I have had a great deal of experience interviewing many reality show celebrities. Many have spoken about what their respective show taught them, how much it changed their life and what they are doing now. I have no doubt that I will be hearing more of the same thing for many years. This interview with Michelle McNulty was enlightening because it finally offered some insight into what the casting decision-makers are looking for when they instantly decide to turn somebody into a star. As an added bonus, Michelle is now working the new Burnett/Spielberg show, On The Lot which will discover the next big filmmaker. It is a program that many believe (myself included) that will revitalize the reality genre. Just like On The Lot will allow us to go behind the camera of movie-making, I think that a debt of gratitude is owed to Ms. McNulty for finally allowing us a lens into the reality show casting process.
Murtz Jaffer: Mark Burnett has a history of working with big celebrities including Donald Trump and Sylvester Stallone. In On The Lot, he will be working with one of the most famous filmmakers of all time. Where does Spielberg fit in given all the celebs Burnett has worked with and how successful do you think their association will be?
Michelle McNulty: Are you kidding? One of the greatest directors and one of the greatest TV producers teaming up! Both incredible storytellers. This show is going to kick ass!
MJ: While this show is expected to be a hit in the States, it is ground-breaking in Canada. Especially from a reality perspective. It is one of the first times where Canadian applicants are allowed on a show where singing isn’t involved. It’s also a rare chance for Canadians to compete on something that Mark Burnett has produced. Why are Canadians allowed to try out this time? Is it because the prize is more of an experience than a cash purse?
MM: I think we have had such success with international contestants and
especially Canadians on other shows such as Rockstar. Why not continue with On The Lot?
MJ: You have worked on other Burnett shows like Survivor & Rockstar in the past and they have both been successful. While Canadians haven’t been able to compete on Survivor, they won both editions of Rockstar. Do you expect the same thing to happen on this show? It seems like Canadians always do well when they are given the chance to participate.
MM: When Canadians are able to apply to American shows, they seize opportunity and take full advantage, just like Lukas Rossi and JD Fortune.
MJ: I would expect that you are receiving a lot of Canadian entries. How
many have there been and how many do you expect?
MM: We have received thousands of submissions from all over the world. The most are from US but Canada is a close second. We have been so impressed with what we have received. The talent is amazing.
MJ: In addition to Toronto, you also added Vancouver as the second city where invite-only casting sessions will take place. Why choose Vancouver and what is involved at these casting sessions?
MM: As we were screening the submissions, we realized we were getting so many good ones from Vancouver. Vancouver has a great film school, the Crazy 8’s film festival, etc….it just makes sense to add it to the mix. The casting sessions are for us to get to know the filmmakers on a personal level. This is where we learn about their hopes, dreams, families, how they react under pressure, what their sense of humor is like. We know they are talented at this point. Now it’s time to see if their interesting.
MJ: How did you get involved in the business of casting?
MM: I was a professional dancer my whole life until the knees gave out. I knew I still wanted to be involved in the entertainment business and casting was the perfect fit. I got a job on Survivor Australia as a casting associate and the rest is history. I am now the casting director for Rockstar INXS and Supernova, The Contender and On The Lot. I feel so fortunate to work on these shows where a skill is involved. Because of my dance background, I have been on the other side of the table. I know what it’s like to work hard and put your heart and soul into a project. I can relate. I admire the talented and amazing people I have met.
MJ: On these shows, do you have certain contestants that you found and push to get through? Certain people are ‘Michelle’s picks?’ Can you tell me some of Michelle’s picks from the past (people that you personally cast on the other shows)?
MM: Lex van den Berghe and Marty Casey are the two that come to mind right away. I believed in them both so much and knew they would be amazing on their shows. But I have to tell you casting has such an emotional attachment to all the contestants. We meet them in the very beginning and take them on this incredible journey.
MJ: Since this will be the first opportunity for Canadians to try out for the show, what advice do you have? And you can’t say ‘be yourself!’ because that is what everyone says!
MM: First is your ability to make a film and tell a story. These directors will have to make a short every week. If they don’t deliver then there is no show. One piece of advice I can give is don’t ever say…”I will make your ratings soar”. That means they have no clue and are going to act a fool and not take this seriously. In the end, someone is going to get a million dollar development deal with DreamWorks.
MJ: Survivor has had a pretty long shelf life as it is in its 14th season.
Do you expect the same kind of success for On The Lot? People have said that it might be the new standard of reality television.
MM: I hope so.
MJ: Why should people watch?
MM: Because it’s going to be amazing!
Michelle McNulty is currently the casting producer for Mark Burnett and Steven Spielberg’s newest reality series, On the Lot, a search for the next great filmmaker premiering in spring 2007. Michelle has a wealth of experience in the industry and her impressive resume includes work on top-rated and high profile reality series including Survivor Africa (2000-2001), Survivor Australia (2000-2001), and Big Brother 3 (2002-2003). More recently, she had the opportunity of working as a casting producer for the reality series hits Rockstar: INXS (2005) and Rockstar: Supernova (2006) as well as for The Contender Seasons 1 and 2 (2004-2006). Earlier on in her career she worked as a casting associate for Combat Missions (2000-2001),Amazing Race 2 (2001-2002)and a talent producer for Star Search
(2003-2004).
On The Lot will premiere in the late Spring on CTV in Canada and on FOX in the U.S.
Canadian filmmakers of any genre are encouraged to send in their short films before Friday, Feb. 16 for the chance to win a million dollar development deal with DreamWorks Pictures. For more details on how to submit, visit onthelot.ctv.ca.
Self-directed short films up to five minutes in length can be submitted by following the instructions at onthelot.ctv.ca as entry into the first part of the competition. Producers will then visit Toronto and Vancouver in March for an invite-only casting call for Canadian competitors selected to appear before the series’ casting team.
Afterwards, applicants will be winnowed to a group of 16 talented filmmakers that will be brought to Hollywood, where they will be divided into teams. Each week over the course of the summer, the 16 filmmakers will produce short films in every genre. Viewers will vote on the productions and one filmmaker will be eliminated each week. The last filmmaker standing will take home a seven-figure development deal with DreamWorks – and the keys to a brand new office On The Lot.
