“I want my MTV …”
Well, last weekend Bakersfield’s demand came true, when MTV came to town to cast for its new reality series. They held an open casting call on the Bakersfield College campus, and I went out to see what all the fuss was about and exactly why people would show up.
This was not for the ever popular “Road Rules” or “Real World” reality shows, but a new show where cameras will follow young people around on a typical Saturday night and watch them in action.
“Right now, this show is Bakersfield. We are doing the pilot episode,”
said Jeanette Balsis, the head casting director, who also casts for the MTV series “Fear.”
Balsis is an independent casting director, who says that she doesn’t look for particular types of people.
“They tell me what I’m looking for,” she said.
She also loves MTV as a company.
“I love working for MTV. The executives for MTV are amazing, fabulous. They really are all about you guys,” she said.
Everybody in town must be wondering, “Why Bakersfield?”
“It’s a great small town,” Balsis said. “We’re finding out all about the people.”
I got up early Friday morning to head down to BC and wait in line with the rest of the populace. Well, not that early. The call was from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but people were there as early as 8 in the morning.
Due to general oversleeping, I arrived at 11. The line was pretty long already, and the group interviews were in full swing.
Aspiring MTVers filled out an application while waiting in the long line against the Speech, Arts and Music Building. The application asked questions like “What is the biggest drama going on in your life right now?” and “What do you do on a typical Saturday night?”
Sarah Taylor, 18, had been waiting in line for almost two hours, and didn’t think she had a chance for the show.
“No, I know I don’t, but hey, we’re just here,” she said.
Taylor’s friend Erin Roe, 19, agreed.
“I have nothing better to do. It is one of those stories you can tell people later. I’m sure they’ll find someone in Bakersfield,” Roe said.
When they reached the beginning of the line, Scott Davis, a casting assistant, took their picture on a Polaroid, gave it to them, and then they moved on to the group interviews.
Depending on how many friends they arrived with, the interviews had anywhere from one to seven people or so.
Davis, 26, who has been working for MTV for less than two years, and who ultimately wants to direct a Madonna music video, said, “We are looking to shoot here. We came here Wednesday, and are here ’til Sunday. This is our main casting call.”
Davis said they were looking for about 16 people to cast for the show, with “all types of interesting people, with good stories and good personalities.”
Chris O’Doherty, 19, and his friends think that they would be perfect for MTV.
“I’d be crazy. I’d step it up. This is the chance of a lifetime,” he said.
John Buntchael, 19, O’Doherty’s friend who had been waiting in line with him for an hour and a half, also really wanted to be cast. “‘Cause I think it is cool to be on TV.”
He thinks MTV is still relevant, and he still watches it. When asked what kind of people they are looking for, Buntchael said, “A crazy, outgoing person, not afraid to express themselves.”
After chatting around with the people in line, I grabbed my own application, got in line and started waiting. Luckily a friend walked by and I convinced him to try out with me. Despite reservations, he agreed. After about an hour and a half of standing, our turn finally came.
My friend and I and three other girls comprised the group, with the interview lasting about seven minutes. The only thing really discussed is what there is to do in Bakersfield. The casting guy was nice, but it was obvious that he wasn’t really interested in any of us.
There were two guys who didn’t even wait in line and went right to the front after filling out applications, and proceeded to talk to Balsis herself. Apparently, if MTV wanted you, they were going to pick you out of the lineup.
The whole experience was a positive one, though. It is a good way to meet people.
“We want to see people get excited,” said Davis.
He got his wish. Between local radio stations KISS and KRAB being there the whole time, and the a local news cameras shooting the crowd, everyone looked pretty happy that MTV had come to town.