Bree settled down in her chair, nursing a hot cup of coffee as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
"So, these are the official rules now?" she asked Mike, who looked like he was having trouble not falling asleep himself.
"And details of lockdown. Basically, we're keeping the house's location a secret until the last minute. It's going to be high up, north Queensland, up at Cairns. Just to make it easier with the travelling for you three doing FNL," Beanie explained.
"So, we'll put them into lockdown...?" Fryzie asked, yawning.
"Probably around the 21st or so, they stay in lockdown for a week and can take one person with them. But in there, they'll have no contact with the outside world, they won't be able to watch the news or anything, they just get to hang out in the hotel," Beanie went on. "Kinda like when you guys went in."
"We'll be splitting them up in different hotels, bed and breakfasts," Mike said. "Just so they don't accidentally run into each other. Obviously, they're not allowed to leave their hotel, but if they go downstairs for dinner or something, they might see each other. There's about 7 places up in Cairns and a bit further up, so two housemates to one location will work out."
"Chances are, they won't run into each other anyway," Bree agreed. "In lockdown, I just spent heaps of time with my mum, just chilling out and enjoying the last days of freedom."
~*~*~*~
Dear Potential Housemate,
You now have 20 days to get your affairs into order. This may mean quitting jobs, getting time off, deferring study, etc. You must be discreet about telling people you are entering Big Brother. Big Brother advises you tell only 2 or 3 of your close friends and family, and/or your employers, letting them know they are not to tell anyone. Big Brother holds the right to prevent your entering of the house if he feels the rules have not been adhered to.
On the 21st May 2005, a car will be sent round to your house at 6am. From here, this car will take you and one friend/family member of your choice to the hotel where you will be put into lockdown. In lockdown, you will have no contact with the outside world, no reading/watching of the news or current affairs. It is your time to get used to being cut off from the world.
You will leave lockdown on the 29th May 2005, where you will be told whether or not you will be going into the Big Brother House on the first show of the season.
The official rules and information has been attached for your viewing. Learn these rules and follow them.
Housemate Guidelines
Housemates must familiarise themselves with these guidelines before entering the Big Brother house. These guidelines will be supplemented as required during their time in the house. Failure to observe any of these guidelines may result in penalties and may also result in early eviction and/or disqualification.
Big Brother reserves the right to change or adapt these rules without prior notice or consultation at any stage.
The House
Welcome to the first series of Alien/Mutant Big Brother. The Big Brother House has been built to allow every square centimetre to be filmed. Everything Housemates do once they have entered the House may be broadcast on television, on the internet and through other media. Housemates will stay in the House - some for up to three months or more - with no contact with the outside world.
The Big Brother House is, first and foremost, a home to all Housemates. As such, it must be a place where all Housemates feel safe and are treated with basic respect. Housemates should feel free to express and be themselves but they should also be mindful of the effect of their actions and words on others.
Big Brother promotes the values of tolerance and fairness. No Housemate should be demeaned or isolated because of their sex, sexual preference, race or religion. Where differences of opinion arise, Big Brother encourages Housemates to work through conflicts together and to seek assistance from Big Brother where needed. Big Brother expects Housemates to treat each other with care and to support each other to do the right thing by others.
Big Brother will not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment or assault of any kind in the House. If any Housemate is found to be in serious breach of the Big Brother code of conduct as expressed in these guidelines, the producers will intervene and take immediate action.
There are ten basic rules regarding life inside the Big Brother House. In agreeing to take part in Big Brother, Housemates also agree to abide by these rules.
The Rules
BIG BROTHER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR VARY ANY OR ALL OF THESE RULES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.
FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN PENALTIES AND MAY LEAD TO NOMINATION, EVICTION OR EVEN DISQUALIFICATION.
1. There is no contact with the outside world.
2. Housemates are filmed 24 hours a day and must wear personal microphones at all times unless otherwise stated.
3. The Diary Room is the only place in the House where Big Brother will acknowledge Housemates. Visits to the Diary Room are a vital part of the Big Brother experience and are, therefore, compulsory.
4. Each week Housemates are required to go to the Diary Room and nominate two fellow Housemates for potential eviction. Housemates must give frank and honest reasons for their nominations. Big Brother will deal firmly with Housemates who give reasons which are deemed unacceptable. Housemates cannot nominate themselves.
5. Housemates are not permitted to discuss nominations with any other Housemates.
6. Housemates may not intimidate, threaten or act violently towards any other Housemate. Housemates may not bully or intimidate other Housemates because of their gender or sexual preferences. They must take all care to ensure that sexual attention is invited and that consent to any sexual contact is mutual and informed.
7. Housemates must not knowingly defame or vilify any individual or group. Responding to Big Brother in an offensive manner or showing disrespect to Big Brother will result in penalties and may result in early eviction.
8. Housemates may not communicate in code and/or non-English or sign languages. Housemates are forbidden to write anything using any material or surface in the House eg. steam on glass.
9. All tasks, unless otherwise stated, are compulsory.
10. Housemates may not discuss any previous series of Big Brother - either Australian or international series - or former Housemates - either Australian or international Housemates - with any other Housemate. Housemates are forbidden to discuss their plans for any prizes. Housemates may not discuss any aspect of the audition process or any person they met during the auditions or at any other time during pre-production or in Lockdown.
Supplementary Rules
Supplementary rules which relate to any person who may enter the House at any time during the series (also known as "Intruders" or "Replacements"):
1. Intruders must not discuss any news from the outside world or events that have happened since the start of the current series of Big Brother.
2. Existing Housemates must not ask any Intruders about any aspect of the programming and/or promotion of Big Brother including nominations and evictions.
3. Intruders must not discuss between themselves or with existing Housemates any aspect of the programming or promotion of past series of Big Brother or any of the current season's programming or promotion.
Contact With The Outside World
While in the House, Housemates will have no contact with the outside world. Big Brother never discusses anything that has happened in the outside world with Housemates except as described in these Guidelines. Big Brother never enters into any negotiations about how certain actions, conversations or events that may have occurred in the House will be shown on the television.
Housemates are not permitted to make any attempts to communicate personal messages with members of the outside world by means of written messages, symbols, code, clothing or by any other means. Housemates are free to come to the Diary Room to say anything they wish, including asking for messages to be delivered to anyone outside of the House but Big Brother does not guarantee that any of these messages will be broadcast.
Big Brother exercises the utmost care to ensure that unauthorised intrusions do not occur. If there is any sort of breach of security Housemates must follow the following procedures for their own safety:
If any objects appear in the garden Housemates must not touch or inspect them unless instructed to do so.
If people appear in the garden Housemates MUST NOT communicate with them.
If either of the above events occur Housemates must make their way immediately inside and close the doors, even if not specifically asked to do so.
Housemates must ignore any noise they hear from outside the Big Brother compound including helicopters and routine daily noises from Dreamworld.
FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE ABOVE RULES MAY RESULT IN PENALTIES AND/OR DISQUALIFICATION AND EARLY EVICTION OR ANY OTHER PUNISHMENT AS BIG BROTHER DETERMINES.
Filming & Personal Microphones
It is a fundamental principle of Big Brother that everything Housemates say or do in the Big Brother House may be recorded and broadcast (except in certain instances in the Diary Room and when using the toilet).
Big Brother will not broadcast images from the toilet on the television or Internet unless it is being used for purposes other than those for which it was designed. For example, images and sound of two people talking in the toilet may be broadcast.
It is strictly against the Rules to interfere with any camera or sound equipment installed in the House and garden or to do anything which may hinder the proper working of the equipment in any way.
It is against the rules to try and locate and/or acknowledge cameras through the mirrors. It is also against the rules to discuss camera positions.
Nothing must be placed in front of mirrors to impede camera coverage. Housemates are forbidden to move vases and bowls and any other decorative items.
No furniture can be moved from one part of the house to another.
Housemates are forbidden to hang towels anywhere in the House except on the heated towel rails in the bathroom or on the rails installed at the outside shower.
It is compulsory to wear a personal microphone at all times except when sleeping, showering or taking part in any activity in which the microphone may be damaged.
PERSONAL MICROPHONES MUST BE WORN ON THE LANYARDS PROVIDED. THEY CANNOT BE ATTACHED TO NECKLACES OR CLOTHING. THE LANYARD MUST ALSO BE WORN PROPERLY ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CLOTHING.
Housemates have to change the personal microphone batteries each day. Personal microphones can be taken off while sleeping but they must be placed next to the bed. There are microphones positioned above the beds. The contestants must sleep at the allocated end of the bed. Housemates must not take off their microphones while lying on the beds during the day.
When washing, bathing or showering, Housemates must wear their microphones to the washroom and place the microphone on the stand provided. Microphones must be put on again immediately afterwards, as soon as Housemates are dry, regardless of whether or not Housemates are fully dressed.
In the swimming pool, sauna and/or spa similar rules apply. Housemates must continue to wear their microphones after they have changed into their swimwear until the moment before they enter the pool. Once Housemates get out of the pool they should dry themselves immediately and replace their microphone.
The microphones are delicate and expensive pieces of equipment. Tampering with them or refusing to wear them may result in disqualification and early eviction. The microphone cable is delicate and thin and the weight of the transmitter must not be suspended from the cable. As well as lanyards, pouches and/or belts are also provided to ensure that they can be worn safely.
If any microphones are broken through negligence, Housemates may be penalised or punished at the discretion of Big Brother.
FAILURE TO WEAR MICROPHONES WILL RESULT IN PENALTIES.
The Diary Room
A room is provided for Housemates to share their experiences with Big Brother. This is an important part of the program and, therefore, it is compulsory for all Housemates to go to the Diary Room when requested by Big Brother.
The Diary Room is a place to make private nominations, vent frustrations, share concerns and feelings. Housemates can do this safe in the knowledge they won't be overheard by other Housemates.
Housemates should feel free to talk privately to Big Brother in this room at any time, night or day.
The images and sound of conversations in the Diary Room will not be streamed live on the Internet - or similar alternative transmission systems - unless the Diary Room is being used as the integral part of a task (for example, testing individuals on a memory task) or is occupied by all Housemates who are then in the House.
Housemates are welcome to enter the Diary Room at any time of the day or night.
The Diary Room is the only place in the House that Big Brother acknowledges what Housemates say. Housemates may not wear sunglasses or hats in the Diary Room.If two or more Housemates wish to use the Diary Room at the same time for different reasons, they must do so one at a time. If two or more Housemates enter the Diary Room at the same time, Big Brother may instruct one or more Housemate(s) to leave.
The Diary Room is electronically locked at all times. Big Brother can also call one or more Housemates to the Diary Room at any time. Housemates must come when called, failure to do so or responding in an offensive manner to Big Brother may result in disqualification and early eviction. It is compulsory for Housemates to enter the Diary Room to make their nominations.
If a Housemate wishes to leave the House prior to being asked to leave, they must explain their reasons to Big Brother in the Diary Room.Any questions asked by Big Brother in the Diary Room cannot be divulged to other Housemates.
The Nomination & Eviction Process
Housemates leave the House in one of three ways. They may be evicted according to the normal nomination and eviction process, they can leave of their own choice or they may be required to leave by Big Brother.
Once a Housemate leaves (for whatever reason) and does not return they forfeit any claim to the major cash prize.
The Housemate may, at Big Brother's discretion, also forfeit any claim on any of the other prizes.
Nomination & Evictions
The normal way for Housemates to leave the House is through the nomination and eviction process.
Every week, in the Diary Room, each Housemate must nominate two fellow Housemates for eviction and give their full and frank reasons for doing so. For example, saying that you get on better with other Housemates rather than the Housemate you are nominating will not be regarded as a valid reason.
If any Housemate is deemed to be holding back a valid reason for nominating or if a Housemate provides unsatisfactory reasons for nominating, formal warnings and/or penalties may be awarded at Big Brother's discretion. Repeat offences may result in the automatic nomination of the Housemate.
Housemates are not allowed to nominate themselves.
Nominations will take place on days chosen by Big Brother.
Housemates can nominate for three reasons:
A. Personality - vote for the Housemate you like the least or
that you don't want in the House.
B. Strategically - vote for the Housemate you think is the most
competition.
C. Under the Radar - vote for the Housemate you think is
avoiding the limelight or not being themselves in order to avoid
eviction.
The three - or more - Housemates who receive the most nominations by the end of the nominations process will face eviction that week. The minimum number of people available for eviction each week may be changed without notice.
On the day of the nominations - or any other day deemed appropriate by Big Brother - the nominations will be revealed to the Housemates by either Big Brother or the host of the programme.
NB. Big Brother reserves the right to change the frequency, number or procedure of nominations and evictions at any time. Big Brother is not required to give a reason for any decision to change the nomination and eviction process and once evicted Housemates lose any entitlement to the major cash prize and may, depending on the circumstances, also lose claim on any of the other prizes.
Discussion Of Nominations
Housemates may not discuss anything about nominations with each other either before or after they have taken place.
This includes:
+ any discussion with another Housemate that could be interpreted
as a deliberate attempt to influence their nominations
+ predicting or guessing who may be nominated or evicted
+ discussing the reasons Housemates might use for nominating
+ discussing the type of person Housemates are thinking of
nominating
+ writing down or using materials at Housemates disposal to form
names, initials or other symbols. For this reason the use of pens,
pencils or any written communication is strictly against the rules.
This includes making any written impression in any soft or malleable
surface or product e.g. sand or flour. On the occasion Housemates
are provided with a writing implement it is forbidden for this
implement to be used for anything other than the express purpose for
which it is provided
+ communicating in code or languages other than English and/or
devising other methods of communication
Housemate are, of course, free to talk about how they feel about the other Housemates. Housemates good and bad points may be discussed with others but NOT as part of a discussion about nominations
Big Brother will take any attempt to break these rules very seriously as it is a key principle of Big Brother that Housemate nominations are their own choice and free of influence by the other Housemates.
FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN PENALTIES AND/OR STRIKES, EARLY EVICTION OR EVEN DISQUALIFICATION
Evictions
Evictions generally take place in conjunction with a live program broadcast in front of an audience.
Voting generally takes place by public telephone and SMS votes. Voting lines close only minutes before the eviction announcement is made to the Housemates. The voting statistics are validated by an official independent body.
All nominated Housemates must be packed and ready to leave at least an hour before the eviction. Big Brother will notify them of this time. The evicted Housemate will be given only a very limited period for final goodbyes and the gathering together of personal belongings.
When a Housemate leaves the house they must take with them all clothing and other items that they have taken into the house. Big Brother will make an inventory of all items taken into the house by each Housemate. This will be checked when they leave to ensure that all items are removed.
Big Brother will announce exactly when the Housemate should leave the House. No other Housemate can cross the threshold of the House. Anyone who crosses the threshold - at any time not just during an eviction - may not be allowed to re-enter the House.
On occasion Big Brother may call a surprise eviction. At these times Housemates may be required to leave without packing their personal property. Should this occur the property will be returned to the evicted Housemate(s) at an appropriate time after the event.
After a Housemate has been evicted, Big Brother may give, or not give - at Big Brother's discretion - one or more prizes to that Housemate. An evicted Housemates may receive a prize or prizes which differ from other Housemates, or may receive no prize.
Voluntary Departure
No-one will be held in the Big Brother House against their will.
If a Housemate wishes to leave, they must report to the Diary Room and give their full and frank reasons for leaving.
They also need to give Big Brother some time to prepare for any sudden departure. It may not, for example, be possible to leave the House on the same day that your request to leave is made.
On the other hand, Big Brother may demand that anyone who expresses a wish to leave do so immediately.
Housemates leaving at their own request must take all the belongings they brought in. If a Housemate leaves the House at their own request, they may not be allowed to return. They also forfeit the right to any claim on the major cash prize. They may, at Big Brother's discretion, also forfeit any claim on any other prizes.
Non-Voluntary Departure
Big Brother may ask any Housemate to leave if they behave inappropriately while in the House. behaviour may include:
+ behaving in a way that could cause offence to either their
fellow inhabitants or members of the viewing public. See later
sections on defamation, sexual harassment and vilification
+ violent or abusive behaviour or trying to intimidate any other
Housemate(physically or verbally),
+ mentioning (directly or indirectly) brands or company names
+ saying anything which is calculated to bring Big Brother or
the broadcaster into disrepute.
+ deliberately damaging the House or its contents
+ making allegations either recklessly or in the knowledge that
they are false or defamatory
+ any major infringement of the rules of Big Brother; for
example, failing to give valid reasons for nominations
+ lying to Big Brother
If a Housemate refuses to follow any of Big Brother's instructions to modify any inappropriate behaviour, they may be required to leave the House immediately.
If anyone refuses to leave the House they will be forcibly removed.
To be clear, Big Brother has the right to evict Housemates without warning if their behaviour is deemed by Big Brother to warrant it.
If at any stage Big Brother, in consultation with the team's medical professionals, feels that a Housemate is under too much psychological pressure in the House or too unwell physically, Big Brother also reserves the right to remove that person from the House for their own good, whether or not this is against their will.
Such decisions will be entirely at the discretion of Big Brother and there will be no appeal against such decisions, nor will any Housemates thus evicted be eligible for any financial compensation.
If a Housemate is required to leave the House for the above reasons, they will forfeit any right to win the major cash prize. They may, at Big Brother's discretion, also forfeit any claim on any of the other prizes.
New Housemates
New Housemates - sometimes referred to as "Intruders" or "Replacements" - may be added to the House at any time at Big Brother's discretion.
A new Housemate is generally not eligible for eviction in the week of their arrival. This decision is made at Big Brother's discretion.
Housemates already in the House are not allowed to ask a new Housemate any questions regarding the outside world and the new Housemate is forbidden to talk about events in the outside world.
Sexual Harassment & Bullying
Big Brother will not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment or assault of any kind in the House.
Big Brother regards sexual harassment as any kind of persistent sexual attention which makes someone else feel uncomfortable or even humiliated. Be aware that something which may seem like a harmless compliment or a joke to you - continually touching someone or telling you'd like to have sex with them - might really be upsetting them. So use your common sense and check back with your fellow Housemates to make sure they're taking things in the spirit they're intended.
Ordinary flirting, sexually explicit talk, or provocative horseplay is not sexual harassment. Harassment is by definition persistent and obviously unwanted.
Housemates may not bully or intimidate other Housemates because of their gender or sexual preferences. Bullying can include picking on someone, put them down or exclude them just because they are gay or because they are female or male. Schoolyard bullying won't be tolerated.
Housemates all have a responsibility to speak up or to walk away if they don't want to participate in a conversation or a social scenario. You also need to be up front if you are really feeling intimated by someone's attention. You can talk directly to the Housemate or to Big Brother about it.
Defamation & Vilification
Housemates must not knowingly defame anybody, that is, Housemates can't deliberately say anything about a person which would damage that person's reputation in the eyes of reasonable members of the community or lead people to ridicule, avoid or despise that person.
Housemates must not vilify anyone. Which means Housemates can't say or do anything that may seriously offend the cultural sensitivities of any person or group. Housemate also can't say anything that may provoke or perpetuate intense dislike, serious contempt or severe ridicule against any segment of the community.
Housemates may be personally liable if they breach anti- vilification laws and anti-discrimination laws which apply throughout Australia.
These include statements that attack or ridicule others based on their race, religious belief, culture, sexual preference, disability etc.
It makes no difference whether the statement is an honestly held belief or simply repeating the opinion of another individual or even in the context of a joke.
Tasks
At various points Housemates are given tasks which must be completed within a set time.
Sometimes completing the task requires individual enterprise. On other occasions, the task requires group work and co-operation.
The supply of food and other household goods is generally dependant on Housemates' performance in compulsory weekly tasks.
Succeeding in a set task can result in a substantial shopping budget, failing the task means Housemates may have to live on "staples".
Staple foodstuffs are supplied by Big Brother and provide enough calories and the appropriate balance of nutrients from all the major food groups for each Housemate for the week.
Big Brother retains the right to change the rules of any task at any stage.
In addition to the weekly tasks, Big Brother may also set other challenges.
The completion of these challenges may not necessarily win the group any prize or reward.
If a task or challenge is deemed compulsory, any participant refusing to take part will attract a penalty and may be nominated or evicted.
The rules of all tasks are non-negotiable.
Big Brother also sets discussion topics for the group and small one-off games. Again, if these games are deemed compulsory, ALL participants must take part. Failure to comply will result in penalties.
Enjoy your time in the house.
Big Brother is watching.