The Glee Project

- So there's a show called glee. Ever heard of it?

Well, some people think it's pretty good.

I love glee!

- It's won emmys, golden globes, people's choice awards,

Glaad, sag, tca.

It's a massive hit and has launched some major careers

Like lea michele, chris colfer, cory monteith, and darren criss.

But with some of their superstar cast graduating,

The new directions need new blood.

So co-creator and writer of glee, ryan murphy,

Invented the glee project.

It's basically a show to help cast his other show.

Not that show.

Glee project, whoo!

- He decided to open up the casting process to,

Oh...The entire world.

Turns out there's a lot of talent out there.

Anyway, the glee project is like

A singing, dancing, acting, sleepaway camp

Complete with singing, dancing, and acting.

- I'm having the best time of my life, you know what?

- People get eliminated, there's a callback list,

And the coolest part is they're mentored

By the team that does glee.

Casting director robert ulrich...

- I think you're great. - Choreographer zach woodlee...

- If you're the type that loves to bounce and like, "wee!"

Then "wee."

- Vocal producer nikki anders... - You were, like, 100% you.

And of course, ryan murphy.

You ready to get into it?

- The grand prize is a multiple-episode

Guest-starring role on glee.

Last year, there were two winners.

And two others also won guest appearances.

Things went so well, ryan decided to do it all over again.

And that's all you need to know so far on...

When season one ended,

We immediately began casting for season two.

It's such a huge undertaking.

There's open calls, there's online submissions,

There's in-office auditions.

Ultimately, I have 12 spots to fill,

So it's gonna be tough.

It isn't just about being the best singer,

Or the best actor, or the best dancer.

It's about being able to do all three.

But first and foremost, it's about being you.

- I am ready to work, 'cause I'm fierce.

- And being so distinct and on fire

That ryan can be inspired to write a character about you.

Oh, he's cool.

- I'm looking for all types of people,

All types of voices, all types of looks,

All types of characters.

He's very, very good.

Yeah. Definitely yeah.

I want to investigate him later. He's cool.

The online submissions are providing me

With so much incredible talent and diversity.

- Well, he just has superstar quality.

- He does. - I mean, he's just a star.

The online submissions were great.

I know were totally covered there.

And now we have the open calls,

And we've decided to go to more cities.

And I'm sure we're gonna find some amazing talent.

So we're gonna go to chicago,

Nashville, and new york.

I love glee.

- Glee is about giving everybody a chance.

And what better way than having people

From all across the nation come to these open calls?

- Glee project season two! - Whoo!

I drove 11 hours here.

This is, like, the biggest dream of my life.

I want this so bad.

- These open calls are so crazy because kids wait

All night long to audition.

And this is the moment. This is it.

They have a few minutes to make an impression

That could change their lives.

- Hello. - Hey.

- Hi. - Hi.

Hey.

- Oh, careful! You all right?

This is it.

This is, like, make it or break it.

It's kind of like a life-altering moment.

Well, you sound great.

- So, dale. - Yes?

- Are you nervous? - Um, yes.

- You sound really pretty. - Thank you very much.

- My favorite part about the open calls

Is you never know what's coming through the door next.

- That was great. You're great.

- Thank you so much. - Thank you.

Just everything about her is incredibly cool.

Yeah.

All these kids want to be on

The glee project so much.

I thought it'd be really great to bring along

Sam, damian, and alex, who were past contenders

To not only represent the glee project,

But to serve as kind of an inspiration

To the kids auditioning.

- I'm a fan of you already. - Thank you.

- And the fact that you just came in

And just let it all out, that's good.

I'm from ireland.

Well, my parents are from ireland.

Well, you have a yes from me.

- You never know what you're gonna get at an open call.

Some days, you have a lot of talent,

Some days, you have not quite as much.

I tell people over and over r= be themselves.

It really is the mantra of glee.

Wow.

But some people took it a little far.

- Is it healthy to be singing...

When you just had your nose done?

I mean, I can't imagine.

The doctor would say it's probably not the best.

Luckily, every once in a while, somebody comes in

Who is spectacular.

Well, I really want to get on glee because

I feel like I can really help tell some important stories.

I feel like that went really well.

- I am having the best time in these open calls

Because the people are so glee.

People would always come up and say,

"wow, I never thought a person in a wheelchair

Could sing like that."

Why should a person with a disability

Not have that same opportunity to follow their dreams

And follow their passions as anyone else?

- Hi. - Hi.

Tyler.

- Tyler, what do you think is the biggest obstacle

At you've faced yet?

Well, I am transgender.

I was born female. - Mm-hmm.

- I started testosterone five months ago.

- Oh, so--oh, I see. - Yeah.

So you were born a female

And so your voice obviously is different.

- Yeah, I'm like a 14-year-old boy.

- Wow. - Yeah.

- Well, you--you're great. - Thank you.

- There was a lot of talent the open calls,

But there were some people who were really superstars.

- That was great. - Thank you.

- You have a great voice. - Thank you.

- With all the talent I've seen from the open calls,

I'm really getting nervous because I only have

80 spots for the l.A. Callbacks.

My team and I are gonna go back to los angeles,

And we're gonna sit down and try to figure out

How we're gonna narrow it down to 80,

Which sounds almost impossible.

So we've got to narrow this down.

We have those people there so far,

And I think those are all great.

Now that I'm back, my work really begins.

I have to watch every tape again,

I have to go back

To the online submissions, the open calls.

I'm dealing with so many people from nashville,

So many people from new york, and so many people from chicago.

I think definitely max camp.

Max is the country singer. He's appealing.