Reality bites for 'MTV' video jockeys<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Say video jockey, and several thoughts come to
\nmind -- a gabbing cutie on TV, Donna Karan leather jackets and
\nManolo Blahniks, a bespectacled music buff, money, a great social
\nlife, designer Mickey Mouse goggles or a Spice Girls' interview.<\/p>\n
For the actual VJs, the associations are quite different. Just
\nask Bianca Adinegoro, host and producer of MTV's Seratus Persen
\nIndonesia -- recent winner of Hong Kong's Promax gold award for
\nbest entertainment TV show -- and Rahul Khanna, host of Friday's
\nMTV Fresh.<\/p>\n
Of Indonesian and Austrian descent, Bianca, 24, speaks English
\nand Indonesian, an essential prerequisite to becoming an
\nIndonesian VJ on the network.<\/p>\n
She began her TV career in 1995 at the suggestion of a friend.
\nShe joined a production house and started producing some local
\nteen shows, and was later asked to be the Indonesian stringer for
\nMTV News.<\/p>\n
One thing led to another, and before long she took on the
\nadditional roles of producing and being a VJ for MTV Asia.<\/p>\n
Rahul, 25, trod a different path on the road to fame. He has
\nhad experience with acting in theatrical productions and modeling
\nfor TV commercials and print ads in his hometown, Bombay, India.<\/p>\n
He studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute at
\nThe School Of Visual Arts in New York, and hosted two TV shows on
\nNew York's ITV\/Asia Net cable channel, Bombay Glitter and
\nSaturday Live.<\/p>\n
He was later offered the VJ position for MTV Asia.<\/p>\n
\"To be a VJ, you need a laugh-outloud confidence when somebody
\nlaughs at what you do,\" Bianca said.<\/p>\n
\"A little knowledge of music helps, even as the producer does
\nyour scripts and does all the research work for you. It is always
\nbetter if one knows about the music one is supposed to
\nintroduce.\"<\/p>\n
Rahul said MTV VJs were bombarded with music know-how.<\/p>\n
\"You hear about it from your producers and you have it written
\non your scripts. You see and hear about it everywhere and get
\nattuned to it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Your job becomes a part of your own interest as well. To the
\nextent that if you were on a plane and you were reading a
\nmagazine, you'd automatically turn to the entertainment section.\"<\/p>\n
Senior vice president of the MTV Networks Asia, Nigel Robbins,
\nsaid cultural factors shaped an Indonesian VJ.<\/p>\n
\"VJs must be able to project a sensitivity towards culture and
\nIndonesian personalities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Friendly<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian character is both spiritual and sensitive.
\nNevertheless, when projected correctly, it can easily accept
\nother cultures.\"<\/p>\n
Contrary to the common assumption, stunning looks are not
\nessential.<\/p>\n
\"You just have to be camera-friendly. Today's choices are
\nproof that you don't need to be models to become good VJs,\" said
\nBianca of the two winners in the Indonesian VJ hunt.<\/p>\n
Rahul agreed many VJs had average looks. \"One of the most
\npopular VJs in the United States, a woman called Kennedy, is no
\nwork of art to be quite honest, but she is so popular and such an
\nexcellent VJ.\"<\/p>\n
An ability to handle criticism, both constructive or
\ndestructive, is another important qualification for the job.<\/p>\n
\"One should take it rationally, however silly the criticism,\"
\nBianca said.<\/p>\n
\"I have to handle it, since it comes from the viewers of my
\nown show. I personally don't like colorful clothes. I stick with
\nmy basic browns, blacks or blues. Someone wrote to me that I
\nshould try different colors, and I did.<\/p>\n
\"If someone comes up to me and tells me that the way you host
\nis really bad, then I question them and try to get the feedback.\"<\/p>\n
Rahul said he took criticism \"with a pinch of salt. Other
\ntimes, I thank them for their opinions and ... that's it\".<\/p>\n
Unsociable work hours are \"part of the package. The
\nentertainment industry is famous for crazy hours\", Rahul said.<\/p>\n
\"The good side is that after about a week of those crazy
\nhours, you have a few really easy days to enjoy and make up for
\nthe work-work time. It kind of balances itself out.\"<\/p>\n
Bianca also does her own research on international bands and
\nmusic, downloading information from the Internet.<\/p>\n
\"Since I produce my own show, I do my own research. For VJs,
\ntheir producers do the research for them,\" she said. \"I log on
\nevery night for updates on particular kinds of music. I have my
\nown music library where I have the updates stored.\"<\/p>\n
Bianca said she gets information on local bands from record
\ncompanies' updates and local magazines like Hai, Gadis and Mode.<\/p>\n
While most MTV shows are prerecorded, the few live broadcasts
\nmean VJs run the risk of committing bloopers.<\/p>\n
\"Once I spoke to this sweet girl caller,\" Rahul recalled.<\/p>\n
\"She seemed very enthusiastic about a computer school -- one
\nin which I had taken a class once. I didn't particularly enjoy it
\nand I made the mistake of expressing my 'unenjoyment.'\"<\/p>\n
He realized that it was something he should not have done and
\nsaid focusing on the positive was a plus.<\/p>\n
MTV Getar Cinta VJ Nadya Hutagalung committed a recent public
\nfaux pas.<\/p>\n
Hosting the recent Panasonic Awards, Nadya made the staggering
\nverbal slip of telling audiences to stuff their ears with cotton
\nsince songstress Emilia Contessa -- famous for her powerful voice
\n-- was up next.<\/p>\n
Robbis said MTV stood behind its staff through thick and thin.<\/p>\n
\"They (people) judge the personalities (of VJs) and then, they
\njudge the platform, MTV.<\/p>\n
\"We would always support our VJs and if they make a mistake,
\njust as everybody does, we try and help them learn from that
\nmistake, whether it's Nadya or anybody else.\" (02\/edt)<\/p>",
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