MTV looking for activists

The world is changing and so is “The Real World.”

The popular MTV show has returned to… The world is changing and so is “The Real World.”

The popular MTV show has returned to Pittsburgh looking for “activist types,” rather than the usual fun-loving characters, for its 21st season.

Nearly 400 people showed up to the casting call at Boomerang’s Bar and Grille in Oakland Saturday with hopes of being one of the lucky seven cast members who will live together in a house and have their lives taped.

Producers of “The Real World” wanted to revert back to the early seasons of the show marked by memorable people who were passionate about a cause, explained casting director Megan Sleeper.

“We want to find someone who isn’t just about partying but also has something that they really care about, something they are pursuing or a passion that is really important to them,” she said.

Even though Sleeper said that MTV does not typecast, contestant Alycia Rea from Beaver Falls, Pa., still believes that the casting directors are looking for certain personalities.

“I just fit the role. I go out and drink and have fun,” Rea said. “But I think I’d just add a different dimension. I have never seen an interesting person on the show who knows about global issues and politics. I have a minor in political science, and my brother is in Iraq.”

With the presidential election this year, political questions dominated the group interviews that were conducted among the hopefuls. Other common questions asked in the 10-person group interviews were, “What is the biggest misconception people have about you?” and, “What’s one word to describe yourself?”

MTV came to Boomerang’s two years ago for the casting of “The Real World: Denver” and to the now-closed Pittsburgh club, Rock Jungle, in 2001.

Casting director Damon Furberg explained why MTV keeps coming to Pittsburgh.

“We’re back because we got a great turnout the last time we were here. We also like the type of people we find in Pittsburgh, very genuine and unpretentious. Still an urban feel but much a different ‘flavor’ than New York or L.A.,” Furberg said.

MTV used radio advertising for most of its promotion of this casting call. The radio stations offered V.I.P. passes for callers so they did not have to wait in line outside in the cold.

But the weather did not deter the boisterous crowds who eagerly lined up outside Boomerang’s at 10 a.m.

Sleeper offered her views on why people are drawn to “The Real World.”

“A lot of viewers watch ‘The Real World’ because they find someone they can relate to,” she said. “But also a lot of the people we draw haven’t gotten out of the house yet.”

“The Real World” asks for applicants between the ages of 18 and 24. At this age, many people don’t know where they’re going in life, and a four-month getaway to a dream house might sound very tempting.

For many of the applicants, there is a lot to leave behind.

Penn State student Kim Langhorst described why she was drawn to the casting call despite her boyfriend’s wishes.

“I always wanted to be on a reality show to see what happens to me when I drink. I want to meet new people, and I really like traveling,” she said. “I have a serious boyfriend, and I don’t see myself with anyone else, but I kind of want to test the waters. He’d prefer me not to go, but I do what I want.”

The Pittsburgh casting call drew people from all around Pennsylvania and neighboring states looking for new friendships and adventures.

“People will sometimes drive a whole day or two days to get here,” Sleeper said.

Katie Velotta drove to Pittsburgh from Cleveland for the casting call and was slightly disappointed by the structure of the interviewing process.

“I didn’t expect the group interview. I’m quiet and tried to be talkative. I don’t know, it was all right,” Velotta said.

Sleeper said that group interviews are great considering the nature of the show.

“Usually in a small group there is just one person who has that spark or charisma that makes you want to know more about them. And that’s the type of person that we’re interested in because you know the cast members live together in a house for four months.”

The location of the 21st season of “The Real World” will be determined at the end of the casting process, and the series will air in the fall.

Individuals who were selected from Pittsburgh to move on will go through a long round of interviews.

Sleeper explained the applicants’ chances.

“We don’t have a certain number of people we take. We just see who we like. There could be no one cast from Pittsburgh or there could be four people cast,” she said.