Friday, October 9, 1998
MTV’s popular ‘Real World’ series in search of cast in
Westwood
TELEVISION: Those chosen will live in Hawaii, have every move
scrutinized by world audiences
By Laura Noguera
Daily Bruin Contributor
Picture the life of a goldfish, the world watching from all
sides, with only a scrawny plant to hide behind. Now imagine living
that goldfish’s life – and having it all on tape.
On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Madison’s Bar and Grill,
the casting directors of MTV’s "Real World" and "Road Rules" will
be looking for next season’s cast members – individuals who are
willing to live inside the glass bowl.
"You get busted on everything – the walls are bugged," says
Jason Cornwell, a participant on "Real World’s" Boston season and
current associate casting director. "They know everything that’s
going on."
Despite the invasion of privacy, many people find the idea of
appearing on MTV’s programs undeniably exciting. Especially
attractive is next season’s "Road Rules" adventure, in which the
cast will receive university credit from the Institute for
Shipboard Education’s Semester at Sea program. Just as appealing is
the "Real World" Hawaiian location where they will be housed and
fed, and even given a cafe ownership.
"A lot of people are like, ‘What do you mean it’s difficult? You
get your rent paid for free,’" Cornwell says. "Big … deal – rent
is $500 a month, and you have endless amounts of freedom and
seclusion."
It takes a special person to adjust to the ‘Real World’
lifestyle and camera. A shy nature cannot prevail in any
prospective applicants.
Of course, everyone maintains apprehensions about their habits,
hoping they will not embarrass themselves on national
television.
"I didn’t want to get caught picking my nose or masturbating or
doing something that’s completely private," Cornwell says. "I was
like ‘OK, if I’m going to masturbate in the house, it’s going to
have to be in the bathroom – no masturbating in the bed."
Cast members inevitably deal with personal conflicts on the
shows. Recently, the shows’ executives deal with other conflicts,
such as accusations of racial preferences and stereotypes present
in their casting requirements (as printed in UC Berkeley’s Daily
Californian).
Casting directors deny the existence of any such racism and
assert their desire for a diverse cast.
One reason for the controversy may be because there has never
before been an Asian male character on either the ‘Real World’ or
‘Road Rules’, sparking rumors that an Asian man is a desirable find
for the coming seasons.
There is some truth to the rumors, in that casting directors
would like the shows to reveal a perspective viewers have never
seen.
"We would like to have more (Asians) come," Cornwell says.
"We’ve never had anyone like that on the show before."
Although Asian males seem coveted, other UCLA students should
not be discouraged from trying. Says MTV’s casting department,
every prospective cast member is on an even keel. The most
successful tryouts will be those in which people communicate their
true selves.
"Just be yourself. Don’t come with an agenda," Cornwell says.
"Don’t say ‘I’m going to be the hip-hop kid.’ Don’t be a character,
just be yourself."
During open calls, casting directors pick groups of the
applicants to answer both general and personal questions for five
to 10 minutes.
"Some of the lighter questions are: ‘What is your favorite smell
in the world?’" says Omid Kahangi, MTV associate casting director.
"Some of the deeper questions are: ‘How would you raise your kids
in light of the way your parents raised you?’"
With these questions, casting directors weed out those who do
not feel comfortable in front of the camera and those whose
personalities are not strong enough to be effective on the
show.
"What I like to do is just let the kids talk about whatever they
want to talk about," Kahangi says. "We’re all around the same age
and we’re all sitting around a table – if there’s no topic of
conversation, then they’re not good for the show."
Coordinators, however, also want to clarify that show
participants may undergo many ordeals. Sometimes the surveillance
participants undergo is intolerable, with the sudden loss of
privacy.
"It is so intrusive into your life. There’s no down time. It’s
six months of observation," Cornwell says. "It’s kind of like the
Vietnam War. It’s an experience nobody understands."
For Cornwell, the cameras were there constantly, even at the
worse times. All of America heard his poetry recitations as well as
the brutal words he and his girlfriend shared.
"That (relationship) was actually the hardest part for me,"
Cornwell says. "The minute your life is exposed to the world – your
relationship goes to shit."
Following all the televised struggles, Cornwell and his
girlfriend separated, with regrets that the relationship’s downward
spiral is "Real World" fans’ entertainment.
Now that Cornwell and his roommates’ lives are not aired weekly,
he is happy with his decision to be on the show. Other than
Cornwell’s career advancements, he has made a family within the
‘Real World’ and ‘Road Rules’ casts, keeping in touch and
occasionally visiting with the other Boston housemates.
Cornwell’s jump to the other side of the casting spectrum makes
him a mentor for others desiring a spot on the MTV shows.
"I’ve got mad love for (the shows’ future casts). I understand
what they’re going through," Cornwell says. "If it comes up, I’ll
say, ‘Listen, I’ve done the show before, if you have any questions
about the stress or the strain’… they can ask me."
TELEVISION: Auditions for MTV’s ‘Real World’ and ‘Road Rules’
are on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. at Madison’s Bar and
Grill. Photo courtesy of MTV Networks
Jason Cornwell is one of the Boston cast members from Season 6
of "The Real World."
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