MTV's Real World, currently shooting its 20th season, has become the 2nd longest running reality show in television history (behind COPS). Television audiences have become fascinated with the voyeuristic world of being able to watch "real" people living in a "real" but obviously daydream inspired reality. Real World Key West's Janelle Casanave talked to FM about what really happens with the production of the wildly popular reality show, and how it changed her.

When you sent your audition tape in for the Real World’s 17th Season, what did you think of the show, of being casted?

I had a friend who was on Road Rules, in a city where I live they had a casting; I didn’t have anything to do that day so I figured what do I have to lose?  I was pre-law, so it wasn’t the last resort, I didn’t want fame or anything like that.  So I went for it.

Do you remember thinking about what it would be like letting millions of people watch you, and get to know a certain side of you, every week on television?

Actually, and every real world castmate will tell you this, but you have no idea, you think it’ll be cool, you think you’ll have an idea, but you really don’t, its completely different than anything you’ve ever experienced.  The first interaction with the camera, waiting for the first roommate, that was cool, but then time passes, castmates issues start coming out, and then it just starts getting pretty crazy and wild.

How many people are actually in the house not including the roommates, like camera crew, etc.  How hard is it to ignore all those people…Especially when people want to get a little freaky when the sun goes down and the drinks start pouring? 

Well, production doesn’t technically live in the house, but for my season, they had a back production area for the house, and they’re really professional, they really don’t interact with us, except to mic and prep us.  The director is really the only person you can talk to.  Its pretty weird having all these people around that you have to ignore.

Do you think about reality tv as being a phase or a change here to stay in television and entertainment history?

Its definitely here to stay, I mean real world is entering its 20th season, how many shows can say that?  People love drama no matter which way it comes.  And, of course reality tv is much cheaper to produce.

How real was the experience, what do people watching not really understand about living in that situation? 

Nothing is scripted, nothing is rehearsed, what you see is really what happened over the last 5 months, however, its real in a sense that we’re not told what to do, but you can cut and paste things together that were never meant to be seen together, that didn’t happen in the sequence that they happened in real life. For the interviews and commentary, you have to speak like its happening in the present, when it happened in the past.  The real issue is with the editing, you can make any story line with the editing…you get to a point, especially after a few episodes, you develop a thick skin, you tell people not to get attached to the personality you think you are getting to know, just sit back and enjoy it.

What were some of the weirder things about the house mates people don’t know, you don’t have to give names, but they go better with dirt.

(Laughs) Well, Paula, Svetlana, complete slobs, Tyler was kind of disgusting, just normal guy issues, and laundry was never done; just normal things, seeing peoples dirty habits, people being people.

What about the sex, more going on or less than what airs on the show? 

(laughs) Well, there was nothing to do in Key West really, we were isolated, there was just us, so, eventually in the end, we became family, really close, and so, at least for me, there wasn’t anything going on, although I have to say had we been anywhere else, I think there would have been some.

What about being recognized, what has surprised you about people in general after the show aired?

By now its not too big of a shock, initially it took a lot of getting used to, there are sometimes you don’t want to be recognized, but I realized it comes with the territory.  I actually saw someone from the real world early season, and got brushed off, which was weird, I promised myself I would never be like that, people need to get up a lot of nerve to talk to you, and I’m aware of that.

What surprised you about your friends from back home after the show finally aired?  Oh, no, I had really good people around me, so I didn’t get any friend drama when I got back home.

Do you get hit on more or less now?  Are the approaches different?

(laughs) Just as much as before really.

(laughs)Really? Can I quote you on that?

Of Course

So how have you changed, especially now since you joined the cast of the Gauntlet 3?  How do you think being recognized has changed you?
 
Wow, how hasn’t it changed me?  I think you don’t realize how much of yourself you are putting out there, plus so many things can happen that you have no control over, and accepting that, it makes you more relaxed, more accepting of the fact that you can’t control everything.  It’s very humbling, when you’re dealing with personal things in your life, you’re exposed…then you see how people respond to it, how they relate to what you went through.  You really do learn about yourself, how many people can say you have this amazing experience, and then watch it on TV?.  

Ok, you’re take on the whole Spears, Lohan circus: do people really care that much, or do the networks want us to care? 

Well, I think the behavior is getting worse, the celebrities and the photographers, its feeding on itself.  Its becoming more acceptable to act like that, there are so many young people who look up to them, and they are just making it worse, at least that’s my view.

And now that you’re semi-famous, any paranoia about dating and having some sex tape end up for sale somewhere?

(Laughs) Not at all…I’ve got instincts about these things.  If I sense something is up with a guy, that’s it, its done.  No worries about that happening.

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