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If what you say is true and writers are actually working in the 'unscripted' world, then where are the writers on a Reality Show?

A reality show's writers are  segment producers or story editors . These producers do all the writing: assemble storyboards and shooting scripts as well as participating in the editing.
In the scripted world  Segment Producers would be known as writers. But unlike writers, they're generally not recognized by the Writers Guild of America and so aren't union employees.

This distinction could be seen as a disservice to the segment producers and story editors, but it benefits the show in that it lowers production costs -- and it helps preserve the idea that the shows are real and unscripted.  

Reality shows have a basis in real life but are they "real"?

Yes and no.  What people say is real but sometimes the order they say it in is manipulated or the situations they were originally in that produced what they said.

Sometimes the players or real people are given dialog or talking points. Many times people are simply put in a situation that causes them to act or react. When a person  reacts the show's writers /producers make sure the reaction will be dramatic. 

A lot of the drama in Reality programming is created in the edit bay. During post production the editors will log a series of 'reaction shots' and then splice them into the episode where they are needed to create or complete a thought or story-line.

Get Real!

One common question I get as a Producer is "Are Reality shows really real?"

That's like nailing down what the definition of is, IS.

In a word I have to say "yes". Yes, reality shows are real in the sense they are 'real people', not actors and the show is unscripted.  That said, there are all types of 'real' Reality Shows.

What kinds of Reality shows are there?

• Unscripted Comedy
• Unscripted Drama
• Observational Documentary
• Talk Shows
• Competition  Shows
• Social Experiments
• Celebrity behind the scenes
• Hoax Shows
• Makeover and Renovation Shows
• Hidden Camera
• Dating and Relationship Shows
• Paranormal and Ghost Shows
• and some we haven't thought of yet!

Reality is a wide genre. Whether it is loosely planned or tightly choreographed , a Reality Show is anything  on TV that is not scripted.

Kellan Media is a Scottsdale based production company owned by Kelly Sallaway and Ann Pattison Bingham, Kellan media produces  TV, web and video content.