Casting Director Renee Godbout on the upsides and downsides of reality tv and how you can get started today

Reality TV is everywhere. Some shows are totally trashy, while others are very well-made and incredibly addictive. The Amazing Race just received its sixth Emmy win and a new Emmy category was introduced just to commemorate reality TV hosts! Dancing with the Stars continues to dominate in its time slot and still no one can touch ratings giant American Idol.

Although some reality stars go on to acting careers, many are forgotten shortly after their fifteen minutes of fame has disappeared. Kherington Payne, who recently danced into the top ten of So You Think You Can Dance, is making the most of her fifteen minutes with a role in the upcoming musical remake of Fame. Her reality status may have gotten her noticed but actual acting talent will now be the decider of what type of future she will have in movies.

While there are some success stories, most of you should see reality TV as an attention getter and nothing more. Making anything of that attention will rely a lot on you.

Talent competition reality shows that take place in front of an audience are different from other reality shows. Most reality shows are edited in advance and it’s those shows that you need to be prepared for. I worked on two seasons of a non-fiction series and although we tried to be as sensitive as possible to our talent, stories that push the envelope are always more interesting.

Here is some information you need to know before you sign your name on the dotted line.

1. Producers are making a TV show and their main priority is making it successful. So anything you say on camera is up for grabs and editing can portray you in any manner they see fit. Crazy, out of control, combative personalities sell, and the boring, nice people won’t get much camera time. But if you do exaggerate your personality for the ratings, remember that you may come off poorly – and your family, friends, and co-workers are watching!

2. Be prepared to put your life on hold. You may even lose your current employment if there are no guarantees of how long you’ll be on the show. Imagine being on the show Big Brother and being the first one in the jury house. That’s at least a month of your life sitting around without getting the prize.

3. You’ve only got 15 minutes of fame, and then it’s up to you to make it happen. You have to be just as motivated to put your all into it. No one is going to give you a free pass. You might even have to work harder to be taken seriously. Fame does not make you a good actor. You’ll have to prove that later when you get your first real audition!

Renee Godbout - Freelance Casting Director. Renee Godbout recently worked on the first season of The CW's popular teen show Gossip Girl at Grant Wilfey Casting. Some past projects include 2 seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the pilot for Dirty Sexy Money, and the upcoming Jonathan Demme-directed Dancing with Shiva.

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