September 26, 2002 - Vol. 4, Issue 39

East Lyme - A chance sighting of an Internet contest started a journey that ended with East Lyme resident Nicole Sautler starring on MTV’s show Wannabes.

The purpose of the show is to give ordinary people the same treatment and equipment a star would receive when creating a music video. Saulter’s mother explained, "If chosen, they get the royal treatment- complete makeover, wardrobe, dance rehearsal and a chance to compete with two other finalists to perform on the MTV stage at Sony Studios in New York."

Saulter decided to enter the contest and audition to perform a song by her favorite singer, Madonna. The only criterion for auditioning was the participant must live within four hours of New York City. After an intense competition, she lost the part in the Madonna video by only one judge’s vote. Although the contest had ended, Saulter’s relationship with MTV had just begun.

She kept in contact with the station and she and five of her friends received invitations from the audience coordinator to attend the P. Diddy performance. "It was a big thrill to see ourselves in the audience of MTV," she said.

Later Saulter received a letter from MTV asking her to try out for the recreation of another music video. Although she was happy for the opportunity, she found there were few music stars she wished to emulate. Then she heard about a chance to try out for the part of Shakira, a Colombian belly dancer with the hit CD Laundry Service, an album Saulter really enjoyed. "I received her English album and I would go out and sing her songs when doing karaoke," Saulter said. "She is in my voice range."

Saulter then underwent another intense audition with 300 other people vying for the part. "Everyone performs for 60 seconds of the song," she said, which is followed by a brief session of questions from the judges. Since they enjoyed the performance, the judges asked Saulter to sing a second song. After the last person auditioned, the judges then went into a separate room to look at the performances again on tape, which took an hour and a half.

After a long ten-hour day, Sautler felt she did not even want to hear the judges’ decision. All day she had been making friends with people at MTV and did not want to hear that she had to leave. Then the judges came out and announced that Sautler had won. "When they said my name my jaw dropped," she said.

Her mother recounted the busy days that the remaking of the video entailed. First the makeover changed her hair from auburn to blonde. The days following were filled with Latin belly dancing lessons, a dress rehearsal, numerous trips to New York City, dinner with the MTV staff and finally the actual performance. "The actual show was the best thing ever. It felt like an actual concert," she said. Backstage while they waited, many people were nervous, but Saulter just wanted to get out there and perform. They presented the music video in front of a live audience who clapped and cheered. The show aired on September 4 but the re-runs will air again in December.

With the taping at an end, Saulter hopes to continue her relationship with the station. "I just finished a demo tape to give one of the casting directors. The six-minute video is of all the television broadcasting I had done at school. [East Lyme High School video production teacher Grant Place and I] compiled the best announcements." On September 6, she submitted the video resume at the request of one of the MTV staff who originally came from New London. Saulter age 18 and her sister Brittany age 14 also plan to submit resumes to an associate who has close contacts with the ABC Soap All My Children and Sex and the City for future appearances on these shows.

An experienced model, Saulter hopes her recent appearance on MTV helps her to achieve her dream. "I have wanted to be famous for as long as I can remember," she said.