CTV is going green—GreenBorough, that is.
In December, CTV will air its first ever reality show that will document the lives of the residents of GreenBorough House, Columbia’s newest specialty house. According to its project proposal, the house works as “a laboratory for low-impact, sustainable living on campus.”
Executive producer Sarah McNeill, CC ’10, explained her vision for the show. “The goal is to give them [residents] the opportunity to share their beliefs and to bring awareness for sustainability’s merit,” she said.
The specialty house serves as the Sustainable Student Living Center, in which 12 residents live and work and where Columbia’s environmental clubs meet. The show follows the students as they hold their housing meetings, organize school-wide environmental events and activities, and interact with each other.
“We turn on the camera and see whatever they do,” McNeill said. “We follow them as they do certain projects like ‘Green Your Room,’ where they performed a green makeover for one lucky student, or when they participated in the 350 event bringing environmental awareness on the International Day of Climate Action.”
As a reality show, “GreenBorough House” has the potential to showcase all the obligatory drama of college life heightened by the presence of a camera lens.
Vlad Raskin, CC ’13, said that the creators of the show “have to take into consideration how much actual reality they’re going to put into the show,” since many successful reality shows are notorious for blurring the line between what is real and what is staged. He said, “If you look at ‘The Real World’ and shows like that, it’s less reality and more TV entertainment.”
At first, McNeill admits, she wasn’t sure what to expect.
“It’s the house and the personalities that make the show,” McNeill said. Nevertheless, she didn’t find any “Real World”-like drama from GreenBorough. “There were no fights, illicit backstabbing, or drama. They’re very much friends. They enjoy living with each other and are committed to working together.”
McNeill sees the show less as an intrusive reality show and more as a documentary on green living. “It raises questions about the individual’s impact on the environment and how a green lifestyle shapes one’s identity,” she said. “Each person is committed to doing their part.”
Mixing footage of their activities and interviews, McNeill hopes the show will contextualize why these students are so committed to green living. “By understanding each student’s background, we see what attracted them to the green lifestyle. What has changed in their lives? Why GreenBorough? That’s what I want to explore,” McNeill said.
While the content of the show may be what keeps viewers watching, GreenBorough House, like all shows on CTV, will have to fight to capture students’ initial interest. Claire DuVallet, SEAS ’13, said, “It’s an interesting premise, and if publicized well, then I’ll check it out.”
Comments
We're looking for comments that are interesting and substantial. If your comments are excessively self-promotional or obnoxious you will be banned from commenting. Consult the comment FAQ and legal terms.