Reality Is, North Texas Is Booming For TV Production
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - On nearly every channel, there's a reality television show.
And this season, more of them are being filmed right here in North Texas. "Texas Multi Mamas", "Most Eligible Dallas", "Texas Women", "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team", just to name a few.
"Big Rich Texas" is another reality television show, which airs on The Style Network. It follows the lives of six Dallas socialites and their daughters.
CBS 11 News was granted exclusive access to go "behind the scenes" for season two. And cast member "Leslie" says this season is packed with even more drama than the last.
Leslie recently moved to North Texas from California. She says she was cast in "Big Rich Texas" thanks, in part, to her cousin "Connie" who was already part of the show.
Leslie says she has enjoyed most of her reality television experience, although it's still hard getting used to the cameras. "I have opened my eyes in the morning and the camera is right there. And I'm like really? Can I just brush my teeth first?"
And even though the cameras aren't rolling on the crew, Executive Producer Spike Van Briesen says their lives can be just as chaotic. "It's kind of 24/7 for a lot of us. Your quickly finding something out. So your running to shoot it. It's a marathon."
We caught up with Big Rich Texas shooting a scene at Skintastic in Uptown Dallas, where the women rely on Doctor Jeffrey Adelglass to keep them looking their best.
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Dr. Adelglass says he's still getting used to his new found fame. "When I go out, wherever I go people come up to me and they've seen me on TV."
Even thought it was a quick scene at Dr. Adelglass' office, it takes hours of work to get everyone "ready to roll".
Big Rich Texas premiered in July and quickly became the second highest rated new series on The Style Network.
But it seems like every reality series -- from "Top Chef" to "Khloe and Lamar" just gets bigger and better when it's shot in Texas.
Cynthia Smoot, who runs a Dallas advertising agency, is a huge fan of this new crop of shows and says there is a reason why millions of others tune in to watch them. "I don't think it should be any surprise that one of the things Texas is known for is our larger than life personalities, everything is bigger and better here."
And she blogs about all of it at ohsocynthia.com.
Smoot says Dallas became an iconic city because of the 80's television series "Dallas" and even that show is coming back. "I just think it's great exposure for the city of Dallas, whether you love it. or love to hate it."
And that exposure is generating millions of dollars. According to the city of Dallas, for every $1 million spent shooting, the economic impact is $2.3 million.
Van Briesen says North Texas has a draw for production crews, "It's a major city. It's an incredible city. It's an incredible city to shoot. It's scenic. There are a ton of visuals that you can get from Dallas itself for the show."
Which means you're more than likely to see more crews roaming around North Texas.
To find out about productions jobs for the shows, check out the Dallas Film Commission website or the Texas Film Commission website.
Several more shows have filmed pilots, and are waiting for the green light to start production.
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