By Taryn Kelly
More than 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 24 came from as far as Pennsylvania and Ohio to compete last Saturday for a spot on one of the original reality TV shows.
MTV held an open casting call for the next season of “The Real World” at The Rack in Faneuil Hall, searching for the next Trishelle or Puck in one of the largest college towns in the country.
After waiting in line for what bouncers at the event said was “an average wait time of two hours,” contestants were taken into a briefing room where they were divided up into groups of 10. Each group then took turns going before a casting director who asked the group a question or two, sometimes playing party games to see how the contestants presented themselves and interacted with others.
“I need a drink,” said Danielle Heffel, 22, from Long Island, N.Y., describing her nervousness while waiting in the briefing room.
After the contestants were questioned, the casting crew would quickly make a decision, eliminating all but one or two lucky people from the group of 10. Although, anyone in the original group could receive a call back within the next two weeks. Then, everyone else was allowed to leave while the call backs filled out a hefty amount of paper work in the back room.
“It was kind of a crappy selecting process,” said Jean Brobian, a freshman undecided major. “I expected them to ask us a lot more questions.”
However, casting directors are looking for personality over details in these preliminary interviews.
“The number one thing we look for is charisma,” said Damon Furberg, supervising casting director. “We want people with an interesting background, someone with a story to tell. And of course someone who’s willing to be themselves.”
Ferberg also mentioned that the staff was keeping an eye out for a veteran applicant for this season because of the growing influence of the war in today’s culture.
The Real World, one of MTV’s most popular and long running programs, involves seven strangers from all walks of life living and working together. Every minute of their lives is captured on film.
“I’ve watched The Real World for as long as I can remember,” said Shawn Wolfgang, a sophomore communications major who is still waiting for his call back. “I’ve always thought it would be a cool experience to go through.”
The location of the upcoming season is undisclosed at this time. The Real World casting crew travels through 12 cities to select their next seven contestants.
Chances are, at least one of the Boston contestants who tried out yesterday will make it onto the next Real World show, said assistant casting coordinator Fred Agee. But before they get there, they will face tougher and more in-depth competition through more try-outs.
