Ideas can take root in some of the most unusual places, as Ted Michael --- author of THE DIAMONDS and the newly released CRASH TEST LOVE --- can attest. Below, he discusses a current and seemingly improbable source of inspiration, describing the lessons in life and the art of storytelling that can be culled from watching endless hours of reality TV.
As a writer, I seek inspiration everywhere. Sometimes, watching a great movie gives me an idea for a project. This is exactly what happened with my new book, CRASH TEST LOVE. Other times, more personal things --- a fight with a family member, a great afternoon hanging out with a friend --- help me understand how one of my characters might react in a particular situation. While I don’t spend a lot of time watching television, certain shows really make me think: When I watch "Dexter," for example, I contemplate intricate plotting, and how to keep an audience in suspense. If I’m watching "30 Rock," I think about outrageously funny scenarios that will make my story more engaging.
Some of the most thought-provoking shows on television are of the “reality” sort. Which brings me to my main topic: "The Hills." Before this year, I’d never watched a single episode. From what I could gather, it seemed silly and uninteresting. The people on it struck me as incredibly boring. What could I possibly learn from it? One day in the recent past, however, a marathon of "The Hills" was on. I left it running while I was shuffling around my apartment, and found myself fascinated.
Backstabbing! Drama! Fights! Name-calling! Magic crystals! “Have you ever seen this show?” I asked one of my friends later that night. “Yeah,” he said. “Everything and nothing happens at the same time. I still can’t tell any of the girls apart.”
I wanted to respond that he had no excuse for mixing up the girls on the show because their names were constantly flashed on screen. Instead, I hung up the phone and found myself agreeing with him. Whoever created the show truly understood how to make something feel dramatic --- while watching, I was on pins and needles. The stakes felt incredibly high. Will Spencer snub Stephanie when they’re out at a club? Will Heidi and LC rekindle their friendship? Will Audrina ever get any energy? And what about those crystals?
But then I realized the stakes were far from high --- in fact, they were incredibly low. Yet the show was still engaging. Which meant that the storytellers --- the writers, directors, editors, and producers --- were able to use the “actors” as inspiration and produce a riveting series as a result.
Now, as I’m watching the final season, I am attempting to take the lessons I’ve learned from The Hills and apply them to my own writing and, perhaps, my life: the ending of a friendship can be just as deadly as the apocalypse, plastic surgery really can change someone, and never date a musician. Oh, and the last one --- don’t ever move to LA.
So, I would encourage anyone who is thinking about writing or making art of any kind to keep their eyes open, and look for inspiration in unexpected places. You never know what you’ll find.
-- Ted Michael
