Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Teen hopefuls tryout to be 'MADE'

Young people line up for a chance to appear on an MTV program that might help them reach ambitious goals.

By MEGAN SCOTT
Published September 5, 2005

LARGO - Amanda Clayton wants to be a runway model.

Brianna Kirby's dream is to be a boxer.

And Victoria Martinez is ready to embark on a singing career.

All three say they could use some help from MTV.

Saturday, they made their case to a casting director from MTV's MADE, a documentary-style show that depicts young people trying to achieve their dreams.

"It's really a positive show," said Keisha Day, program coordinator for the city of Largo. Day worked with MTV to arrange the casting call at the Bayhead Teen Complex, one of several MTV held in various venues around Tampa Bay.

"It gives teenagers an opportunity to fulfill some things they never thought possible."

MTV casting director Tori Asness, who also visited Countryside and Lakewood high schools, declined to speak with reporters.

But a press release about the casting call said the show is "seeking the few, the ambitious and those who want to set personal goals and get MADE."

Participants must be between the ages of 15 and 21, or at least appear to be.

And the goal had to be something specific that could be attained within the next five months.

Previous shows have chronicled a high schooler working to become a beauty pageant contestant and a football player who wanted to sing opera. The show, which is in its sixth season, provides training and coaches while it follows their journey.

The candidates had to fill out a questionnaire that asked why they needed MTV's help and what prevented them from accomplishing the goal on their own.

Then Asness interviewed them individually in front of a video camera. The interviews lasted between three and five minutes.

The St. Petersburg Times was not allowed to sit in on the interviews, but several of the teens talked about their dreams while they waited their turn.

"Modeling is just something I have always wanted to do," said Clayton, a 10th-grader at Dunedin High School.

"She has the legs for it," her grandmother, Carol McCauley, chimed in. "She has the personality, she has the looks. When she was younger, I always had her posing for pictures."

Kirby, a junior at Largo High, said Asness grilled her about her boxing dream, asking her questions, such as whether people would be surprised if she became a boxer.

When she was asked why she needed MTV's help, she said it was for motivation.

That seemed to be what Sarah Harmon needed too.

She said she wants to lose weight, but doesn't have anyone pushing her.

Her other goal: to make junior homecoming court.

"I just know that they can get people off their feet and help them achieve what they want to do,"' she said.

Producers will review the tapes from the casting calls and whittle it down to 20 contestants from across the country, one for each episode.

The teens should know if they were selected in the next couple of weeks.

--Megan Scott can be reached at 445-4167.

[Last modified September 5, 2005, 01:16:12]