Buckwild Producers Accused Of Giving Alcohol To Underage Cast; Locals Call The Show Fake
January 2, 2013 by Hollywoodite
Buckwild season one episode one will premiere on MTV tomorrow evening. At which time it will become apparent whether or not the show is as bad and as fabricated as reports would lead fans to believe.
The very first reports about the show claimed that it had been shot out-of-sequence with the cast being told what to say and how to stage altercations for the cameras. That Charlseton Gazette report came from local woman Melissa Whitman who lived across the street from the cast last spring. Whitman also told The New York Times about a confrontation that was faked for the cameras: “I saw one of the crew talk to the lady [who ‘complained’ about the noise], tell her exactly what they wanted her to do, then they filmed it over and over until they got it exactly the way they wanted.” Subsequent reports called the show “garbage” that’s full of “stereotypes”. And another alleged eyewitness claimed to have watched as producers staged a fight between cast who were “only acting.”
Worse still, it’s claimed that producers did more than feed lines.
Reports from USA Today and The NY Times allege that producers gave alcohol to one or more of the minor cast (who were aged between 19 and 24 at the time of filming). The NY Times notes: “Cast members in the trailer and in other clips are perpetually gripping cans and plastic cups, though what they are sipping is hard to discern. Some were under 21 when the series was shot last spring and summer.” County prosecutor Mark Plants tells the newspaper: “This case is obviously unique because you do have [crew] from New York or Hollywood coming in. And it does make it worse because they were in fact filming the conduct.” Plants is currently investigating the allegations that crew supplied minors with alcohol, explaining that he will prosecute “if there’s evidence that these adults provided alcohol to young adults under the age of 21 and then had the audacity to videotape it.” An MTV rep denied the allegations and John Stevens, executive producer with Zoo Productions who made the show, noted that “production spent about $1 million in West Virginia and employed nearly 200 local people.”
In defense of Buckwild, cast member Anna Davis says the show doesn’t make West Virginia look bad and fellow cast mate Shae Bradley says don’t be too quick to judge. And rather than conceding to its lack of veracity, cast member Salwa Amin says MTV paid her to “be [herself] and party.” Amin, who admits to drug use but denies rumours of her promiscuity, also says the show’s positive because it’s about different social classes coming together.
Cast member Ashley Whitt was not allowed to comment, telling the NYT simply: ”I’m not allowed to make comments on anything.” Her mother Violet Meadows spoke to the newspaper though, saying: “[Ashley] is a wonderful young person,” and Buckwild is accurate because “the kids in this area, they’re from the country, they go mudding, they build bonfires, they hunt, they swim in the river.”
Cast member Cara Parrish was allowed to give an interview to USA Today. She defended the show: “All of us are very proud people. We all love our state very much and would never have thought anything that we’re doing would be harmful to our state, or we would have never done it. I don’t think there is anything you can do in life that at least a couple of people aren’t going to be happy about, but I can’t think of it being offensive… I will say that sometimes, I have a mouth like a sailor.” Of the Jersey Shore comparisons, she continues: “I like Jersey Shore, but we’re our own thing… Success is something everyone wants, so… yes [I would like our show to be as successful].”
MTV executive Colin Nash adds: “It’s not our goal or intention to stereotype anyone when we’re making a TV show. Our show is about this group of kids who happen to live in West Virginia, and I think that people who watch the show will become invested in these kids and their characters and their stories, and hopefully appreciate West Virginia as a backdrop.”
Stevens, the executive producer, concurs. Telling USA Today that the trailer is exaggerated: “Look at any TV or movie trailer out there, and it will grab your attention with the most outrageous stuff. That’s just a formula that broadcasters and movie companies have used forever. I don’t think that’s indicative of what the show is. The show has a lot of wild moments to it, but I think it’s got tons of heart, and I think you’re going to see some really fun kinds of relationships.” And telling the NYT: “The show lets them do their thing, which is wild and awesomely crazy at times, but it’s also got a lot of heart. They’re just a lovable group of kids we found.”
Pam Haynes, director of the West Virginia Film Office responsible for denying the show tax credits (an incentive to film), doesn’t see it that way. Rebutting simply: “This program does not represent our state or our citizens.”
You can read the cast’s extended bios here and read about their arrests here. Incidentally, at least one of the cast was arrested for underage drinking (filming took place between April, according to one report, with re-shoots taking place after mid-May, according to another report, and cast member Tyler Boulet was arrested in mid-June).