Real World DC & Me
Posted on : 09-07-2009 | By : Lindsey Mastis | In : Featured, WUSA
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Reality shows love DC– but does DC love reality shows? I went to the Real World DC House (on S and 20th NW) to find out.
When I arrived, there were a handful of people. I began getting some exterior shots and worked my way up to the sidewalk. Then, I saw some cast members. I shot some video and did my best to stay out of the crew’s shots. I even fought the urge to ask the cast members how they liked DC.
When the cast members finally left, I began interviewing some fans. That’s when the photographers got in my lens. There were actually two MTV photographers doing this, a male and a female.
I couldn’t stop laughing– it was just ridiculous. Instead of making a scene, I just relaxed and focused on getting good sound (although it was a bit difficult to concentrate with all the “distractions.”)
When I was pretty much done, the MTV producers came out and asked fans and bloggers to sign release forms. They even asked me to sign a release. I did not.
People keep asking me, why did the MTV photographers do this? I don’t know. They didn’t say a word. My pure speculation is that they wanted to mark their territory. I also believe they were hoping to provoke me. I’m sure MTV would have wanted me to make a scene so they could use it in an episode, or some type of Behind the Scenes special.
Instead– I just put it all on air. Later, the story was picked up by a host of newspapers, blogs, and magazines. Here are some screenshots:
Popularity: 68% [?]
[...] Lindsey’s blog can be found at: http://lindseymastis.com/2009/07/real-world-dc-me/ [...]
[...] Here’s my original blog, and how other news outlets wrote about the incident: http://lindseymastis.com/2009/07/real-world-dc-me/ [...]
Very nice job not letting them provoke you. You are the meaning of professional, they are not. I don’t know how I would have responded being in te business as a photographer for 16 years but I tip my hat to you.
I saved a couple of the tweets made between you and @RealWorldDCNEWZ making note to go back to the links and story. I just recently watched the clip that aired on 9 news last week (?) late this afternoon and I must say, you really did keep your cool extremely well and really acted like the bigger and more mature person. So in that respect, kudos to you in keeping your well formed, light, cute, professional composure. I think most of us, including myself, definitely would of felt provoked enough to at least throw some very colorful words.
It’s hard to say whether us Washingtonians really accept or like reality shows in our own backyard. And I would like to think that the area that we all live in is absolutely and already “real” enough with politics and daily life constantly going on. We just simply intergrate it into our daily lives and deem it “normal” and move on. At the same time, I would think MTV is having a hard time keeping the Real World very “clandestine” thanks to major social networks (Twitter, Facebook, flickr…) and the media. And due to the dynamic nature Washington is politically, we’re pretty in touch with media/RSS feeds particurally through Twitter. So I suppose Real World/MTV got on board & signed up faster than they did their research (that’s if any was really involved) and that’s just something the crew and cast members are going to have to get used to and adapt to. We’re not a very Hollywood town. Never have been and never will be and us residents I think prefer it best that way. Yes, we’re a major city. But in a way, a jewel to be found/tapped into. You don’t know the potentials DC has unless you visit.
Either way, Kudos Lindsey. Keep up the good work & keep on the Twittering!
way to pwn em linds.
wow – that kinda sucks. i saw what they did – glad you kept up a professional attitude!
[...] This post was Twitted by RealWorldDCNEWZ [...]
Way to go Lindsey! You were polished and professional. The Real World folks behavior on the other hand was ridiculous. I wonder if their camera person’s behavior is new to DC or they have treated bloggers and television professional’s in other cities this way.