Page 111 - Port Douglas Magazine 39

MEET MICHAEL WARREN
Michael is the Editor of Newsport,
Douglas Shire’s Local News Service.
Living in FNQ, when he’s away from the
desk he loves hiking and adventure and
can now officially say he is Australian
Survivor enthusiast and player!

hunger doesn’t lend itself to a great night’s sleep.
Have I sold the experience yet?

PRODUCTION
Ultimately, as a player the quicker you realise
Survivor is a TV show and entertainment first
and foremost and your experience is second to
this - the better the overall experience will be for
you.
There’s a saying in TV that if it didn’t happen on
camera then it didn’t happen and this couldn’t
be more true.
A saving grace was the welcomed reprieve of
an interview with your field producer. Snappy
pieces to camera where a player provides
humorous, insightful 25-35 second grabs for
narration, comment and reaction purposes
about the status of the game and their overall
gameplay. You almost felt human again, just for
a moment.

WHEN THE CARAVAN MOVES ON
So, the takeaways from being on the most
recognisable and highest profile reality TV show
in the world?
Stay true to yourself. Be unwavering about who
you are, your beliefs and what you stand for.
Don’t go with the flow for the sake of fitting
in. Mental health is important so do not
compromise the very morals, values, and sense
of integrity that makes you, you.
Remain grounded. I made it a point not to be
attached to an outcome regarding my Survivor
experience.
Overall, I am grateful. I can now call myself an
Australian Survivor player.
Eight kilograms lighter and two days after I
returned from playing Survivor in Samoa I went
straight back to work. Well, ok, after catching up
on two weeks of sleep in two days and enjoying
some yummy, mashed potato with no remorse
whatsoever!
I might not have been the last one standing but I
had given it my best shot, ticked off a childhood
dream and thankfully survived to tell the tale -
just!