For hopefuls dreaming of a shot at reality TV, Madison was the place to be this weekend. A casting call for MTV's \The Real World"" drew hundreds of young adults Saturday to State Bar and Grill, 118 State St., to interview with the show's casting crew.
People between the ages of 18 and 24 stood in chilly weather, forming lines that stretched around the block for a chance to be a part of the 18th season of the hit reality show.
The show has continued to have success in the reality world because, as casting director Megan Sleeper said, ""We're able to find such different and interesting people.""
Some candidates were local residents, but others came from out of state to take part in ""The Real World"" phenomenon. One hopeful from Minnesota, Cathy Bauer, 21, described why she had come so far.
""It would be a fun experience to meet new people and go to new places. I've wanted to do it since I was young,"" she said.
In some cases, hopefuls stood for more than an hour discussing the possibilities of becoming the next Madisonian to make it on ""The Real World"" and making nervous chatter with others in line before the doors opened at 10 a.m.
Upon entering, auditioners filled out applications featuring questions on relationship status with significant others, parents, and embarrassing moments. Applicants were then placed into groups of nine or 10 and invited to sit with casting directors for discussion.
Sleeper asked for thoughts on Hurricane Katrina and the events and reactions surrounding it.
People in Sleeper's group launched into the discussion with different opinions, each trying to overwhelm the others, knowing the importance, perhaps, of looking unique but not rude, different but not too flashy.
Between 500 and 2,000 people appear at each city's casting call. Other applicants mail audition tapes. Between them, an estimated 10,000 people try out for a part in the popular reality drama.
The whole casting process, from casting calls to follow-up interviews to picking the seven strangers, takes between two and three months.
""We like Madison because it's a big city with a big school and we've cast here before,"" Sleeper said.
Sleeper works with five other casting directors who formulate questions for auditioners that deal with a broad scope of social and political issues.
""We ask questions that arise different opinions and perspectives,"" Sleeper said.
The Real World casting directors will next be heading to New York and Dallas to continue casting calls.
