Reality bites for 'MTV' video jockeys

JAKARTA (JP): Say video jockey, and several thoughts come to mind -- a gabbing cutie on TV, Donna Karan leather jackets and Manolo Blahniks, a bespectacled music buff, money, a great social life, designer Mickey Mouse goggles or a Spice Girls' interview.

For the actual VJs, the associations are quite different. Just ask Bianca Adinegoro, host and producer of MTV's Seratus Persen Indonesia -- recent winner of Hong Kong's Promax gold award for best entertainment TV show -- and Rahul Khanna, host of Friday's MTV Fresh.

Of Indonesian and Austrian descent, Bianca, 24, speaks English and Indonesian, an essential prerequisite to becoming an Indonesian VJ on the network.

She began her TV career in 1995 at the suggestion of a friend. She joined a production house and started producing some local teen shows, and was later asked to be the Indonesian stringer for MTV News.

One thing led to another, and before long she took on the additional roles of producing and being a VJ for MTV Asia.

Rahul, 25, trod a different path on the road to fame. He has had experience with acting in theatrical productions and modeling for TV commercials and print ads in his hometown, Bombay, India.

He studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute at The School Of Visual Arts in New York, and hosted two TV shows on New York's ITV/Asia Net cable channel, Bombay Glitter and Saturday Live.

He was later offered the VJ position for MTV Asia.

"To be a VJ, you need a laugh-outloud confidence when somebody laughs at what you do," Bianca said.

"A little knowledge of music helps, even as the producer does your scripts and does all the research work for you. It is always better if one knows about the music one is supposed to introduce."

Rahul said MTV VJs were bombarded with music know-how.

"You hear about it from your producers and you have it written on your scripts. You see and hear about it everywhere and get attuned to it," he said.

"Your job becomes a part of your own interest as well. To the extent that if you were on a plane and you were reading a magazine, you'd automatically turn to the entertainment section."

Senior vice president of the MTV Networks Asia, Nigel Robbins, said cultural factors shaped an Indonesian VJ.

"VJs must be able to project a sensitivity towards culture and Indonesian personalities," he said.

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"The Indonesian character is both spiritual and sensitive. Nevertheless, when projected correctly, it can easily accept other cultures."

Contrary to the common assumption, stunning looks are not essential.

"You just have to be camera-friendly. Today's choices are proof that you don't need to be models to become good VJs," said Bianca of the two winners in the Indonesian VJ hunt.

Rahul agreed many VJs had average looks. "One of the most popular VJs in the United States, a woman called Kennedy, is no work of art to be quite honest, but she is so popular and such an excellent VJ."

An ability to handle criticism, both constructive or destructive, is another important qualification for the job.

"One should take it rationally, however silly the criticism," Bianca said.

"I have to handle it, since it comes from the viewers of my own show. I personally don't like colorful clothes. I stick with my basic browns, blacks or blues. Someone wrote to me that I should try different colors, and I did.

"If someone comes up to me and tells me that the way you host is really bad, then I question them and try to get the feedback."

Rahul said he took criticism "with a pinch of salt. Other times, I thank them for their opinions and ... that's it".

Unsociable work hours are "part of the package. The entertainment industry is famous for crazy hours", Rahul said.

"The good side is that after about a week of those crazy hours, you have a few really easy days to enjoy and make up for the work-work time. It kind of balances itself out."

Bianca also does her own research on international bands and music, downloading information from the Internet.

"Since I produce my own show, I do my own research. For VJs, their producers do the research for them," she said. "I log on every night for updates on particular kinds of music. I have my own music library where I have the updates stored."

Bianca said she gets information on local bands from record companies' updates and local magazines like Hai, Gadis and Mode.

While most MTV shows are prerecorded, the few live broadcasts mean VJs run the risk of committing bloopers.

"Once I spoke to this sweet girl caller," Rahul recalled.

"She seemed very enthusiastic about a computer school -- one in which I had taken a class once. I didn't particularly enjoy it and I made the mistake of expressing my 'unenjoyment.'"

He realized that it was something he should not have done and said focusing on the positive was a plus.

MTV Getar Cinta VJ Nadya Hutagalung committed a recent public faux pas.

Hosting the recent Panasonic Awards, Nadya made the staggering verbal slip of telling audiences to stuff their ears with cotton since songstress Emilia Contessa -- famous for her powerful voice -- was up next.

Robbis said MTV stood behind its staff through thick and thin.

"They (people) judge the personalities (of VJs) and then, they judge the platform, MTV.

"We would always support our VJs and if they make a mistake, just as everybody does, we try and help them learn from that mistake, whether it's Nadya or anybody else." (02/edt)