Too cheesy? I guess I had to share it with you guys.
Speaking as someone that has made mid-6 figures working on reality television:
you would not believe how cheesy the videos are.
All of 'em. Fer real. I've probably watched more reality TV audition videos than everyone here combined. More than everyone here and everyone they know combined. And you're rawkin'. That said,
damn.
Again, speaking as someone that has made mid-6 figures working on reality television, I generally advise everyone I know to stay the hell away from reality television. Competition reality's a little different, though. If you're really into it, throw down, baller. That's some impressive shit. You're eminently cast-able in my opinion. I'd say you're squarely in the wheelhouse of Naked & Afraid, Amazing Race, Survivor and Wipeout as well. They will edit you as the cocky nerd that nobody gets along with but is driven by altruism. It's a super-easy paradigm, super-necessary to every build and too much work to try anything else. If you have any tragedy whatsoever they pickaxe that shit out of your past like it's pure unobtanium; there will be an hour and a half of awkward questions from a story producer about Vladimir Vladimirov, as well as your mother, your father, lost loves, dead cats, whatever. They will then make a story assistant dig through Lexis Nexus, your photo album (you'll give it up - it'll be part of the contract), Google, anything they can find for still images. They will then layer some shit sad string ensemble over the top of it, steal shots of you talking about something genuinely sad (but off-topic) and attempt to build a narrative about how you're really only doing this to win approval from your dead mentor, the father figure your own couldn't provide.
If you can put up with that, kick ass and take names. If you can't, know it's coming. Because that's how we roll.
Good luck.
Oh goodness. You know, that makes sense, but it hadnt occurred to me yet. I should've been tipped off by the fact that the online questions form half of the application was pages and pages of short answer questions, only like two of which were about athletic ability. They were almost dating questions.
It is a serious consolation that ANW is a sports competition and not a full bore reality tv show. The only downside is covering the cost of travel to Pittsburgh in the middle of this job I have this summer, assuming I get on, and taking the time off.
And lastly, I have to say, it means a lot to hear you say that I'm eminently castable (because I know it's about on screen persona that they think I could be capable of projecting, not just my athletic ability). It means a lot more coming from you than when my mom says I'm a shoe-in.
Yeah, moms are great but rarely objective.
I don't watch ANW - none of us watch shows that we don't work on, or have friends that work on and the friends that work on ANW aren't that close to me. If I understand it correctly, it's one of those things where they almost don't cover your life more than, say, ABC's wide world of sports would - you gotta get in pretty deep before they give a shit about you but right off the bat they've got a little blurb, right? That'll help. The fact that their ratings aren't dependent on your relationship with other contestants helps immensely.
The basic thing to look out for is this: they need to create a persona for you that will allow the audience to pigeonhole you within about 5 seconds. Once they've created it, they will remind the audience of it with every interaction. Much like color commentary of the NFL is all about the players' wives, schools and families so the football widows have something to connect to, any competition reality show will build you into a "person" so that they have a "human interest" handle on you. It is not necessary nor desired that this persona match you in any way. I mean, it's easier if they match but it takes a lot more care to make this happen but Kent & Arthur don't work that way.
Again, good luck.
My name is Max, and I'm America's next Ninja Warrior -Fuck yeah you are! Go get it buddy, this is amazing! I didn't think it was cheesy at all, as a matter of fact, I left thinking, "this guys way more interesting than the type of fella I would think would do something like this."
-I had never heard of ANW, but if you are on it, I will watch every episode and root you on enthusiastically. Good luck pal!
I'm not sure if rainbow_boa still stops by Hubski ever, but if you DO r_b, check out this video, as a fan of parkour, I think you'll dig it. Also, shout-out to AnSionnachRua and speeding_snail who I recall were both in to parkour too or at least were interested in it.
Again, good luck Max!!
A bit late to reply to this, but thanks for mentioning me. I'm still interested in parkour and love to see it. Unfortunately, I'm still not actually practising...
And Max, I don't know how you did (or will do), but kudos for doing it!
Guess who I JUST messaged (incorrectly assuming they still lived here) about being in the D? thenewgreen
I'm here! There's a disaster recovery project going on and I'm living just north of Dearborn Heights Google is telling me. I flew out a few days ago. I'm here for a month. We should do another impromptu/not so impromptu Hubski meet up!! (!!!!!!!!!!).
Can we do Saturday the 31st? Sundays are my only days off, and I'm finished work and back at base by 6pm.
I seriously love everything about this. Epic! I really hope you make it so I can tell everyone I know that I know you!
Wasn't cheesy enough to keep me from getting pumped.
I already worked out today, and I want to hit it again after watching this.
Now you go out there, and you fucking win.
That is all.