By Arby Medina
Do the contestants on Survivor get paid? Here are ten behind the scenes secrets that you didn't know about.
Survivor is one of the longest-running reality shows in television history. The show hit the ground running after debuting all the way back in the summer of the year 2000. Over two decades later, the show now has 45 seasons under its name. The show's success can be attributed to its amazing fan base, as Survivor enthusiasts just can't seem to get enough of the reality show.
Despite the show's dedicated fan base, there are still some things about the show that people might not know about. If you've ever wondered whether the contestants get paid or what kind of supplies they really have access to, then we've got just the thing for you. Here are ten behind-the-scenes secrets from Survivor.
1 Laser Hair Removal
While it isn't imposed by the people behind the show, many of the contestants seem to opt to undergo laser hair removal prior to competing on the show. This explains a lot, as it can be rather confusing to see the lack of unruly hair growth among the contestants when they lack the supplies to keep their body hair in check.
2 Contestants Don't Talk About the Outcome of the Show
One of the main reasons why Survivor has had such a huge impact on pop culture is the many shocking twists that can occur in a season. These twists could easily be ruined if someone on the show spoiled events that happened during the game before they aired. To avoid this, the contestants are all bound by non-disclosure agreements to discourage them from leaking spoilers.
3 Access to Medical Supplies
Speaking of supplies, competitors on the island actually have access to a number of supplies that greatly improve their experience on the reality show. Competitors usually have access to a medical supply box that includes things like sunscreen, vitamins, and bug spray. Competitors can also make requests for things to be included in the supply box. In some cases, contact lenses and tampons would also be included in the box if any of the contestants put in a request for it.
Contestants were even given antibiotics in case they ever contracted UTI during their stay on the show. Considering the suboptimal living conditions the contestants are subjected to, UTI can be very common and can completely remove all the contestants if left untreated.
The audience isn't made aware of the existence of these supplies as cameras are never rolling when the contestants are at the medical supply box. This is done on purpose to maintain the illusion of scarcity on the island.
4 Compensation
Some of the show's best contestants often return to the show to compete in later seasons. Considering the hardships that they need to undergo, some fans of the show may be wondering if there's a financial incentive to compete in the reality show.
To put it simply, the contestants do get paid. The pay ranges from $2,500 to $100,000. How much they get paid is dependent on a couple of different factors. Most importantly, the longer you stay in the game, the more you get paid.
5 Staged Moments
While everything that happens in Survivor is real, there are times when the team behind the show needs to step in and try to recreate a moment. This is usually done for scenes with contestants walking to and from the tribal council. The production usually needs to get multiple angles of the same scene in order to have everything look great for television.
6 Longer Tribal Council Discussions
Speaking of tribal council, the tribal council discussions actually last a lot longer than what audiences are shown in the series. Except for special instances, the audience doesn't really get to watch what goes down at tribal council. While we only get to see snippets, tribal council is actually a lot more thorough. Each contestant needs to answer multiple questions throughout the night. This allows the team behind the show to get a more complete picture of what's actually happening. From there, they choose the contestants with the best answers and carefully edit the scenes in a way that they fit seamlessly.
7 No Talking Before Tribal Council
The location of tribal council can vary depending on the season. Sometimes, it can take a while to get to tribal council, And while you may think this is extra time for contestants to strategize and outwit each other, the production team makes sure no one talks on the way to tribal council. This makes sense as any conversations that take place in transit likely won't be recorded on camera. To avoid missing any key moments, the contestants are not allowed to talk while they're on the way to tribal council.
8 Contestants Are Under 24/7 Surveillance
Contrary to popular belief, the contestants are pretty much on camera for most of their time on Survivor. While not everything makes it into the show, the contestants are rarely ever left alone. Even when the camera crew isn't on them, hidden cameras capture every move they make, ensuring that no strategic conversation or emotional meltdown goes unnoticed.
9 The Production Team Chooses What the Contestants Wear
Many viewers don't know this, but the production team actually chooses what the contestants end up wearing on the show. This means that many of the contestant's iconic looks likely weren't their choice. Aside from choosing what they wear, the production team also had backup clothes made to look like the clothes the contestants were wearing. This way, the production team could easily swap out a contestant's clothes without anyone noticing.
10 Post-Game Support
Some of the show's best seasons can be extremely emotionally taxing for the contestants. Given this, it's not surprising that the show offers contestants psychological support to help them navigate the challenges that come with their pos-Survivor life. This is just another reminder of how real the mental toll of the game actually is.
