Courtesy of Ally Capriotti Grant
- Ally Capriotti Grant is a casting director who worked on "Queer Eye" for five seasons.
- Grant said the first step to choosing a "hero" is finding someone who represents their city.
- Then her team looks for someone who is open, honest, and ready for help from the hosts of the show.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ally Capriotti Grant, a casting director for ITV America based in Brooklyn, New York. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I've been working as a casting director for ITV America, one of the largest non-scripted production houses in the world, for eight years after getting my start on Food Network's "Restaurant: Impossible" as a casting scout. Since then, I've had the pleasure of working on a lot of interesting shows, including "Love Island USA," "Tiny House Hunting," and "Real Housewives of New Jersey." I started working on "Queer Eye" in December 2016 and worked there through season five, which aired in June 2020.
I love that "Queer Eye" celebrates what makes us different. The overall tone is so uplifting — it's definitely a feel-good show and one that I feel lucky to have gotten to work on for five seasons. It's close to my heart and a shiny spot within my career.
I was part of the team that selected the show's "heroes," which is our word for participants. I really like making people feel comfortable and safe enough to share their stories. Getting to know a hero over the course of a few months was my favorite part of the job.
When my team looks for heroes, we focus on location, the willingness of a candidate to share their story, and that "why now" element.
The location of each season of "Queer Eye" is a character in and of itself
Once we land on the location, we research the city to answer questions like, "What food is it known for? What are its sports teams? What is the city known for in general?" We think about the stories we want to tell about the city, and we look for heroes with stories that will resonate, are timely, and inspire.
Past cities we've worked in include Atlanta, Kansas City, and Philadelphia. If a city is known for something in particular, like Philadelphia is known for cheesesteaks, my team is going to go into ten different cheesesteak restaurants to see if anyone has a story to share.
Then the team splits up into two: those who are boots-on-the-ground and those that stay in the office. Those on the ground hand out fliers in places like grocery stores, sporting events, and restaurants. The half of the team in the office will simultaneously spread the word virtually in places like local Facebook groups. Once we find someone who might make a good hero, we reach out, meet them in person, and learn about their world.
Another component to finding a hero is they have to be willing to share their story
We look for people who are real and aren't playing a part. Our number one priority is to find people who are willing to be vulnerable, are open to a transformation, and are ready for a change in their lives. We always say that instead of giving a "makeover," we're giving a "make better."
And there's a big reward for being open and honest — you get to share your story with people who care and start unpacking challenges that you might be facing day-to-day.
In non-scripted television, you're most often dealing with people who have never been on camera before. The beauty of this is that they're real. Our job is to make them feel comfortable being themselves, especially when cameras are present.
We also talk about the "why now" element all the time as a team
There has to be a clear reason why this candidate needs a little love in the form of the Fab Five, the hosts of the show, in their lives. What's at stake for them at the moment? What's on the line?
For example, maybe they're just starting to date now because they're an empty nester. Maybe before, dating wasn't a priority, but their child left for college last month, so now dating makes sense.
A lot of different factors go into it, but we're looking to answer why they need help right now. While heroes are not paid, they receive makeovers that often include a new wardrobe, furniture, home improvements, and oftentimes, a new positive outlook on life.