Reality TV Movie

Reality TV Movie is a 2014 independent American parody film written, produced, edited, and directed by Tytus Bergstrom. The film follows an introverted nerd, Bergie Barnsworth’s journey onto the biggest hit reality TV show, Chance of your life. Bergie becomes a worldwide sensation and audience votes him through week after week to see him attempt the most dangerous dance move of all time. The film is not just a satire on reality TV shows, but the media frenzy at large. Independently produced by independent Director Tytus Bergstrom, it took 5-1/2 years from first day of production to completion. The film is shot with a single 2K camera and all the editing, and visual effects are done by Tytus Bergstrom. The film has a limited release in the San Francisco Bay Area starting Nov 13th, 2014.
Plot
Orphaned at birth, Bergie was adopted by his Aunt who disapproved of everything he does, especially dancing. For years, he lived under the shadow of his tyrant cousin, Henry, often prohibited from doing anything other than being the family's laundry maid. As a result, Bergie was never able to pursue his love for dance. When Bergie finally finds out that his parents are Ballroom Dance Champions who had risked and lost their lives on a reality show, American Fear Dancer, he finds the courage to audition for a new reality talent show Chance of your Life to pursue his love for dance.
After a tireless nationwide talent search, twelve contestants are selected to pair up with four B-lister celebrities to compete for the prize of $1 million, the $5 million Chance House and title of "Chance of Your Life" Season 1 Champion! Each week, the contestants face a different "Chance Challenge" to compete for hours of practice with their celebrity. The Challenges are then followed by live dance routines that receive audience votes and judges' scores to determine which contestant gets through to the next round.
Bergie pairs up with his idol, upcoming Asian celebrity, Lolli Pop and despite his two left feet, starts to win the audience over with his on-screen novelty. His vow to perform the same dance move that killed his parents - The Triple Helicopter Death Drop, captures the world's attention. But is that enough to keep him in the competition?
Meanwhile, Bergie finds himself falling for Lolli Pop. Will Bergie risk both their lives to attempt the Triple Helicopter Death Drop? Bergie's unprecedented worldwide popularity threatens fellow competitor/celebrity, Maximus, who schemes to eliminate Bergie from the competition at every turn.
Cast
* Tytus Bergstrom as Bergie Barnsworth
* LiWen Ang as Lolli Pop
* David Weise as Maximus Sextus
* Joanna Siekierska as Mia Favor
* Daniel Will-Harris as Lufus
* Sandy Morrisa as Tina Bambi
* Jeffrey Davis as Joe King
* Jenoa Harlow as Charlotta Ecstasy
* Steve Budd as Imus Dupido
* Dick Martin as Alby Pompous
* Brian J Patterson as Manny Nutz
* Morris Mizrahi as Rick
Production
Production of the film started on February 6, 2009 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most of the film is shot out of sequence, due to availability of the many actors, crew as well as of locations for staging the green screen. For an independent production, the film had more than 100 actors and extras. In the beginning of production, the green screen scenes were filmed at Just Dance Ballroom in Oakland, CA. However, because that is a functioning business, Bergstrom typically had to set up and tear down on a daily basis so that business can go on as usual in the Ballroom during the evenings. Bergstrom then found another location, in Brisbane, CA that had a warehouse space at which he was able set up his green screen environment on a more semi-permanent basis.
As the project is self-funded, Bergstrom had to be creative in finding ways to achieve the quality of cinematography for the movie. He challenged himself to create a high production value movie without a big production budget. Without access to a big theater/arena for the setting of the reality show premise, Bergstrom decided to film those scenes on a green screen, that he made himself. Being a veteran dancer, Bergstrom wanted his cinematography to be fluid and dance-like to complement the dance sequences in the film. As such, with the help of a friend, Bergstrom built a green turntable, so that he can turn his subjects for more dynamic camera work. For high panning shots, Bergstrom was able to find someone to custom design and manufacture a 12' high crane for the camera, which greatly enhanced the quality and variety of picture that he captured. An 80-year-old friend of Bergstrom's parents, who is an aerial pilot, took Bergstrom up in his plane on multiple occasions for aerial shots of the Bay Area and Sonoma/Napa County. The film also features many top renowned ballroom dancers.
Bergstrom is a self-taught visual effects artist and learnt the art specifically for the making of Reality TV Movie. He single-handedly created all the CGI environments and effects in the film. Many of the contestants that are seen in the film on stage at the same time, have never even met.
Release
Film has a limited release starting Nov 13, 2014 in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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