Reality Show Producer Arrested For Imprisoning Contestants

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Posted by Jacci Lewis Categories: Reality, Cable, Cable/Satellite, Editorial, News

A reality TV producer/director has landed in his own personal episode of Cops. Police say Marc Brilleman, 33, would not let four women leave a central Florida house where his show, Pauper to Princess, was being filmed.

The show, which hasn’t been picked up by any network as of yet, is about ordinary girls hoping to work out their self-esteem, mental and physical problems by becoming “princesses”. 

Read More | Orlando Sentinel

The eight women cast for the show live in a house in Apopka, Florida five days a week with the opportunity to leave on the weekends.

Four of the women claim Brilleman blocked and locked a door when they tried to leave. When questioned by police Brilleman insisted the women “could not leave because they were being disciplined.” I mean if you think about it, a lot of princess stories involve false imprisonment whether it be locked up in a tower or a dragon’s lair? This is just the modern version.

Neighbors told a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel they feared pornography was being filmed at the house because they kept seeing women going in and out and heard screaming. So far everyone involved insists there was no sexual exploits of any kind involved.

But police say the women are angry that they had not been paid for the past five weeks of filming.

Brilleman was released on $3,000 bond. Police say the South Africa native doesn’t appear to have a criminal record though his immigration status is unclear.

His case is being forwarded to prosecutors but so far he hasn’t been charged with anything.

Jim Johnson, the show’s executive producer, told the Orlando Sentinel his show was an honorable one. “We took them to the opera, we took them to fashion shows, we took them to modeling training and we took them to etiquette training.” (Side note: living in central Florida myself I am always relieved to know there is culture to be had even if it is under duress or part of a reality TV show.)

Johnson admits the contestants’ cell phones were taken away but that it was in line with the contract they signed as was the agreement to stay in the modest-looking house for 13 weeks.

If we’ve learned nothing from the existence of Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian it is that unflattering press attention is just as good as the legitimate kind. I’m predicting this show will be picked up by some hapless cable network. Though technically this show already exists as WE TV’s American Princess. But hey, there is always room for one more cheap rip-off.

Click here if you want to see a sneak peek of the show because boy is it cheese-a-licious!