Interview with Lynne Spillman, Casting Director for The Amazing Race

[RealityWanted]

Hey everyone we recently had the pleasure speaking with Lynne Spillman the casting director for The Amazing Race. Here is what she had to say about the whole process, hope this helps.




About Lynne Spillman: Lynne Spillman, started casting over 10 years ago with MTV’s “Singled Out”. Lynne is now with CBS and heads up the casting process for Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Kid Nation. Lynne developed and implemented the process for semi final and final interviews for Survivor, Kid Nation, The Amazing Race, and more. Lynne has also worked on shows like: Pirate Masters, Cupid, and RockStar. Currently she is casting The Amazing Race 13.

Q. Mark RealityWanted.com: Lynne, thank you so much for taking the time out of your hectic work schedule to discuss the casting process for The Amazing Race and Survivor.

A. Lynne Spillman: No problem, I love to talk about my job and anything to do with Reality TV.

Q. Mark RealityWanted.com: I have a few questions for you today. I would like to start by asking how many applicants you receive for The Amazing Race and/or Survivor.

A. Lynne Spillman: We receive several thousand applications for both shows, maybe 20,000. Believe it or not we receive many applications from the same people year after year.

Q. Mark RealityWanted.com: Is it a bad idea to keep applying year after year for the same show?

A. Lynne Spillman: It’s not a bad idea to reapply for the same show each season. For example Kynt, currently on The Amazing Race 12, was a finalist on Survivor but didn’t make it. When he applied for The Amazing Race with Vxysin it made sense to cast him with another Goth. Sometimes applicants apply while they are in college yet have no real life experiences to bring to the show, if they apply a year or two later they may bring more to the table. Applicants will need to re apply, fill out an application, and in their video possibly say something about how they applied last year and where they are now in their life.

Applicants also seem to get more comfortable talking about their relationships, many people may not look at it this way but The Amazing Race is a relationship show. Applicants must be open and comfortable talking about themselves and their relationships.

Q. Mark RealityWanted.com: When you’re approached by people looking to be on The Amazing Race or Survivor what do you tell them when they ask you “How Can I Get on This Show”?

A. Lynne Spillman: I tell them to apply, it’s a bit funny to say but you have to apply in order to land a spot on a show. Even the contestants we recruit must fill out the application and make a video.

Q. Mark RealityWanted.com: That sounds fairly strait forward. Robyn Kass (Big Brother Casting Director) said the same thing. She said she is approached by people all the time asking the same question and she tells them to start by applying. Is it important for applicants to have watched The Amazing Race or Survivor prior to applying?

A. Lynne Spillman: You would not believe the amount of people who apply in person or send in a video having never watched a single episode of either show. How can you tell us in person or on your video how you will be good on the show or what you will bring to the show if you have never watched a single episode or season?

To continue reading check out the full story here:

http://www.realitywanted.net/2007/12...-amazing-race/