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2000 rush to be an idol
2000 rush to be an idol
01 June 03
By Allen Newton, Sunday Times
MORE than 2000 young people queued outside Perth's Parmelia
Hilton Hotel yesterday for a chance at stardom.
The 16 to 28-year-olds, some of whom had waited through
the night, were there for the savage auditioning process
for Channel 10's new reality series Australian Idol.
By 7.30am, about 400 people were lined up, many wearing
coats over skimpy, attention-grabbing outfits. The queue
already ran from the Hilton's doors to St Georges Tce.
At the front of the queue was Chantal Basilio, 18, of
Yangebup who had been waiting with her mother Maria since
4.30pm on Friday. Ms Basilio, who sings Latin, R&B and
pop music, said she thought she had a real chance.
Ten entertainment boss Stephen Tate, who was in Perth
for the auditions, said 1502 people turned up for auditions
in Adelaide last Saturday in a process that lasted from
6am until 9.30pm.
Perth hopefuls had just a few seconds to step forward
and sing without instruments. Those who impressed judges
will start on a 12-week process that ends in the selection
of one person, who will be offered a potentially multimillion-dollar
recording contract.
On the judging panel are singer Marcia Hines, former singer
and now writer and producer Mark Holden and record label
BMG representative Ian Dickson.
From Perth, the Australian Idol production team will head
to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney for auditions.
Mr Tate said that between 100 and 120 people would then
be taken to Sydney for the next set of auditions. Thirteen
were selected in Adelaide.
In the US and Britain where Idol has become a TV
phenomenon, judges have earned a reputation for showing
no mercy and Mr Tate said Australia was proving no different.
"They are a formidable group. Even Marcia, while
she is more empathetic, still recognises there is no point
in wasting these people's time if they don't have what
it takes," he said.
The talent search follows other reality TV programs such
as Popstars, which helped start the careers of
former Bardot singers Sophie Monk and Katie Underwood.
The judging panel consist of singer Marcia Hines, former singer
and now writer and producer Mark Holden and BMG record label
representative Ian Dickson.
