Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1203636
Host Jeff Probst addresses the tribes before an immunity challenge during Season 35. R O B E R T V O E T S / C B S E N T E R T A I N M E N T 38 C I N E M O N T A G E ra n o u t o n t h e c o u r s e to a s s i s t t h e fallen castaways. Armstrong: That was a tough few weeks of work. I've edited news pieces before with really disturbing imagery; it doesn't leave you when you turn off your machine. This felt the same to me, despite knowing the outcome that [the contestants] were okay. The tricky part of this sort of thing is showing the viewer what is happening without editing it in a sensationalized way. So, I let many of the shots play out in a raw documentary style, even if it meant revealing our crew, medical staff and our entire 300-crew set up. Musically, I stayed with subtle cues a n d d r o n e s a n d b r o u g h t i n s i m p l e melodies or percussion when I thought something needed to be highlighted or a change in tone was necessary. The staggered medical machines and crew chatter needed to dominate the sound- scape. Editing, in general, is something that should rarely be noticed. But with this sort of thing, it's vital to stay simple and keep out of the way. The Evolution of the Edit As has been shown, "Survivor" has run the gamut when it comes to storytell- ing, whether it be comedic, dramatic, or heart-pounding. And as the show nears two decades on the air, it's crystal clear how it's transformed, and will continue to t ra n s f o r m a s n e w m o m e n t s p l a y out onscreen. B o w d e n : "S u r v i v o r " h a s a l w a y s evolved; I think that's one of the main rea- sons our viewers keep coming back after 39 seasons. We have to keep the players on their toes and our fans intrigued. G r e e r : T h e f i r s t t w o s e a s o n s o f "Survivor" certainly look different from what the show is today. But by season 3, I think we'd begun to find our "look". I'm usually going for more of a cinematic style than a cinema verité look. That's what makes "Survivor" different. It's not always about cameras rushing around. We take the time to feature the exotic locales and the contestants dealing with the elements. Van Wagenen: A big difference in storytelling over the years is the speed of the show. That's probably the most obvious change. Bowden: The more complex the strat- egy and game gets, the more interesting it gets. So we strive to show as much of the complexities as possible. That quick- ened pace also allows us to slow down for powerful moments with the players that are not strategy as well. These moments give our audience a chance to really get to know the players. F E A T U R E