Destination Reality: Casting Director, Ashley K. Wilson on Casting Creators, Building Community, and Reimagining Travel TV
By Leroy Adams
As the lines between travel, entertainment, and digital storytelling continue to blur, few people sit at the intersection quite like Ashley K. Wilson. A seasoned casting director turned community builder, Ashley has worked with platforms like YouTube, Nike, Meta, and Issa Rae Productions—casting everything from reality TV pilots to branded content and commercial campaigns. But her newest project might be her most ambitious yet: Destination Reality, a creator-driven travel series launching on her newly formed streaming platform, Water.
In this conversation for The Layover Podcast, Ashley joined me to talk about her evolution from screenwriting student to one of the go-to names in casting, the rise of destination-based reality content, and why personality—not polish—is the new currency in content creation.
From Scriptwriting to Screen Time
Leroy Adams: Take us back to the beginning. How did your career in casting start, and what led you to shift toward creators?
Ashley K. Wilson: It actually started with a screenwriting class during my last semester at Morgan State. I was majoring in communications, but when I took that class, I realized, “I really like this media thing.” From there, I landed an internship at Sirens Media, one of the only production companies in Maryland at the time, and ended up getting hired to cast crime shows. That’s where it all began.
Eventually, I was casting for shows like The Bachelorette, Temptation Island, Love & Hip Hop, and The Hype on HBO. Around 2018, I noticed the shift—Gen Z and young millennials weren’t dreaming of becoming actors. They wanted to be content creators. So, I rebranded my email list from Be On TV USA to Digital Influence, and focused on connecting creators with real casting opportunities for campaigns, commercials, and now, reality TV.
Building a Creator Community
Leroy Adams: That Digital Influence community you’ve built—now over 50,000 people—is incredible. What sparked it?
Ashley K. Wilson: I was tired of scrambling to find talent last minute. So, I started building an email list of models, actors, and eventually, creators. It began with about 50 people in the DMV area and grew into this massive community. Today, I’ve used that list to cast people for shows, influencer campaigns, brand activations—you name it.
Creators vs. Actors
Leroy Adams: You’ve casted both trained actors and content creators. What’s the biggest difference between the two?
Ashley K. Wilson: Actors can be too stiff sometimes. They’re trained to hit their marks and deliver lines perfectly, but it doesn’t always feel natural. Creators bring this raw, unpolished energy that resonates more with audiences—and brands love that. They want the quirks, the stutters, the imperfect realness. That’s what makes content feel authentic.
What Brands Really Want
Leroy Adams: One of the most interesting things you said in our conversation is that brands aren’t just looking for influencers—they want storytellers.
Ashley K. Wilson: Exactly. Too many people lead with follower count, but brands care about your concept. What’s the story? Why should people care? You need to articulate your voice, your value, and your vision. If you can’t do that, you’re not ready.
Balancing that creative freedom with brand partnerships is tricky. We’re making a reality show—there’s gonna be drinking, swearing, maybe a little drama. But I’m not trying to produce anything wild just for the sake of it. I want a PG-13, maybe soft R-type vibe—intentional, but real.
Meet Destination Reality
Leroy Adams: Tell us about your latest project—a travel-based reality series. What is it?
Ashley K. Wilson: This project is a travel-based reality series featuring six content creators in destinations like St. Lucia and Miami. But it’s not drama for drama’s sake. It’s about community, creativity, and what happens when big personalities meet beautiful spaces. The destination itself becomes a character.
The idea hit me after seeing a group of Black creators post their Bali trip online. People were obsessed—not just with the content, but the interactions, the dynamics, the rawness. That’s when I realized: this is reality TV. So I took the concept and ran with it. The show will premiere on my new streaming platform, Water, which is all about creator-first content.
What Makes the Cut
Leroy Adams: You’ve got a pool of 50,000 creators. What are you looking for when casting?
Ashley K. Wilson: Personality, first and foremost. You can have a million followers, but if you don’t light up a scene or spark a conversation, it won’t work. I want expressive people—funny, emotional, chill—who understand production and can carry a moment. For Destination Reality, it’s not about your content output. It’s about who you are when the cameras roll.
Final Word
Leroy Adams: What can viewers expect from this show?
Ashley K. Wilson: Vibes. Real people. Real stories. And a reminder that travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about who you go with. This show will feel like a warm group chat with palm trees and professional lighting.
Leroy Adams: That’s perfect. Thank you, Ashley.
Ashley K. Wilson: Thank you! And if anyone reading this knows a creator who’d be great for the show, send them my way!
Know a creator who belongs on Destination Reality?
Visit digitalinfluence.tv to apply.
