Recently, while conversing with a friend on the not-so-secret lives of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, I voiced firmly that no, I would not want to ever become rich and famous; it would simply not make me happy to have my personal life become so public. Appalled, my friend’s eyes grew big as she said, “Yeah, but if it were to happen, you wouldn’t be able to stop it.”
In the case of Corey Steinfast (COM ’16), stardom came quickly. It was 2008 and Steinfast was starting his freshman year at Roselyn High School in New York. As an ardent actor and attendee of the famed summer performing arts camp French Woods, Steinfast never questioned his mother and friends’ encouragement to audition for a new True Life episode: I’m a High School Freshman. Against the odds of forty-something other potential participants, Steinfast was selected and the six-month long filming journey began immediately.
Steinfast enjoyed every moment and did not mind sharing his private conversations, family life, and feelings about school with the audience.
“Although some people might be paranoid having cameras follow them constantly, I embraced it,” says Steinfast. “The producers and cameramen worked with my class and extracurricular schedule, and even drove me to and from school. Looking back overall I have no regrets with the show and the way they portrayed me.”
As it turns out, kids were kids and some of Steinfast’s friends laughed through most of the filming, tossing jokes back and forth about the episode, and even teasing Steinfast as it still replays now, so many years later.
“They enjoy making jokes about it, but I don’t mind,” Steinfast says.
Entering freshman year at Boston University, Steinfast did not have any cameras following him around the College of Communications, nor did he have any personal interviews on his Film and Television Major (except this!) or anyone to drive him down Comm Ave to rehearsals for Stage Troupe’s “Little Shop of Horrors” and BU on Broadway’s “MisCast.” Regardless, his stardom followed him on campus, as BU students may have noticed him more after reading some recent “BU Confessions” about his True Life episode. Steinfast admits that he did not know how to react at first, wondering whether to be flattered or scared—how could BU residents recognize him after all these years?
“It’s crazy that so many people have seen the show, and even crazier now that I’m in college,” says Steinfast.
In fact, Steinfast is no stranger to his fans. He’s been stopped almost anywhere—even by the gas attendant one day when he rolled up to fill his tank. While he remains non-chalant and commendably casual, a fellow esplanade walker, party goer, T commuter, or flight attendant might pin him as the “Kid from True Life.” Steinfast has only gained insight from these experiences, understanding more fully that the MTV audience reaches out to people of all different occupations, ethnicities, backgrounds, and ages. Anyone could have been able to think back or even forward to their own high school freshman year, feeling those same strenuous emotions of trying to belong in a new place.