Reality TV for Rising Stars

This was the sentiment expressed by Mike Hogan, executive producer of Digicel’s new reality series, Digicel Rising Stars, at its launch yesterday at Zen nightclub, Keate Street, Port-of-Spain.

He lamented that there was not enough “home produced programming” and too much reliance on North America and Europe for entertainment. He said he hopes that this new reality series, which has already become a fixture in other Caribbean islands, will be used as a tool to explore and expose the immense talent that resides in Trinidad and Tobago.

Digicel Rising Stars was launched in Jamaica in 2004 and was that country’s first ever live televised talent search. Jamaica’s 2005 final show had a viewing audience of 1.6 million, one of the largest television audiences in Jamaica’s history. In 2005, the series also spread to the islands of Barbados, St Vincent, St Lucia and Grenada.

The talent search is open to anyone over the age of 18, who is not currently signed to a management or recording contract and is a citizen or resident of Trinidad and Tobago. At the auditions, participants may either perform individually or in a group of up to six.

Contestants will be competing for the first prize of $100,000, a trophy and a management contract with Question Mark Entertainment. The runner up will receive $60,000 and the second runner up $40,000.

There are five auditions this season: August 26 and 27 in Arima; September 2 and 3 in Chaguanas; September 9 and 10 in San Fernando; September 16 and 17 in Port-of-Spain and September 23 and 24 in Tobago. Exact locations and other details will be announced at a later date.

The first day spent at each location will be an open call for anyone interested in participating. Individuals who have captured the attention of the preliminary judges will be asked to return on the second day for a call back audition. Ten people will be chosen from among those who audition on the second day at each venue. Participants who are unsuccessful at one location may try again at another location.

The second phase of the competition will be determined by members of the public who will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite performers via voice and text messaging, using their Digicel phones. The two individuals who have received the most votes from each venue plus three contestants who have been selected by the celebrity judges will go on to perform live at the Zen nightclub.

There will be a total of 15 shows which will be aired on the Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) television station beginning on September 2. The final show will be broadcasted live on December 3.