Reality television makes its premiere on campus with the Student Video Network’s production of The Bachelor, a reality show that will feature students as they try to find the perfect date.
‘It’s a show based on The Bachelor,’ co-producer and freshman business major Chase Jacobsen said. ‘We have three different bachelors competing for a group of girls. Then they’re going to pick out their favorite.’
Cris Cole, communication junior and one of the producers and directors of the show, conceived the concept.
‘Before I came here, I went to Oklahoma State University,’ Cole said. ‘They had a Mr. and Mrs. OSU competition every year and I piggybacked off that idea. It created a big buzz on (that) campus.’
Producers are looking for students with lots of personality to try out for the show.
‘We’re going to have a sign-up in front of the UC on the try-out day and then we’ll take the students down to the studios and see how they react to the camera and on camera,’ Cole said.’ ‘Anyone can have a personality off camera, but we’re going to see how they do on camera.’
Co-producer and director Bonnie Quach, a senior communication major, said they are looking for all kinds of women to try out and compete for the heart of the UH bachelor.
‘We want a variety of classy women,’ Quach said. ‘We’re looking for someone who can attract and has charisma.’
The Bachelor wouldn’t be complete without a twist, and UH’s Bachelor is not any different. Instead of jaunting off to exotic dates, the SVN production has something different in store.
‘We’re not going to be flying contestants away for dates on a private jet,’ Jacobsen said. ‘We’ll be doing activities on campus.’
As a result, the producers are looking for businesses on campus that would like to sponsor dates for the Bachelor contestants.
‘Whoever wants to sponsor the show, we’re looking for sponsors,’ Cole said. ‘We don’t discriminate.’
The Bachelor is slated to premier in fall 2009.
‘We’re looking at fall of 2009 because we want to do at least 10 shows,’ Cole said. ‘We’re going to take our time because we only have five weeks of school left.’ We’re doing a casting call next Thursday and then we’re going run the first show off the auditions.’
Auditions will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 2 at the University Center.
‘We’re looking for nine girls and three guys,’ Quach said.
This is the first time SVN has taken on a project of this nature and the UH Bachelor crew asks for patience as they work out the kinks.
‘We’re very inexperienced TV people,’ Cole said. ‘This is helping us get the experience that we need to be competitive in the very competitive field we’re going into for a living.’
Still, they insist that no one be labeled ‘head producer’ or ‘lead director.’
‘We’re all sharing the work – we’re all throwing in ideas,’ Cole said. ‘A team concept, that’s what I’m promoting.’
