Today Television Actors Face a New Reality

With Scripted Television Properties in Decline, Reality TV Offers Casting and Exposure Opportunities That Provide Work and Can Lead to Mainstream Success. Talent6, a Unique Online Casting Community, Sees Reality TV Casting Calls Increase.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 2, 2009 -- Last week, all the major broadcast television networks announced their Fall 2009 programming schedules at annual press and advertiser events known as The Upfront. It was noticeable this year most scaled back the number of new scripted shows, and evident throughout the industry that spiraling production costs combined with a sluggish economy prevented adding to the line-ups new series with big production budgets and the casting of expensive stars.

Casting for reality television, however, continues to grow every year. With the perennially highest-rated show on TV, "American Idol," leading the way, reality television has enduring appeal to viewers and to the networks, who can get a lot of content at minimized expense. Whether situational series like "The Real Housewives" franchise on Bravo or "Jon & Kate Plus 8" on TLC, competitions like "Idol," "The Amazing Race" or "Big Brother," and shows that fall somewhere between scripted drama and reality, like MTV's "The Hills," aspiring actors are finding more work and exposure than ever before...and many are finding stardom, too.

Talent6, the unique online community and valued resource to the entertainment industry's biggest casting agencies, production companies, studios and networks, has also seen tremendous growth in reality TV opportunities. "Talent6 is one place we immediately go to," said Jodi Thomas, Casting Director for 3Ball Productions, which has recently cast Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst Films', "Beauty and the Geek," and NBC's ratings leader, "The Biggest Loser," among many others. "We look for people you root for...genuine people America can warm up to," she added.

Thomas was also quick to note that sometimes reality TV exposure leads to bigger things, citing examples like onetime "Survivor" contestant Elizabeth Hasselback parlaying her stint on the show into television hosting opportunities, first for E! Entertainment and Style, before landing a coveted spot at the table with the ladies of "The View." And Jacinda Barrett, who appeared on the granddaddy of reality TV, "The Real World" (London), has become an in-demand, working actress, landing key roles in feature films opposite A-listers such as Renee Zellweger and John Travolta.

Providing direct, unprecedented access to hundreds of high-quality casting calls daily, Talent6 is helping aspiring actors, models, extras and "real people," find opportunities to appear in TV, film and advertising productions across the country. Talent6 helps the entertainment industry cast people of all shapes, sizes, ages and talents for projects currently in production.

The Talent6 community provides a number of resources and tools for its members, including:

•    Direct access and unlimited submissions to approximately 80,000 casting directors and producers

•    Thousands of casting calls posted each week for a wide variety of jobs in show business

•    Advice from industry insiders and advisors, exclusive to Talent6

•    The ability to create online portfolios, blogs and video clip reels

•    The Talent6 online community with forums to share experiences and make new friends in the business

All Talent6 partner casting directors and photographers have been carefully screened so only high quality, legitimate opportunities are offered, and member privacy and security is ensured. For more information, please visit www.talent6.com or call 800.981.1287.

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