‘We won’t take this any more!’: the reality TV stars battling to unionise

From traumatic experiences to pitiful pay, reality show cast members are sharing their horror stories. As Hollywood continues to strike, is now the time to demand change?When Gemma Rose Barnes, 32, signed up to appear on Married at First Sight (Mafs) – a reality TV show that introduces couples for the first time on their wedding day – she felt apprehensive. She told the show’s producers that she wanted to meet the love of her life, and was worried she’d be married off to someone who hadn’t gone on the show for the same reason. “They told me that audiences now wanted to see genuine matches, so I had nothing to worry about,” says Barnes.But what was sold to her as the chance to find The One quickly descended into a nightmare. Barnes says she made repeated complaints to the producers about her husband. When she asked to leave the show, she says she was coerced into staying – although Channel 4 claims that she was free to leave at any time. She says contestants were plied with alcohol, and that on one occasion producers snuck extra drinks to certain cast members before filming. Channel 4 denies this, claiming that alcohol consumption is at the discretion of individuals, “but it is monitored and limited by the production team”. Other contestants have spoken of being “smashed” during filming after sneaking in bottles of alcohol, as well as dramatic arguments being sparked by participants drinking on an empty stomach. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-18 12:00:49 UTC ]
News tagged with: #horror stories #wedding day #cast members #production team

Other Publishing stories related to: '‘We won’t take this any more!’: the reality TV stars battling to unionise'


Netflix and Hulu pick up TV Golden Globes as Succession dominates

The 2024 Golden Globes represented a return to normalcy after a year dominated by strikes in the entertainment industry. Streamers continued to get recognition for their shows, with Netflix, Hulu and Max picking up a combined 12 television awards. Max (formerly HBO Max) won the most awards,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-01-08 10:25:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #entertainment industry #final season #princess diana #standup comedy #anthology


End Notes: 'Wandering Stars' by Tommy Orange

An inside look at the publication process for the PEN/Hemingway Award-winning author's second novel Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #end notes #tommy orange #publication process


7 Short Story Collection Recommendations Based on TV Shows You Know and Love

In talking about my debut story collection, House Gone Quiet, with friends and family, I’ve often found myself pitching the merits of the short story form itself. Due to habit or book marketing or a lack of exposure, it’s simply the case that most fiction readers who enter a bookstore are... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-12-19 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #love appeared #tv shows #book marketing #electric literature #bookstore


2023 was the year the economics of tech caught up with reality

As a precocious teen looking to improve my college application, I sat in on a business studies class. I figured taking two extra A-Levels at night school alongside those I took during the day would make me irresistible to admissions tutors. The class I watched examined if it was worth a large... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-12-18 15:30:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #epic games #english language #track record #corporate parent #libraries


Patricia Engel has won the 2023 John Dos Passos Prize.

This week, the 42nd John Dos Passos Prize was awarded to novelist and short story writer Patricia Engel (Vida; The Veins of the Ocean; Infinite Country; The Faraway World) by Longwood University. The Dos Passos Prize is the oldest literary award given by a Virginia college or university, and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-12-05 16:21:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #longwood university #patricia engel #infinite country #virginia college #year honors #literary award


Your definitive guide to Goodreads ratings. (Or: why does your favorite book have 3 stars?)

If you use Goodreads at all, you’ve likely noticed that the platform allows you to “rate” your “reads” using “stars” (those are scare quotes). If you use Goodreads regularly, you probably know that the ratings system is, in a word, fucked. Why does literally every Colleen Hoover book have over... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-11-21 17:28:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #definitive guide #favorite book


These are the 10 best Amazon Black Friday deals on Kindles, Fire TV devices and Echos that you can get right now

Amazon started its Black Friday deals early this year, and many Amazon devices are on sale right now. We sifted through the sale and selected standout deals on Amazon Kindles, Fire TV sticks, Echo speakers, and Eero routers. There's also a bundle that combines an Amazon... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-11-17 15:30:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #video calls #list price #step-by-step instructions #management features #kindle


David Ferry, Poet and Translator Who Won Acclaim Late in Life, Dies at 99

After nearly 40 years as a professor, he began a new career writing poems and translating classics. He won a National Book Award when he was 86. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-11-11 18:29:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david ferry #national book award


Edward Bleier, Visionary Executive at Dawn of Cable TV, Dies at 94

Seeing untold promise in new technology, he was a prime mover in the creation of the cable industry, helping to transform Time Warner Cable into a giant in the field. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-10-19 20:03:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #visionary executive #cable tv #prime mover #time warner


You Will Live on the Internet: The Grim Realities of the Metaverse

Years ago I came across a children’s book called You Will Go to the Moon. It was first published in 1959 by Mae and Ira Freeman, ten years before the first moon landing. The book predicts a future where space travel is a leisure pursuit for a baby boomer and his parents. It shows the […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-16 09:01:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #moon landing #ten years #space travel #children’s book


Star Trek: Prodigy finds a new home on Netflix

Star Trek: Prodigy has found a new streaming home with Netflix, after being both canceled by Paramount+ and completely deleted from the platform back in June. Not only will Netflix air the previously-released 20-episode first season later this year, but it’s also putting... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-10-11 18:30:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #animated series #motion picture #long held #busy week #lower decks #book series


Madison Jacobs Named PW Star Watch Superstar of 2023

It has been a remarkable ride for Madison Jacobs, who ascended to associate publisher at the Crown Publishing Group in just five years, and is the 2023 PW Star Watch Superstar. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #associate publisher


PW Star Watch 2023: Publishing’s Brightest

Welcome to the ninth edition of Star Watch, our annual program dedicated to recognizing and honoring rising talent in the publishing and bookselling businesses. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #star watch


Michael Gambon, star of Harry Potter and The Singing Detective, dies aged 82

The Olivier award-winning actor, whose major film roles included Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, has died• ‘An actor who let his heart and soul crack open’: David Jays on Michael Gambon• A life in pictures – gallerySir Michael Gambon, whose extraordinary acting career took him from... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-28 11:39:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael gambon #laurence olivier #screen roles #painful time #harry potter


Horizon Forbidden West battles its way to PCs in 2024

Sony continues its mission to release first-party titles on PC, as the critically-acclaimed PS5 sequel Horizon Forbidden West is coming to Steam and the Epic Games Store early next year. The port’s being handled by Nixxes Software, a company Sony purchased back in 2021.... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-09-27 17:26:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pc players #good hands #digital soundtrack #worth noting #power ups #comic book


Rob Vélez on building Somos Vevo into a Hispanic TV destination for brands

The VP of inclusive network sales writes about helping marketers connect with diverse audiences. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2023-09-22 09:46:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diverse audiences #somos


Conformity Killed the Radio Star: The Great Literary Hoax of I, LIBERTINE

A look at the great hoax that was I, LIBERTINE, the book that took the literary world by storm but (sort of) never was. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-09-18 10:39:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary world


These drag performers say protests, threats won't stop them from reading to kids at storytime events

Drag performers who read stories to children at libraries across Canada have faced an increase in protests calling the events destructive for kids, and in some cases, even threats of violence. But the king and queens say they won't let that stop them, because storytimes are about joy and literacy. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-09-16 08:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read stories #libraries


Miriam Margolyes to star as ‘the Meep’ in Doctor Who 60th-anniversary series

Actor, 82, said her new role as an alien in the sci-fi series has made ‘an old woman very happy’Miriam Margolyes will feature in one of the 60th-anniversary episodes of Doctor Who that will air this November, the BBC has announced.Margolyes, 82, who has appeared in Blackadder, Babe and the Harry... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-14 18:30:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #miriam margolyes #sci-fi series #harry potter


Nielsen won’t force Amazon’s data into ‘Thursday Night Football’ ad deals this year

Following a contentious meeting last week, Nielsen won't change panel currency used to write deals but will make Amazon first-party data part of offering. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2023-09-07 20:12:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nielsen