Putting the Real in Reality
Tuesday, 25 January 2011 | by Pat's Picks
Reality TV has become such a juggernaut that casting directors are having a hard time finding people to act, well, real says the LA Times. Back in the day, prospective contestants had no idea what to expect during an audition, and were more likely to be genuine. But casting directors say the people they interview nowadays, a generation that has grown up watching everything from the “Real World” to the “Jersey Shore,” are much more likely to give producers a character. And for the most part, they’re boilerplate: “America’s sweetheart, the hick, the witch, the dumb jock, the party girl.”
There’s even a New York Reality TV School, where the Times says more than half the students are actors who see reality TV “as a viable way to build out their career.” To pump some life into the genre, directors have had to start seeking out authentic personalities in bars, malls and beauty salons around the country, instead of relying on casting calls.
