Interesting People | Real World 27 edition

Perhaps in an effort to assuage the sorrows of “Lincoln” casting call rejects, casting directors from Bunim/Murray Productions held an open call on Wednesday, Oct. 12 for housemates in the upcoming 27th season of perennial MTV reality show “The Real World.”

Any lucky applicants to make the cut would become one of seven individuals to gather in a house – this season’s location has yet to be decided – and have their every waking moment broadcast to the viewing public, with emphasis on the moments “when people stop being polite and start getting real.”

VCU psychology senior TAYLOR SHERMAN was among the line of hopefuls lined up outside the Hooters on Broad Street with a recent, non-returnable photo.

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CT You’re here for the Real World tryouts? 

TS I just thought I’d give it a try. I’m 24, so this is the last, like, cutoff year. You have to be 18 to 24, so I was like – why not?

CT You must be a fan of the show, then.

TS I was a fan of the old “Real World,” not so much the new stuff. But if I get in, I might be able to change that. Not be so catty, like all these other girls that are on now.

CT Take it in a new direction, sort of.

TS I’m gonna try. I wanna make it more positive than just about … drinking.

CT Tell me about the “new” Real World versus the “old.” Do you remember a specific turning point?

TS I guess it was a couple of seasons ago when I got out of high school. I was watching it and seeing that it was just all about drinking, and partying, and not really focusing on … what it should be focusing on, in your early 20s. … I guess I feel like it’s not going in the best direction.

CT How do you see yourself filling one of the Real World’s token roles?

TS It’s really funny, because when I looked online to see what they were looking for, it was like, they want, like … punk or emo or alternative or whatever.

(Bunim/Murray Productions, Real World’s creators and in charge of casting, specified in an official release that “We look for characters from real life; people with strong personalities who are unafraid to speak their minds.” They also helpfully included the following list:

“This season casting directors will be on the lookout for applicants who:

• have challenges living an everyday life that most take for granted
• struggling with weight issues
• affected by a natural disaster
• products of home or alternative schooling
• followers of unrecognized or non-mainstream belief systems
• elite athletes
• recent graduates affected by the economic downturn
• those involved with goth, emo or punk subculture
• members of a pro-abstinence organization
• those who are recently single due to a tragedy
• someone who has recently gotten out of the foster care system
• and individuals who want to bring the spotlight of “The Real World” to a cause, condition, or social issue they care deeply about or are personally affected by.”

The release went on to specify that these qualities are not necessarily requirements, and that the show welcomes anyone “with a great personality and a willingness to share their life with the world.”)

TS …and I was like, well, I don’t really know if I fit that specific one, but I don’t know … I thought maybe I fit the one where they wanted people who were struggling or stuff like that. I’m a struggling 24-year-old senior who has to work 40 hours a week plus take a whole bunch of classes. So I feel like that should be broadcast, that a lot of people are struggling, especially college students. Tuition keeps going up, and the job rate keeps going down, and –

JMU student REBECCA WERE, nearby: No, it doesn’t. Major in hospitality.

TS … I don’t want hospitality …

RW S—‘s goin’ up.

TS …So, um. And grad school is super expensive. And to make any money in the major areas, you have to go to grad school … All of my friends are working really crappy jobs, it’s ridiculous … So anyway, I was like, I might as well try, at least … I just hope that I do get picked. I hope it’s gonna happen so that I can make a positive change. I want to broadcast more things than just what people think of typical 20-year-olds.

CT And they’ll have heard about you first from the Commonwealth Times.

TS That’s great.

Applications are still being accepted via – visit www.bunim-murray.com/rwcasting for complete details on how you can apply.

Applicants are asked to bring a recent picture of themselves and photo ID. Applicants must also be above age 20, “and,” according to the Bunim/Murray release, “appear to be between the ages of 20 and 24.”