So, I guess in writing this post, I’m admitting that I’ve become a fan of The Glee Project. Are you surprised? Really? It combines music and reality shows after all.
It’s addictive. Given the high drama between the contestants who are being forced to live together, to form bonds, and compete against each other for the prize of a limited run in season three of Glee, there’s rarely a dull moment.
The winner is only promised a few episode arc, but Ryan Murphy’s comments every week, coupled with daily announcements of actors/actresses who will be graduated off Glee this season, viewers can’t help but wonder if we’re looking at a crop of potential new freshman.
However, the big question that has been plaguing me is ‘what exactly is a writer’s responsibility to a show?’.
Pictured above is contestant Cameron Mitchel who left the show on his own accord last week. After two weeks of being put into a scenario where he was asked to kiss a fellow contestant during the ‘video shoot’ portion of the show, he decided acting contradicted with his moral/christian values. Ryan’s conversation with him during the previous last chance performances– when the contestant is singing for their life in front of Ryan– mystified me. He said more than once that he liked Cameron and really wanted to write him: a character with strong religious values.
My question: if acting is truly that, why does Ryan Murphy need an actor or actress with strong values in order to write a character who believes in those things. Isn’t writing creating characters and scenarios from the ground up?
What are your thoughts?
I think his comments were specific to the situation because people, after seeing Cameron on TGP, have already seen this “character” and like him. So if they put him on the show like that, he would be instantly believable and likable, rather than trying to cast another person in this role and risk people not buying it – or expecting another Quinn-like fake fiasco.
Also, on TGP, the mentors have asked the contestants to create their own character based on their personalities, which again, I think the goal is to introduce a character to Glee that is already loved by thousands of people. Otherwise, they would create a role for the show and audition people to play THAT character.
Wonderful points, Sarah. The way you explain it makes sense.
I came into the show a little late in the season, so the concept of the contestants creating the character slipped by me some. I still think that it’s the writer’s job to create the character and the actors to potray it –certainly bringing their own life experiance to the role.
I miss Cameron, already. I liked him.
Aw…I’ve never seen the show. Perhaps I should
As someone who’s taught performers for many years, as well as writing and composing for Theatre, I find The Glee Project mesmerizing. Yes…generally writers create characters and actors they may never meet interpret them. But it is not unheard of for a writer to write for a specific actor. Maybe the writer wanted Cameron because Cameron could teach HIM something specific about what it is to be a young religious man. Cameron might have informed his writing of the new Christian character. I know I like watching the show because I LEARN about teaching even though I’ve done it for 30 years…there is always more to experience watching another person’s approach. In fact, it’s the sense of movement and growth that fires me up about this show. It’s beautiful to watch young artists grow in leaps and bounds from one week to the next, so quickly ~ as they do under the mentorship of The Glee Project Team. From fake to real. From forced to free. From personae to SOUL. I love it!