KEY POINTS:
As a Kiwi who is used to the outdoors, what do you make of the Survivor experience?
It's amazing to just sit there and observe [the contestants]. Sometimes you're like, god, humans are crazy! They're all from different backgrounds and they've all got a different story so it's quite amazing to see that in play in a group situation where they have to live with each other and backstab each other. There are definitely some interesting storylines that come out of it.
How real is the reality situation?
When I first went to Guatemala I was like, I'm sure they get this, this and this. But they are so true to what it is. They don't get fed, they don't get showers, they smell. And once something happens, if we miss it and we don't catch it on camera, nothing happens. We can't go back and say, "Can you just say this or do this?" We've got to be there 24/7 trying to catch it.
Sounds like hard work.
It's hard but good. It's long hours and you're in those elements where it's really hot or torrential rain. You're out there but you do it because you love it. We're lucky enough to go back to camp and have great food and sleep in nice places - sometimes.
It must feel like you're at work all the time, though. Or camp.
Yeah, it is quite strange. When I'm not on Survivor I miss [the crew] because you live with those people day in, day out, two-three months at a time. The contestants are usually a 45-minute boat ride away so they're very remote, but for us, we'll be in a cane field in tents with nothing around but a general store. You have your friendships and your big nights out and lots of fun happens. You can't really get away from it but you're with people who want to be there.
How many people are we talking?
The crew is anywhere from 250-400. Usually that's 250 ours and the rest local crew. Sometimes we pick people up on the way so it's very multicultural. I feel so blessed to have contacts all over the world and hopefully I've got places to stay if I'm ever going to go to some weird country.
There must have been moments you wished you were back home?
I must say the night shifts. One night I was lying there and I was filming something, it was pitch black, in the middle of the jungle where you can't see anything, and this thing just slapped me in the face. It was a rat falling off a rock. It was nibbling at my leg and I was like, what am I doing? I should be at home in my bed! I just had to weigh it up. It's such a great job in a country where I'd never think to travel to with a bunch of great people doing something that I love to do.
LOWDOWN
Who: Alex Long
What: Producer, Survivor
Where and when: Check out Long's handywork on Survivor: Fans vs Faves, tonight, TV3.
