The producers of Big Brother Canada are eyeing Victoria as a potential hotbed of houseguests for the popular reality TV series’ fourth season.
The show’s U.S. and Canadian casting director says she isn’t buying into outdated notions the local population is dominated by “newlyweds and nearly deads,” or that we’re as staid as the city’s name suggests.
A week before launching her cross-Canada casting tour, Robyn Kass said she wants to ensure Victoria residents don’t miss the chance to get in on the action.
The Los Angeles-based casting director credited her Canadian-born production manager with opening her eyes to hidden potential here.
“He has been pushing it, and we’re excited,” she said, referring to Ladysmith-bred Gord Patterson. “It’s such a nice area, with nice people who are friendly and good-looking — everything you’d want in a reality show.”
Kass said when her company first got the Big Brother Canada account, she was cautioned Canadians “are too nice and not as exciting [as their American counterparts], but I beg to differ. There are a lot of fun, crazy Canadians out there.”
The producers got a taste of what Victoria had to offer last season when Victoria HarbourCats head coach Graig Merritt, 36, was cast.
The fiery redhead was one of 14 houseguests sequestered for three months in a custom-designed house, where their actions were continuously monitored by microphones and surveillance cameras.
The outspoken, highly competitive coach and major league baseball scout nicknamed the Ginga Ninja was one of the show’s most colourful characters before striking out in the home stretch.
Each week, houseguests face a series of challenges that give them power or punishment, voting each other out until the fate of the final two is determined by a jury of fellow houseguests.
To be eligible to win the grand prize — $100,000 — you have to be the last remaining houseguest among the contestants selected during an open cross-Canada casting call.
“Gord has just spoken so highly about Victoria, and it just worked out,” said Kass, who urges locals to consider applying even though a physical casting call won’t be held here.
Houseguest hopefuls unable to attend an open call in Vancouver on Sept. 19, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at The Bourbon, 50 West Cordova St., can apply online until midnight Oct. 26 at BigBrotherCanada.ca.
The national casting tour also includes stops in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and St. John’s, Nfld.
Kass dispelled any ideas online submissions wouldn’t be as carefully evaluated. It’s how Season 2 winner Jon Pardy, who applied online, got his ticket into the house.
“As long as you’re of age [at least 19 by the time of the March move-in], we encourage everyone to apply,” she said.
“We want people from all walks of life, people who are expressive, have opinions, speak their mind and people who are emotional.”
To stand out, Kass suggests you “don’t plan too much and talk naturally,” ensure your lighting and sound work properly, avoid Big Brother clichés such as “You either love me or hate me” and share something unique about yourself.
The series, set to première on Global TV early in 2016, will air on Sundays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m., and Thursdays at 9 p.m.
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