Seven people are chosen from a pool of more than 30,000 applicants for each new season of MTV's "The Real World," according to bunim-murray.com. The "seven strangers" live in a house and interact while being videotaped 24 hours a day for the duration of their stay.
Inevitably, and partially through the magic of editing, the show is full of personality conflict and drama that draws viewers in. "The Real World" has ranked No. 1 in its time slot among 12- to 34-year-olds for seven consecutive years versus all other basic cable television shows, according to realityworld.com.
When freshmen Andy Raab and Adam Clark were given the opportunity to audition for the show while "The Real World's" Ace and Robin visited Ball State, the two jumped at the chance.
"I love to be on TV," said Raab. "When I go to Pacer games, I try to see how many times I can get on the Jumbotron."
"Why not (audition)?" said Clark. "What if they did pick me? How awesome would that be?"
It would be incredibly awesome, considering each person has about a 0.02 percent chance of being chosen. The odds are slim, and the casting decisions are based on a number of factors, but there are some tips to increasing one's chances of being cast, depending upon the audition method.
Bunim/Murray Productions, the company that produces "The Real World" and other reality shows, hosts open-call auditions and accepts mail-in auditions as well. Only people between the ages of 18 and 24 may apply.
Open-call times and locations are posted on the Bunim/Murray Web site and are also disclosed on MTV. The wait tends to be long, and soyouwanna.com suggests arriving as early as possible. The application asks name, age and hometown questions as well as more probing ones such as number of arrests, the importance of sex and the ranking of participation in everyday activities.
After being interviewed, participants are either told to go home or stay for more interviews. Those chosen to advance from the initial interview fill out a 15-page application. Eventually, after having endured numerous and increasingly longer interviews, 30 people are taken to Los Angeles for more interviews.
Raab and Clark participated in an open-call audition that casts for a number of reality shows, so the format was less intense.
Raab said they were given one minute to audition on tape.
"They told us that you have to make something that will really catch their eye right off," said Raab. "Do what you think is best first.
"I pointed at my pecs and told them I wanted the world to see these puppies and that the world had been deprived long enough," he continued, laughing.
Those who want a little more creative freedom with their audition than the traditional open call offers can audition via mail-in tape. The only requirements are technical: The tape cannot be longer than 10 minutes, do not use autofocus, do not use a time-stamp, make sure your full head and shoulders can be seen, make sure there is ample light and adequate sound, and be sure there isn't any background noise.
The tape should also be labeled with a name, age, phone number, address and e-mail address.
Planning is essential when it comes to the audition tape. The Web site soyouwanna.com suggests practicing what will be said and doing a trial run for friends.
The site also points out that creativity is a must, saying "MTV pleebs have to watch thousands of these things ... talk about things that are different and interesting."
The tape should reflect the individual's personality. Clark decided to display his sense of humor during his recorded audition.
"I went up to the camera and I was like, 'I'd be good to be on TV, and I can promise you that I'd be naked more often than I'd be clothed,' but I said it in jest," Clark said.
Although Bunim/Murray asserts that personality is the primary deciding factor, soyouwanna.com suggests doing "whatever it takes to make yourself look as attractive as possible without looking like you tried to make yourself look as attractive as possible. TV is TV."
The bottom line is to be yourself and remember that it is only an audition, Clark said.
"Don't take yourself too seriously. It isn't based on talent or what an exciting person you are," he said. "It's not something to put the weight of your life on."
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