June 02, 2026
From Submission to Screen: How James Barranca Became Mystic Made
At 27 years old, James Barranca took a chance on himself, and it paid off in a big way.
After seeing a casting flyer from MysticArt Pictures for Hulu's debut season of Love Overboard, Barranca decided to submit. A longtime fan of reality television, he saw the opportunity as something he couldn't pass up.
"Honestly, I always wanted to do reality TV," Barranca said. "When I saw the flyer and saw it was MysticArt Pictures, I had to apply. What did I have to lose?"
That simple decision launched an unforgettable journey, taking him from an online submission to filming aboard a yacht in Malta for one of Hulu's newest reality series, Love Overboard
For Barranca, authenticity was the key to standing out throughout the casting process.
"You never lose when you're yourself," he said. "I owned everything that I am, and I think that's what made me stand out. People respect authenticity."
When he finally stepped onto set, the reality of the experience hit him all at once.
"My first thought was that this was about to be a wild summer," he recalled. "I was on a yacht, surrounded by people I'd never met, and I didn't know what to expect, but I was ready to embrace it."
The experience also challenged him to grow personally. Looking back, Barranca says one of the biggest lessons he learned was the importance of understanding others while staying true to himself.
"Someone can tell me I'm a star, but what matters is what I feel inside," he said.
After Love Overboard aired, Barranca was overwhelmed by the response from viewers around the world. Seeing audiences connect with his genuine personality reinforced the value of showing up as his authentic self.
Throughout the process, Barranca credits MysticArt Pictures for providing support every step of the way.
"It felt like family," he said. "Everyone showed me so much love before and after the show."
His advice to anyone considering applying for a casting opportunity is simple: take the chance.
"You have nothing to lose," Barranca said. "It's better to try and say you did than not."