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Oh yes, *TV* - it's going to get a whole worse before it gets any better - that's for sure... Germany's 'Truman Show' goes on air Mike Leidig Media Guardian Monday February 28, 2005 Germany's version of Big Brother will take a giant leap tomorrow with the opening of a small town mimicking the 'Truman Show' concept. In the Jim Carrey movie a man called Truman is unwittingly the subject of a 24-hour TV programme that monitors his every moment for the gratification of a worldwide audience. In the new Big Brother village the only difference will be that contestants willingly participate in this next-generation leap into voyeurism, and it will run indefinitely. Fifteen people will move into the set of Big Brother - the village complete with market square and stables. The "village" includes three different types of housing: a "poor" home, located next to the stables and equipped with only the bare necessities; a "normal" house; and a "rich" villa, where occupants get three-course meals and daily massages. All contestants will have to work - as a car mechanic, on a fashion label or on the show's farm - and fulfil duties according to their social status. "It's a societal microcosm complete with class struggle, envy and real chances for climbing and falling down the social ladder," broadcaster RTL2, which is making the show, said in a press release. Contestants, who will compete for prizes and €1m in cash per year, will also be required to take on personal challenges, such as learning a new language or getting occupational training. Whether they'll ever be able to put their new skills to use is questionable as RTL2 officials would like to keep them locked up for good. Contestants will, it is hoped, live there for years; falling in love, going to school, even getting married. The producers hope to lure in more businesses to employ them, teachers to teach them and doctors to care for the sick. The producer of Big Brother, Rainert Laux, said: "We hope couples will get pregnant and family groups will interact with all the usual family frictions." "They can do exams there if they want to go to school, learn languages, or any other type of professional examination for a career and eventual employment," he added. Celebrity contestants will occasionally appear to raise the quota. But the main group of contestants will remain "for decades" according to Mr Laux. The show's producers say the present format has had its day. The plan now is for an entire community to be scrutinised around the clock. As long as such a show draws viewers it will remain on air. The Carrey film was a dark fantasy whereby unassuming salesman Truman Burbank grows up in a city that is actually a vast studio without knowing that his every action is broadcast to the outside world in a TV soap opera. Germany's RTL2 is not quite so ambitious - but nearly. Its Big Brother city, built from scratch along the lines of a theme park, will afford fans of the show visits to the community to see the residents just as if they were visiting a zoo. Media psychologist Jo Graibel voiced concerns that people who stayed in the fake community for any length of time would find it hard to adjust to the "real world" beyond. (Pasted in for non-subcsribers - oops!) Edited by GTBurns at 17:21:17 28-02-2005 |
Germans Launch 'Real-Life' Truman Show
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GTBurns 1,772 posts
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Registered 18 years ago -
I'm just thankful series like Battlestar Galactica have been given a new series. Gives me a bit of hope. -
GTBurns 1,772 posts
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Registered 18 years ago... *tumbleweed* ...
Some of you have obviously missed the gross implications of the above (no not tumbleweed, look at the thread title, you fool!)
It'll happen here. And then what will you say, eh? "He warned us but we didn't want to listen - or discuss it." That's what you'll say, and you'd be right to say it. Cos' you haven't, not at all; not one little bit... Er... That's all I wanted to say anyway...
/sulks -
sam_spade 15,745 posts
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Registered 20 years agoYour link is registered users only, can't be arsed to sign-up. -
sam_spade wrote:
Your link is registered users only, can't be arsed to sign-up.
ditto -
Milk 2,253 posts
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Registered 17 years ago/Ctrl C
/Ctrl V
/everybody lives hapily ever after... -
Milk wrote:
/Ctrl C
/Ctrl V
/everybody lives hapily ever after...
/cocks head in a Data-stylee
/does not understand....
Edited by Madder Max at 17:18:52 28-02-2005 -
GTBurns 1,772 posts
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Registered 18 years agoHehe. Me neither!
Edit: I think Milk may be suggesting I paste the aforementioned article in to this thread? \o/
A ground-breaking undertaking: but here goes...
Edited by GTBurns at 17:18:08 28-02-2005 -
sam_spade 15,745 posts
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Registered 20 years agoCopy and Paste the story over to here. -
Milk 2,253 posts
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Registered 17 years agoYep, thats it.
Sorry for being cryptic. -
Milk wrote:
Yep, thats it.
Sorry for being cryptic.
Thats okay. I feel as though I have learnt something....even if I haven't! -
GTBurns 1,772 posts
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Registered 18 years agoRight, have pasted it in to my first post (as I probably should have done in the first place!)
Now you can all witness the horror that started over there and is bound to make it's way over here! -
Tunnbleweed 157 posts
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Registered 18 years agoGTBurns wrote:
... *tunnbleweed* ...
/Tumbles -
Milk 2,253 posts
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Registered 17 years agoHoly Shit!
Is this not pushing the limits a little bit? I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't as hardcore as this... -
GTBurns 1,772 posts
Seen 9 years ago
Registered 18 years agoMilk wrote:
Holy Shit!
Is this not pushing the limits a little bit? I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't as hardcore as this...
Aye! It's just a tad fucking scary ain't it?
/dons sandwich board -
GTBurns 1,772 posts
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Registered 18 years agoTunnbleweed wrote:
GTBurns wrote:
... *tunnbleweed* ...
/Tumbles
/Burns
... ??? ... -
People will not willingly live "for decades" in there, it's just not possible, they will want to leave, and soon. Mark my words.
/puts away crystal ball -
GTBurns 1,772 posts
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Registered 18 years agocubbymoore wrote:
People will not willingly live "for decades" in there, it's just not possible, they will want to leave, and soon. Mark my words.
/puts away crystal ball
I don't know, mind - look at Ken Barlow in Coronation street!
Disclaimer:
/doesn't actually watch Coronation Street -
I'm more concerned at the fact that there are people willing to take part in this. I cannot fathom why someone would... -
Freek 7,682 posts
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Registered 18 years agoMadder Max wrote:
I'm more concerned at the fact that there are people willing to take part in this. I cannot fathom why someone would...
Media whores. Big Borther is a way for talentless people who crave fame to get it. Simply by being on TV doing f!@#!@ all. -
Universal_Hamster 4,948 posts
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Registered 17 years agoI could say that I dont believe it would work, but I said that about Big Brother. I ddint believe that anyone would actually want to subject themselves to it, but I was wrong. And im sure I would be wrong if I said the same for this. -
username 848 posts
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Registered 18 years agoThere's another article about it with pictures here. -
WoodenSpoon 12,360 posts
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Registered 19 years agoWhat about that pregnancy remark?
Do they want children growing up there?
Sounds rather fucked. -
Madder Max wrote:
People seem happy spending 9 hours a day doing something they don't especially want to do for less than 100k. Working 16 hours for 1 million sounds a reasonable deal to me.
I'm more concerned at the fact that there are people willing to take part in this. I cannot fathom why someone would...
In any case, I don't believe people will continue to watch for a year, so the question's academic anyway. They won't continue to maintain the village when the advertising revenues dry up.
Edited by mal at 18:06:58 01-03-2005
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