As the third week of Survivor casting looking at audition tapes, Big Wendy Diaz has uploaded her own for Edge of Extinction to serve as a winning example.
There are a few audition tapes for successful audition tapes for reality contestants across the television landscape. This is the spot I would be linking Tyson Apostol’s audition tape, but that seems to have been deleted off YouTube. It was fluffy and snarky just like the man himself, but Wendell Holland reminds us you can be fairly dynamic and even push the 3-minute sweet spot.
However, with casting going a different direction in the last cycle, our rich history of what has been successful for casting players is wiped away as of David vs. Goliath and Edge of Extinction. With Jeff Probst taking a more hands-on approach and Jesse Tannenbaum leading the way, the priorities for a successful audition tape might be a bit different than what we’ve seen in the past.
That’s why I’m glad we can see tapes like the first one Wendy Diaz from Survivor: Edge of Extinction sent in, as it provides a rather unique approach that the video provides in contrast to others. Primarily, Wendy and her longtime boyfriend Johnny combined in a rather straightforward audition tape, angling for a Blood vs. Water kind of season without knowledge of one’s existence.
Of course, we know now that we didn’t get that kind of season, so what we can take away from Big Wendy’s audition tape is the contrast between her and Johnny. Notice how much energy Wendy provides in her commentary compared to Johnny, as the already energetic personality contrasts more starkly in this case. Wendy did most of the talking for both of them, but she was able to coherently sell part of her story.
This shouldn’t tell the viewing audience that everyone has to have YouTube vlogger robot energy as if you’re not that kind of person, it will come off as inauthentic. However, you do need to dial up your focus and enthusiasm to 10/10 while telling casting why you stand out in the crowd. Wendy was able to do so with a scattershot, on-the-spot video, which should tell you personality conquers all.