The Times deployed its investigative resources to dig into the very important rumors that Real World: Brooklyn would be shot downtown rather than in, say, Williamsburg or Park Slope, and nudged the story a bit closer to confirmation. The owner of the downtown BellTel lofts seconded show producer MTV's earlier confirmation of negotiations, and this time there was no mention of other, white borough neighborhoods as alternatives to downtown. PR genius Ronn [sic] Torossian, who represents the developer of BellTel, tried to spin MTV's interest as a big validation for the neighborhood. But then the Times went talking to some of the locals, and they started asking why the cable network wants its fresh young stars getting mugged and so forth:

Adrian Foster, 32, an employee at Petland Discounts, also dreamed of stardom. "It'll be good, once I'm on it," he said. But he questioned the choice of neighborhood.



"Compared to other places they were living, I think this would be a downgrade," he said. "A few bars, a few stores, that's about it. Clubs, they have to go to Manhattan. It's kind of rough out here. They've just got to keep their eyes open and ears open."



Danny Perez, 37, works at Gallery Religious Supplies, which sells, besides the anti-jinx soap, candles and bath salts that claim to attract money or love and dispel evil. He knows the neighborhood as well as anyone, acting as a confidant to his customers, who whisper to him of some ill or want that he addresses with a special candle.



"They'd be jeopardizing their safety," he said of the cast members. "Too many side streets." But he promised to do his best for any of them. "I'll help them out," he said. "I'll help them out."

Gosh, it sounds like throwing a bunch of young, privileged, mostly white youths into downtown Brooklyn might produce some unexpected complications. If you think about it, it's almost as though that's what MTV wants.

[Times]