Are you counting down the days to SA’s Survivor?
It’s MARVELLOUS of M-NET to be BLOGGING the filming of Survivor! You can read all about the “Makings of” before the show even breaks on TV from their Survivor BLOG “Mixed Blessings” wriiten with lots of soul and a big spoonful of wit from journo Greg Bowes… and DJ… and Boy about Jozi town.
W…
e were recently invited to a creative awards event in deep Braamies…. We arrive eagerly in the deserted carpark with a young man unpacking his boot… one Greg Bowes if we recognised him correctly, who thankfully informed us that we were about 2 hours too EARLY….That was surely a first for us. Anyway, its well worth a read and a laugh, read about Greg and the Making of SA SURVIVOR by clicking right here.
From the Makers:
“Greg has been strategically placed amongst the spiders and foliage to report back on those interesting day-to-day things that the camera often misses. Read all about Greg’s island adventure and what it’s like to be a writer in the jungle in the middle of Survivor… “
A taste…from Greg:
“Under grey skies we headed out to the quaint, colourful and devoutly religious island of San Miguel, where Survivor SA sets off – with a real bang, believe me. As proceedings were about to kick off – and as if on cue from the great director high in the sky – the heavens opened& This was just the first of a few surprising and unscripted developments during a frenetic day. But while it’s going to make for magnetic and undoubtedly magic viewing, I have to admit that my eyeline was attracted by other sights: most notably the incredibly cute redheaded Swedish make-up girl& Now that’s what I call entertainment&” Greg
Pic from the Mixed Blessings blog.
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Do you have a friend that has suddenly become ‘unavailable’ for a month? Are they great at outdoors? Do they need a million bucks (don’t we all.) If you answered YES to all three of the above questions, they could be one of the 14 lucky or not so lucky Survivor Panama contestants. They flew out last night for a month – the show airs in September – this is going to be a tough one to keep under wraps. But we love the thought that September aka Spring is not that far away….
Here’s the scoop:
Survivor South Africa has captured the imagination of the country, with over 18 000 people submitting entry forms in the hope of getting a shot at the R1 000 000 prize up for grabs. Only 14 contestants made the grade, after taxing biokinetical and psychological tests and a nerve-jangling wait to see who would be South Africa’s first group of Survivors.
The wait for the lucky 14 is over – they’ve packed their bags, said goodbye to loved ones, and departed for Panama from Johannesburg last night (Sunday 4 June). The veil of secrecy which surrounded the selection process continues to ring the contestants, as they were allowed to tell only those closest to them where they would be disappearing to for a month.
All 14 signed confidentiality agreements, which keep their identities secret for now. M-Net Publicity Manager Lani Lombard says that keeping the 14 contestants’ identities under wraps is a vital part of the Survivor format. “It’s very difficult to keep a secret as big as the fact that you’ve been chosen as a Survivor South Africa contestant, but it’s vital for the success of the show. Events that transpire on the island during and after the competition are also protected by the agreements they signed, which penalise them heavily should they not comply – all in the name of making Survivor South Africa the biggest show of the year!” she says.
A grueling series of flights via Madrid and Panama City awaits them, but that’s nothing compared to the tests they’ll face on the island. Lombard is confident that the personalities selected will make for good television. “There are 14 VERY different people taking part in Survivor South Africa, from diverse backgrounds – a surefire hit for creating a fantastic show,” she says.
Production on Survivor South Africa begins shortly, with the television event of the year set to premiere on M-Net on Sunday 3 September at 18:00.
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12 May
Yip – Everybody wants to be a survivor! MNet has received a huge response to their call to entry – feel sorry for the production team who have to sift through it… although it will prob start off fun. Survivor obviously requires a lot less talent than a singing or dancing competition and it must certainly have more appeal than sitting in a house with 10 other banal people for 2 months. The stats show that it had a huge response from Joburg guys in their early twenties… why does that make us smile? You go Jozi boys… you are such confident manne. MANNE MANNE!!! We look forward to seeing who gets chosen:
While M-Net has drawn large numbers of entries from excited contestants for previous reality shows like Big Brother, Idols and Starmaker Story, Survivor South Africa has set a new record for entries, drawing more than 12 500 online and hardcopy applications.
Carl Fischer, Head of M-Net Original Productions, is obviously pleased with the massive response. “Endemol, who handle the selection process, have been inundated with entries and have worked hard to pay individual attention to each application. We knew that there would be a lot of interest in Survivor South Africa, but the number of entries we received has been overwhelming,” he says.
8500 of the entries received are from men, with the majority of applicants residing in Gauteng. The majority of entries are from contestants in the 21-25 age bracket.
The selection process is currently underway, with contestants shortlisted after telephonic and on-camera interviews. There are just 14 spots available on the island, and no shortage of takers. “The production team is working through all the entries, but it’s safe to say that if you entered, but haven’t received a phone call by 15 May, you haven’t been shortlisted,” says Fischer.
Survivor South Africa premieres on M-Net on Sunday 3 September at 18:00.
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hey are looking for 14 contestants – make sure to hurry – entries close the 30 April and with all the holidays between now and then (yay!) you may forget to enter! MNET please choose quality, interesting and most importantly diverse contestants!
In the biggest local television coup of the year, M-Net and the production company Endemol SA have obtained the rights to produce Survivor South Africa, an offshoot of the international hit show.
This was announced by M-Net’s head of Original Productions, Carl Fischer, in a satellite media conference today.
“I’m elated,” said Fischer. “This completes the triple crown of reality television. M-Net now owns the local rights to Big Brother, Idols and Survivor, the three most popular reality shows in the world. South African viewers have been familiar with the Survivor concept for many years; now we give them the opportunity to be part of it all.”
Over 100 series of Survivor have been recorded in more than 35 countries around the world – now it’s South Africa’s turn.
In Survivor South Africa, 14 strangers will have to outmanoeuvre each other over a period of 27 days. The last person standing will go home with a whopping R1 million.
The search for the 14 Survivor South Africa contestants starts NOW.
Marie Rosholt, head of entertainment and infotainment at Endemol SA, expects a stampede from prospective local Survivors. “Although contestants have to be older than 21, there is no upper age limit, and the show doesn’t require any clearly discernable skills. Instead, the requirements are physical and mental strength, the latter of which is not always easy to spot. We will be looking out for those contestants who can go the extra mile.”
Fischer agrees. “With a show such as Idols, the gap between the true contenders and the rest – the hopeful and the hopeless – is enormous. Survivor’s unpredictability is its greatest asset. The telling factors lie below the surface. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can take the honours.”
Maintaining an established Survivor tradition, contestants will be whisked off to an exotic destination, bearing scant resemblance to anything they’ve seen or experienced. In this case it is the breathtaking Pearl Islands in the Gulf of Panama, 90km south of Panama City.
The Pearl Islands are regarded to be among the world’s most beautiful, as-yet-unspoilt tropical retreats. It abounds with vegetation and wildlife, but any would-be contestants who mistake the Survivor experience for an island vacation will be in for a wicked surprise.
In true Survivor style, contestants will have to make do with the absolute minimum in terms of food and shelter. And then there is still the treachery and deceit of fellow competitors to contend with…
Entry forms can be found in this week’s editions of YOU, Huisgenoot, Drum, City Press and The Sunday Times, or on M-Net’s website at MNET. Rush to it! The closing date is April 30, with the show’s premiere set on M-Net for Sunday 27 August at 18:00.
