Katlian
2011-01-12 21:26:38
I believe that reality TV is an insult to the lifestyle of commercial fishing. It breeds narcissism and should be approached with caution. As I move further geographically and socially from hollywood and media generation, my taste for its intrusion has diminished.
slr
actionalaska
2011-01-14 17:07:49
I think that a reality tv show about the wives of commercial fishermen is a great idea. It would give the troll fleet an opportunity to highlight the reason why troll caught salmon are far superior to any other harvested wild fish. Alaska is really becoming a focal point of the nation right now. Deadliest catch, Tougher in Alaska, various other shows like mythbusters have filmed on location here, the new trooper show. Alaska is big in Hollywood right now. Like it or not, if it's profitable for the tv companies, it's going to happen, might as well be involved and try to get some good from the situation. Not to mention a few extra dollars in the bank account never hurt.
mswkickdrum
2011-01-16 20:07:21
As someone who has had direct experience with the "reality tv" folks. I can ASSURE you NO
good will come out of it. In the land of Hollywood, even the snakes and flesh merchants
consider the reality tv element of the business to be the scourge of the earth. That's saying
something coming from essentially cockroaches.
In addition, last Fall I talked with some of the crew from a "anonymous" deadliest catch boat while it
was at Fish-term picking up some pots that had been sitting there for over 5years. We
talked for a long time and the biggest miff they had was that their contracts forbade them
to go public on their facebook pages, internet etc. talking specifics about the show.
(that's why the boat is anonymous, it wasn't a public conversation, you can do your own research)
Thus the "reality" of what they were being paid and what the show said they were making, they could not dispute.
Crab-Ratz has made their jobs pay crappy, and now when people recognize them, etc, and start
up a conversation with them, in the end the person refuses to believe that they really didn't make
"that" as a crew share, (there was much more deducted out before they got paid) simply because
the TV said that they did.
No amount of explaining would convince the person what the actual crewman was telling them
the truth over what was on the TV. Also there have been "rumors" of some staging of situations etc.
Seriously, if trolling ends up in some typical "reality tv" deal, it will NOT go good for trolling.
Yes, some of the reality stuff is good, like the home repair guy, house buying/flipping lady etc.
BUT most people out there will need substantial "drama" to keep tuned in. I'm sure some who
live outside the influence of "big cities" may think it could be good, but I'm guessing those
here that live in major (top 20) media regions or have had dealings with the "hollyweird" will
agree with me.
What the fishery, and in combination with other small boat artisan fisheries, needs is a good
documentary showing what is done, how, and why its good for the public/general population.
That is what will benefit us.
MSW
Salty
2011-01-16 21:11:27
I can just see how sale able 8 hours of trolling around in a circle waiting for a bite will be. Good comments. I was thinking of the amazing stories some of the women in our fishery have. A better medium seems to be articles, books, and the stories thread here.
SilverT
2011-01-16 22:36:18
Thanks for the links to deckboss and pacificfishing. They now have a few more readers. Thanks, as well for the perspectives on the reality TV. So much seems to go on behind the scenes. After attending the Profitable Harvest Seminar in Seattle this year, I am also more convinced that if trolling is going to continue on in a positive direction, public education and perception regarding the quality, health benefits and sustainability of troll caught salmon will be the greatest factors determining our future.
frozenatsea
2011-01-20 18:23:55
good will come out of it. In the land of Hollywood, even the snakes and flesh merchants
consider the reality tv element of the business to be the scourge of the earth. That's saying
something coming from essentially cockroaches.
In addition, last Fall I talked with some of the crew from a "anonymous" deadliest catch boat while it
was at Fish-term picking up some pots that had been sitting there for over 5years. We
talked for a long time and the biggest miff they had was that their contracts forbade them
to go public on their facebook pages, internet etc. talking specifics about the show.
(that's why the boat is anonymous, it wasn't a public conversation, you can do your own research)
Thus the "reality" of what they were being paid and what the show said they were making, they could not dispute.
Crab-Ratz has made their jobs pay crappy, and now when people recognize them, etc, and start
up a conversation with them, in the end the person refuses to believe that they really didn't make
"that" as a crew share, (there was much more deducted out before they got paid) simply because
the TV said that they did.
No amount of explaining would convince the person what the actual crewman was telling them
the truth over what was on the TV. Also there have been "rumors" of some staging of situations etc.
Seriously, if trolling ends up in some typical "reality tv" deal, it will NOT go good for trolling.
Yes, some of the reality stuff is good, like the home repair guy, house buying/flipping lady etc.
BUT most people out there will need substantial "drama" to keep tuned in. I'm sure some who
live outside the influence of "big cities" may think it could be good, but I'm guessing those
here that live in major (top 20) media regions or have had dealings with the "hollyweird" will
agree with me.
What the fishery, and in combination with other small boat artisan fisheries, needs is a good
documentary showing what is done, how, and why its good for the public/general population.
That is what will benefit us.
MSW
well said and very true.