Course Overview
This course offers an immersive exploration of producing a reality TV series, focusing on both the creative and logistical elements. Students will learn how to develop, pitch, and plan a multi-camera reality series, producing key creative documents like a 'show bible' and a 'look book' pitch deck. The course emphasizes critical production challenges, such as managing ethical and legal standards, ensuring contestant confidentiality, and overseeing casting. Students will design and test competition challenges, develop engaging storylines and contestant profiles, and draft reality scripts, all while managing the complete production workflow from pre-production to post-production. Collaboration between producers, directors, and editors will be explored, giving students insight into how to refine contestant narratives and story arcs throughout the production process. Hands-on experience will include budgeting, scheduling, network deliverables, product placement, and integrating digital media, marketing, and press strategies. By the end of the course, students will have gained the essential skills required to meet the professional demands of producing reality TV content.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
3.0
Domestic fees
$633.80
International fees are typically 3.4 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Pitch a reality TV show concept to industry professionals.
- Create a 'show bible' and 'look book' pitch deck to present a reality TV series.
- Manage the casting process, ensuring contestant confidentiality and adherence to legal, ethical, and moral standards when working with participants.
- Design, test, and refine competition challenges (or key events/scenes) to meet production goals.
- Develop compelling storylines and character profiles for reality TV contestants.
- Draft a basic reality TV script for episodic production.
- Conceptualize bio-packages and interview questions to enhance contestant narratives.
- Plan and budget a reality TV shoot day, including crew coordination, essential production paperwork, and communication.
- Implement the fundamentals of shooting a reality competition series.
- Analyze the editing workflow required for reality TV production.
- Manage network deliverables, product placement, digital media, and marketing activities within a production plan.
Effective as of Winter 2025
Related Programs
Producing Reality TV: Creating & Planning a Reality TV Series (BCST 1725) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
School of Business + Media
- Radio Arts and Entertainment
Associate Certificate Part-time
- Video Production and Editing
Associate Certificate Part-time
Course Offerings
Fall 2026
Below is one offering of BCST 1725 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 51957
Dates
Oct 17 - Nov 21 Loading
- CRN 51957
- $633.80 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17 - Nov 21 | Sat | 10:00 - 16:00 | Burnaby SE10 Rm. 102 |
Duration
6 weeks
Instructor
Larisa ANDREWS
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Important course information will be sent to you prior to your course start date. Check your myBCIT email account to access this information.
- This course is synchronous in person delivery, requiring your attendance and participation in ALL scheduled classes held at Burnaby campus SE10 building for the duration of the course. Prospective students should have solid written and spoken English language skills to be successful in this course. Access to a desktop or laptop computer to complete course assignments outside class is highly recommended.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.