For those who have yearned for a chance to be a cast member on MTV’s seminal reality show The Real World, you’re in luck.
The show will hold an open casting call Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Town Tavern in Washington to audition potential cast members for its upcoming 24th season. Anyone between 18 and 24 years old with a recent picture and photo ID is encouraged to try out, according to the event press release.
The Real World began in 1992, when a group of seven people were cast and sent to live together in New York City. The show followed the day-to-day interactions of the housemates, often portraying conflicts that arose due to situational problems and ideological differences.
To date, The Real World is the longest-running show in MTV history. Its 23rd season, which was filmed in Washington, is set to premiere Dec. 30.
According to Supervising Casting Director Damon Furberg, those who attend the casting call should be aware of the amount of competition they’re bound to face. Larger cities such as Washington generally draw about 800 hopefuls, he said, and the fact that the most recent season took place in the city will raise awareness for Saturday’s event.
The press release notes how the show aims to reflect the “diversity of the general population.” Casting directors, therefore, will be on the lookout for “a person who is physically challenged, an individual struggling with weight issues, someone who has been affected by a natural disaster, a cast member who is a product of home or alternative schooling, and an individual who wants to bring the spotlight of The Real World to a cause, condition, or social issue they care deeply about or are personally affected by.”
According to Furberg, these traits are by no means a requirement. The show, rather, is simply trying to tell individual stories it hasn’t told before.
“One thing that I want to stress … is that I don’t want people to look at that list and say ‘Oh, they’re only looking for this,’ because that’s not the case at all,” he said. “We’re in the same position that we always are in, in that we’re always looking for interesting people.”
Bronne Bruzgo, a cast member on the recent Cancun incarnation of the show, would agree.
“Be yourself,” he said. “These guys are pros. They can see through the bullshit. They can see if you’re putting on a front, and you’ll get the boot before you even know what happened to you.”
Bruzgo attended an open casting call at Penn State on a whim when he and a friend were bored one Saturday. According to Bruzgo, the pair only went to “make fun of people.” After all, he had only a passing familiarity with The Real World, figuring the show was just “drama queens fighting all the time.”
When he auditioned, wearing a dirty T-shirt and sweatpants, he never expected to make it past the first round.
But his personality shined through, he was chosen to participate in The Real World: Cancun, and he said he’s glad he did.
“Oh my God. Do it, do it, do it,” he said emphatically. “I would recommend anyone in the world, ever, to do it. It’s the best experience in your entire life.”
According to Furberg, Bruzgo’s lighthearted personality lifted him above many other applicants.
At the casting call, applicants should expect an informal atmosphere, Furberg said. Groups of about 10 people will break off with a casting director, who will start conversation by asking direct questions, playing party games, sparking debate on current events issues or whatever else he deems fit for the situation.
More than anything else, both Furberg and Bruzgo stress that a person going to the casting call should be charismatic and have a strong sense of self-identity.
Bruzgo, with his accidental ascent into the show’s cast, is proof of that ideal.
“The best advice I can give people is be yourself. That’s the absolute No. 1 thing,” he said. “Don’t hold back. If you’re really nervous about revealing your personality to a casting director, how the hell are you going to handle doing it on national television?”
Added Furberg: “Don’t be intimidated. Don’t be afraid to show up. I think every step of this process from the beginning is designed to make sure that people are comfortable, they have a good time, and everyone gets to say what they want to say. So if you think you might be right for the show, don’t let anything dissuade you from giving it a shot.”
The open casting call for the 24th season of The Real World will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Town Tavern, 2323 18 St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009.
jwolper@umdbk.com
