A chance to shine on the small screen

Cambridge-born Jay Reeve wants to help another Waikato person make it big on the small screen.

Reeve, 28, is a video jockey or "VJ" on MTV New Zealand, and believes a new competition the network has launched will give someone a rare chance to bypass the usual route to get in front of the camera.

The competition, Pick Me MTV, was launched this week and allows would-be VJs to upload clips of themselves to the pickmemtv.co.nz website, showing their talents and describing why they should be chosen.

MTV's talent search has the network hunting for presenters to work alongside Reeve.

"We'll be looking at moulding them into eventually taking on the lead [presenting] position," he said.

"There's never been a better chance to launch into an incredible career."

Reeve said the competition – which would see five finalists selected from a shortlist of 50 candidates – allowed the participants to bypass the several years work front-of-camera TV roles often required.

He believed the network bosses were looking for people who were "lovable rogues" and "had a bit of mongrel about them".

His advice to entrants was to "give it a crack" as the opportunity was a rare one.

"This is a long-term investment for MTV."

The self-described "son of a dairy farmer", who also hosts the ZMFM drive show, has been involved with Sky TV's MTV channel since soon after its 2006 relaunch.

He said he would welcome another Waikato person to the MTV ranks.

Mr Reeve, a trained teacher, never intended to get into TV: "I couldn't actually think of anything worse, and I hated Auckland."

He was concerned by the pretentious nature of some TV celebrities, but said "there's a really good crew of people doing their thing" in television broadcasting".

"It just so happens now I have a really fun job, and a camera follows me around.

"And I am definitely passionate about New Zealand music, and that's something I have been campaigning on."

He said working for MTV was "the most fun you could ever have" and felt the network "encompasses all popular culture", including fashion, music and even extreme sports.

The network's approach to television, and its content, allows it to push broadcasting boundaries, and Mr Reeves said "that suits my personality down to the ground".

The public can vote on participants via the website from September 13.

The competition ends on October 1, when the Top50 will be selected.

- © Fairfax NZ News