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Learn more about "Survivorman"

Survivorman

'''''Survivorman''''' is a Canadian-produced television program, broadcast in Canada on the OLN|Outdoor Life Network (OLN), and in the United States and internationally on The Discovery Channel and The Science Channel. The show has aired two complete seasons to date - 2004 and 2007 - with a third and final season currently under production and airing. The title "Survivorman" refers to the host of the show, Canadian filmmaker and survival expert Les Stroud, who must use his skills to survive for seven days alone in remote locales with little or no food, water, and equipment. During the filming of each episode, Stroud is alone, and operates all the cameras himself. He is equipped with only his clothes, camera equipment (which he does not use for survival except in an emergency), his harmonica, a Leatherman multi-tool, and often "everyday items" relevant to the episode's particular survival scenario. For safety purposes, Stroud carries an emergency satellite phone. In one episode, he has also been provided with a rifle for use only in defense against attacking polar bears. However, Stroud has claimed that while filming several episodes, there were times when his emergency phone did not work, leaving him totally alone. Survivorman can be considered a sequel or spin-off to Stroud's earlier project, ''Stranded'', a five-part series that was shown on the Canadian Discovery Channel Canada|Discovery Channel in 2001.

Survival Situations

In each episode Stroud places himself in a unique survival situation. The show is meant to demonstrate how one might survive alone in a remote location with minimal supplies until being rescued. Finding food, water, and materials to make fire and shelter pose the main challenges of each episode. Part of the tension of ''Survivorman'' is in watching Stroud deal with the aftermath of unsuccessful or inappropriate survival techniques and decisions. The reasons for these errors can include time limitations, being unfamiliar with a technique, or misjudging weather conditions, all frequently encountered by people in survival situations. Stroud allows these predicaments to occur for the benefit of the TV audience, rather than simply sitting and waiting to be rescued. While acknowledging the errors and the negative effect on his emotional state that they can create, Stroud remains calm throughout, providing a model of behaviour vital to successful survival. In addition to the physical challenges posed by each survival situation, Stroud confronts the psychological effects of isolation, physical injury, and exhaustion. Stroud is never without his harmonica, even in the episode where he honed his harmonica to eight sharp points on the hard rocks in an unsuccessful attempt to create a flounder catching device. Stroud's harmonica playing creates an atmosphere in strong contrast to the often dismal nature of the survival experience, and has a noticeable positive effect on the host. Stroud also narrates to the camera, commenting on his physical and psychological state, providing survival tips, or making jokes (such as his parody of an iconic scene in ''The Blair Witch Project''), effectively employing the future television audience as a companion. Stroud also often dismantles available equipment (e.g. bike, snowmobile, airplane) and puts it to another practical use. Prior to each episode, Les relies heavily on local experts to brief him on key survival techniques unique to that particular location. This knowledge of the unique flora and fauna of each location is perhaps his most basic yet powerful skill. In every episode he shows the audience how to find viable sources of nourishment, avoid dangerous or unhealthy ones, and utilize them appropriately and efficiently. Stroud frequently explains that gathering food in this manner should be reserved for true survival situations in order to preserve the environment. Stroud's survival situations are reported to have helped real people who find themselves stranded in the elements to survive. Most recently, in April 2008, it was reported that a Manitoba man separated from his friends while snowmobiling used lessons learned from Stroud to survive and be rescued.

Filming

Except for footage of him arriving at his new setting, and being retrieved at the end of the week, the content of each episode is taped entirely by Stroud himself using several DV video cameras that he must carry with him everywhere that he goes. (He has lately switched to a number of HDV cameras.) The burden of having to carry, place, and retrieve the camera equipment for each shot adds to the challenge and difficulty of each survival situation. His camera and audio gear typically weigh about 50 pounds (22.7 kg) in total. During the "Behind the Scenes" episode, Stroud explains that "setting up or tearing down all of my camera gear takes about 65% of my time," making survival more challenging. The episode also explains that Stroud and his team extensively scout their locations ahead of time and consult with survivalists and natives to the area. The goal is both to ensure Stroud's safety and to sketch out interesting scenarios and techniques that can be illustrated on the show. He later records a voice-over commentary in the studio, where he explains his decision-making process and details of how he accomplished various tasks. On July 16, 2007, Stroud and a support crew of four in the safety camp were cited by the United States National Park Service for commercial filming without a permit at Taroka Arm, a seldom-visited area at Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. Investigators found a driftwood shelter surrounded by multiple cameras on the beach. The support crew was camped near a sensitive archaeological site. Stroud paid the required application, location and monitoring fees, totaling approximately ,800 USD.