Ask the Producer

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This section of the College Hill Virgin Islands wiki is provided as a place to collect your questions for the Sean Rankine, the producer of College Hill. The show's production team will monitor this page and choose questions to answer each week. Check back here to read the latest insider responses.

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Posted March 7, 2007

s_moore4: What are some of the challenges of shooting a reality show? Do you ever get to take a break following everyone around all day?

Sean Rankine: This is a great question. There are a lot of things that go into the making of a television show. Many people work really hard for long hours to make each half-hour episode of TV that you watch. In terms of the day to day, we have to plan locations; we have to get people there and back; we have to figure out what we are going to do when we get there, etc. With regard to the overall show, we have to select what school or location we are going to use this season. We have to design what the house has to look like: what color, furniture, bedding, etc. Most importantly, we have to select the cast. To make things run smoothly, we have a staff that works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but it's a really cool job that I feel lucky to have.

__________

MyhomeAmericasparadise: What made you guys come to the beautiful island of St. Thomas? If you had to do it CH4 all over again where would you go and why? I am from the Virgin Islands and I am happy that you choose the right Unversity to show people in the mainland or culture.

Sean Rankine: We selected St. Thomas for many reasons. The location is beautiful. The University was great to work with. The people were friendly and welcoming. Lastly, the gorgeous backdrop allowed us to leave the mainland and allow another dimension of culture to be brought to the show this season. If given the chance to do "College Hill 4" all over again....there is no doubt in my mind, that we would go St. Thomas.

Posted March 14

nea_nay: Will we be able to buy College Hill on DVD?

Sean Rankine: We are really excited that you will now be able to buy College Hill on DVD. These amazing collections will contain all of your favorite episodes, along with never before seen footage, cast and crew interviews, behind the scenes "sneak peeks", and more. Keep your eyes on BET.com for information and release dates. Don't forget to download all of Season 4's hot episodes from iTunes!

BETFAN: Is there a point where as the producer you think this is too much what are these kids thinking? Like do you want to just give advice ?

Sean Rankine: Anytime you spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with someone you begin to really invest in and care about them. That is the way that it can be with a reality show cast. With most reality shows, we have a "4th wall". This means that the crew, with a few exceptions, does not talk or hang with the cast. We are there to document and record their experiences and times together. After all, the show is about the roommates, not the roomates and the crew, right? As the producer, I do talk with the cast to make sure that things are going well for them, that they are going to class, and just check in from time to time. It's like you are a camp counselor. They even joke and call me Dad. You do want to give them advice, but the process is not about you, it's about their experience. As much as you want to give your opinion sometimes, you just have to sit back and observe, as long as nobody is getting hurt.

Posted March 21
Shyness 808: Have yall ever thought about extending the length of the show, because 30 minutes is not a lot of time for a show like this with all of the commercials included. A know an hour long show only contains about 42 minutes of the actual show being shown. So I was wondering would you all be willing to extend the length of the show?

Sean Rankine: Thanks, Shyness 808 for this question. It's good to know that you want more College Hill! Although, I would love to extend the episodes to an hour, there has been no order for that yet. Keep in mind that everything costs money and to gather enough footage to make 15 one-hour episodes would require us to shoot for a longer period of time. For now, we'll just have to save the one-hour episodes for the premiere and the finale. If you are still hungry for more College Hill, you should check out the DVD of the series that will contain extra footage and scenes that you never saw on air.

From Many People On The Boards: How do I get on College Hill?

Sean Rankine: A lot of you are asking, "How do I get on the show?" There are some rules: You have to be at least 18, enrolled in school, be an interesting person with a great personality, and willing to have your life taped 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you can say yes to all of these items AND, if we are coming to your area to cast, COME ON DOWN! In the near future, we'll be holding Open Calls in areas that we select. We'd like to meet you! Keep logging in to BET.COM to check out where we will be and when we will be there. Who knows, you might just be one of next season's roommates!?!

Posted April 11

mzkittykat: How do you decide what college to shoot in College Hill? What is the process of choosing students to cast on the show? Do you try to make it where some people might create controversy or do you try to keep it where it is as peaceful as possible?

Sean Rankine: Each season we reach out to schools and schools reach out to us for participation. We research each school and then visit several of the serious contenders to see what school will be the best fit for the upcoming season. When we have chosen the campus that we will be shooting on, we have open calls for cast auditions. These auditions are open to everyone and we welcome all students to come fill out applications and inteview. Our casting team is looking for great people with interesting personalities and great back stories. We look for people of varied backgrounds and varied points of view which will afford each of the roommates with a stimulating living environment.

rockwellgardens: Hi mr. Rankie i have a great idea for a new show tha is something like college hill, but instead of college students you should have high school students. I belive their a lot much wilder.It should also start in chicago. i know i would love to be on that show,and i would watch the show too.

Sean Rankine: Sounds like a great idea. Look how well that idea worked for MTV with Laguna Beach. I encourage you to continue to create new television shows that you would like to see. You never know...you might just see your idea on the air.

Posted April 25

Shyness808: Why did you decide to pick 4 from Cali and 4 from V.I. instead of picking them all from different locations across the states or other U.S. territories like Samoa or something?

Sean Rankine: WHEN WE CAST SEASON 4, WE WANTED TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT WERE VASTLY DIFFERENT. IN THIS CASE, WHAT COULD BE MORE DIFFERENT THAN 4 PEOPLE FROM A FAST PACED, GLITZY CITY AND 4 PEOPLE FROM A TRANQUIL TROPICAL PARADISE? THAT IS HOW THIS CAST WAS BORN.

lilharryandkeshawn: Why would yall let that argument get as far as it did. iI know ther has to be something behind that.

Sean Rankine: WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT THE ARGUMENT WAS NOT REALLY THAT LONG. WHAT YOU SEE IN THE EPISODE IS VIRTUALLY REAL TIME, APPROX 1 MINUTE AND 40 SECONDS. YOU SEE A DIRECTOR STEP IN, IT TAKES TIME TO GET THERE.

blksatinsista1973: Will you or are you considering doing a show where you send vanessa to where Krystal lives or possibly somewhere in Atlanta , just somewhere different from her home tosee how she copes and reacts? It would be interesting to see them, exspecially Vanessa live somewhere else for 2 months

Sean Rankine: STAY TUNED TO SEE HOW THE STORY UNFOLDS.

Latest page update: made by CollegeHillQueen , Apr 25 2007, 9:27 AM EDT (about this update About This Update

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chantel84

question

Jun 20 2008, 10:01 PM EDT by chantel84

Thread started: Jun 20 2008, 10:01 PM EDT Watch

hello my name is chantel i am a freshmen i attend a community college in califonia next year i graduate and go to attend a university
i am interest in being a member on the college hill show for the next
season

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sexycamdrew

segregation

Jun 5 2008, 6:26 PM EDT by sexycamdrew

Thread started: Jun 5 2008, 6:26 PM EDT Watch

hi,i live in london and college hill virgin island has just been aired over here in the uk,this year.i just saw the episode where vanessa was sent home,i know she started the fight,but i thought krystal should have gone as well.seeing that she cost vanessa to shed blood.

now another issue i've got,they are all black in the house,the only difference,is the accent,i cant believe,those from cali can be so prejudice towards the virgin islanders.

black people should stick together,we've been through so much,and are still going through racism.why make a silly thing like an accent get in the way.wot they should be doing is embracing each other culture and experiencing it to.dont let a little thing like an accent get in the way.

black people you must unite,learn to love each other. GOOD BLESS

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ashanti25

College Hill Fresno

May 11 2008, 2:06 AM EDT by ashanti25

Thread started: May 11 2008, 2:06 AM EDT Watch

Hello, My name is Ashanti and I was wondering how about doing college hill , instead of an HBCU but a diffrent school such as Fresno State University where there are African-American sudents including myself, to throw a twist in it for the next season. please contact me via email, shanster25@tmail.com thank you, Ashanti

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