Another reality show

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Subject:
Wilderness Experts Needed
Date:
Fri, 07 Sep 2001 15:43:29 -0700
From:
"Carrie Ellis" <realitycasting@hotmail.com>




TO: Anyone and everyone interested!!
FROM: Worst-Case Scenario Casting
DATE: 9/7/01
RE: "Face Off" Casting
___________________________________________________________________________________

URGENT!!

Avoca Productions and Columbia TriStar Television Distribution are seeking
highly skilled competitors for the new TBS Superstation show Worst-Case
Scenario.

The weekly, hour-long show will feature expert demonstrations, the latest
technology, and real life stories of survival. Our goal is to provide our
audience with the information they’ll need to overcome any crisis under any
circumstances.

The segment we are currently casting is called the "Worst-Case Scenario Face
Off." Each week, the "Face Off" will travel to a new location. These may
include the vast forests of Colorado, the painted desert of Southern
Arizona, or the steamy jungles of Costa Rica. There, two highly skilled
wilderness survival specialists will compete in an adventure-style race that
utilizes the challenging features of the local environment.

Along the way, the competitors must complete a series of tasks that test
their ingenuity and adaptability. For example, a racer may be asked to
start a fire using only a nine-volt battery and a steel wool pad. Of
course, there is also the option of using a lighter, but unfortunately it’s
located a mile away. Will you be able to think outside the box and use the
unconventional equipment you have on hand or will you make a run for it and
hope you can catch up with your opponent?

At the moment we are putting together a pool of competitors that have the
physical and mental skill required to take on the "Face Off" challenge.
While the race itself will only last for one day, each racer must be able to
dedicate an additional 2-3 days for travel and pre-production. In addition
for providing for all expenses on the shoot, we will pay each competitor an
appearance fee of approximately $450.

If you are interested please send us:

1) A photo with your name, age, phone #, address and organization written on
the back

2) A 2 minute video including your name, age, occupation, how long you’ve
been involved with wilderness survival, your area of expertise and specific
skills (i.e. Mountain climbing, kayaking, trekking, ski patrol, wilderness
EMT), why you’re passionate about what you do, and the biggest survival
challenge you’ve faced. It is all about personality! Make sure you have
lots of energy and enthusiasm!

Mail to:
Worst-Case Scenario
Attn: "Face Off" Casting
2800 28th Street Suite 222
Santa Monica, CA 90405

If you have already sent us a video or have been contacted, thank you and
please pass this information on to anyone else who might be interested!
Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
WCS Casting Department
PHONE: (310)581-1730
FAX: (310)581-1717
WorstcasescenarioTV.com
 
I like how they want to show off the latest technology! I can see it now: Jeff Randall with a Tramontina, ferroccium rod and steel wool up against Billy-Bob with his Stihl saw, Zippo lighter and a cell phone!

For example, a racer may be asked to
start a fire using only a nine-volt battery and a steel wool pad. Of
course, there is also the option of using a lighter, but unfortunately it’s
located a mile away. Will you be able to think outside the box and use the
unconventional equipment you have on hand or will you make a run for it and
hope you can catch up with your opponent?
Click to expand...

I can see Billy-Bob stepping on Jeff's feet to get a head start running the mile to get the lighter and after Jeff is done rubbing hsi foot, in a split second he has a fire going! Um.. FOX Network.... Jeff told us how to do all of your challenges!

Go for it Jeff, we'll certainly watch and root for you.
 
I just got the email and was passing it along. Not interested in being any type of contestant on any of these shows. Once again another personality contest. I don't like most peeople so I would probably be kicked off from jumpstart :)

Jeff
 
I know of several European Adventurers that are available and happy to do this kind of thing. They know what they are doing, enjoy a challenge, have colourful lifestyles and will give you a darn good product.

However, they just wouldn't get out of bed for the package this production is offering. If they want professionals then contact me. If they want enthusiastic amateurs then good luck. It depends on how gritty and informative they want the series to be. People who know what they are doing are not that expensive; but need a minimum of $2500 in their pocket, or so, after all expenses. Otherwise why should they risk their necks, eat slugs and snail and puppy dog tails.

Here is a profile of my good friend who won't thank me until he sees the colour of their money:
Name : MR. :cool:
X para (he can jump out of planes).
Firearm instructor,
Knows his survival (most environments).
Deep Dive instructor, presently kicking his heels, instructing off the Red Sea.
Pot holer (likes dark dangerous places).
Bad Skier but can do it if forced.
Sick sence of humour.
Fit, tanned and has a Law Degree (which he never used).
Looks thirty something and is photogenic.
Lastly, he's single!

PS. My finders fee is not too high either. ;)

Jeff, the above is directed at the producers. Too often these products are thin on grit, as they don't use professionals. They just want fish out of their bowls in a controlled adventure playground. Safe but looks hairy. They also expect people to do it for nothing. I know there are a whole lot of people who will do it just be get themselves on the box. However, the viewing public gets a game show that is shallow and superficial. If the producers bothered to find, and were prepared to pay a proper going rate, then we might see something informative and real.
 
Well said!

My philosophy 100 percent. The production company for this series asked us to be their "experts" on some of the jungle stuff. We gave them a price several months ago and haven't heard back.

I noticed in their mass mailer that I posted above that they mentioned the jungles of Costa Rica so I'm assuming the job went to some friends of ours that run another company. Which is cool with us because I know this company will give them a good show, and they're set up to do this type of work better than we are.

Jeff
 
By the way, anybody check out the first episode of "Lost"? I was really looking forward to it, and was (as ususal) very, very disappointed.

Basically a race to see who can get home fastest, rather than survival skills. But there is some nice "eye candy" on the show... :rolleyes:
 
Like Greenjacket said,
If they want professionals, they'd better come high with the cash or stay at home.
It should be fun watching a bunch of so called and self styled "expert survivalists" running about making asses of themselves.
Tell the production company that if they want an 8404 qualified medic and nurse on set to patch these idiots up, my fees are $2500/day plus travel,loging, board and expenses.
If they want pros. they can fork out the cash for them but I still ain't getting in front of a camera. (Kind of blows a few of Uncle Sams security conditions.)
:p
recondoc
 
Hi Jeff...

I've been talking with Avoca off and on for months. I was one of the contributers to the latest "Worst case" book and I guess that led them to me. From my POV they are pretty confused people. The project has been shifted from one department to another after another and no one seems to have a clue about what is going on. About every week some new "Producer" calls and lays out the "latest" idea. Funny how they all seem to have come from the videos they bought from me ;)

Just about every pro I know has refused to get involved. There is a feeding frenzy of guys who want to be "Famous" however. What's the point? One of those "Producers" was so excited when she called. She wanted to pit me against some Army Ranger... what sort of contest is that? He would be 25 and in great shape with next to no outdoor survival skills, I'm almost 60. In a week he would be dead if we used skills. If we just run, I'd be dead in two days! I think they are trying to kill off their video competition ;)

When a production is that messed up I get real nervous. I'm sure some poor saps are going to buy into the project and the rest of us will be out here saying "God, how stupid is that!"

I can say that the parent production company has filmed several sequences with real pros like David Alloway. I hope they treat these guys well. David is a gem and the most knowledgable man I know in the business.

The show must go on!
 
Hey, those producers have a hhard job, so lets gove them a break. it is tough to find the right combination of partially skilled, cheap and "looks great in a bikini" factors in candidates! :) Reality my ass...

Hmm... here's a new thread: if you are lost in the woods, would you rather have Doc Ron and Jeff, 2 scruffy looking woodsmen bastids come look for you, or your 2 favorite Baywatch babes? I know which one I'd want, and which oen would end up being the latest "reality" t.v. show!
 
Worst-Case Scenario
Attn: "Face Off" Casting

Dear Sir / Madam:

I think we need to get real here. Your best efforts will air on prime time television with millions of viewers, and you only have one shot to capture them. You want to put your best foot forward to compete with that Survivor show, right?

I will choose ten pieces of equipment, no more and no less, and then you drop me off anywhere in the world, anywhere!! Give me 10 days to reach your finish line and keep the light on because I'll be checking in around dark. Oh, I doubt you will have a camera crew that can survive along with me, so give me a first rate cam-cord and I will film the survival show for you to include all the skills, mental agony, pain and dirty details of real life survival. Your ratings will go right off the board and other TV stations will be envious of your intelligence in selection a real life experience with someone full of personality and joyful energy.

Now we know a 30 second spot on prime TV cost about $ 18,000.00 ( at least the last time I paid for prime time that was the rate) which is only $600.00 per second. That is why I am sure you will have no problem paying a mere $ 50,000.00 to a professional to deliver a first rate, true life survival show. Of course, that's right...you got it. That's only a 90 second spot to more than pay the fee to a survivor contestant. Now I may not make it back, of course. If that ture event surfaces, rest assured I'll film right up to the end. Don't worry about it, think of your ratings....whoosh... show of the year!

However, if your want to double your chances of one of us returning, I can give you the email addresses of a Jeff Randall, Green Jacket, Recondo 1 Swede 79, or a colorful guy named Crayola. Oh hell, there are other names, and for $ 2500.00 I'll ask them if they are interested. Any one of them could probably make it back in 9 days, standing up and would only require 7 pieces of equipment. This may cost your a few thousand more, but think it over and give me a call. We need to re-name your show...Best Case Scenario For Real Life Survival.:cool:

Would one of you guys sign this and send it in? :)
 
Ron, I guess that's how they got on to us also since we contributed to the book. These people called a few times wanting some jungle survival tactics. I gave them a price, then they came up with some bullshit about needing some "home" video on our team. I told her to call the Travel Channel and get it from them becuase I didn't have the time nor the desire to send them any video. At this point I realized they were interested in another personality contest. Originally they were wanting people who knew certain tactics to teach on camera. I was willing at that point, now it seems they want to pit their "experts" against each other and I have no interest in being some type of contestant - they can find other folks for that. I totally agree with you on the Army Ranger scenario...it's insane. Actually the book was pretty good I thought...it's a shame the series seems to be going south. You said the keyword when you made the statement they are confused. The several conversations I had with Avoca she was totally lost on how, where, and what's required to get what she wanted.

Crayola, if I'm lost on the woods....no offense to Ron but I would rather have the Bay Watch babe with me :)

Fred, I had a TV friend of mine from California tell me this project was well funded and 22 episodes had already been bought and paid for so your letter makes a lot of sense.

In the end it will probably be a pretty good show for general consumption, but even Survivor seemed to hit that mark.

Jeff
 
Yeah, Jeff!

If I have the Baywatch Babe with me, I can start a fire by friction with her, and don't even have to look around for wood! Chances are pretty good I'll have a piece of wood with me to use...Bwahahahahaha

Ahhh, sorry, low on sleep and caffeine today....

:eek: :cool:
 
Agreed Jeff...

Since neither of us have much of a personality ;) and our appearance helps us capture food. I'd say that we sure don't fit the mold.

I told the last guy I talked with (last week) to listen up. I had already explained to others.

1) That I would not compete with someone.
2) That sort of money wouldn't buy a really good dinner.
3) I'd lose close to a week of production time
4) It would affect our current work leading to our own TV show (details are classified at this moment)
5) Leave me alone unless you have something worthwhile.

I've done shows for NHK (Japan) BBC, PBS and dozens of interviews with CNN (Usually when someone escapes or there is a survival related story) and production companies that film series like our show for Backpacker Magazines "Anyplace Wild" series. All told I'd done well over 200 shows when I stopped counting. Not one of these things made any appreciable difference in the progress of our business or sales. The fact is that the folks who are the most ardent viewers are NOT doers. They want free adventures. I call it "adventure masturbation". It's not as if they want skills as from a book or video. They want drama and that drama is carried by the "survival" theme.

Our magazine is moving along nicely and we have a special surprise coming up (keep your fingers crossed) and hope to be able to reveal it in the next few weeks.

FF I don't have a clue who you are but ya got it right 'cept for the part about the pay. That's about right except that a pro probably won't show that much agony unless he/she is playing to the camera. Most survival is just a way of life, not combat.

Ron
 
This has been a ****** day ever since my brother rang my phone at 6:30 this AM..
Brian you are QUITE the man if you can start a fire with nothing but WOOD, and some WET BUSH..HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
But If its a Babe watch girl, it will be one in the air and one in the hair for you my brother:-)

Trace...
 
Fred, you're hilarious! What a letter!

Jeff: Hmm... You're right. Them Baywatch babes would be soothing if lost. Then again, if you were stuck in the woods with the Baywatch babes, would you really want ANYONE to come after you?
 
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