What it takes to be cast on the Real World

I have often been asked how to get on the Real World and what it takes to be cast for the show.  Reviewing recent articles regarding the casting calls of late there are quotes by the casting directors of the show in their own words about what it takes and how the process works.

Real World casting director, Megan Sleeper, stated at the Austin Texas casting call on Sunday October 1st, “Some people assume that we want a certain type of person, so they come out and try to be that person and that’s not what we want,” Sleeper said.  “We want people that are really interesting and can’t help but to be who they are.”  Casting directors strive to cast a diverse group of people who are willing to stir up the pot with their strong personalities.  According to Carlton, these headstrong characters create exciting plotlines and keep viewers watching by speaking their minds and stepping on each other’s toes.  Cartlon continues to say, “Looks never hurt, but you can’t get cast based on good looks alone, we’re looking for people with charisma and big personalities”.”

Damon Furberg, a supervising casting director at the casting call in Tucson Arizona on Sunday October 1st, stated “I feel like in these groups, it’s really like 80 percent first impression, the other 20 percent is what they say and how they say it.”  After every group session finished, Furberg asked a few people to stay behind and fill out longer applications.  Candidates would be notified within 24 hours if they made it through to the next round of interviews, Furberg said.  The casting director said while the numbers vary from year to year, an average of 20,000 people apply every season.  Out of that pool of applicants, seven are chosen.  That means that everyone who applies has a roughly 1 in 2,900 or a .03% chance of making it on the Real World.

Alissa Haight Carlton, casting director for seven seasons of the Real World, said the auditions are “very casual and informal,” but to be prepared to compete with other people.  She said the auditions are held in groups of 10. Then, a topic is tossed out to get the contestants talking.  “We like to find people with charisma and big personality,” she said. “We want people to be themselves.”  This was quoted before her casting call in Athens Georgia for Thursday October 5th.