Andy Gill’s Magic Touch in Reality TV
Possessing the best technology doesn’t ensure an exceptional product. It’s the craftsmanship which is the essential ingredient for success. Social Media has given everyone the ability to reach an audience but keeping them coming back is where so many fall short. Reality television is the precursor to social media. Producer Andy Gill has lent his talent to some of the biggest TV shows of the genre and more than most, he understands how to present “our” stories in an intriguing manner. It’s this ability to deliver real personal connection that so many of us find attractive. From the everyday individual to celebrities, Gill’s work is a “how to” for those who seek to understand the way to transform the typical into extraordinary. Everyone has a story to tell but it’s the great storytellers and their stories that are remembered.
Dating shows have been on television since the swinging sixties. There’s something voyeuristic in a non-lecherous way about seeing this type of social interaction. Just released this year on Netflix is Dating Around. Presented in a very modern sense, this production attempts to bring new stories about the true dating climate of 2019. Producer Andy Gill was brought onto the project specifically for his ability to tell LGBTQ stories in a way that other producers cannot. While Gill’s resume is populated with hit shows like Made in Chelsea (UK) and the like, he’s passionate about communicating stories of the LGBTQ community. One such episode in Dating Around was that of Lex, a sort of Asian James Dean living in NYC and looking for connection. As Lex dates as series of men including a former southern wannabe pastor, an actor, and a music artist paying his bills as a dog walker, viewers glimpse the normalcy as well as the uniqueness of Lex’s love life. Twenty-three year-old Mila is new to New York and new to the dating scene in the city. We see her navigate a number of dates with other women, some of whom help her in acclimating to the lesbian community of NYC. Through Mila’s eyes we experience the struggle of deciding on a partner with overwhelming charisma versus one who offers security.
Gill is not only proud of the entertainment and high production value of the show but of telling these types of stories in a way never before seen. The producer relates, “Not only is this a show that features the types of stories I want to be telling, it’s also one of the best teams of people I’ve ever worked with. What’s been really nice is how many people have reached out to say how much they enjoyed the show. In the future, I would of course like to see more LGBTQ stories but I think the series really broke the mold of what we assume dating shows to be because it also featured older daters and a woman who decided not to pick anyone at all. This proves that as creatives behind the scenes, we don’t have to stick to the tropes/formulas of what we think reality TV is. I’d love it if each series could take place in a different city so we can see the richness of people’s experience. That’s one of the best things about Netflix, they’re not afraid to think globally.”
As a producer of the previously mentioned Made in Chelsea, Gill was a force behind one of UK’s most successful structured reality shows. His work on the show was a part of its ascension to become the highest rated show on E4 and procure a BAFTA award. Andy also produced the spin-off Mad On Chelsea, a weekly fan centered program with regular views of 500,000 to a million, as well as the digital spin-off “In Bed With Jamie.” The show’s young upper-class professionals have become mainstays of social media and watercooler discussion imbedded in pop culture discussions. While the cast of Made in Chelsea was commonly in posh surroundings, the environment of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here was much more Spartan. Andy produced a number of aspects for this multiple BAFTA awarded reality series. As the show is shot is Australia and then transmitted to the UK, the production process is more demanding than most. There’s no such thing as a proper circadian rhythm working on a program such as this. Andy concedes that one’s social life suffers under these circumstances but creativity and passion often demands sacrifice. He’s committed to the evolving nature of reality productions. Gill communicates, “I want to make things that are authentic and have something to say; shows that are visually exciting and engaging. I think it’s extremely important that platforms like Netflix are giving filmmakers and other story tellers the space to be able to make these sorts of programs. I think it’s a journey we’re only really just at the start of. Working on Dating Around was really empowering and it’s something I’m trying to carry on into future projects. I want to be able to bring marginalized voices into the mainstream.”
Current and upcoming production for Producer Andy Gill include: Travels With My Father (Season 3-Netflix) and two projects in development for MTV, one of which is a dating show.
