Recently we had the opportunity to speak with Allison Kaz, VP of Casting for 3Ball Productions and her involvement in

The Biggest Loser casting. Allison has been casting for over 8 years and has worked on many shows such as Beauty and

The Geek, The Apprentice, Big Brother, For the Love of Money, The Real World, Age of Love, Rumor Has It, Forth and Long,

The Fashion Show and The Pick Up Artist.

Q. RealityWanted.com: Thanks Allison for taking the time to speak with us today. So how many seasons have you been involved in the casting for The Biggest Loser?

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser: I have been casting the show since the beginning. This is our ninth season now.

 

Q. RealityWanted.com: So what has kept you involved in the show all of these years? How is this show different from other reality shows?

 

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser: The Biggest Loser is not your typical weight loss show. In addition to having a positive spin on the show and helping people to lose weight, there have been many get fit initiatives created because of the show . It was hard in the beginning to cast people for the show without offending them, but the show has proven itself and now we receive thousands of applicants wanting to accept the challenge. The contestants aren’t like a normal reality contestants, they have a lot of courage to come on TV and take their shirts off in front of national TV and stand on the scale.

 

To check out the latest Open Casting Calls for The Biggest Loser Click here

 

Q. RealityWanted.com: So what do you like about your job?

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser: The feeling that I am putting someone on a show that will change their life is incredibly rewarding. My job is to pick the 10 best contestants and figure out who will get along, feed off eachother or have chemistry, so it can be challenging at times.

 

Q. RealityWanted.com: So was it hard picking the trainers for the show?

 

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser:  When we interviewed Bob and Jillian we knew they were going to be amazing for the show.  They both have their own styles and are great at what they do.

 

Q. RealityWanted.com:  So what type of applicants are you looking for?

 

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser: We are looking for applicants that are 100 pounds overweight, being  that 65-200 pounds is our average weight loss.  We are looking for big personalities and they must be able to convey what they are going through and be inspiring. We are looking for people 18-60 who want to see their grandkids grow up, and not live unhealthy. If they are sick of living this way and want to be healthy then this show is for them. Family related teams of two at least 18 years old, like a parent and child can audition together too.

 

Q. RealityWanted.com: We have a lot of members that write in and ask about their videos and how to put them together, do you have any pointers?

 

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser: Make sure you are on camera all the time, so make sure someone is recording you so you are always in the shots. Don’t sit in front of the camera the whole time, show us your hobbies. For instance if you are loud, be extreme and show us your personality, let us know who you are. Check to make sure you can hear and see yourself clearly when recording. If you own a Hi8 camera, get rid of it. Also your video doesn’t need to be edited or have any fancy graphics. Just show us a glimpse of what your life is like.  Start each tape with your name, age and what you do for a living and then introduce yourself. Also, make sure to label the video tapes with your name and information, sometimes we end up receiving tapes that are not labeled and we don’t know how to contact the people. Don’t make a skit, or act a part. We want to get to know who you are, don’t be someone you are not, we’ll end up figuring it out down the line.

 

Q. RealityWanted.com: How about some do’s and don’ts when filling out the application?

 

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser: No one word answers. Be in depth and real, I know it’s tough to, but put some sort of effort into it. Read what it says and always follow instructions. The more effort you put in when filling out your application

the better it is for us to get to know you better.

Q. RealityWanted.com: How about some tips for photos?

 

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser: Don’t wear hats in your photos. We typically need clear face shots and a body shot. If we ask for both, make sure you send in both. Make sure to remove your sunglasses too, we want to see you.

 

Q. RealityWanted.com: Members typically also ask us if it is important to attend a open casting call. Does it really matter? Also if they attend a open call, do they need to send in a tape?

 

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser:  Make sure to pay attention to the times, and show up early if you can. Also, make sure to bring a photo of yourself that we can keep. When you attend an open call, it is a time for you to stand out. If you are sitting there quietly, then we probably won’t notice you. We need to see why you want to be there, so tell us your story. Don’t walk away from a casting call wishing you told us something, make sure you stand out with us. A quiet impression doesn’t do anything for us.

 

Q. RealityWanted.com: Should applicants attend multiple open casting calls if they don’t get called back by one?

 

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser: Chances are if one casting director doesn’t see you as a fit, then the others won’t. Don’t waste your money flying around to attend other open calls. If you are really concerned that you did not make a great impression during the open call, make sure to send in a tape and application because we will review those too.

 

Q. RealityWanted.com: What about follow up? Should applicants call or email follow-ups?

 

A. Allison Kaz, Casting Director The Biggest Loser: Sometimes it can take a couple weeks to a month to receive a call back, so be patient. We have everyone on file so we might call you down the road for another show if you don’t make the current one. Also,

don’t get discouraged, you have to audition or you will never know. With a show like The Biggest Loser, you have an opportunity to win 250,000 and ultimately change your life, so take the next step and tryout!

 

To check out the latest Open Casting Calls for The Biggest Loser Click here