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BEA2025
Welcome to the BEA2025 convention program! All BEA sessions and events take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall, 3rd floor.

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Keep checking back for event registration, speaker announcements, and more details. Need answers ASAP? Reach out to our event planning team at help@BEAweb.org for info and more.
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Researching Reality TV: The Impact of Casting Choices and Archetypal Narratives on Audience Engagement and Production Practices
Saturday April 5, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
W305
This panel examines the evolution of reality TV, from An American Family to Love Island, focusing on the shift from authentic family portrayals to highly produced entertainment. Panelists will discuss how casting has driven this change, with research revealing producers' preference for individuals with narcissistic and sociopathic traits, leading to high-conflict, compelling television. The conversation will explore how these casting choices reinforce timeless archetypes, such as the hero, villain, and manipulator, offering insights into the intersection of media production, audience engagement, and psychological manipulation in modern reality TV.
Moderator: Ines Petrovic Garcia, Volunteer State/Regent University
Panelists: Michael Sinclair, Regent University; Allen Babiarz-Lira, Vol State Community College/Regent University; Candace Saunders-Grewe, Regent University
Moderators
IP
Speakers
avatar for Michael Sinclair

Michael Sinclair

Chair, Dept. of Media and Visual Arts, Regent University
I am a television producer with 30 years of experience writing, directing, and producing television for various networks, including Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, OWN, Travel Channel, ID, MSNBC, National Geographic Channel, BET, PBS, and others.  I teach film and television production... Read More →
avatar for Allen Babiarz-Lira

Allen Babiarz-Lira

Lecturer, Communication/Ph.D. Student, Vol State Community College/Regent University
avatar for Candace Saunders-Grewe

Candace Saunders-Grewe

Ph.D. Candidate & Associate Faculty, Regent University | Mt. San Jacinto College
Candace Saunders-Grewe is a Ph.D. in Communication candidate at Regent University. Prior to studying at Regent, she obtained her B.A. in English from Radford University and M. A. in Communication from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to pursuing her doctoral degree, Candace currently... Read More →
Saturday April 5, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
W305
  Research, Research/Theory |   BEA, Research/Theory

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