show. Yes people watch for the drama, but ultimately, this country likes to see a happy ending. 4) you know what, clearly people judge - that's a given. and people who look at this show and say "see, that's what all sororities are like" would have said that anyway after seeing anything, even just one girl on their own campus. We are all human, we have flaws, we drink, we fight, but we also care about our organizations. What's so bad about a little partying anyway? If greeks are expected to be perfect and to portray an image of perfection, then we are all just fooling ourselves. Let's just wait and see how the entire show turns out because I KNOW, after seeing what they shot, at least of the sisters (not necessarily our PNMs, though we call them pledges), that it won't be all bad.

[LexiKD]

I am the only one missing the boat here...."Sigma may have made a bad choice, we don't know that yet"

I don't think MTV was thinking how to give Greeks good PR....I think they were more on the ratings track...anyone else....confused on how we seem to think that this MAY have been a bad choice?

[DeltAlum]

Just a quick note to UMGirl.

There was a thread on this several months ago when MTV began looking for a group to tape.

Some groups said that they would check with an attorney and get final control and decision making power over the final program and edit. That will never happen. No producer will ever agree to that. The deck is always stacked against the subject. Otherwise, the producer will scream "Prior Restraint" and "Censorship" and all of those other nasty buzz words. When you sign a release form, you've given up your rights unless you are liabled or slandered.

By the way, just a technical note -- these programs and this sorority were not "filmed." They were videotaped. There is a huge difference and it drives some of us TV professionals absolutely crazy -- although the common usage is "filmed," it is incorrect. Film costs too much, takes longer and is much harder to edit. Movies are filmed -- most TV is taped. Not that anyone else cares, but what the heck.

I'll also just say again, it's the producer and MTV who are the bad guys here -- not the Sigmas. Give them a break and get mad at the folks who pre-determined how this story was going to come out before the first scene was shot.

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I'll also just say again, it's the producer and MTV who are the bad guys here -- not the Sigmas. Give them a break and get mad at the folks who pre-determined how this story was going to come out before the first scene was shot.

DeltAlum,

Although I usually agree with your comments, I have to disagree with this one. Granted, MTV is definitely at fault for manipulating Sigma members' words and twisting things to look the way that MTV wanted it to look. However, MTV wouldn't have had the opportunity to manipulate their words if Sigma hadn't handed it to them on a silver platter.

I'm sorry if this offends any Sigmas on GC, but I cannot help but feel that the sorority should shoulder an equal portion of the blame here. It's just common sense -- if you don't want to risk being made out to look bad, then you don't sign a waiver to have your lives taped by a media group that has a reputation for outrageous programming. Sigma should have known better - it's as simple as that.

From what I've read, it seems as if the vote on whether or not to participate in the show was a close one between the sisters. I really feel sorry for the Sigma girls who had the foresight to see the problems coming and voted against being part of the show.

So far, we don't know how bad Sorority Life is going to turn out. I'm seriously hoping that I will be proven wrong and that it will be a positive series. Believe me, I would really love to eat my words on this issue! But I think the chances of that happening are about as good as a snowball's chance in hell. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.

[DeltAlum]

DZRose said,

"It's just common sense -- if you don't want to risk being made out to look bad, then you don't sign a waiver to have your lives taped by a media group that has a reputation for outrageous programming. Sigma should have known better - it's as simple as that."

DZ,

Nice to know that someone sometimes agrees with me. I would just point out, though, that on the earlier thread I've alluded to a few times there were only two or three of us (all of whom worked or have worked in electronic media) who were originally against the concept. Most of the posters originally thought this show would be a great idea until we pointed out selective editing, sensationalism, etc. A lot of posters just couldn't believe that MTV, that icon of truth and youth, would ever tell only one side of a story -- the one that would grab the most ratings!

If the national organizations had not stepped in, I shudder to think of who MTV might be taping.

I'm not going to get into this national vs. local thing, but in this one case, Sigma did not have the benefit of a national organization to advise them.

My finger still points squarely at MTV and the probably independent producer who did the show for them.