Personally, reality television seems about as real to me as life on Mars. There’s nothing like the promise of a $100,000 prize or a chance at a celebrity funeral directing contract to bring out the most un-real people from the woodwork, and project them onto center stage. One common element that I do like in reality TV shows is the diary room.
The diary room is the unattended confessional, the late night admissions being recorded for posterity on digital video rather than by a court stenographer. There are several advantages to a diary room for capturing footage over a film crew:
- Film crews need to eat and sleep and go to the bathroom, and get paid. The booth is the ever present eye that need not eat – it captures all. Inexpensively.
- Though some stars are accustomed to confessing all to a Cheeto-eating, gum-chewing cameraman and his single impassive eye, some people are just more candid when there’s no-one immediately there. Sure, people watch later, but there are no reactions, no frowns or judgments.
- It’s actor driven – no-one has to be in the right place at the right time – there’s a big door and a red button that lets people leave a message when they want to. The footage is a result of the “star” wanting to be filmed and seeking out a private audience with the viewer. Whenever they have a lightning bolt moment of inspiration, they can be in there with perfect light and sound, ready to spill the beans.
Whether you call it a self-service video booth or a diary room – the end result is the same – you get candid footage from your talent, from your guests or from your attendees. Get in touch with Texas’ leading booth provider if you want to discuss your idea more, and see how our booth could help write your diary.
