Überstar Author and Reality-TV Expert: Dr.Vaughn Alaine-Marshall
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- “…insider sources from all around the world broke multi-million dol-lar con-fi-den-ti-al-ity agree-ments volun-teering nearly identical stor-ies. I wrote their accounts as a novel because I didn’t want to spend the next five years in court.”
There’s reality-TV they want you to see and reality-TV as it really is.
Author, Dr Vaughn Alaine-Marshall, has explored the secret world of American Idol in his new novel Überstar, to reveal the truth, warts and all, behind the scenes of the world’s most successful Reality-TV show.
Learn more from the author about his book and why it matters…
Question: You’re a Doctor… what’s your field?
Vaughn Alaine-Marshall: I’m a Doctor of Chiropractic. I spent five long years at University finding out how the human body works and then after all of that I retired from private practice after four-and-a-half days.
You’re a Reality-TV expert – how did this come about?
During my final year of University I was spending more time researching Reality-TV than studying anatomy, neurology, orthopedics and other such topics. I didn’t spend the time watching television. I was dissecting my own interviews and digging through newspaper articles from all over the globe. Now the perspective I have sets me apart. I know what you were never meant to know.
So, why the interest in reality-TV shows like American Idol? Why do you think it is so popular?
The viewer either wants to feel connected to a contestant’s journey; or see them humiliated for personality flaws. The entertainment value comes from these dramatic reactions. American Idol is so popular because it positions regular people in extraordinary circumstances. The uncensored emotion that ensues is the goldmine that producers depend upon.
Where did you get the idea behind Überstar from?
A close, family friend was a prominent contestant on one of the world’s largest reality shows. One day we spoke and what she described to me was so shocking that if I hadn’t known her my entire life, I would not have believed a word she had said. From there the idea snowballed and insider sources from American Idol broke multi-million dollar confidentiality agreements volunteering nearly identical stories. I wrote their accounts as a novel because I didn’t want to spend the next five years in court.
Can you reveal your sources? What are the clues?
I will never reveal my sources. However, I have given you clues as to who they are. If you look hard enough you will see who I’m writing about.
How long did Überstar take to write?
I locked myself in my bedroom that was roughly 10 by 15 feet, turned off my phone and wrote until it was done. I knew myself that if I didn’t take drastic measures I wouldn’t get this book done, so I ignored all of my friends, wore the same track pants everyday, and forgot that the outside world existed for eight and a half months. In the end, Überstar became something I could never have imagined when I started.
Who will Überstar appeal to?
American Idol fans will love this book! I’ve given you the hottest, sexiest, most explosive look at a process you were never meant to know about. If you think your favorite show is great, the making of it is twice as entertaining! Also, those who think Idol is a waste of airwaves will relish all the manipulations that go into creating a ‘real’ show.
It’s a novel, but what makes Überstar so special, why does it matter?
Überstar gives you the opportunity to see how these people think, to smell their breath and hear their heartbeat. You don’t read about it. You experience it.
Do you think it will appeal to a global audience? Which countries do you think Überstar will particularly connect with?
The stories within Überstar come from all around the world. The story has universal appeal. Any country that has reality-TV will connect with Überstar.
Will we learn about what it takes to survive a round of Idol auditions?
Yes. If you read between the lines.
Have you had any feedback from other reality-TV program makers?
None that I can mention in this interview. Let’s just say that some people are not happy this book has been written.
Überstar reads like it could be easily adapted for television. Is this a possibility?
Absolutely. Überstar is written so the reader is ‘watching the show’. This makes a jump onto the small screen a simple task.
This is the first Überstar book. What are your plans for the Überstar brand in its entirety?
At the moment, we have plans for Überstar II and Überstar III. I’m currently doing my research for Überstar II – an exploration of the film industry. The story continues on and many of the characters flow-over. Again, it’s absolutely chilling what I’ve found out – even within the industry of make-believe. We should end at Überstar III. My biggest fear is that we get to Überstar VI and it starts to resemble Police Academy IX!
Dr Vaughn Alaine-Marshall is a reality-TV expert and author. Interviewed for CNN and The Hindustan Times, Dr Alaine-Marshall is regularly featured in: Reality-TV Magazine, Buzz Sugar, Yahoo! Shine, Gather.com, DivaToolBox.com, Wellness.com, and Dr. Laura.
