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Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not want to be on reality tv?

63 replies

Moltenpink · 10/02/2015 23:13

My work are being filmed for a behind the scenes documentary about the staff. I'm amazed that nearly everyone has agreed to take part, and I'm being treated as unreasonable for dodging the cameras. (If you watch a show soon, and see a montage of a heavily pregnant woman stropping away out of shot, that's me )

Series two filming is starting soon... Am I really BU not to take part? Would you all want to be on the show?

OP posts:

Mrsjayy · 11/02/2015 09:36

Its not the hotel with that dippy mark on channel 4 is it? I wouldn't want to be on that eithet yanbu you should be able to do your job and not be hounded to be on telly not everybody wants or needs to have their 5 seconds of fame. A few years ago I was asked to be interviewed for something I refused the charity and telly folk tried to guilt me into it I stood my ground just keep saying no.

diddl · 11/02/2015 09:47

Absolutely no way!

I'd be asking for paid time off!

SaucyMare · 11/02/2015 09:52

they stitch everyone up, make them all look stupid and stroppy

hellsbellsmelons · 11/02/2015 10:44

Nope, I'm with you.
A camera crew tried to film arriving late at an airport. I was off and away I can tell you.
And Channel 4 asked about doing Come Dine with me. Not a chance in hell.

no73 · 11/02/2015 11:33

I was out in Afghan when they were filming the hospital for a TV series. I refused no bloody way was I going to be on that. I had to sign a form saying I did not give permission and still the camera people and reporter person kept trying to get me to talk to them. I very rudely, after it constantly happening, mid major incident told them to get out of my face and leave me alone. They never came near me again.

So no YANBU. Stand your ground.

DancingDays · 11/02/2015 11:58

My old workplace were in talks about doing this. I could not believe what people wanted to sign away. They weren't only asking to film at work but to film in the staffs home/personal life etc. Completely handing your life over for them to film as they will.

I sent an email listing my concerns/issues and asked for them to ensure I wasn't involved with the filming. They eventually went with a different company.

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 11/02/2015 12:55

YANBU they can manipulate whatever meaning they want in the edit and you've got no avenue for redress. And having to make sure you never have a bad hair/makeup day, on top of doing your job? No way! Why are your managers/team so keen to take part, what are they getting out of it?

jay55 · 11/02/2015 13:20

Yanbu I'd likely resign if they did it here.

AWholeLottaNosy · 11/02/2015 13:26

I wouldn't want to do it either. I hate the way these shows manipulate reality to fit what they want. Stick to your guns!

OneNight · 11/02/2015 13:27

I've been involved behind the scenes with production companies making reality TV programmes and they don't really give a toss about the subjects of their filming. They don't want nice people and things working well, they want drama and pain and conflict and anything else that they think will put their show in the limelight - and if they can't get them naturally, they'll manoeuvre and manipulate until things are working better from their perspective.

Don't even talk about the perils of the subsequent editing either. No way would I agree to participate in one of those.

Thumbwitch · 11/02/2015 13:29

YANBU. I'd hate to do it. Especially as they twist everything for more "viewer entertainment" value.

5Foot5 · 11/02/2015 13:31

Of course YANBU and they should be able to accomodate people who don't wish to take part. I think it says alot for the celebrity-obsessed culture we are in that you seem to be in the minority of your colleagues for not wanting to take part.

Having said that I just wanted to respond to these two comments:

Most of these shows seem to be about making people look stupid or generally vile

they stitch everyone up, make them all look stupid and stroppy

Where my sister works was filmed for a series a couple of years back. We watched all of it (looking out for her!) and it was lovely. I don't think anyone was made to look bad. My sister only works part time though so we never did see her - even though she says they were filming on one of the days she was there.

Behindthepaintedgarden · 11/02/2015 13:37

YANBU and maybe if more people refused consent for this kind of thing there would be more decent drama on television and less programmes about people planning their weddings, decorating their houses, sorting out their food budgets, having their babies, going on diets, rowing with their neighbours, buying apartments in Spain and on and on and on.

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