Guest post by Olivia Lewis of Nanny News Network
If you’ve always dreamed of being a celebrity, but aren’t angling for
a career on the silver screen, the overwhelming surge in popularity of
reality programming may seem like your golden opportunity. In order to
properly capitalize on your dreams of reality stardom, however, you’ll
have to master the casting process. While there are no sure-fire tips
that will land you a sweet reality gig if you don’t have what the
producers and casting professionals are looking for, there are some ways
that you can dramatically boost your chances of getting their
attention.
Know Your Show
In order to have any chance of progressing through the casting
process, you’ll need to make the effort to be as informed as possible
about the show you’re auditioning for. While this can be a challenge for
brand new shows, you can brush up on your trivia for established shows.
During the actual interview process, casting directors will want to see
that you have a genuine interest in working on their show, not a
general desperation for reality stardom on any show. Make sure that you
approach each step of the audition process armed with all possible
knowledge at your disposal, and that you’re exhibiting characteristics
that will work well within the concept.
Dress for Success
At a massive casting call, opting for something outlandish to grab
the attention of producers and set yourself apart from the rest of the
group is an understandable mistake. Save your Lady Gaga costumes for
Halloween and aim for a look that’s well put together and reflects your
personality instead. A few quirky accessories or an original style is
one thing; shamelessly ripping off the more outrageous choices of
celebrities or deliberately dressing strangely may actually hurt your
chances.
Play Up Your Flaws and Quirks
During the casting process, producers and casting directors will
usually have a few set personality types that they’re looking for in
order to ensure the best cast chemistry. This is where being yourself
and honestly portraying your personality quirks can be the most
effective strategy you can employ. Rather than attempting to play a
role, which seasoned casting directors will be able to see right
through, make sure you’re not trying to disguise your natural
personality.
Tell the Truth
No producer wants a scandal on their hands, unless it’s one that will
boost ratings. If you’re auditioning for a role on a reality show and
you’re asked direct questions about your background, you should never
lie. Background checks, fact checking and research on all contestants or
participants are almost always par for the casting course, and you will
be found out. Don’t attempt to obscure a checkered past or invent an
entirely new persona for the casting people. You’ll have plenty of time
to work on the character you hope to project after you land a role.
Be Available
If you can’t drop everything to hop on a plane for additional
meetings, you could very easily miss out on the opportunity of a reality
television lifetime. When you audition for a show, clear your schedule
as much as possible, or at least avoid making concrete plans. You’ll
need to be able to head to a distant location at a moment’s notice if
you get the call. On the subject of getting the call, keep the
particulars of your cell phone plan in mind. If your phone won’t allow
you to accept blocked or private calls, you could very easily miss out
on the announcement that you’ve progressed to the next round of casting.
Make sure that your phone has no such blocks before you send in your
audition tape or show up at an open call to prevent the possibility of
losing a chance at stardom due to a technical difficulty.
Before you pursue your 15 minutes of fame, you should consider the
far-reaching implications of becoming a public figure. The past can and
often does come back to haunt those who find their fame on the small
screen, so be sure that you don’t have any life-ruining skeletons
lurking in your closet. It’s also wise to prepare yourself for creative
editing that could portray your on-air personality in a
less-than-favorable light, a fate bemoaned by more than one reality show
antagonist. Keep in mind that ratings and high-stakes drama are the
name of the game, regardless of how “real” the show purports itself to
be.
No comments:
Post a Comment