Q: I saw a casting call on your website that was hiring extras for a reality TV show. How can they be casting extras if the show is just filming real life?

Reality television often blurs the line between fiction and reality. Events depicted in reality shows are usually "real," and the interactions between cast members are often unscripted. Producers on reality TV shows sometimes want to film cast members going out to large events or interacting with crowds, however, and that's where things get blurrier. InstantCast recently posted a casting call seeking extras for MTV's The Hills. The producers were putting together a large party for the cast members to attend, populated by fans of the show. Because there are various camera and equipment crews required to film a TV show, it's safer and easier for producers to control what people appear in the crowd to prevent accidents or unsafe situations.

Casting extras for large "scenes" on a reality show is a fairly common practice. Private parties, bars, receptions, and outdoor events are commonly stocked with "real" extras. Beyond practical issues, reality show producers want attractive people in the background and to interact with their cast members to keep audiences interested. It's like the producers are bouncers at the reality TV club; they want to screen who gets in and appears in the show, but they also want to keep a natural atmosphere.

So what's the benefit of applying to work as an extra in a reality TV show? Besides the fact that you might get paid, you'll get to spend hours on the set of real TV show, and learn hands on about the production process. And unlike working as a background artist in a party scene in a movie, you'll actually get to go to a party. Reality TV parties are often exclusive, lavish affairs, and you'll get in for free. Once there, you get to appear on camera, interact with members of the show's cast, and if sparks fly, good or bad, you might get featured in an episode.

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