I know the comments, I see what people write on Facebook and other social media. If they were on that survival show they did this, and they would have done that. Well that’s not always allowed! THAT is the reality about survival TV.
You see, survival TV is about making television, the wow factor, and the shock, and the drama. It has very little to do with actually teaching your survival. If you really look at the shows you’ll see that most of it is watching people fail, cheering for the underdog, or hoping that some disaster will befall people.
Drama is great TV, and by editing the footage and bringing in the commercials, they make it seem like it’s all drama! Nobody would hang around to watch if someone had a great campsite with perfect water set up and found lots of food. Then had the time to sit back after the first two days and enjoy their stay.
Here are some untold hard facts about the TV shows.
Most of the shows are not that far out in the wild. Some shows are actually filmed within hundreds of yards of vacation resorts. A lot of these shows are shot on reserves, parks, vacation spots, and other well-known areas. It has happened more than once that the contestants and crews have run into hikers, birdwatchers, and other people.
There are medical, advisers, producers, and film crews everywhere. And trust me this help scare off the game. Speaking of game, you’re not allowed to harvest certain animals.
Crews actually go in before the contestants, and remove plants, animals and food, from some areas.
Some shows you have to wear or carry a transponder. If you get too close to someone or something you are told to turn around and go back in another direction.
Sometimes they pay you to do stupid things. “We will give you X amount of dollars when you go over there and get that lizard and eat it.” Yes that really happens.
They team you up with different people to watch the conflict.
Some shows you are paid by the episodes so the faster you tap out, the less they have to pay you.
No matter how good you are they can edit the video to make you look either great or stupid.
The show comes first, your safety comes second. Yes they will take care of you if you get injured or sick and you’re there on the set. It’s after the shows over in your back home, getting sick from a disease, parasite or an illness suffered during the show that you may not be compensated for, and yes this has happened with some of the contestants.
So when you sit back in your chair and watch these television shows and you’re saying you would do this and you would do that, remember there are rules that you don’t know about, I’ve only mentioned a few here.
Suffering through problems, conflicts and drama, gets the shows their ratings and their pay better than someone who comes in and just totally does a wonderful job.
So am I saying that everything is “fake, or staged?”Absolutely not, and some good things can be learned from the shows. You have to take everything with a grain of salt, and remember you are watching television.
Real survival can only be taught to you by getting out there putting in the dirt time. You have to get out from in front of the television set, and practice.
Television and the Internet are great for piquing your interest, but when you really want to learn skills, nothing beat hands on experience. Go out and try some of the skills that you have seen. Go take a class, with a reputable school..
