#1 Unscripted TV Casting Tip
Don’t aim to be “likeable” → Be YOU at full volume!
One of the biggest mistakes I see people making when applying to unscripted TV shows is trying to “self-produce;” being so worried about saying the WRONG thing that you never seem to find any words … BORING!
NEWS FLASH: Real People Casting is not a popularity contest - It’s a balance of authentic personalities that can come together … or clash.
This advice, I know, is easier to preach than it is to practice - and if you’re anything like me, most things go in one ear and out the other - but sometimes, hearing the same thing in different ways can help drive the point home.
So the next time you stumble upon a show that you want to apply to …
DO NOT THNK:
“How can I make them like me?”
“How can I make them cast me?”
DO THINK:
“How can I show up most authentically?”
“How has my life experience prepared me for this?”
“What do I bring that others don’t?”
“Why do I have what it takes to win?”
And if you need it a few more times, try telling yourself ….
Likeable is forgettable → Icons are forever.
You don’t need to be nice → You need to speak your mind.
Don’t soften yourself → Go hard.
Stop filtering → Start amplifying.
Don’t play it safe → Play it true.
Too much is better than not enough.
Drop the polish → Keep the personality.
Don’t perform→ Exist loudly.
Don’t be afraid of cringe → Lean into individuality.
Be raw, not rehearsed.
When it comes down to it, there are many reasons behind casting decisions. But a really important part in the process - both scripted and non - is everyone trusting that the people who are cast for the show, show up on the day with the same personality, perspective, and attitude they brought in the audition process.
So BE YOURSELF! It’s literally our job to see through the charade.
