#46 – (SUR)REALITY TV STAR

The Adventure – Becoming a (SUR) Reality TV Star

Being in front of a camera doing things you’re scared to do is not necessarily the easiest thing in the world.

Particularly when you’ve got snot draining out of your nose while you’re bawling your eyes out because you don’t want to get into that damn kayak and do a wet exit because you are terrified of said kayak.

Oh…and did I mention that there’s a film crew less than two feet away filming all the drama taking place all over my face?

Or how about getting filmed while I’m dangling upside down, hundreds of feet in the air, while plummeting at God knows what speed, screaming at the top of my lungs…until I realize that I’m probably, maybe, not going to die that day.

It’s hard to say, really, but if I do go squish, at least it’ll be captured on film for prosperity.

And of course, being wired for sound, they can hear everything that happens. The sounds of your stomach gurgling, my screams of terror, the accidental nervous discharge of pent up air from my nether regions.

Shit…nobody ever told me about that last part.

Reality TV at it’s finest.

More like surreality.

Click for website.

Turkey Run Productions

Bruno Tore and Kate Izor from Turkey Run Productions came up from the USA to film the whole thing.

I’ve known Bruno since 2006 when we worked together on a few documentary films. One film I worked on with Bruno, Eddibu, made it into the 2007 Montreal World Film Festival. And it was there when I met the lovely and talented photographer, Kate Izor.

Bruno Tore & Kate Izor

Together, these two travel the world – filming, adventuring…doing all sorts of interesting stuff. They are REAL adventurers. What haven’t they seen? Where haven’t they been?

Not used to being in front of a camera, Kate really helped me to get more comfortable – she was constantly making me laugh, easing the tension I sometimes felt. She was marvellous, she was epic. I love Kate.

The incredibly talented Bruno is my brother from anotha-motha. I honestly can’t say enough about this talented fucker. I love him. He did threaten me, however, promising that he would make a film of me doing nothing but laughing, giggling, and chortling.

Apparently during the month of filming, I did that a lot.

I blame Kate 🙂

Wardrobe Malfunction

I learned some very special things about colour. Did you know that the colours red and black are difficult to film – so one should definitely avoid wearing clothing of that colour.

This was, of course, mentioned to me the week before filming.

In a daze, I gazed into my vast wardrobe, feeling my stomach lurch as I looked at nothing but black, black, black, red, black, red, red, black, black, black.

Clearly a serious wardrobe malfunction.

As it stands, any of the clothing I’m seen wearing belongs entirely to someone else – except for obvious red and black pieces, of course.

Bittersweet

My most bittersweet moment was our final night together.

Bruno and Kate FORCED me to do something I really did not want to do. REALLY DID NOT WANT TO DO.

Sing in public.

I used to scare away bears with my singing voice, but here they were expecting me to sing my poor heart out in front of people. Well, let’s just say my body didn’t respond favourably to this unplanned development.

Me, on camera, for all eternity.

It was the alcohol Bruno insisted I consume that really helped the situation. That, and Kate getting up to rock the mic. A natural born performer, she was amazing. She even did high kicks! What gave me strength to do this dreaded deed was the fact that no one looked at her, not even once. It was this, plus the liquid courage that gave me the nerve to approach that microphone.

And then it happened.

A rock star was born.

Well, in my own mind, maybe…several drinks later.

Afterthoughts

Will this project ever get off the ground? Who knows. Maybe.

Then again, maybe not.

According to Bruno, we’ve had some interest from producers down in the USA who liked the concept. And as nice as it’d be to see something actually happen with this, the reality of the situation is such that I’m not an actress. I don’t know how to fake shit for the camera. I’m a real person with all sorts of interesting quirks – and according to some, my mind works in interesting ways.

I also discovered that because I’m not used to being in front of the camera, it was sometimes difficult to act like my usual total dork self. That is, unless friends were present – Bruno and Kate didn’t count because they were behind the cameras!! Well, maybe it’s in my future to take a beginner’s acting class.

I smell adventure.

Maybe they’ll teach me how to fake it till I make it.

Thank you, Bruno and Kate, for the experience of allowing me to be a (SUR)Reality TV Star.

You both seriously rock.

Hire Bruno and Kate at Turkey Run Productions.
Bruno at his website –>> brunotore.com
Kate at her website –>> kateizor.com