Survivor

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April 24th, 2015 at 1:40:48 PM permalink
Evenbob
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 146
Posts: 25010
Things people don't know about the show,
from a cameraman who did 10 seasons.

"The challenges also last for hours, and they aren't very exciting in real life. On TV, it's easy to forget that there isn't any dramatic music playing while people are running around, and there is a lot of downtime while the cameramen take establishing shots and other things viewers take for granted."

Also, tribal usually lasts 2-3 hours, and we
only see 10min of it on TV. Jeff has to talk
and talk to them for hours just to get 10min
worth of stuff that's good.

"Interview subjects and order are chosen by the producer. Everyone gets at least an interview a day, sometimes more. Camera operator chooses where to set up for the interview, away from main camp of course and the other contestants are not allowed to go near that area while the interview s being conducted. there may be a couple interviews going on simultaneously in different areas if there is a big build up to tribal or after a challenge."

So the producers control everything, nothing is
left to chance. He also says editing is king. They
edit the show to make some people look better
than others, and it really pisses off a lot of
contestants when they see the show at home.

He says you can tell who survives to the end by
watching the first episode. The people they
highlight the most are the ones they know make
it to the last few episodes.
If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose.
April 25th, 2015 at 5:08:06 AM permalink
AZDuffman
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 135
Posts: 18136
Quote: Evenbob


So the producers control everything, nothing is
left to chance. He also says editing is king. They
edit the show to make some people look better
than others, and it really pisses off a lot of
contestants when they see the show at home.


Not a surprise. I only watched the last third of the first season and only because it was so watercooler back then before there were so many other things to watch and do. One guy brought up how it looked deserted but there was a resort a mile away. But so many people believed it was real or near real. Great work by the producers and directors.

Once you were in the minority if you watched this stuff as a smark, now not so much. I just binged two seasons of "Food Network Star" on Netflix. Picked my favorites about three episodes in. One won, the other came in second. I know a lot of that show is staged, but it is fun to watch. I like seeing how they pick people and what makes a good TV personality. But I don't for a minute think they don't have a favorite or two from the start.
The President is a fink.
April 25th, 2015 at 11:50:29 AM permalink
Evenbob
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 146
Posts: 25010
Survivor has 800 people in the crew when
they're on location. Many of them are lackys
who move stuff around, set up the challenges,
haul equipment. When they shoot a challenge,
there are 80 people we never see with cameras
and sound gear and lighting and clipboards.
They constantly start and stop the challenges
if they involve a lot of movement, so they can
get the best camera angles.
If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose.
April 26th, 2015 at 8:28:12 AM permalink
Wizard
Administrator
Member since: Oct 23, 2012
Threads: 239
Posts: 6095
I'll let you guys be the first to know that I've tasked my videographer, Heather, with helping me make a Survivor audition video. Said videos have to be under three minutes. There are lots of examples of them on YouTube. So, I'm finally taking the first step. I'm open to ideas for the video. Heather asked me to write a script but I think it will come out better if I improvise.
Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber
April 26th, 2015 at 11:44:39 AM permalink
Evenbob
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 146
Posts: 25010
Because you're 'old' for the show, you
have to highlight your fitness and your
prowess at trivia. They want to know if
you can handle the challenges and not
be a boring schlub when forced to talk.
If you were 25, you would have a much
better chance. And female and good looking.

Even include 30 seconds of you on the radio.
I've heard people apply for years before
they get accepted, of course 99% never do.
If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose.
April 26th, 2015 at 8:08:08 PM permalink
zippyboy
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 2
Posts: 665
Quote: Evenbob
They want to know if
you can handle the challenges and not
be a boring schlub when forced to talk.

I agree, Mike. You have to be "good TV". That's the most important thing. Fat Dan is on this season because he's a talkative personality (whether good or bad); he makes good TV. Make it happen! We're all on your side!
April 27th, 2015 at 12:39:52 AM permalink
Face
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 61
Posts: 3941
I still say you have to be a caricature. Maybe not to a comedic extreme, but "normal" people don't get on TV. I used to watch a lot of "reality" TV, and I was quite a fan of the submission videos. Not a single one of those folks are normal. Not a one. They're all stereotypes to the extreme.

My advice would be to really look at what types of people get on that particular show. I don't mean like the token fat guy, the token brain, the token gay, the token jock... I mean personality types. There's always a type that needs to be filled. If you don't find a type to fill, you'll never make it.

As an aside, I'll never forgive Survivor for singlehandedly making Hasselbeck a "star".
Be bold and risk defeat, or be cautious and encourage it.
April 27th, 2015 at 1:27:14 AM permalink
Evenbob
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 146
Posts: 25010
Quote: zippyboy
Quote: Evenbob
They want to know if
you can handle the challenges and not
be a boring schlub when forced to talk.

I agree, Mike. You have to be "good TV". !


You have to have an angle. I would play
up your WoO cred, that you're an expert
at odds and angles. You are the expert we all
turn to for probability. You can size up any
situation and move the odds in your favor.

Of course you can't, but they don't know that
and it sounds good. It singles you out as
a worthwhile player. The show has been on
for 15 years, they know how to pick players.
Stand out, be different. Get their attention.
You won't win because you aren't cut throat
enough. But just getting on the show is
winning.
If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose.
April 27th, 2015 at 5:51:24 PM permalink
Wizard
Administrator
Member since: Oct 23, 2012
Threads: 239
Posts: 6095
Thanks for the advice. We shoot the video tomorrow. I agree with trying to fit a certain character. There is an interview of Jeff Probst where he says every show they try to have certain rolls filled by somebody, like the mom, dad, villain, hero, wolf in sheep's clothing, etc..

I think my age probably works in my favor as I bet they get tons of applications from young people with nothing better to do for 40 days. Not too many professionals, if I can call myself that, can just up and leave their normal lives for that long.

Finally, they have had a lot of nerdy types on the show before. Like Spencer from a recent season. The whole "brain" tribe in that game was quite nerdy. I've also done a fair bit of TV and know what they want to see, yet I'm not so experienced that I would seem fake.
Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber
April 30th, 2015 at 8:39:59 PM permalink
Evenbob
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 146
Posts: 25010
I have the show down to 12min now,
I only watch the tribal vote. I don't
like any of the players, but I really
can't stand big mouth Dan. He's
such a fake and he makes me want
to slap his fat face. He's melodramatic
about everything because he knows
the cameras are always going. He
has big acts of surprise, and big acts
of disappointment, he even started
bawling like a baby when he got a
letter from home. I'm watching tribal
till he gets voted off and then I'm done.
If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose.
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