The Real Cancun producers Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray, who formed Bunim-Murray Productions in 1987, helped to create a whole new genre of television in 1992 when they created “The Real World” (which airs on MTV). The weekly series brought together a group of diverse strangers in their late teens and early 20’s and asked them to live together for several months in a major city (the first show was set in New York City) and have every aspect of their lives taped by a team of around-the-clock camera crews. The results were compelling, funny, provocative and always incredibly watchable, as the housemates forged friendships (and often romances), fought with each other, and shared unforgettable experiences.

The first season of “The Real World” was a unique and unqualified hit and the format proved very adaptable, so much so that it recently completed its 12th season, which earned the strongest ratings to date. The success of “The Real World” led Bunim-Murray to create the popular long-running series “Road Rules,” among others, and helped provide the inspiration for the numerous “reality television” shows which currently dominate the Nielsen ratings and are incredibly popular with audiences.

With the rise of reality television, a reality feature film is the natural next phase in satisfying audiences’ curiosity for what goes on behind closed doors. “I feel like this film is an outgrowth of Bunim-Murray,” explains Jonathan Murray. “Creating 13 years of reality television, in some ways it’s like we’ve been training for this film to happen.” Rick De Oliveira continues, “Going to this movie is like watching your favorite reality show on steroids, but everything will be bigger, better and stronger. And you don’t even have to be a fan of reality TV to enjoy this movie, because it’s so accessible.”

Even though for the past few years television in general has been pushing the envelope of what can be depicted and shown, the medium is nonetheless limited by standards and practices from going too far out on the edge, and the types of stories that can be told have to fit within the constraints of a 30 minute or 1 hour timeframe. Wanting to adapt their TV success to the big-screen, and sensing that with the current wave of reality television the timing was right, Bunim-Murray set their sights on creating the very first reality feature film. “Making this movie represents an unprecedented opportunity for us to kick it up the bar in terms of the kinds of stories we want to tell,” says Mary-Ellis Bunim. Adds Jonathan Murray, “It’s exciting to be able to break the chains of television and deliver a more dramatic and sexy theatrical product.”

Bunim-Murray producers Rick De Oliveira and Jamie Schutz developed the concept for The Real Cancun in the Fall of 2001. De Oliveira, Vice President of Bunim/Murray Productions, has worked in a variety of capacities on the “The Real World” since its second season, and also produced “Road Rules” and “The Real World/Road Rules Challenge,” as well as “Girl Next Door: Search for a Playboy Centerfold” (for FOX television). Schutz has been working as a coordinating producer on such shows as “Survivor” and “Eco-Challenge.” With their wide-range of reality television experience, the two put their heads together to develop a compelling idea for a feature film.

“In developing this project it was important to place the participants in an environment that would let them be themselves,” explains De Oliveira. “Spring Break has a natural storytelling element – it begins the day they get there and ends the day they leave. The eight days in the break was a perfect match for our idea.” It was quickly decided that the legendary nightlife and fine white sand beaches of Cancun, Mexico, as well as the tens of thousands of vacationing college students as “extras,” would provide the perfect setting. “Cancun is the number one fantasy destination for Spring Break,” adds Mary–Ellis Bunim.

After developing the treatment for the project, Bunim-Murray approached New Line Cinema, who quickly realized the potential of the film and signed up to be the U.S. distributor. Rick De Oliveira expanded his producing role by coming aboard as the film’s director.

In late Fall 2002, the casting process began for The Real Cancun, with Bunim/Murray Productions holding open casting calls for two months in twelve college towns, which included Tempe, Arizona; Boston; Lubbock, Texas; Athens, Georgia; and Los Angeles. Head casting producer, Sasha Alpert, who has cast five seasons of “The Real World” and four seasons of “Road Rules,” and her team came up with a list of colleges that all broke for Spring Break at the same time.

“In casting this film,” Alpert explains, “it was imperative to find students that were actually on Spring Break in order to make sure their psychological state was fresh and real.” While nearly all of the final cast is composed of actual college students, it’s rounded out by a few colorful characters in their late teens or early twenties who were just too irresistible to pass up.

Using icebreakers and group activities in the open casting calls, the casting team sought to see how the students interacted in a group atmosphere. Alpert arranged “getting to know you” games, subjecting the potential Spring Breakers to questions like ‘what is your most embarrassing moment?’ “If someone is willing to tell a complete stranger their most embarrassing moment,” explains Alpert, “then we know that they are likely to be uninhibited. We were looking for interesting and emotionally available people that could create chemistry among the group. In addition to big personalities, we wanted people that can’t help but be themselves.”

“I told potential cast members that this is a promise,” director/co-producer Rick De Oliveira adds. “I promise to take you to Cancun, give you an amazing place and a wonderful experience, and in return you promise to let me film you 24/7.”

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