Ace and Robin from MTV's popular reality series "The Real World" spoke Saturday night at Pruis Hall.
The University Program Board sponsored event included a speech by Ace and Robin and a casting call for upcoming reality shows, including MTV's "The Real World." Absolunancy, Ball States improv comedy troupe, also performed.
Reality television has become the highlight of the American airwaves, but "The Real World" was the pioneer that started it all.
"I grew up with 'The Real World,' started watching it in Los Angeles, and I think I went through puberty with it," Ace said.
In their speech to a crowd of students, Ace and Robin talked about their experiences on "The Real World," and how they got there.
"I did the open casting call, I typed a 30 page paper about myself and then an interview the next day on camera," Robin said. "Then, there was another interview in Florida, and the last interview was in Los Angeles."
Students auditioned for an opportunity to appear in upcoming reality shows during the casting call set up by Ace and Robin's agents.
Each audition was video taped and will be sent out to casting directors all over the country.
"The process took about a minute," senior Kristen Montgomery said. "We had to tell our name, contact information and a little information about ourselves in 60 seconds."
Both Ace and Robin had tried out for previous seasons of "The Real World." Ace eventually made it to Paris, and Robin to San Diego, which is currently airing on MTV.
Some more recent reality television can seem preplanned and scripted, but the Real World tries to keep it as real as possible.
MTV wants to keep the entire course of the show as honest as possible, from the first meeting, to the first fight, to the day the cast moves out, Robin said.
"You're not supposed to talk to anyone from previous seasons before you move in," she said.
To get the full effect of "reality," MTV requires that certain everyday items be removed from the house. There are no televisions, radios, portable electronics or instant messaging programs allowed in the house. The purpose of removing outside distractions from the house is to force the cast to interact.
"I snuck my IPOD in the house, but the hardest part was charging it up," Ace said. "I had to transfer power; I was like MacGyver. I got caught in the end and got in so much trouble."
Internet access is restricted, telephone calls are recorded, and all privacy is lost.
"If two or more people go in the bathroom at once, the cameras can follow you. And, there are no locks on any of the doors," Robin said.
As with all reality television, not everything that's filmed is aired. Sometimes cast members can come across in a different way than they act in real life.
"They want a story," Robin said. "They film your life constantly, but they give you a beginning, a middle and an end because that's what makes a good story."
As with most reality TV, the bad will be aired more than the good. Ace said he wished they would have showed a lighter side of his season.
"I guess the world doesn't want to see us having fun, they want to see us fight, they want to see drama," Ace said.
"The Real World" only airs 22 minutes a week, so it becomes impossible to explain everything that goes on.
"Sometimes it's frustrating when there were two hour conversations behind things, and they only show the strong words and strong moments. You never see how we got from point A to point B," Robin said.
When the shows end, it's difficult for cast members to return to their normal lives. People from many reality shows venture into other entertainment fields. Opportunities arise for some, and for others, the transition back to normal life becomes necessary.
"I live in the moment, and I like what I'm doing now. I have no idea what's going to come, but I hope something does. If not, everything so far has been good," Robin said.
Ace has used his experience to further him in the night club business, he said.
MTV's "The Real World" is in it's 14th season and is still going strong.
Ace and Robin both said they would do it again, although now they know what they're getting themselves into.
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