Reality TV confessional

A reality TV confessional (or reality confessional, confessional interview, confessional) is a commonly practiced type of interview segment in reality television. Reality TV confessionals involve participants being captured away from the rest of the show's cast in a private booth. In these private booths, individuals communicate in the form of an aside in which they express their feelings and beliefs to the camcorder. In this manner, they break the fourth wall and are presented as talking at the audience.

In reality TV confessionals, participants of the show are represented as speaking openly and honestly about all the other individuals and events taking place on the show. Typically, feelings expressed in reality TV confessionals are of a juicy, revealing and negative nature. Reality TV confessionals are typically used toâ€"rant and rave on a topic; vent or blow off steam from an altercation; gossip, backstab, and indirectly assail others; divulge evil and spiteful intentions and motives; divulge personal fears and feelings of depression; etc. Not always used negatively however, reality TV confessionals are also used to divulge romantic feelings; communicate one's joys and high points; or just to inform.

§Structure

Interviewers are not visible to the viewing audience during these interviews. Reality stars appear to be completely solitary, at least to viewers. The reality star speaks directly to the viewers through talking directly at the confession cam.

§Location

Confession cam interviews are conducted in isolated locations. While there's no definite location type, the interview is typically conducted in small rooms designed specifically for the purposes of conducting confessionals. These small booths consists of seating and background scenery. It's worth noting, however, that confession cam interviews can take place in any area in which the show does filming; as an example of confessionals conducted outside of confessional booths, outside environments where reality show contests and events transpire, just a short distance away from the rest of the cast mates, are often used. As long as participants are seen privately speaking at the camera in relation to events and other individuals on the show, it meets the definition of a confessional cam interview.

§Placement

When used on a reality show, confession cam interviews are interspersed throughout the entire program so that every circumstance sees at least one cast mates candid feedback. It has been alleged that many confession cam interviews can involve manipulative editing; that is, they can be inserted into the show's regular footage at any point while the interviewee is active on the show, and can be used numerous episodes away from when they actually took place. Genre savvy stars have claimed that by noticeably changing their hairstyles and makeup every day, one can effectively limit how much footage can be misplaced.

§History

The reality TV confessional, similar in execution to documentary interviews, has its roots in court TV, specifically Judge Judy. Originally, court shows (namely The People's Court) used a process wherein litigants would pause in the hallway after each case for a brief interview with the court reporter. No longer existent on today's court shows, however, Judge Judy created the precedent of eliminating the court reporter and having the litigants rant directly to the camera and the confession cam was born.

§Effects

While aired privately, reality TV confessionals often still lead to drama as most reality TV shows air reunions at the end of each season. These reunions are put together once all the shows have aired on television. This allows reality stars an open and public venue to address negative remarks said about them in confessionals.