The premiere of the new edition of ‘Big Brother’ is imminent. The Telecinco reality show, which changed the way television is made and understood in Spain almost a quarter of a century ago, returns this Thursday, September 5 with anonymous contestants, after six years in which well-known characters reigned. Now, the contest returns to its origins and throughout this summer has been looking for the next inhabitants of the house in Guadalix de la Sierra (Madrid).
There are big differences with respect to the editions with celebrities when it comes to casting contestants. While with celebrities there is practically a direct search and high fees are agreed, with unknown people there is a large selection process to which everyone can apply.
Over the last few months, Zeppelin’s casting department (Banijay Iberia), headed by Teresa Colomina, has travelled from one end of Spain to the other looking for new diamonds in the rough, profiles that can surprise and engage viewers with live action.
But what is the casting process for ‘Big Brother’? How does this complex selection process work, in which more than 70,000 people have applied? Teresa Colomina, head of casting for the reality show, tells us all the key points.
-What are you looking for in the new contestants on ‘Big Brother’?
-I don’t look for, I find. Obviously, there are a number of profiles that are very good in a casting. We look for proactive people, who talk, who have people skills, who can relate to others or who have a nice or special story. There are also people who fall outside of those parameters, who you’re watching their presentation video and you can’t stop looking at. Suddenly, you feel like calling your colleagues and telling them that person should come to the camera test because they’re wonderful. There are people who click with you and maybe it’s not anything specific that you’re looking for. We need people who have something. I don’t like labels or doing a casting with different guidelines.
-Can any past contestants serve as a reference for the new cast?
-I don’t force myself to put in one type of person, another of another type and then another of another. When looking for a person we don’t look for the next Albert Infante or the new Maite Galdeano because there is no person who is exactly the same. We have to look for people who can take their place and who may not look like them at all, but who do have the same spirit and home movement as they have. Then people complain about the furniture, but the furniture is not born, but made. The video of the person who records themselves at home to send you, who is in their room or in their comfort zone, is not the same as then coming here.
Have you ever selected someone who then didn’t know how to adapt to the competition?
-Living in an isolated place with unknown people whose reactions can be totally different from those shown in the casting. I can say that I’m doing great without eating and, suddenly, one day I can’t have a toast and a glass of milk and burst out. I think everything is much more complicated than it really seems. You never realise until you’re in the competition. Many times the house overwhelms you. It’s not the same to be at home when, suddenly, someone messes with you for a reason or someone gets on your nerves and you have to see their face every day. We don’t know what can happen. You can feel like staying in a corner.
-What did you find at this year’s casting?
-We have found many things that are going to make things very difficult for us. I need to have 25 or 30 contestants to have enough reserves for whatever might happen. And 89,000 people have applied.
-Do people of a certain age range or with certain characteristics predominate?
-They are all very daring people, some have careers or children and have been encouraged to participate. There are young people who apply because they are fans of reality shows and this year we have noticed that there are quite a few older people, around 40 or 50 years old, which was not the usual thing, as is also happening with mothers. I was struck by the fact that mothers of all kinds have applied. The mentality has changed a lot. Now there are mothers with children of two or three years old who apply and leave their children with their father. We are also finding women in their 50s, who have nothing to envy of those in their 30s, who got married when they were young or already have their children at university who now decide to take the step and live a second youth by applying for ‘Big Brother’. We have evolved and we are facing a more open and diverse casting. Also, I don’t know if it is the post-pandemic event, but people want to live the experience and they don’t mind at all.
-What surprised you the most?
-There are people who have told me that they want it to be seen that ‘Big Brother’ is also attended by people with studies or permanent positions, such as doctors, neurologists or industrial engineers, who do not mind leaving their jobs to enter the house. There are people who have overcome serious illnesses who want to experience ‘Big Brother’ because it is a unique experience for different reasons such as socializing, being inside the house and they want to be isolated for three months. When looking for profiles.
-Have you noticed many people coming here in search of fame?
-There are many people who become famous, but we don’t look for people who want to be famous. If you want to be famous and you’re great, we won’t turn you down, but obviously you have to look for something more than just being famous. Many people become famous because the opportunity later arises because they’re worth it or their character is funny, but we don’t aim to get people who want to become famous. In fact, normally, the winners of the editions aren’t usually those who become famous, as is the case with Suso or Sabrina. Suso didn’t win any of the editions he’s entered and he has his place on television. For us, it’s not essential that they want to be famous, but, as I said, we’re not going to put a cross on them either if they have a story and are a cool person.
-What should a candidate entering the ‘Big Brother’ house never have?
-We look for the truth and the lack of truth doesn’t last more than 24 hours. Also, we mustn’t underestimate the public. People who watch reality shows are very clever, they are very used to it and they don’t like people who are selling you the bike. People want the truth. The other day I was asked about the profile to enter ‘Big Brother’ and the answer is to go with the heart. I don’t look for quantum physics or to learn a text, I look for heart and truth. I have been a family coordinator and it is true that it is very hard, especially with anonymous people. Think about what if you take a boy or a girl from a town in Valladolid and you want their father or mother to come and defend them. These people are forced to go on television out of love for their son or daughter. These people haven’t gone through the casting and they come to help their children. I always tell them to do what comes from the heart and to always put the truth first. Otherwise, you will never be able to enter ‘GH’.
-Is direct searching still done in nightclubs or other public places?
-Yes, we did do direct searches in clubs and other places, but right now there are so many people signed up for the casting that we didn’t consider it necessary. Through social networks, the first day we joined the team, when Telecinco hadn’t yet launched the casting for ‘Supervivientes’, we contacted people we knew through social networks who could fit in ‘Gran Hermano’, but there must have been about 10 people at most.
-Are there many TikTokers at the casting?
-Who doesn’t have a Tik Tok these days? If that tiktoker has applied of their own free will… what do I do? Do I kick them out? Dulceida hasn’t applied. I’m glad you asked me this question. That’s what I’m telling you, the first day we joined we contacted 10, not all of whom responded, a bit to break the ice and to start somewhere. It’s true that many tiktokers have applied, but many hairdressers and health workers are also applying. We’re not looking for tiktokers, but it’s true that they are applying. We’re honoured that a tiktoker with a lot of followers wants to apply for ‘Big Brother’. For them, the reality show is a cool and important thing that they would like to be on. For me it’s a source of pride that young people, who are into another way of watching television or consuming images and who have a Tik Tok or an Instagram with a lot of followers, want to be part of something of ours that has been on the air for 25 years. Being a tiktoker is not a plus. I don’t care about the photos they have. At this point in the casting process I’m basing myself on the video and their questionnaire. I haven’t checked anyone’s social media. I can’t tell you how many followers anyone has. I know how many people have Tik Tok, but not how many followers they have. At least I haven’t bothered.
-When is the casting open?
-The casting is still open until the day before the premiere. I have part of the team that keeps watching what comes in. For example, Suso signed up for the casting two days before it closed and we picked one up to get him in.