Biggest Loser is getting ready to start casting for season 15! Casting calls will be posted on the Biggest Loser casting website. Basically, this post is a collection of tips I’ve written based on my experience making the cast of season three, as well as some links to casting advice I don’t think you should miss:
- NBC has posted casting information and the application here. They have all the casting news and information on a special blog just for Biggest Loser casting, which you can find here.
- Pete Thomas, the season 2 $100,000 winner has some of the best casting call advice out there, which you can find at his website, Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever.
- Holland, a casting director for Biggest Loser sent me a bunch of great advice on how to be casted, you can find it here. She updated them October, 2009.
- I’ve been posting these casting tips for the last few seasons and they always seem to end up with thousands of comments; just about every season has contestants that were hanging out on here, reading and giving each other thoughts and advice. You can find the most recent one here.
- If you’re dealing with disappointment about not being cast, then check out my post on Biggest Loser casting disappointment.
One of the questions I hear a lot is about money … how do contestants afford to be away from home and work for months at a time? I don’t know what it is now, but when I was a contestant there was a $500 a week stipend for cast members on the ranch. When you received the check you could cash it and spend it, send it home, save it, whatever. All airplane tickets, hotel accommodations, etc., for the contestants and potential cast members are taken care of by NBC, and during the casting process it self there was a $50 per diem to cover food costs.
Another question is timing; typically a season lasts for about 8-9 months. About four of this is spent in filming; if you last all the way until the final three or four, you could be away from home for as much as four months or so. Once the ranch filming wraps and the last few contestants are sent home, however, there is still another four or five months that all the contestants have to continue losing weight until the finale. In addition, potential cast members are flown out to California a couple weeks before filming begins for the final round of casting, medical checkups, psychological evals, etc. NBC brings out more people than what they need and the cast is not finalized until filming literally begins. People have been cut at the last minute and replacements flown in with hardly any time to spare. Nothing is in stone until it’s on camera!
When will you hear from Biggest Loser about your video? There is no way of knowing. I heard back a few weeks after I sent it in, but even after that it’s a big waiting game. If you get a phone number or email from a casting direction, definitely drop them a line/call every couple weeks to find out if you’re still in the running or what’s going on. Schedules and plans change almost every day, so it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. If you don’t hear back within a month I would think your video didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t mean you can’t send in another or visit a casting call – it’s just up to you!
Finally, here’s my video application tips! This is by no means a recipe for success; it’s based on my video application and the conversations I had with casting directors out in LA in between things. I was pretty curious about the whole process so I was pumping them for info even after filming began. I’m such a nerd!
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They’ve usually decided if they’re interested in you within the first 30-60 seconds of your video, so front load it with your best stuff. Make it interesting! Start off with something funny or exciting!
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Keep in mind, if you’re going to be cast, your video is going to be watched hundreds of times by producers, executives, casting directors, etc. If it bores you or your friends the second or third time watching it … put some more time into it!
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Special effects? Don’t bother! We’ve all got video editing software with all sorts of bells and whistles on our home computers, but fancy transitions are not going to sell you to people who do video editing for a living. In fact, it can distract from who you are. I’m a video editing nerd and I didn’t use any special effects other than putting my name and contact info on as a subtitle at the beginning.
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Don’t bother talking about why you need to lose weight. When I first started filming my audition video I started describing all of my health reasons for losing weight – but when I was watching it back, I realized … they don’t need to hear it! One look at me was all they needed to know I needed to lose weight! Show them why you need to lose it; I said I needed to lose weight for my kids, and then I followed it with a minute or two of the best footage I could find of me with wrestling with my three boys. We probably filmed half an hour of that insanity and I grabbed the cutest, loudest, and funniest few moments for the audition video. Your physical need to lose weight is not nearly as interesting as who or what your losing the weight for.
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Live loud! Reality TV is over the top, dramatic, and filled with loud personalities. They need to see that on your video! I wanted them to know that even though I was morbidly obese I was up to the challenge of the crazy competitions and workouts – so I threw on a bunch of clips from my different youth group activities; me getting slimed, snowtubing, playing paintball, screaming at events, being on stage, running around … you get the idea. Other contestants did things appropriate to their lives; Tim from Oregon had himself spinning out on his Harley, Tim from Delaware recruited his elementary school class to do things with him, Heather Hanson filmed herself running around in a sports bra all day doing her household chores and errands. The less talking and more action you can have, the better (in my opinion)!
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If you have footage or photos of yourself thin, include those at some point on the video. If you can show them what your after will be, then do it!
Remember, enjoy the conversation here and know that I will never compromise your anonymity – not to NBC, 3Ball, Casting Directors or anyone. You can post anonymously, or you can leave your names and contact information … just remember that NBC likes to be the one announcing their cast for the show, so if you start identifying yourself publicly as a finalist, you’ll probably find yourself eliminated from the casting process. Be aware that casting directors do check in at my blog to see what people are saying, get a feel for what questions are going on out there, and sometimes to give us updates. Good luck to everyone … and let me know if you make the show! I get a kick out of hearing about the different contestants that have hung out on my blog before making the show! 
Submit *yours not hours
Happy Camper, I submitted mine on YouTube. I don’t think my counter is working….if it is…it is taking forever because I don’t see anything on there yet from anyone watching it. Don’t give up hope! I am sure that they are watching them all like crazy right now! 🙂
Hi guys, I hope all is well with you. I initally told myself I would not try out this year for the BL. I had tried out many years ago, got a call back, and then didnt make the show. I have also tried out a few times for extreme makeover weightloss edition. within the past week, however, I realized that I am the heaviest I have ever been, and, I have not done much to change. I figured I should seize any opportunity I can….so i quickly made a video and turned in my app 10 minutes before the deadline! Whew. Anyways, I have done videos before, but I think I am not doing them right…..So I figured if anyone had time, if they could watch my video and give me a few tips:
http://youtu.be/2MNAkWY97Nk
Be honest, but dont be brutal, lol.
Thanks in advance,
BTW Congrats Surfer Chick! I am assuming your sport was Surfing? Thats a unique sport! That totally gives you an edge! Good luck in the semifinals!
@HAPPYBLACKCHICK
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED your video. You’ve sure got personality girl. It’s no wonder you were contacted previously.
You are an absolutely beautiful woman, with an awesome personality to match.
In critiquing your video (as you requested of us) the only potentially negative thing I really picked up on was that you opened with a skit, albeit it was probably the best subject for one that I’ve seen. Been there, done that (the skit), but from everything I’ve heard and read since, it’s not what they’re looking for. In your case, I think it just might fly, especially whereas you are involved with Improv and such.
Good Luck to you and I hope you make it this time. I for one, would love to see your transformation play out.
Surferchick
Now you are in the “waiting game” part of casting. You’ll go without hearing anything for a while. You may even start to worry that they forgot or passed on you, but don’t get discouraged. The pitching part takes a long time.
When did you send them your link? I’m trying to get an idea how long it took from your submission till they called you.
@Nanny I sent my link in within the last couple of weeks. I was told that they will have decisions by the middle of May!
Middle of May! Wow! Thats alot of hours watching videos to get them all in.
Have they asked you to do any “homework”? Bio, background check, Dr. note, etc.? The middle of May is like 2 weeks!
HappyBlackChick your video is hilarious! You did a great job with it! I don’t have much to critique because I still don’t know what they’re looking for. I’m cheering for you though! This is also a great time to figure out what plan if action you can take (besides the show) to get healthy. You have so much to live for! You can do this one way or another!
And I agree Nanny! 2 weeks seems like such a small amount of time for such a huge task! Especially since most of us seem to have unwatched videos.
I don’t really know much beyond that producers are reviewing the interviews and should have an answer by the middle of May! I wish I knew more….!
Thanks! PI and Happy Camper! Yeah, now that you mention it PI, I completely forgot that they don’t like skits any more….whoops. Also if casting it complete in the next two weeks, god lord the casting team is not going to get any sleep!
And happy camper, you are right a plan of action is totally needed. I really want to lose at least 30 lbs by July. I am going to volunteer as a counselor at a camp for kids with cancer and I want enought energy to do so. Last year, I was a mess at the camp! It was so hot, my ankle hurt and I didn’t have enought energy for the kiddos. I am hoping the switch to be healthy will give me enough strength to do a better job this year…
Sometimes when I think about all the weight I have to lose, I get a little overwhelmed. But a two and a half month goal of 30 lbs seems doable….
@surferchick, so….since the deadline has passed, can we see your video? I am very curious of what makes a good call back video :0D
Also, when they called you back, what did they ask you to do next? Extra video footage? And hour interview? (Sorry for being noisy, but the whole process fascinates me!)
@happyblackchick Since I am still being considered I am not releasing my video. Sorry! It turns out, that YouTube did get a hit from Cali. It just took forever to record it. After I got a call back I had an interview that was about an hour….and then they said to wait! 🙂 So far, that is all I have done.
By the way I don’t think casting is complete in two weeks…but if you made it to the next round you’ll know in two weeks!
@HAPPYBLACKCHICK
PS. Be aware, skits apparently work for some. Here’s a successful BL audition video that I have previously LOVED (done with multiple skits). Her audition video for BL worked for her. Heather Hanson was previously a contestant on The Biggest Loser! ENJOY!
@NANNY
I remember last season was AMAZINGLY fast (done this same time last year). We were all shocked (at the time) about the speed in which they ran thru the process. They seemed to wrap it up within a few weeks or so (unlike the many, many months the previous seasons were taking).
I remember we were all shocked at the turn around time, but BL / NBC had been changed to releasing one season per year and they were probably also still trying to recover after the Conda / Jeremy season.
Timeline (as I recall it) for Season 15
BL opened casting for Season 15 (April 16, 2013)
They held ONLY 2 DATES of CC (Sat May 4, 2013 and Sat May 11, 2013)
The casting period closed the day before the last casting call (May 10, 2013, but they extended the deadline, ONLY for the May 11, 2013 CC participants, to May 13, 2013)
They claimed ALL videos had been watched (May 24, 2013)
Finalists had been notified (June 4, 2013)
And, they were actually filming right after that
PI
I guess you” re right. I do remember think it was fast last time. I thought maybe they did it fast to try to fit in 2 seasons last year. I wasd wrong about that, but maybe they”ll go back to it after a few good seasons. I think they
PI
I guess you’ re right. I do remember thinking it was fast last time. I thought maybe they did it fast to try to fit in 2 seasons last year. I was wrong about that, but maybe they”ll go back to it after a few good seasons. I think they have done well with cast choices of late….well except not choosing me……yet.
Sorry about the double post. I don’t know how that happened.
Last season they probably had their eye on some people from the start. I didn’t audition last season but I know Craig was actually called and asked if he wanted to be in the show. So the casting people sought him out. I wonder if there were more people last season like that?
@ Happy Campter- I have to agree that I think they are seeking some people out, and then filling in the gaps! I think it makes casting that much faster!
How did they know to get a hold of Craig? Did he apply and they called or did he apply previous seasons?
Thanks PI for the optimism :0).
Looking at the past post, however, it’s pretty clear they are looking for atheletes. I played basketball through highschool, but it looks like they are getting the heavy hitters (professional sports, state champions, etc) oh well. It should be an interesting season! Probably really intense with all the major atheletes!
Surfer chick, I totally understand! you gotta do what you gotta do, lol. Good luck to you!
I don’t want to botch his story @surferchick but from what I can recall he had applied previously and got a call back. They likes him but he didn’t for with the season he had applied for. And then they contacted him for season 15.
@HAPPYBLACKCHICK I was not a professional athlete, or a “heavy hitter” by any means
I am paranoid with the video count…..I can’t stop! It still says 0 but I do realize them watching it may not show up. This sucks but I suppose I should go on with my life. I just really felt like my video was great this season
@Designated Hitted…. it is so hard not to obsess!! Your video is great, no doubt! But it really is best to try and move on with your life. Easier said than done. I know. I’ve tried more times than I care to admit!
Oooo…gonna throw this out there. I have reviewed my video. It is simply not as good as seasons past. Not as much personality, too much “talking head”. But, I really don’t think it has been viewed yet. Do you think I could keep running film and add it to my vimeo account? Do you think it would get viewed? Anyone knows how all that works?
@tempted, my gut says I probably wouldnt bother doing that yet.
My question is…after researching last season it seems like the applications might have changed? When I was asked to do an CB interview from my video, i was also asked to send in extra photos and fill out an application. The application was 9 pages long with lots of questions and at the end had a background check release. No physical request, yet though! So has anyone else gotten this far this season that can share what they have had to do?
FYI the Season I made it past Contracts, Ranch Rules, Shoe and Shirt Size Form, and Airport Rules, they also called me. Holland Called me on behalf of the Casting Producer for the Production Team. It was based on my CBI from the previous season. The general rule has always been if you don’t hear from them in 2-3 weeks after CBI, you’re done. But there are the exceptions that happen every once in awhile that keep the “Carrot of Possibility” in front of you.
@Surferchick, you sound the closest I’ve read on here and you still are about a 500-1 shot. It is good they asked for the other stuff after the CBI, that was actually a level jump. Some don’t get that and don’t even know they’re done.
Try and force yourself to forget about it. Stop refreshing the Vid counter and try and stay off here but once a day or less. Start a weight program; if you’re borderline like I was, you can always eat like a Banshee to gain it back.
The obsession gets exponentially worse as you get closer. and it kinda stays with you for Seasons to come. Even now after all I’ve been through, and all I’ve done in the last 4 months, I still get a twinge to send in an email to DJ and throw my hat into the ring. Another “Drug” that’s hard to withdraw from. Hope this helps…
A guy I met while at my casting call told me that he had a callback interview, they asked for more pics, and he filled at the app. Kinda in the same place as you right @surferchick? He mentioned that he thought they said that by next week they should be narrowed down! Im not holding my breath or anything but I am glad there is a site for people on the same journey! super cool ya!
@allsmiles Yup pretty much exactly the same as me!
B15 was my first time ever to get a CB from a CC. I didn’t get one this year, and I honestly didn’t make a video this time. I’m not a former athlete so I felt my chances are nil to none this season.
It seems as everyone has their own story of the process, and most of those stories are totally different from others. From what I gathered by lurking, BL15 was pretty different than previous seasons.
I completely agree with BFG. It gets really difficult the closer you get to the end of the process. You wonder, 2nd guess, stress eat, over-analyze… So yes definitely try to forget about it. Remember there is nothing more or less you could do or can do. You either fit, or you don’t. And as anyone can tell you, minds can change in a blink of an eye; a natural disaster may push someone to the forefront; the producers may decide they want to change something around last minute.
@PGIS What was your experience with CB?
@BFG Thanks for your input.
If either of you wouldn’t mind shooting me an email, i have a question I would like to ask! Thanks surferchick531@gmail.com
Taken from Biggest Loser Casting’s facebook page (1 hr ago)
“Hello Everyone! This is our final week of casting for BL16! We’re still looking for some amazing MOTHERS, ATHLETES and FAMILIES who are ready to open the door to a healthy life by setting out on a difficult yet rewarding weight loss journey! If you missed the deadline for your audition tape please still send it in! Don’t wait another second! http://www.thebiggestlosercasting.com“
Dang! The winds have changed ever so slightly again 🙂 Mothers, eh?
Would those winds be “a natural disaster may push someone to the forefront” as suggested by “Parental Guidance is Suggested”?
AHHHHH hahahahahah! I guess so! I am just suprised they extended the deadline 3 days after the deadline 🙂
@Tempted
Just my opinion, but I think adding footage now, would be for not. I couldn’t use vimeo this time (used YouTube instead), so I am not sure, but I seem to recall we had to give a password to your “vimeo” video submission. Wouldn’t each new clip of footage get another password?
I had already written the above (to respond to your earlier post) and while leaving it to finish later, they’ve come out and said you can still send in videos. So, I’d say go for it (especially, whereas you’re a Mother). Good Luck.
@ SURFERCHICK
Yes, they’ve changed this seasons app significantly. Going all the back to Season 8, I remember the apps (for submission with ones initial audition video) always being 9 -11 pages long. What a HUGE, pleasant surprise it was this season to see only a few pages. I was so excited, but unfortunately I quickly realized it was most likely because their orders were sooooooo specific, as to what they wanted, so they were finally being a bit kind to us (and, probably mostly them) in not making us go thru all the work of the usual, very long app. I imagine, for those who reached the next step, it includes the submitting of the long app.
I use vimeo, but I’m not sure how the whole password thing works. Maybe I could have the same password for both? I sooooo want to re-do my tape completely now 🙂
@TEMPTED
I say, Go for it.
Thanks for the support, PI 🙂 I just want a do-over!!! At this point they will most likely view the video before I can add footage, but in the spirit of the chase…. I better get taping!
Wow I miss a day checking in and I feel like I really missed something.
Let me just say I’M A MOM! and grandmother. I haven’t stressed or been obsessed as in the past, but that does give me hope. The first thing on my video is about being a mom and “Nanny”. I didn’t get my video in until last Monday, so I expect it to be another week before they view it. I’ll just relax for now.
HEY! For the first time this season (and maybe someone else pointed it out and I just don’t know it!) they dropped the 85+ weight limit. They want you to lose 100 or more… are they going bigger this season?
@tempted: since the extended the deadline, take advantage! Good luck on your new video! Nanny, you are in the good! Good luck to you :0D
So what if we got a callback, filled out the app, and had the skype interview….what comes next?
I just checked my Vimeo and I have a load from yesterday, but not viewed. I’m not as confused about that as the fact that it says the load was in Israel. It’s set to private with a password. Does anyone on here know much about vimeo? I’d like to find out how to narrow things down and investigate this load in Israel.
@NEWBREEZE I am at about the same spot as you I was told they want to wrap up casting by this weekend. So I guess after a CB interview you just wait. I think it sounds like after a CB interview they choose which interviews to pitch to producers and then the producers choose who they want to take to the next level! You can email me and I can tell you more about my process if you’d like. surferchick531@gmail.com
Soooooo, I looked at my analytic and saw someone for California DID watch my video! Unfortunately they only watched two minutes of it (Youtube Audience Analyzer is AMAZING). No callback. So that is a wrap for me! Set my video to private. Kinda bummed, but I am glad I gathered up the muster to make a video. Good luck to everyone still in the running, Im rooting for you!!! =0D