Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter 
Saint International male model Kibwe McGann, a co-host of the 2005 CVM Faces of Summer reality series.
OVER THE past two years, a number of locally made reality shows have hit Jamaican television. Some have been dismissed as mere knock-offs of the American 'name-brand' originals, while others have found their niche in a competitive market.
Damali Little-White, producer of the action hunt 'Golden Nugget', says the reason for the success of Jamaican reality shows or any reality show, for that matter stems from the fact that some people tend to be exhibitionists.
"There will always be a market for these shows, because people like to see themselves and these shows are a representation of ourselves," she said.
Little-White also hinted that any Jamaican reality show was a step in the right direction for the country.
"People would watch 'The Real World' and shows like that and they were waiting for something that had a Jamaican signature on it ... Before this ('Golden Nugget'), there wasn't any other kind of reality show like this where the Jamaican people could see themselves in these challenges. Of course, other people would come and film in Jamaica and then leave, but there was nothing for us," said Little-White.
ALWAYS A MARKET
Another popular reality show is Pulse's 'Search For the Caribbean's Next Supermodel', which began in 2003. One of the creative minds behind the programme, Pulse boss Kingsley Cooper, says as long as reality shows are properly produced there will always be a market for them, even if similar shows already exist.
"There is always room for a competing show. It gives the public choice and an opportunity to present the same subject matter from another angle. Sometimes a second programme of the same type serves to complement the existing product, as well as to expand and strengthen the market. A second show is only bad in circumstances where it is a poor and naked copy of the original, pretending to be something that it is not. Such a programme is unlikely to gain the required support to survive and to eventually succeed," he said.
The 'Search for the Caribbean's next Supermodel' was created to complement Pulse's Caribbean Model Search. "I created both the Caribbean-wide search and the reality TV show. The TV show was, however, inspired by the remarkable successes of supermodels Nadine Willis and Jaunel McKenzie in 2003," Cooper said.
"In this context, the show highlights the interaction of new faces in each year's search with each other, the modelling industry, photographers, stylists and so on, and leads to the selection of winners who mirror the live 'Caribbean Model Search'. The live event and the TV show cover several countries of the Caribbean," said Cooper.
The CVM Faces of Summer Model Search is widely regarded as a humorous and honest look behind the scenes of the fashion industry. The show was started in 2001 by CEO of Saint International, Deiwight Peters. "Saint is a forerunner in the fashion industry, and my show was started in 2001, while a show like America's 'Next Top Model' is only in its third season ... We as Jamaican's need to give ourselves credit for the work that we do," he said.
When asked if he thought there was really room for another model reality show, Peters said "There are a lot of dynamic
people out there and people will always want to see what someone else has to offer, but there will only be one Deiwight Peters, one Saint and one Faces of Summer."
"The fashion industry is always intriguing to people and before this (show), people didn't understand what it took to be a model. They are now able to go behind the scenes in make-up, dress rehearsal and that sort of thing. People may think that I am a bit harsh, but it's there that they see what it takes. Our show goes beyond television and actually receives results for these girls internationally," he said.
Peters says he is also in the process of making another reality show, dubbed 'Model Mansion'. The show will track the challenges and progress of 14 model aspirants who are picked to live in a house and compete for a lucrative contract. It is scheduled for release next year.
Peters pointed out that although productions costs are high, reality shows are still the cheapest form of programming.
"I would say (it is) anywhere from US$300,000 to US$400,000... (With) reality shows you don't have to pay professional actors and actresses and all those things. All the scenes are shot on location. On the other hand, you have to have a professional team. We used Carlington Silburn, the best TV editor in the business, in terms of long-term programming. For TV programming we used Tallawah Levy, the most experienced person in the country. He is up to par with international standards," Peters said.
He said production costs can be undercut by things like "service provisions" and "product placement", giving the examples of a hotel being given credit, instead of payment for accommodation, or free advertisement by placing a sponsor's product in a shot.
A GROWING TREND
CEO of Dreams Models, Robert Collins, who came up with the concept for this year's 'Dreams Ultimate Calendar Girl' competition, says the reception sparked another 'Dreams Ultimate Series Season 2: Video Honey', which is to air soon. "There is a growing trend in the world that they have this need to know the truth and twists and turns and see the ironies in these shows," Collins said.
Digicel 'Rising Stars' is arguably the most popular of all the local reality shows. 'Rising Stars' tracks the progress and lives of hopefuls competing for a recording contract. According to a member of the production team, well over a million viewers tuned in to the programme in its initial season last year and "it was well above that this year."
'Golden Nugget' pulled in a viewership of approximately 350,000, for a production cost of $4 million.
Sharon Schroeter, producer of 'Rising Stars', also says if reality shows are produced properly there will always be a place for them. She says the concept of the show came from Ireland "and when the people who made 'You're a Star' came here with the idea, we came on board. But you have to make the concept unique and it will work."
Produced properly or not, there are those who are not generally impressed. "Reality shows in Jamaica," scoffs Nicole Morrison, a regular television viewer. "If they were actually Jamaican and not a mock-up of the U.S. reality shows, yes. But since they are, we should just use cable," she said. "'Rising Stars' is okay, but the rest we could all do without," she said.
Christopher Gray pointed to a value to the overseas shows that goes beyond entertainment. "Overall I think they are educational. I say educational, because you get to learn about cultures and people and their lifestyles. It allows you to see beyond the Jamaican boundaries and to see other cultures," he said.
However, he too is of the impression that some Jamaican reality shows are parodies of American ones.
"'Rising Stars' and the other modelling shows are all right, but shows like 'Golden Nugget' seem to be an imitation of 'Real World'," he said.
