Ok so I am nuts What's your thoughts

Survivor video application (Ideas needed)

[bwnbwn]

My wife is near dead for me to enter survivor so to make her happy or shut up I have consented.
History. Dad died when I was 15. Joined Marines out of HS. 72-74 Yea I am up there. Honorable discharge. Married 76 I think. Paid my way through college working on a dairy milking cows 4am-8am and 4pm 7pm 4 years. Graduated Forestry. Next 25 years I bought timber from private landowners.

Most don't understand what it takes to buy timber, quick lesson. A landowner 99% of the time will only get one sale from their land. Buying timber is all about trust, You call or visit a landowner get to know them, build trust, understand hidden human signals, and buy the timber as cheap as you feel you can get it for. I am not proud of what I did fact is I was so good at it I just couldn't do it anymore so about 12 years ago I quit and opened a health food store. Still get timber companies asking if I want to get back in it.
From the health food store I started an e-commerce site and began my career in SEO were I am today.

I have an uncanny knack of being able to read people really weird but true. I have very few friends well just 1. I am a loner work all the time, get along with people (since I quit drinking) All my co works probably enjoy me the best in the company. I keep my work fun and have a good time at work, do pranks, and just make those around me have a better day. I am told all the time at work I need to apply for the show, this is were my wife got the idea.

I am 58 6-3 225 18-20% body fat.

I have never watched 1 show of survivor I think it is stupid but feel I can play the game well.

My wife came down with a rare cancer couple operations and doing fairly well. If it would make her day for me to fill out an application and video well hell I am .

Now here is were I need some help really like some suggestions on what would you do if you were going to send a application with a 3 minute video.

I have 10 acres, cows, goats, dogs, garden (winter now) fenced the place in myself dug a couple cattle guards and installed 2 electric gates, grow most of our food, can, remodel, roof, electrical, plumbing, engine repair,pretty much about anything. (Trying to give ya some ideas of my place, and personality).

Ok I know one of the stupidest post ever but you never know somebody might just have a brain fart and post something to open the door.

I will be doing the video myself. Can't belive I am posting this but what the hell.

If ya need moe info on me likes, activities, etc. just ask I am will do my best to answer it.

[lucy24]

I have never watched 1 show of survivor I think it is stupid but feel I can play the game well.

You're in. One of the ongoing mysteries of the show-- my son used to watch-- is where they keep finding people who apparently have never watched it. Certain things that happen in every single season always come as a total surprise to the contestants.

[bwnbwn]

lucy24 what should I do in the video just talk or show some of my different skills, animals, I am at a loss as to what the video needs to contain.
Going to put it together this weekend so maybe some thought s here.

[Leosghost]

We don't get survivor here in France..we get what I think might be an ersatz version of it ( nevers een the original so it's hard to tell )..so can't be of much help I'm afraid.

That said ..I like your posts..and watch for them .. ( your "30 second bio" explains some of the "why", I think :)..fills in a couple of blanks..

( I'm also about the same age ..but a bit bigger and heavier ;-) similar skill set, had the same animals etc..

I'll try and find an episode on youtube and see if "inspiration" strikes though..and if I can find one will get back to the thread..

meanwhile..I hope your wife stays on top of it..and if you get in, I hope you have a load of fun and that your luck is good.. :)

you could "voice over" the animals ( video their mouths moving but you sync the words after type of thing ) and let them do the "pitch" for you ..they could describe you, and how handy you are from their point of view..kinda ..you begin the video but one of them steals the camera ..or they send the video in for you ..

[bwnbwn]

Leosghost Thanks your post was a great idea. Let one of my animals help with the intro...Hmm That is a great thought. I will intorduce one of my cows his name is T-Bone then give him a pear off the tree and use him chewing to voice over. I will act like I am doing an interview about me. It will be a short segment say maybe 1/2 minute. Now I have 2 1/2 more. Anymore out there in webmaster land.

Wifes up north with our daughter and grandchildren (4 and 2) thanks for the help. Maybe one day we can have a sit down in Vegas and chat.

[lucy24]

Seriously, you gotta show yourself doing something that involves muscle power. Manhandling farm animals is good. Possibly even shoveling manure. Climbing a tree might not be bad either. They need to know you won't collapse halfway through the series. If you have attractive rippling muscles, take your shirt off. I believe some of the producers are female.

[bwnbwn]

Lucy good idea. I have that covered before my wife went north she filmed me splitting firewood. A before and after big ole logs into nice sized firewood about 2 cords. I will also till a small part of the garden with the winter vegetables showing in the clip. Got some really nice broccoli, cabbage, lettace, tomatoes, potatoes, beets, turnips and collards growing so that probably be a good one.

[wheel]

There's likely some info online about what they're looking for when it comes to TV contestants. I believe generally they're looking for personality. And not a nice, pleasant personality. A show full of people getting along and acting rationally doesn't make for good viewing. The shows are about personalities dialed on high and clashes. Perhaps your video should make it look like you have some idiosyncracies. Crazy is probably good.

[jecasc]

I would watch a few episodes and check what kind of character mix they are looking for.

I do not know survivor since I am not in the US, but most of reality shows I have seen so far are usually not really about their topic like "surviving" but about how different characters behave and especially clash in unusual or extreme situations.

So if you want to improve your chances you should perhaps watch past episodes from different seasons and look if there is a pattern in the characters they have choosen in the past and then choose a character type that comes close to you and present yourself that way.

If you want to get "hired" you should try to find out what they are looking for and show that you match and not simply present yourself and hope you fit in.

[bwnbwn]

Intresting post on learning the part. Point well taken I will spend time tonight doing just that. I did look online for info on this and videos of people that entered. Found some good information on what the video should bring out. All the videos I watch were not all all good. If anyone finds a good one please send it to me.

Thanks for the help guys it sure was worth asking for some ideas.

[Leosghost]

don't shave for two days before doing the face to camera shots.."stubbly rugged" goes down well on these sorts of shows.and when you do do face to camera ..make it 3/4 face to camera..and face looking slightly downwards but eyes looking slightly upwards into camera ( but not quite as extreme as the CSI guy in CSI Miami ;-)..cameras see it as slightly mischievious / cute /sexy ..even in guys..

Brushing your hair ( if you have hair ;-) out of the way with your fingers ( once or twice maximum ) or running your fingers through it is OK, as is rubbing your chin in a masculinely thoughtful way ..but watch out for touching your face too many times and looking like you have "the spiders" from substance abuse ..most people touch their faces way more than they usually would as soon as a video camera focuses on their face ..it's a nervous thing ..

and if your video is in HD ..check for ( I beleive you'd call them "boogers" ;-) etc, first ..you don't want your "best voice take" ..to be let down ..

if you do the "rippling muscles shot" calm down Lucy , calm down ;-)..rub some sun oil or similar lightly onto your skin first, picks up the light better , like wise for face shots raid your wifes moisturiser just a little it will stop the dry skin, flaky scaly look that HD can give...either pre or post shots..warm the white balance and colour temp of your video up a little ..TV does not use "natural colours" ..you want a warm feeling ..unless you are shooting a deliberately cold shot..

[bwnbwn]

leo lucy u made my day. I like the thought of the tough look. Some people look good in a beard I don't but will give it a shot. Got some Indian in my blood.

I have just a couple hairs on my chest, face as well not a full beard or real weak there, but on the good side I still have a good head of hair.

As the rippling muscles I am 58 and doing well to keep everything up (ahem) Not saying I don't have a decent bod for my age but not something I will take a video over either.

I was watching TV the other day and some dude that was a big hit on the show was being interviewed. Running for some office maybe President anyway He had a full beard tank top (I call them wife beaters) and real ragged looking. I see were your going there so that is an idea (look) I am going to go for. Really fits my personality anyway. After I get the video done maybe I could get it
reviewed.

So with these thoughts I will quit shaving and do the video next weekend. Gives me/us more time to come up with the ace in the hole. I will start my script write it out and practice.

[bwnbwn]

I have opened a can or worms here at the office. I have been going unshaved for the last week. CEO came up to me and asked me if everything was ok. He knows my wife is up North. I guess he figured I was out have a good ole time and didn't have enough time to shave.

I told him I had asked a forum for some advice on doing my suvivor video and one was having the man look or sumtin like that. He go all excited wants to have our production crew do the video and send in a letter with my application. Now I have all the women here in the office wanting to add a little something as well.

So here is a thought. I bought 6 goats couple years ago and gave them names of the girls here in the office 5 females and 1 billy. Course the name of the billy is me so we have fun here in the office over this especailly when they have kids. Anyway they brought up why not have each momma goat in the video as they say something good or bad about me. Goats chew their cud all the time so it would be easy to zoom in on each one then have the voice over come from the girl I named the goat after.

This will probably be no longer than a minute. I figured this would be different. I already have a segment in the video of the goats and I say in the video I named them after the women in my office.

Looks like it will have to be next weekend doing the rest anyway as my wifes father passed away and will be tied up this weekend.

[bwnbwn]

Just an update on this madness. Tomorrow I am heading to the casting just couldn't get it all together so I figured might as well do a road trip. My wife is more excited than I am but it is for her I am doing this off the wall deal anyway. So here I go.

[Leosghost]

"break a leg" :)

[bwnbwn]

Thanks Leo I feel like:
I am off to see the wizard the wonderful wizard of OZ.