Interview With Casting Director Peter Huntley - Currently Casting "The Phone"

Posted on 07/28/2008

In the 7th installment of my interview with a reality TV and game show casting director I spoke with Peter Huntley who is currently casting MTV’s “The Phone”, a new high stakes game show for MTV and executive producer Justin Timberlake.

Peter attended film school in Santa Barbara and started working in the Reality TV business as a casting PA on a show called “Friend or Foe.” Peter has worked on several reality shows including “The Next Great Champ”, “Hells Kitchen”, “Paradise Hotel 2”, “Kitchen Nightmares”, “Nanny 911”, and is currently working on “The Phone”.

(Apply to the phone at the end of the interview)

Q.  Mark, RealityWanted.com: Peter, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today. Last week “The Phone” was the most popular casting call on our site, what can you tell us about the new show?

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: It’s a new high stakes game show produced by Fremantle Media with Justin Timberlake as one of the executive producers. There will be  a ton of stunts and a lot of strategy involved. For those readers who aren’t familiar with Fremantle Media, they also produce American Idol and America’s Got Talent.

Q.  Mark, RealityWanted.com: Since you mentioned stunts, what kind of applicants are you looking for?

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: We are looking for adventurous applicants, people who are in shape, and who can interact well (or not so well) with others.

Q.  Mark, RealityWanted.com: What about personality?

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: That is probably the most important, no matter what show I am casting. I like to see opinionated applicants. For example, if I ask someone what their favorite color is, and they tell me the color red and then proceed to tell me they hate the color blue and specific reasons why they hate blue...I love them. I like applicants that can tell stories and back up any statement with specifics and examples. If you can’t tell me a good story, you won’t land a spot on the show. It’s all about personality.

Q.  Mark, RealityWanted.com: I hear that all the time, many people ask what it takes to get on a Reality TV or Game shows and also ask if there are any tricks.

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: There are no tricks or secrets, we can tell if someone has read a how-to book or taken some sort of training class. We look for your true personality and that isn’t anything you can modify... except for your energy level. Fortunately there are so many reality shows out there, you should be able to find one that is a fit for you. Another big factor is pure luck. Applicants need to appease a whole group of people in casting and production and everyone needs to come to the same decision at the same point.

Q.  Mark, RealityWanted.com: Personality, timing, and luck are big factors in whether or not someone lands a role on a show, but does the show itself play a factor?

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: It does play a factor depending on the show. We’ll specifically target families who want help for a show like Nanny 911, but we’re also looking for families who will resist change.  If there isn’t any conflict, there isn’t really a show.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: What about the technical parts to the application like the video, photos, etc?

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: I want to see the eyes of the person I am looking to cast, which means proper lighting. Don’t film in front of a window, and have someone help you! Also, if you’re making a tape, check the audio levels.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: There is a debate amongst applicants on whether to make a tape or go to an open call, or do both. What do you recommend?

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: The advantage of making a tape is that we can see you in your element, working, at home, with family/friends, and doing your favorite hobby.  When I work on Hell’s Kitchen it’s nice to see the applicant in their work environment, and I can’t see that at an open call. My advice is to send in a tape and go to an open call or bring a tape with you to the casting.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Lets talk about the open casting calls, any tips?

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: Yes, make sure you actually speak when you show up to an open casting call. A show like Hell’s Kitchen can help launch your career, and I want to help make you a star but if you clam up and you’re too nervous to talk, I can’t help you. If an applicant is too scared to talk with me in a room, they won’t do well on TV.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: This is great info Peter. I have one last question we get all of the time. Does location play a role on whether or not you will get cast and do people in Los Angeles or near Los Angeles have a better shot?

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: It depends on what we are looking for and what cities we select to hold open casting calls in. A lot of reality production happens in Los Angeles, so if it’s easy for you to get to LA you’ll have more options but then again I have worked on many shows that look for people from all over the country.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Any final tips before we let you get back to work?

A. Peter Huntley, Casting Director: Just be yourself, most of us can see through anyone trying to fake us out. We also remember applicants, so if you’re not a good fit for one show I may call you in for another, so if you put on a false front you may hurt your chances for future work.

If you live in LA Apply to THE PHONE here (expires 8/16/08)
If you live in Seattle WA apply here (expires 8/16/08)
If you live in Boston apply here (expires 8/16/08)
Dates/times subject to change