athom

If the "1800 House" and "Frontier House" just got you all revved up
to go off to yesteryear for a stint, while the rest of the world
watches your every bowel movement, then never fear because "Colonial
House" is here! Check out all the details on recruitment for folks
to spend five months living like colonialists in breeches and
petticoats in New England: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/

If you feel that this would appeal to you and your family and you
have always dreamed of living in Colonial Times, and you have
5-6 months to sacrifice to the producers of this show, then by all
means, tally ho! I'm not sure this would truly qualify as
unschooling, since the producers and their lawyers truly have control
over your lives during this stint. But within the context of the
period one would have no schooling regulations to adhere to, for
sure. And it is definitely hands-on experiential learning!

Of course, I would throw in a few notes of caution based on primary
personal experience. The site doesn't state who the producers of this
version will be, but in all likelihood it will be Simon Shaw, Beth
Hoppe and Mark Saben, or some combination of these three, the same
producers who have been involved in the other two PBS/WNET time
travel productions. If the total loss of privacy and the producers'
tendency to twist situations around, often setting folks up for all
kinds of conflict (to boost ratings), doesn't deter you, then by all
means hurry up and apply.

And please do not count on any stipends for your six months, no
matter what the web site says. For those who don't know our family
was the runner up family for "Frontier House." Our photos are still
up on the web site. Just go to:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse/
Once there click on "The Project," then from the drop down menu, "The
Search." Our family is in the middle of the page with the video
clip. What we learned from our experience was that these guys were
looking for folks who would not only not cost them any money at all,
but in some cases, like the family from Los Angeles who were featured
on the Frontier House series, those who would actually help them
underwrite their production with generous donations. So, if you have
five to six months to spare, can walk away from your job without any
hassles (they say they will help but they never offered to do so,
even when we asked; then were a little annoyed and utterly evasive
when we asked about the stipend they promised on the web site,
started mumbling about their high production costs, etc.). In other
words they did their best to make us feel that we should be honored
to be chosen and grateful to do it for nothing, even to donate funds
to help them. But if you are willing to subject yourselves
to whatever they choose to set up for you, to be portrayed in the
worst possible situations, for ratings purposes, of course, then by
all means volunteer for this adventure.

The deadline has been extended to March 31, 2003. You must fill out
the application on the PBS web site and they will phone you if you
are among the chosen few. We received many phone calls, with
producers talking to each family member individually, then visits,
videotaping us. These phone calls and videotapes then went to
production teams and focus groups to determine who would be the final
three families. But when we were less than enthusiastic about
signing a contract with a British production company, relinquishing
all rights to adjudicate anything in the United States, and giving
over rights to anything even remotely connected with this experience,
including our thoughts, our words, the lives of our family members,
without consulting an attorney first, well, let's just say
that we were no longer at the top of their list, were demoted to
runners up.

They are really looking for whoever will be the easiest for them to
work with, those who will present no problems, either legally,
financially, or those who might be upset by what they ultimately do
to them via the finished production's portrayal of them. Otherwise
this is a great opportunity for the right persons, the right
families, to live the colonial reality for 5-6 months. Do check it
out if you are interested and if you can rearrange your life to suit
their needs.

We are glad that we went through the selection process during which
time we studied and learned a great deal about the Frontier House
period. But we are even happier that we were not finalists after
watching the series. Many of the things that they ended up doing were
not things that they ever disclosed to us. Basically I felt that the
series lacked integrity when those who repeatedly violated the
agreements were kept on the set (probably because they had
contributed so much money to the production!). But if we had been in
a financial position to just pull up and walk away for the five
months of production, without threatening our futures, then we would
have happily done it. Basically I guess what I am saying is that
this sort of thing really is meant for rich folks, or folks who do
not have any obligations, like the young couple on Frontier House.

The parallel Canadian production, "Pioneer Quest: A Year in the Real
West," done by the CBC, booted the couple who broke the rules
immediately and brought in someone else. They also did give a
substantial cash payment at the end to each participant who survived
the year of living on the Canadian frontier, compensating them for
their sacrifices. The Canadians have also done two other series
including "Klondike: The Quest For Gold." We feel they have handled
their productions with much more honesty and integrity. Oh, well.

Here's your chance to not only be in a reality series, but to learn
about and live in history! Why not? If you fit the bill and can
take off for a year, have family or someone who can pay your bills,
take care of your property for you, have a business or job you can
leave for up to six months without detrimental consequences, do not
have very young children (too dangerous), have no health concerns
that would interfere with a colonial way of living, then these kinds
of chances don't come along very often. And who better than home
educators to understand that 6 months away from "school" is no big
deal?

Do check it out if you are interested. We were all very enthusiastic
when we applied and went through the process for Frontier House. But
we became less and less enthusiastic as we began to notice that we
were basically just props for the producers who were not being
entirely honest with us about lots of things regarding this
production. But then, that's the theatre! And make no mistake, this
is theatre, but you will have to live it as real life, every day for
five to six months. I asked my husband if he wanted to apply again.
He said, "No dear, but feel free to do it without me, if that's what
you really want to do!" I asked my teenage daughter if she'd be
willing to do it and she said, "Mom!" I think that pretty much sums
it up.

To read more about all these historical reality series visit:
http://www.erasofelegance.com/realitytv.html

Norma