Issue date: 4/21/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Daniel Williams Eric Zimostrad, a senior communications major, is a finalist for a new MTV reality television show. Zimostrad went to a casting call in Chicago and was called back for a video interview.

It began in 1992 with seven strangers meeting in New York to have their lives taped. MTV's reality show "The Real World" almost cast one Eastern student.

With former "Real World: Boston" cast member Syrus on campus for a casting call this week, Eastern students had the chance to follow in that student's footsteps.

Eric Zimostrad, a senior communications major, was one of the finalists to be chosen for the television show on the MTV network in the fall of 2004.

"I did it on a whim," Zimostrad said.

After hearing about an open-call audition from his mother, Zimostrad left Charleston with a friend at 5 a.m. to attend an audition in Chicago for "The Real World" and "Road Rules."

Friend and roommate Mike Keeter, a junior sports management major, described Eric as "outgoing, creative, a great person (and) a people person."

Zimostrad said when he arrived about 2,000 to 3,000 people were there for auditions.

After filling out a 30-page questionnaire and waiting for five hours, he was finally called in for the audition.

Zimostrad said the questionnaire, which took him about five hours, asked both general and in-depth questions.

The questionnaire asked about family, schooling and "exploring every sort of territory of yourself," he said.

Soon afterward, he was called back to have a video interview to see if he fit the mold for "The Real World."

After returning to Charleston, he said he received a call at about 11p.m. from the casting crew.

Because of lack of sleep and a three-hour drive, Zimostrad could not make it back to Chicago for a call back at 8 a.m.

"I think I kind of stepped outside of the box of what they were looking for," Zimostrad said.

He offered advice to anyone planning on auditioning for a reality show. Zimostrad said get some sleep before auditions, so no all-night drinking binges before.

When participants fill out 30 pages of questions, be honest and do not be afraid, he said. Be sure to bring lawn chairs and a cooler with some food.

He finally said don't care about their views.

Zimostrad does not have any real regrets about what happened, and if the opportunity arose to try another reality show, he would.

"I'd probably do it, maybe for (another reality show)," Zimostrad said.

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