Reality TV in the Bakken | Video

Chris Williams | 1/3/2013

Williston is quite an interesting place. People from all over the country are moving here hoping to make money, and some even have to live in RVs because housing is at a premium.

"We`ve grown to a proportion to where a lot of myth comes out of this area, so I think a lot of people look at this area where legends are being born, and this story legendary 100 years from now,” said Asst. Director of Economic Development Shawn Wenko.

One Emmy award winning casting company is hoping to tell the story of the Bakken to the rest of the country.

"Why not do one on a black gold rush that`s happening up there, and the whole boom that’s happening. Then how it`s affecting people, and why people are leaving their families and their homes to go up there to try to make some money,” said Casting Director for Big Fish Casting Charisse Simonian.

With everything that`s going on here, Wenko says the biggest problem show producers will face is trying to pick an angle for the show. "Obviously you need to make a reality based program that is going to be interesting to watch, but we hope that the truths and the facts are not bent to a point where it`s just simply not true.”

Simonian says the show will follow people in the oil industry and how the boom affects Williston. "It`s really been a positive response. Everybody has been like, ‘We`ve been waiting for a show to come out here and do something like this cause it really would make for good TV.’”

Another problem the show might run into is trying to get cameras onto rigs or into trucks. "The employer has to be on board, ya know. So, some of the large companies are probably not going to work for us. But I think there`re a lot of smaller businesses that have started up there. Trucking companies, ya know, family run things that are related to oil,” added Simonian.

As for Wenko, he hopes producers do their homework. "Covering their bases and talking to the mayor and talking to the city commissioners, and talking to a lot of the key stake holders here in the area is going to help them in the long run.”

The show could start filming as soon as February.

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