Casting in Unscripted TV is all about finding regular members of the public whose stories and personalities would make for great TV contributors. You could be casting for a contestant on MasterChef, someone to have their outdoor space ‘rescued’ on Garden Rescue, or delicately encouraging a patient to appear on The Bad Skin Clinic.
People who are good in a casting role are likely to have:
- Strong rapport with people, making them feel comfortable and showing genuine curiosity about their personal stories
- Confidence to pick up the phone and talk to people
- Persistence and determination
- An ability to navigate setbacks and find a way through
- Resilience to deal with dropouts and changes
- A nose for people with interesting personalities
- Strong written skills
- Attention to detail
- A love of research
- Emotional intelligence
- The ability to spot a good storyline