THIS IS THE TRUE STORY of when a PHANTASM film was featured on MTV’s The Real World

When The Real World debuted on MTV in 1992 it immediately became a worldwide phenomenon. Considered one of the world’s first reality shows it went on to spawn 33 seasons and 614 episodes.

The premier season followed 7 strangers who lived in a home in New York and had their lives filmed.

Due to its immediate success a second season was quickly put into production in 1993 and planned to take place in Los Angeles, CA.

A trope of the earlier seasons of the Real World followed the various cast members working in their local city at jobs they were passionate about.

Cast member Beth Anthony joined the season on Episode 12 when another cast member left to get married. With a desire to break into the film industry she took a job as a production assistant, on, you guessed it, PHANTASM III doing scenic painting and craft services work.

As any student of filmmaking knows working on a Phantasm set is a crash course in the world of  indie moviemaking. It’s no surprise that of the large crew of Phantasm alumni there have been Oscar winners, hit filmmakers and future presidents of Hollywood filmmaking guilds. Phantasm III offered the perfect entry-level job for Beth, which was shooting at the time in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California.

The Phantasm III scene featured in the Real World involves a demonic nurse trying to attack Mike. There is some terrific behind the scenes footage of the crew hard at work preparing for a stunt in which the deadly Phantasm sphere makes a surprising appearance!

Recently news came out that Paramount+ will be hosting a Real World Season 2 Homecoming. Will PHANTASM be mentioned?

Watch the full clip from PHANTASM III on the Real World above.