About Reality TV Casting Calls

Reality TV shows like Survivor, American Idol and Big Brother have made TV more accessible to the average person. This level of accessibility leads hundreds of thousands of TV viewers to apply for a handful of spots on reality TV shows each season. Reality TV producers rely on casting calls or calls for audition tapes, questionnaires and one-on-one interviews to sort through the mass of interested applicants. The casting call process can be demystified for people who want to gear an application to the peculiar requirements of reality TV.

Casting directors for TV shows like MTV's Real World, NBC's The Biggest Loser and The Amazing Race on CBS are looking for compelling stories from their participants. For example, for cable reality shows like Real World applicants who are struggling to fit into society due to cultural heritage, sexuality or atypical behavior tend to get the attention of show runners. Task-specific TV shows like The Amazing Race and Bravo's Top Chef look for participants with specific skill sets. The combination of a good back story, good skills and an outgoing personality can send an applicant past the casting call stage on most shows.

The casting call process for reality TV shows is beneficial for TV networks as well as participants. In addition to eliminating a majority of applicants without personal interviews, TV producers receive entertaining funny audition tapes and applications that can be fashioned into online "bonus" content. MTV and VH1 are known for shifting applicants from casting calls into different shows, most notably MTV's use of rejected Real World applicants for its Road Rules series. An applicant who fails to get on her favorite reality show can use the process to inform future applications since most casting calls follow a similar format. Applicants should also participate in as many casting calls as possible because casting directors go to rejected applicants when selected candidates back out.

The casting questionnaire is the job application of the TV casting call world. While the images of people lined up for American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance? imply simple casting processes, every reality show requires its applicants to fill out a questionnaire to verify minimum qualifications. We can use MTV's Engaged and Underage as an example of a reality show with a very specific casting questionnaire. The show asks for engaged couples between ages 18 and 22 during its casting calls. Each couple must supply information including the date and location of the wedding as well as the details of the proposal. The casting questionnaire allows the network to filter out unqualified or half-hearted candidates from advancing to official auditions.

Casting calls from MTV, Bravo and other networks may ask applicants to submit videos in addition to written questionnaires. MTV used to feature these videos in an episode of Real World before each new season to get viewers acquainted with the participants. Shows like Top Chef use submitted videos to determine if a chef's skills, personality and look fit with the other chefs in a given season. Video submissions allow applicants to demonstrate their creativity, which shows casting directors how they're likely to act like when placed in grueling situations on national television.

Casting directors for Survivor, American Idol and dozens of other reality shows have seen thousands of auditions over the years. These auditions do not include the tens of thousands who sent in incomplete application materials and those who did not meet minimum requirements set forth in casting calls. Every applicant should realize that the odds of getting on a reality TV show is minuscule given the popularity of reality TV in the United States. Applicants who use cliched themes in their videos and questionnaires should not be surprised when they do not get called back. For example, an applicant to Survivor should steer away from simulating the game's grueling events and focus instead on a personal narrative that would make the show's challenges more poignant.