Video Beat EXTRA EXTRA - Responsible Television - June 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Sunday June 17, 2007

Cambodian Television - Excessive make-up that makes a wholesome girl look like a tramp could be explained that it makes them look sexy. SEXY!!!??? - FRESHIES HAVE THE LOOK - Saicy Aguila Pinoy Big Brother Contestant Is Out But Is Also In - Donald Trump's Apprentice

Responsible Television Programming

When it comes to television programming you would think that there would be a concern for responsibility. From much of what you see that makes it to the airwaves and into the homes of television viewers there are some questions. If responsibility were beef the question is WHERE'S THE BEEF?

It's one thing if a television show reflects bad taste, disturbing images or bad language if those responsible aren't properly trained in production or decision making.

In Cambodia a programmer once said to me, "Get into it man this is Cambodia."

Well that may be true but a person with values doesn't have to buy into that particularly if they are educated to know better. Whatever Cambodia is can be changed with positive influences and education.

The point in fact is for those that know the results of the Killing Fields it's a no brainier that you don't want to do that again. The point being that it's time for a change and its time for POSITIVE influences and PROPER training. What could have been progress has resulted in regress.

As they say what you see is in the eye of the beholder. Yea, yea sure, sure.

On my first visit to Cambodia in 1998 a man that spoke good English and asked if I need a limousine approached me. The reality is what he was calling a limousine was a white Toyota Corolla. I spent three years in the limousine business and though he was a good driver he was no chauffeur but that is how he saw himself..

He pointed out how dangerous it was in Phnom Penh. He noted that there were only three streets with streetlights and there were robberies on the road.

He pointed out that a foreigner was robbed and shot the night before near Olympic Stadium. I later found that it was all true via noting the lack of street lighting as we drove around and the shooting and robbery story being in the newspapers.

I also was told stories from people who were robbed. The information wasn't so shocking as at that time the Khmer Rouge had yet to sign a peace agreement with the government. So what does that have to do with television programming? The answer is everything.

What a person perceives with their limited background does no apply in the REAL WORLD or what can be referred to as the outside world.

In many cases the responsibility lies with foreigners that are in charge of decision making that are supposedly teaching the Khmers what television or radio production is all about.

In other situations it is the Khmers themselves who have a background in their fields as well as the thinking from the result of living through the Khmer Rouge experience. That reflects in much of what is seen on Cambodia television programming today. There are numerous shows depicting violence particularly towards women, the use of weapons and drugs.

It could be argued that these factors are in television programming all over the world including the USA. No argument there but the point being did they have a Khmer Rouge experience and is this type of programming necessary in the process of helping a country heal from a very awful history?

Many of the foreigners in decision-making positions that are responsible for teaching and overseeing programming have no experience in production. Many are English teachers. Others come from a broadcasting background but not in television series production. The result in many cases being negative images.

The Freshie Boy & Girl contest first came to my attention in 2002. When it was explained that the production was a competition for teens regarding talent and beauty I was cynical.

When the show was brought to my attention again in 2004 through the director of a major hotel I became curious primarily due to why would he speak so positive about the program?

When the cast members of the show performed at the hotel I was impressed with the level of talent. When I later came and saw a show being televised at TV 3 I was conquered.

This I thought is what Cambodia should be all about… young people performing, having a good time and looking good but certainly not young actors depicting the use of weapons, abuse and violence.

The problem is that we don't live in a world of shoulda, woulda, coulda we live in a world of REALITY and the reality is there is a lack of positive images on Asian television and too many bad particularly in Cambodia. The Philippines ABS-CBN is the example of positive television in the region.

A part of that POSITIVE look was the FRESHIE wholesomeness. That is a part of the training of the contestants in addition to good grooming and GOOD MANNERS.

Evian water one of the sponsors of the Freshie television show selected Freshie contestants to be in their advertisements. To Evian the Feshie's represent the wholesome image the company wants.

That wholesome point is a glaring example of what is wrong with Cambodian television today. Many of the performers wear so much make-up that they look like clowns, prostitutes or a service girl working in a service bar to satisfy male customers. They do not have a wholesome look.

It raises the question is a trashy look the image that Cambodia desires?

The other disturbing example of what is wrong with Cambodian television is that some of the Freshie contest participants are now on television shows portraying characters that exude violence by assaulting people, the excessive consumption of alcohol and using weapons .

The irony is that in the past the government had a vigorous program recalling and destroying weapons in contrast to the current TV images that glorify them.

The actors are very young being less than 21. Since young people that followed their career as a Freshie contestant know them why would they be put in a role depicting characters with negative images that influence their young Khmer fans?

The excessive make-up that makes a wholesome girl look like a tramp could be explained that it makes them look sexy. SEXY!!!???

Sexy done properly can be seen on the Philippine channel ABS-CBN in Cambodia. That channel promotes sexy in a healthy way. The females wear very little make-up but are very sexy by the way they act and dance. They have got sexy down.

It's the person and their behavior that makes a person sexy not excessive make-up.

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT VIDEO BEAT

BIG BRO ON THE GO

Relating to the above story is the way a television network utilizes their talent and builds talent and programming. The latest example is Saicy Aguila was evicted from the Pinoy Big Brother House television show last Saturday. The professional dancer was one of the original six members to enter the house on its initial telecast aver a 110 days prior to her eviction.

Saicy has ambitions to be an actress and given her talent and after her experience on the BB show she is off to a good start.

Within a week of eviction the 25-year-old appeared on WOW WOW WEE television show one of the ABS-CBN's most popular programs. Will she be a regular remains to be seen.

She has a very positive bubbly personality and would be a good addition to the program on a permanent basis though in doing so it would be a disservice to her talent. She has a lot of untapped potential and very well could be a major actress in Philippine television particularly on a sitcom.

ABS-CBN is very progressive in developing and utilizing talent to support their growing International television network that can be purchased by subscription in the USA, Japan and Australia. A major portion of the talent that has appeared in their four Big Brother productions over the past 18 months have been placed on other ABS-CBN programs.

To be continued. More on this story in a future edition.

ASAP Variety Show

For those that are interested in seeing how developing and utilizing young talent is all about watch ABS-CBN's variety talent show ASAP that is currently being televised Sunday afternoon at 12:40 PM in the Thailand/Cambodia time zones.

MORE ASAP DEVELOPING TALENT

On today's ASAP show Sunday June 17 Saicy and Dionne Dennia Monsanto appeared as singer along with performer/TV host Tony Gonzaga. Joining them on stage with bouquets of flowers were two other evicted Big Brother contestants Zeke from Australia and Robert James Woods II from England. The two are very fond of the girls and hope to have a continued relationship with them.

ITEM FROM LAST WEEK

The Philippines ABS-CBN network exemplifies productivity of talent in their effort to develop talent and programs for their expanding International network.

The latest example is the resourcing of their Pinoy Big Brother show that is currently on the air and had been so for over 100 days. Dionne Dennia Monsanto was evicted last month after earning the reputation as being the most nominated for eviction of all of the housemates.

The 21-year-old multiple beauty contest titlist and Paris Hilton fan landed on her feet. Shortly after her eviction she appeared on the ASAP variety show as a dancer. Within weeks after that she appears as an actress on the TV soap "Your Song" and has the third lead role. The show is now in its third season of production making her leap more significant.

Monsanto does an incredible job and comes off in such a smooth professional way that belies what is projected to be her lack of acting experience. She is so good it raise questions of how much acting experience she had prior to entering the Big Brother House. Her acting talent is so refined its as though she was an actress prior to entering the BB house and being introduced as a law student.

IT'S ON !!!

In the It's On category, Donald Trumps Apprentice is one that shows Asian youth can learn what it takes to be involved in top level business in the USA.

One could argue that it's unrealistic for Asian youth to aspire to that. The point being is that The Apprentice program is a better influence than rap music depicting violence and women as ho's (whores)? It's a matter of choice and what one chooses to do with their time and influences.

The current Apprentice series was televised last summer on Malaysia's TV 3. This is the worst of the bunch due to a poor cast. In television they say that after the script CASTING IS EVERYTHING.

TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time and date in your area.

Repeats of Top Model are flipped around by Channel V for undisclosed reasons.-

SUNDAY

12:45 PM - ASAP - TFC (The Filipino Channel) - Please note that this and ALL TFC SHOWS ARE SUBJECT TO TIME SHIFTS.

MONDAY

1:00 PM - TOMMY LEE Goes To College - Channel V

8:00 PM - FEAR FACTOR - AXN - Season 6

10:00 PM - TOMMY LEE Goes To College - Channel V

TUESDAY

8:00 PM - ON THE LOT - STAR MOVIE channel - reality film making show

12:00 Midnight - ON THE LOT - STAR MOVIE channel - reality film making show

WEDNESDAY

8:00 PM - ON THE LOT - STAR MOVIE channel - reality film making show

THURSDAY

10:00 AM - ON THE LOT - STAR MOVIE channel - reality film making show

11:00 AM - WORLDS APART - AXN - (rerun of old series)

9:00 PM - THE APPRENTICE w DONALD TRUMP - - Star World Channel

FRIDAY

2:00 PM - WORLDS APART - AXN - (rerun of old series)

3:30 PM - THE APPRENTICE - Star World Channel

4:30 PM - CLICK (On line) computer Internet show - BBC

5:00 PM - TOMMY LEE Goes To College - Channel V

9:00 PM - ON THE LOT - STAR MOVIE channel - reality film making show

SATURDAY

8:00 AM - WORLDS APART - AXN

11:00 AM - FEAR FACTOR - AXN

1:30 PM - CLICK (On line) computer Internet show - BBC

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily @ 4 PM

7:30 PM - HIGH NET WORTH - CNBC - Business news magazine show

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