Re: Ashley and J.P - General Media Discussion - Thread #3

by Guest Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:57 am

tigertiz wrote:Wow - so it's two years. And the Producer has the absolute right to film it, period. It's not up to the couple to decide I guess. They'd get about $ 20,000 if it were a two hour tv event. If I were them, I'd set a date that was 2 years out and only then try to negotiate a better deal. The network ought to pay for the whole wedding, honeymoon and more. It's a pittance of the ad revenue for the "show".

Is it the same for Bachelor Pad couples I wonder????

by laurentx Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:59 am

One of the articles said Ashley is happy to have ABC do most of the planning, they are not fussy just want an elegant affair with a vintage feel.

They may be so in love and just figure why wait? They are so popular with the fans and the network may be suggesting they walk down the aisle before the popularity wears off. Who knows, ABC may even be enticing them with more money if they do it sooner.

by DMBFan Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:03 am

Doesn't her post-doc that she applied for start in September. I would imagine she would be very busy once that starts. Maybe there is a little truth to those rumours.

by laurentx Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:06 am

sophienette wrote:
tigertiz wrote:Wow - so it's two years. And the Producer has the absolute right to film it, period. It's not up to the couple to decide I guess. They'd get about $ 20,000 if it were a two hour tv event. If I were them, I'd set a date that was 2 years out and only then try to negotiate a better deal. The network ought to pay for the whole wedding, honeymoon and more. It's a pittance of the ad revenue for the "show".

Is it the same for Bachelor Pad couples I wonder????

Sophie I would think not.. ABC sells that as a competition show, and if they find love along the way that's icing on the cake. The premise behind The Bachelor is to find a spouse and if it happens a tv wedding is part of the package deal - the network is more than proud to show the process can work.

by Guest Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:08 am

Makes sense!

by atem Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:52 am

laurentx wrote:One of the articles said Ashley is happy to have ABC do most of the planning, they are not fussy just want an elegant affair with a vintage feel.

They may be so in love and just figure why wait? They are so popular with the fans and the network may be suggesting they walk down the aisle before the popularity wears off. Who knows, ABC may even be enticing them with more money if they do it sooner.

What article is that from? The Lifestyle one again? I just know Lifestyle is one of the worst when talking about Ashley.

by anders Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:57 am

L&S is just the worst no matter what they're reporting on.

by laurentx Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:57 am

atem wrote:
laurentx wrote:One of the articles said Ashley is happy to have ABC do most of the planning, they are not fussy just want an elegant affair with a vintage feel.

They may be so in love and just figure why wait? They are so popular with the fans and the network may be suggesting they walk down the aisle before the popularity wears off. Who knows, ABC may even be enticing them with more money if they do it sooner.

What article is that from? The Lifestyle one again? I just know Lifestyle is one of the worst when talking about Ashley.

Hollywood Life.. Take it for what it's worth, right? Smiley

by ironcat Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:15 pm

Archer23 wrote:
ironcat wrote:Wow, I have to admit I'm shocked that it does sound like the couple has absolutely no say in having a private wedding within the first 2 years, according to that contract. I always thought they had a choice to not televise it. Maybe someone on the board who is a lawyer and can better understand the "legalese", can confirm that there is no loophole there.

If this is the case, I wonder why the couples are even asked whether they will televise their wedding (and criticized by some fans for considering it!) if the decision isn't even up to them but is totally at the discretion of ABC (unless they wait 2 years).
I'm a lawyer. I've read the provision several times, because I expected it to address what happens if the couple decides they don't want the wedding televised. But since it doesn't address such a situation and, in fact, talks about an "irrevocable right" to film or photograph the wedding, I think that means it gets televised if ABC wants, and they essentially get to treat it like a regular episode of the show, i.e. with ITMs, voiceovers, storylines, etc. I guess ABC figures that if you were willing to go on the show, you're willing to have your wedding televised, but I think the whole thing is a little ironic. Conceivably, the purpose of the show is to end up with a couple who wants to marry each other (stop laughing!). Yet, if a couple wants to get married privately, without all the hoopla, they have to wait it out for 2 years.

And to answer your question, Atem, the contract does say that for a year after the season ends, the participants are required to participate in publicity and promotional activities as requested by the producers, but I doubt that extends to social media. (The producers can ask, but I doubt the contestants could legally be required to tweet, post to facebook, etc.). The contract is draconian, but I can't imagine any judge in America would uphold a contract provision like that one.

Anyway, in case anyone is interested, here's a link to the 2006 version of the contract: www.tinomartinez24.com/PARTICIPANT_AGREEMENT-1.pdf. I doubt it's been significantly revised since then, though it may have been. It's a pdf, instead of a webpage, so it will probably download automatically, and I hope it works. The most interesting part of the contract to me is section I.B., titled "Knowledge of Series Nature and Content and Agreement to Comply with All Rules, Directions, and Instructions," which includes this language, which is bolded:
I understand that the Series is an unscripted and/or reality series that may involve the element of surprise. I have been informed and understand that I should be prepared for anything, at any time during the production of the Series and that the Series may involve “twists” and that that Producer may make misrepresentations intentionally or unintentionally concerning the Series and/or any element or aspect of the Series. Said misrepresentations may be made by, without limitation, Producer, Host, other Series Participants, Producer’s affiliates and/or other parties connected to the show. Being so informed, I voluntarily agree to participate in the Series.

Thanks for the free consult, Archer! This has been puzzling me, and after sleeping on it, I've come up with another angle. The producers can't force the couple to get married at a specific time and in a specific location, can they? IOW, ABC seemingly wants any wedding that they are going to televise and present as part of TB series to be shot in CA, and generally, wants it to occur within a timeframe that coincides with available airing dates. However, what if Jash (or any successful couple) refuses to get married in CA, or wants to marry in December (not a convenient time), or even wanted to elope? Could the producers actually stop them? I'm thinking that the contract basically says that the couple would only need to notify ABC of their wedding plans, and then ABC has the option of filming it if they choose to, and using the film/photos any way they choose to. And only IF they decide to televise it (as opposed to putting it on their website or selling photos to a magazine) will the couple be compensated. And of course, the couple is prohibited from offering any other media outlet access to any aspect of their wedding/planning without ABC's consent. So if Jash wanted to plan and throw their own wedding in NY, say, they can, but ABC still has the right to come there and film it, and they won't be compensated in any way, unless it is turned into a TV special (which it won't be, beacuse ABC would want more control for that, but parts of it may show up on their website). So, in essence, probably no way to have a totally private wedding, unless ABC just decides they aren't interested in the couple at all. Does this make sense?

by atem Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:19 pm

Well, if JP and Ashley aren't saying it's false yet, it could be true.
I can't stand this un-named source stuff.

by Archer23 Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:24 pm

Yes, that's exactly how I read the contract, ironcat. ABC can choose to televise, and they have the first rights to any publicity about the wedding, but in order to do that, they'd have to go to wherever JP and Ashley decided to have their wedding. I think if ABC/the producers wanted the wedding to be in California, wanted to devote more episodes to the build-up to the wedding (á la Trista and Ryan), or otherwise wanted to have any other say in the wedding beyond the publicizing of it, they'd have to negotiate those details with them.

by laurentx Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:32 pm

atem wrote:Well, if JP and Ashley aren't saying it's false yet, it could be true.
I can't stand this un-named source stuff.

The only former Bachelor contestant I can think of who would know that info firsthand is Ashley Spivey. And she would only speak to the tabloids if Ash and ABC gave her the ok to do so.

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