Sharemyexperience

From the old PI.
The Auntie Warbucks posts were sooo interesting... the only thing more interesting was that they were not by a woman but by a "big fat guy"... someone that I had banned because he said he was going to the Denver finals... but he was from NY...hahahaah He is a great guy, and his story was sooo awesome. This was back when they used to cast a different way, a world before facebook. I would had loved to see him on the show.

Finalist interview in L.A. for Survivor XIII
Jun 6 06 5:19 PM


I was a finalist in L.A. about a month ago (End of April to first weekend in May).
I did not make the show. My life has changed in the past month to where if I were called I can no longer go and leave my family for that long. If I had made the show I would be calling to turn it down because of family issues. It would have been nearly impossible for me to do because I have applied 10 times, went on 5 semi interviews and finally made it out to L.A.

Because my dream of playing the game I've been trying to play for 5 years is over I am thinking of sharing in detail my journey through the finals. Even though I didn't make it onto the show it was an amazing experience and one of the most mentally challenging times in my life (10 days in a hotel room just thinking. Try it sometime, you will go nuts) and I didn't even get on. Going through the finals you learn to admire and respect the people who get on the show and experience just how mentally tough they are.

If they find out who I am I lose my shot at getting called for future Survivor Series. Like I said, because of changes in my life, Survivor is no longer an option. I remain, in my opinion, Survivor's biggest fan. I am detailing my experience and will post it in 1-2 weeks. I hope you will enjoy it and learn from it as you pursue your Survivor dream.
Part 1: The application and video

Please excuse my spelling. Their is no spell checker and I am terrible at spelling which is why I bought MS Office.

The first time I applied was for Africa. I won't get into which Survivors I had semi's because that will give me away to easily. I can say that in each of the casts that I was passed over for I was impressed with that cast. I don't think you can criticize the casting process until you have been out to the finals. I gained a lot of respect for what these people do and how they do it. Make no mistake, Lynne and her crew know what they are doing and they are very detailed in what they do and everything done is for a specific reason. Throughout the 10 times I applied (Including when they decided on All Stars. I sent mine in early before the announced it) My application did not change much. Outside of a few minor changes in lifestyle it has been pretty much consistant with who I am as a person. I really feel that your video has to capture their attention in the first 30 seconds or it is turned off. Every time I got a semi interview my video had a moment in the first 30 seconds to capture their attention. The video's that didn't do that got me nothing. It is equally important to be consistent with your application/video/interview. Any sway off the path I feel will cost you. In the end, they know you better than you know yourself and I think it starts here. It is not easy to play a certain part because you think you can play that role they are looking for. Little hints that you don't even notice come out in this begining process that tip them off to who you are which is why it is so important to be yourself. The 40+ people at the finals were normal everyday people from every look, lifestyle, shape that you can imagine. You could not say that everyone there was the eye candy that we have seen on the show. Don't get me wrong, there were some attractive people at the finals but a majority are just normal people. They do recruit all the way up until it is time to leave and that came from Lynne herself.
I tried all differnet types of videos and have kept them all. I laugh at some of the earlier ones because I was just like most of the people who come here looking to get on. I would try anything in my video. Gimmicks, crazy stunts and basically sit there and tell them what I think they wanted to hear. (BIG MISTAKE) My first semi interview came when I sat down in front of the camera and got their attention with something unique about me in the first 30 seconds and then went into who I am, what I do, How I will win, My strenghts and my weaknesses. Every video was between 2:20 and 2:58. But again, I only got called when I caught their attention in the first 30 seconds and my video and application were consistent and told exactly about who I am. My impression is that when casting a show like this is that they look for consistancy and which role you will fill. I'll never forget what one of the Casting assistants said to me in L.A. and I truly beleive him. Everyone out in L.A. is a possible contestant that they really like. The purpose of the finals is to find what combination of these people will make up the best cast. I do not think you make or break yourself in L.A. unless you are a psycho and they find that out.

In the five times I have been called for semi's I have sent 3 different videos and the same video 3 times. Once you find what catches their eye stick with it. Be in a comforatble surrounding. Inside worked for me. None of my outside videos ever got calls. Don't worry about dress, appearence or whether you are fit or not. Trust me, that notion of you have to be in shape or have model looks is rediculous. If you saw what was out in L.A. you would understand what I am saying. Normal people, Some Hot, some normal, some weird, some overweight, some down right ugly.

In a few days I will get into the semi process.

As I continue to write I will try to answer any questions before I start the next journal entry. But for now,

Photog - I don't think you can ever truly tell how people react once the game begins. But in my opinion they were chosen for a reason.

Make mine - Go back and look at the video you got your semi interview on and do something similar or resend it in. It caught someone's eye.

Music - Without giving mine away. Take something unique and revealing about yourself and make it exciting. For example: Hey Survivor I'm a mother of triplets and I gave birth without drugs so if you think I can't be the ultimate survivor think again.. Just make sure you gave triplets without drugs Ouch!!!!

Dune - I sent in my application and it was received. about a week later they announced All Stars. I didn't resend an application for Vanuatu because the application I sent in before the All Stars announcement was received. I have only sent my application to the 2801 Ocean Park Blvd. address.
I also have not given up on my dream of playing Survivor. Circumstances in my family life have changed this past month to where i will no longer be able to go do to family reasons. As the self proclaimed biggest fan I hold a small glimmer of hope that one day that will change and that is what keeps me from revealing. If they find me then so be it.
I fit into that 30 something category. Athletic and outgoing


Before I get into my experience with the Semi Final interview I accidently deleted a message someone sent yesterday asking about when did I send in my application (Early, late, middle ect.)

I have sent my application in all different times. I've sent it in the week after the finale and have received the call, I have sent it just before Christmas and got the call and I've sent it in last minute and received the call. Each time I would play a little game with myself trying to figure out what would be prime time for casting to view my tape and application. Truth be told I don't think it matters when you send it. If you catch their eye you will get the call.

Part 2: The Semi final interview.

I have been on 5 and let me tell you the fifth call was just as exciting as the first. The entire casting process is excitement/wait/excitement/wait/excitement/wait. It sucks if you are an impatient person like myself but you can't change it. I have never ever received a pre call. Some people might but I think that is just people out there trying to make the lurkers on these boards uneasy. I could be wrong but I have never ever experienced the Precall. The calls all came about a month or so after the entry deadline. They always came during the week and remarkably they always got my voicemail and I had to call them back. I swear that at least twice I was standing somewhere and all of a sudden my message sound started chirping or the message light on the phone would blink. I would always call back and get there voice mail and leave a message. Every single time they called me back the next day. Let me tell you, that sucks when you get all pumped up and then have to wait. I have received calls at work and on my cell. never at home. When we finally speak the conversation lasts like 10 - 15 minutes.

They loved my application. They are excited to meet me. They go over the do's and don't's of the process, confirm your mailing address and tell you that you will receive a packet in the mail within a week. They schedule an interview time and date and they confirm the address of the interview but it will be all in the packet they send you. They tell you to schedule a doctors appointment between x and x dates. If you make it to the finals you will have to have a physical prior.

About a week later the packet shows up. You call and tell them you received it. Some casting people call you prior to your semi interview to kind of coach you. Listen to what they have to say. Others didn't call after our initial conversation. You have to sign release forms, Complete the background check info and the health history. It is a pretty big packet of information and takes a few hours to complete. It tells you what to bring with you to the interview (Paperwork) What to wear (No big logo's, No stripes) No hoop ear rings. The casting assistant gives you valuable information of what to wear and you need to listen to her. They are trying to fit you into a spot so if they advise you on what to wear then wear it. The semi interview was schedule each time between 2-3 weeks after the call. I interviewed in the same state but each interview site was in a different location.

I made sure that I arrived about a half hour early to the interview. You go to the front desk and say you are with SEG. They tell you do not mention Survivor at any time. There were times when the waiting room was full and times when I was the only one in there. They take your picture and you read the instructions they give you when you arrive. Basically they tell you when you need to be available if you make it out to L.A., a ballpark dates of when filming will be (Late June - Early August). Do not talk to anyone. Twice there was a CBS employee in the room monitoring. When they call you in for the interview you enter and present your paperwork. You sit on a couch hold up a number and say your name and home town. Then the fun starts.

The interview lasts about 20 minutes but it flies in your head. Basic questions of why do you want to do this, How are you going to handle this situation and that situation. Always relate your answers to how you in your life are equipt to deal with things. (For example: If you are a teacher in real life explain how being a teacher allows you to be more patient when people screw up) Be consistent, consistent, consistent. Do not fall into the trap of listing that you are very patient and they tell them that you get angry very easily. You might as well go home and toss your paperwork in the garbage. Be yourself. It is very hard not to fall into the trap of saying what you think they want to hear. If you think Judd was a jackass then say Judd was a jackass. If you are more like Tami then say it. They are not looking for 16 shane's they are only looking for one so be yourself, be consistent. At the end they thank you and off you go to wait another 2-4 weeks.

All 5 of my semi interviews were pretty much the same. 4-5 people in the room. I had a different casting assistant with each one and I didn't recognize any of the old ones in L.A. so they must move on. The person asking the questions is not always the big wig in the room. Look around because one of the other 4 are the one that needs to be impressed with you. Some Casting assistants were more into me than others but I do not think that matters.

After you leave it is wait again which sucks.

In a few days I will write about the process leading up to L.A.

So I leave me semi final interview feeling pretty good. For the fourth time out of 5 I think I've made it to L.A.. The only time I didn't feel good about my interview was my first one and it was only because I stumbled over a few questions. Whether or not that made or broke my chances I'll never know but I wasn't listening to everyone going into it. After my first interview I really studied what Jeff Probst would say in interviews (He was the most helpful in preparing myself for my second semi.) I would lurk on boards and read interviews from past survivors. From semi #2 until my final one this past time I was really prepared. Sharp quick answers, Lots of enthusiasm and just being myself. I told it like it was with no regrets. I remember walking out of semi #2, #3, #4 and #5 feeling the same way, I'm going to L.A. Then about 3-4 weeks later I would get the call and it was always a message left. Sorry, we though you were great but unfortunately we are going to have to pass........ AHHHHHH deep sadness, anger and frustration. I would sulk for a few weeks and once the application went up BAM Auntie is back in the game. God I love Survivor.

I was sitting at home when I get a call. We love you out here and we want you to come to L.A. YES. They confirm my nearest airport and tell me that a package will be overnighted to me. I need to fill out all the paperwork, and mail it back by next Tuesday along with the medical report from my doctor. Inside the package were release forms basically stating that I will not hold them responsible, Confidentiallity agreements for loved ones to sign ect.

Now I have to be honest. When I received my 5 semi final calls it was like hitting the jackpot. There was an excitement, like when Daddy surprises you with a new car for graduation. When I received my call to get to the finals it was a very different feeling, very surreal. It was like wow, this is getting serious. I was at another level. Deep breath and here we go.

I had my doctors appointment that week which was cool because I finally got to tell someone that guess what? I am down to the final 48 for Survivor. Now that's cool.

I sent my packet back to SEG. The followig week I get a call from someone new. She said she had to overnight me a package which she sent to my house. Bingo!!! It was my plane ticket. I was going to L.A. in a little over a week. I had to call >>>> to confirm receipt and inside with the ticket were a set of rules and we went over them step by step.

1) You are to take a taxi from LAX to the Hotel. Get a receipt because we will give you double so you have cab fare to return at the end.

2) You will be not permitted to leave the hotel for the entire time you are there. Noone except your loved one can know you are here. If you have family in L.A. they are not to know and they can't come to visit you.

3) You are to come directly from the airport and when you leave go directly to the airport.

4) As soon as you walk into your room pick up the phone and call rm ### to check in. Don't do anything else.

ECT.ECT.ECT
I will get more into the rules when I cover the finals experience next week but make no mistake Auntie is in Cali and she is ready to rock. Or so I thought....

How can the application be lacking if it is about you. It just needs to be consistant with your video. If you are excited about the video just make sure that all the qualities you are showing in the video are the same on your application.

As far as the picture goes, believe me, if you saw what I saw at the finals your photo does not matter. There were more normal OK looking people than pretty people. I think people tend to look at the cast and pick out the pretty people. Look at the last cast, How many people were that good looking.

Be consistant, it is half the battle.

I'm sorry guys... and gals. It has been really crazy here the past two days. Just a lot going on. I promise to continue tomorrow night with The week prior to leaving for L.A. through the flight home. In the next segemnt I will detail the entire process however I will not get into detail on describing any potential contestants until I am sure they are off to the cook Islands. My final segment will detail exactly who was out there interviewing for the finals.

I really need to get some sleep. I look forward to writting tomorrow night. Thanks for understanding.

Part 1 of The L.A. process: I will do this over a few nights because it is long...

So I've received my call, signed my releases, had my loved ones sign their releases, had my physical, sent off all my paperwork, received my plane ticket to L.A., Called and confirmed the process with casting. All this and I have a week before I leave. That sucks. The one thing that I have learned from this whole process is that everything is hurry up and wait. The entire process takes months and if you let it consume you then you are done. You absolutely have to be mentally tough because once the game starts, it is the extreme mental challenge. The conditions on Survivor are extreme and any contestant will tell you that. But it is a TV show and without a doubt, they would never let you starve or keep water from you beyond a few days. It is whether or not you can handle the conditions thrown at you mentally to last through the process.

So what to do for an entire week now that after applying for 10 times I finally got the BIG Call to L.A. ? I went on with my life. I didn't step up my workouts, I didn't do anything out of the ordinary. I had read just about every article, story, posting ect on the finals and what to expect. I just tried to prepare myself mentally for L.A. No matter what happend out there I was not going to be broken. They could leave me in my room for 10-12 days and that would be fine. I just got myself ready to go.

The week prior went pretty quickly, The night before I left was a little tough because I was real excited about going. They tell you that you will be there for up to 12 days. My flights were for 10 days. There would not no laudry service so you had to bring enough clothes for 12 days. Being a pretty active women, this was a challenge. How much do I bring. They don't tell you anything except bring comfortable clothes, swimsuit, workout shorts and maybe one or two nice things. So off to bed I went.

I awoke the next day, had breakfast, caught up on some last minute work things. As far as work knew I was going to Cancun for two weeks to lay on the beach. My flight was late morning so I left to get to the airport around 8:30. When I arrived at the airport I purchased two books, several magazines, Some snacks and a nail clipper (I forgot mine) The flight was 4 hours to LAX. Let me tell you, it was long....

I arrived at LAX and proceeded to get my luggage. I was hungry but casting told me I needed to get to the hotel asap when I arrived so I jumped in a cab and gave the cabbie the address. (I won't tell you the hotel because they have used it several times and probably will use it again) I will describe the hotel throughout this process so those in the Know will Know where it is. The cab ride was about a half hour with traffic. We turned left off of Ocean Park Blvd and then made a right about 2 blocks down next to an education facility was the Hotel. I got out of the cab, paid the cabbie and it was game on.

I checked in at the front desk. From the minute I walked into the hotel my ears were up. I took it all in. The front desk was just inside the entrance on the right. off to the left was the lobby leading to the restaurant. Straight ahead were the elevators. I had the bellhop take my luggage to my room. I avoided conversation with him and he led me to my room.

The rooms were nice, suites, Minibar ( If you eat/drink from it, you pay for it) seperate bedroom. I had a view of the school and the pool area was off to my right. Off in the distance you could see the ocean. It was cloudy and cool. (I though southern california was Sunny and 79 every day. Yeah right, The entire time I was there it was cloudy and cold 59 - 62 and that sucked. Try swimming in that weather, My headlights were up all week.

I closed the door and picked up the phone. I called room xxx OK great I was told. Someone will be up to speak with you, Why don't you go eat downstairs and then go back to your room.

Now they tell you that you are to speak with noone unless they are an SEG employee. (They are the ones with the Two way radios) If the elevator door opens and someone is in the elevator then wait for the next one. If someone is waiting at the elevator then wait for the next car. That sucks because you only get a half hour for meals and 45 minutes for pool and gym. I got into the elevator and the back of the elevator is all glass which overlooks the lobby and all of the floors so as I get in I see 3-4 people on different floors with two ways and as they see me they give me a friendly wave. I'm like, how do these people know me.

I get off the elevator and walk around to the restaurant. I walk in and there are 2 females with two ways and a few people sitting alone. It is buffet style but the food is pretty good. I make a sandwich, get some salad and I sit down. One of the girls gets up and comes over and moves me over two tables (I guess I sitting a little too close to another contestant) No conversation just a little, "Can you slide over two tables for me" I eat my food, trying to look around when the two girls aren't looking just trying to get a glance. I was at a good spot for viewing because they sat me in a half booth. I had my back to the buffet area but could view the entire eating area. Man that 1/2 hour went fast. I get the check and sign my alias. I assume that everyone was using the same alias because a few days later I overheard the waiter ask another girl if she was my alias and she said yes. All you have to do is sign. Do not leave a tip because at the end of the process SEG will tip everyone. I go up to my room and 2 minutes later there is a knock at my door. It is XXXXXX and I have seen her before. She has been with SEG for a while. She sits down and we talk for about 20 minutes. we go over my meal times, gym time, pool time and my appointments (Psych, Physical ect.) She tells me that these are set in stone and if I forget to go they will call me. (My schedule changed so many times it was funny). If I miss gym or pool time for a appointment then I miss it for the day. She told me that I can eat room service but I would have to pay for it, any movies I rent or any minibar items I take will be charged to my credit card. I can't leave my room for anything except my scheduled appointments. I can't even go to the ice machine for ice. I can call home but I can't get into detail about any part of the process. Meal, gym and pool time is set and although I am not required to go it is recommended because I get go check out the competition. You can't speak or communicate but eye contact is allowed. I will get into it further but after spending my time in L.A. I would not be shocked if my room was bugged or had a hidden camera and I also thought that some of the so called contestants were plants by SEG and I will elaborate on this further as I detail the week in L.A. I also had to fill out more paperwork. Who I wanted to come visit if I made it. Detail how I would play the game, List my favorites ect. I had a few days to finish this. I also couldn't speak with the maids and I couldn't leave out any paperwork. She wished me luck and off she went. I unpacked and settled in for the game.

Th L.A. Experience Part 2 #70 [-]
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Pygmy Pal
Posts: 24
Jun 16 06 3:42 PM
Pygmy Pal
The first 3 days out in L.A. could be described in one word, Survivor. That is what we pretty much did was watch Survivor, a lot of Survivor. A typical day would go like this:

1) Breakfast - Go downstairs to the restaurant which was located on the main floor. Sit down in a seat and have breakfast. Now, it is amazing how much info people give about themselves just based on their everyday habits. You had some people who would sit in the same exact spot every single day. They would eat in the same pattern every day. You then had people who were wall dwellers. They would sit in a different seat each time but always along the wall. And then you had the wildcards (My name for them) they would sit randomly every single day. I would sit and observe for a half hour. While I was fixing my breakfast I was observing. You would make eye contact and exchange half smiles but that was it. There were people who would eat and leave and then there were the attention needers. They would have to stop everyday and have a conversation with someone from casting. It was like they needed the attention. One day one of the girls from casting brought their child into the hotel and one by one the attention needers would go by and strike up a small conversation with her.

After breakfast you would return to your room and I would read the paper, read one of my books or watch TV. For those who remarked about the internet, Laptops were allowed and we were told that we could bring one. It was a waiting game. I looked forward to workout time.

Workout time: The gym was on the 3rd floor. It was OK. Some treadmills, bikes, eliptical trainers, dumb bells and some machines. The bench press machine was broken. The first two - three days the gym was packed. Everybody trying to show they had the stuff. It was like a competition. I would finish about 10 minutes early and go outside to get some fresh air. I looked up at the rooms and saw one of the guy contestants observing everyone at the pool. What a great idea, I thought. It wound up giving me something to do everyday and it also led me to seriously start to beleive that there were some SEG plants in the group of contestants and here is why. For the first 4-5 days there were about 6-8 contestants that were out at the pool 2-3 times a day and that was went they weren't in my pool time. Now for those of you who have been out to LA know that they keep pretty good tabs on you. After 5 days or so I never saw these people again.

Lunch was lunch. It gave me time out of my room and allowed me to observe. One of the Casting girls came over to me on day two to see how I was doing. How was I doing? I thought. I've been here two days and there has been no interviews yet. I'm OK I said.

The casting people are taking notes constantly. They have there rosters and they are onserving who is doing what. they are constantly writting down notes. Back to my room after lunch.

The phone would ring and they would say, "We have a special screening downstairs on the second floor if you want to go you can go now. There was a conference room down there where they showed the Panama Series from episode one just to get you in the mood for why you were out in L.A.
I would go and observe everybody. I just looked for patterns.
Five hours of Survivor Panama later it was time to eat.

After Dinner each day my night was pretty much done. There were no calls (except once), no meetings nothing. It was sit and wait until morning. That sucked the worst because dinner was over by 7:00.

One night after dinner I get a call from casting. "We have a special screening tomorrow in the conference room in the Lobby. We will switch your gym and pool times. You don't have to go but we advise you to go. Of course I went. It was 7 hours of Survivor Pearl Islands in the most uncomfortable seats. My ass was killing me but I sat through the entire screening. They fed us Subway heroes for lunch and we sat there all day and watched Pearl Islands to get in the mood.

I went to Pool/Gym combined that day and got a chuckle. There were some youngs hunks (Contestants) doing there ab workout right by the pool. Wow, what bodies. There was also a guy who brought his flippers to the pool each day. This was the first time I was with him in Pool but I would watch him from my window. I thought, OK That's a little extreme for me. I was not impressed with the overall looks of the guys. Outside of a few young studs, they were mostly inshape and balding or out of shape. There were some fat men in L.A. The women were better looking than the men. The young pretty girls Under 25 were all 5'7" or taller but slim and not an ounce of fat on them. The older women were more big boned.

Still no Interview. I have my doctors appointment coming up and Psyche testing as well so maybe things willstart to pick up. Still no Lynne, No Probst, No Burnett Why the hell did I come all the way out to LA for. to watch fat bald headed guys try to swim and workout? I am Survivored out and a little bored but my spirits are high and I know they didn't bring me out here to do just this. I kept telling myself, it part of the game. Just have fun. So I did. I was really enjoying the downtime. (You tend to talk to yourself after a while to combat the boredomness. But make no mistake the game was on.
Make mine, I would consider Cirie fat, not big boned. The older women were big boned meaning not small but not fat. A few of them spent the netire pool session doing laps.

Wish,

I can't wait until they announce the cast so I can see who made it. We could look but they definately kept a close eye on us and the minute they felt we were getting to close they jumped in and seperated us.

I was just amazed at how many SEG people knew who you were and would see me in the elevator from the lobby and give me a wave. They knew exactly where you were at all times which is why I'm convinced some of these so called contestants were plants.

I will write more tomorrow.

First off Madcat, yes you can bring a laptop.

I will probably continue this evening with my post but I have been trying to find the answer to this question:

Has there ever been anyone who went out to the finals in L.A. and didn't make the show for that season but got recalled for a later edition. Now I'm not talking being an alternate and not making it but someone getting the rejection call from L.A. and then getting called for the show.

I do not think they have ever called anyone back who wasn't at least an alternate. Does anybody know that answer...
My point is that since I was rejected they keep the door open to keep you wondering but they have no intention of ever calling you. Any answers.....
Finals Some Movement Finally #97 [-]
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Pygmy Pal
Posts: 24
Jun 21 06 1:10 AM
Pygmy Pal
Before I get into the next phase I just remembered a very funny thing that happened in the first 3 days. We were down in the 2nd Floor conference room waiting to watch some Survivor when an old man walks into the room. He was looking for the Dept of Motor Vehicles class. He was about 70 years old. You could tell the some of the SEG folks were a bit jumpy at first. After they told him he was in the wrong place he asked what we were doing there (Our alias). They told him and he went into a 5 minute speech about how great that was. He was very funny and outgoing. Infact as he left some of the SEG folks joked that he would be great for the show.

So after a few days of watching Survivor, watching people and watching the clock I was looking forward to the next few days. Would I finally get my first formal interview in L.A.? Like I said originally, when I first arrived SEG went over my appointment schedule with me. I don't think any of those appointments happened when they were scheduled. The first thing we did was begin psych testing. We were summond to the 2nd Floor conference room where we met the head psychologist for Survivor. She was an attractive women in her 40's I'd say. She introduced herself and her assistants. She explained that were were going to take 4 different tests. Some were timed and some were not. After two of the tests they broke the schedule and sent on on our way with a projected reschedule which was rescheduled.

After that I had my physical which was on the 2nd floor. Theye converted several rooms into a makeshift doctors lab and psych office. The head doctor was someone I would picture as a hollywood doc. An older handsome gentleman. They took blood, history, urine, went over my doctors physical and then proceeded to take me into the back room and give me a quick exam. I was under the impression that they would be more detailed and the physical would include some type of physical activity but it did not. In fact, there was no physical test other than the Casting crew observing and taking notes during Pool and Gym time.

After my physical, and a good meal I was in my room when the phone rang, Get to the 8th floor immediately! Bingo, I'm in Baby. I rush up to the 8th floor only to be lead to the Ice machine. My first thought was @#%$, I should have brought my ice bucket because we were not allowed to get ice. I wasn't nervous. You can tell when there were interviews going on because you could peer up from the elevator and see the casting crew on the 8th floor. They would guard it and you could see people getting lead in all during the begining part of the week. So anyhow, I sitting with the Ice machine for 20 minutes when they lead me to the on deck position. The casting girl outside briefs you on what the interview is about. She tells me that Lynne is meeting all the finalists and that she just wants to talk with you.

When the door opens Lynne is their to greet me. She leads me in and we sit down. It is just the two of us. She opens up a huge binder I guess to my section and we talk for about 20 minutes. We talk about the week so far, my family, her family, how am I going to play the game. Can I do this. My strategy. She tells me point blank the they recruit up until it is time to leave for filming. My reaction was that its no big deal because It doesn't matter who I play against because I will win and never quit. It is a good conversation, No problems, very free and relaxed. I thank her for her time. She was nice. I do not think she was staying at the hotel because of issues at home.

I went back downstairs swam, ate dinner and went to my room for the night. In speaking to one of the casting girls during dinner she told me that only a few SEG staff members stay overnight. Most of them go home and come back in the morning.

The next day we got called in the afternoon to finish psych testing. These tests suck. They ask you 10 times, 10 different ways if I would ever kill myself. I guess they look for consistency and if you show a pattern. It worked because a day later I get called to the 2nd floor for my psych eval. At first you meet with the head psych lady. We sat and talked for about 30-40 minutes. I was a bit amazed and freaked because she detailed exactly what type of person I am. She detailed my family life, how I was raised ect. She knew what bothers me, what sets me off and how I generally react in certain situations. After I spoke with her I had to go in and se her assistant. He was a nice looking man who basically followed up with her evaluation. They both told me that they have no problems recommending me. They had no concerns whatsoever about me being on location for the duration. They both told me that they look for patterns in people (Most likely to help match a cast together).

Throughout the week to the point I continued to glance up at the 8th floor each time I got into the elevator. You would see finalists going in and out. The casting girls would always wave when they saw me in the elevator. I would look for people going up there more than once and didn't really start to see people getting to the 8th floor more than once at this point. So I am 6 days into it. I've had all my testing done. I've had one interview with Lynne. I go to Gym and Pool almost every day unless it gets cancelled because of Survivor screenings. I know almost everybody's habits and patterns. I have seen from what I beleive every finalist. I counted 46. I'm still holding up quite well. I have done a lot of reflection on my life, my committment to this dream, my priorities and during all this downtime by myself I start to think that you know what, I'm at a pretty good spot in life and the rat race going on outside of this hotel is irrelevant. I'm feeling pretty good and to this point I've evaluated my chances of getting on and I honestly can't find any faults with my self evaluation. I start to think I'm getting on.

My first interview was with just Lynne. She was very nice and she is attractive. I have read the same things but had nothing but positive things to say about her and the entire casting process. Both Mark and Jeff were nowhere to be found the entire week. I remember during my psyche visit one of the doctors had said that they were doing thing totaly different than in the past. I don't know what that meant.

The doctor did not say that to me. I overheard him telling one of his assistants while I was in the room waiting for one of my appointments. You could ask questions to the SEG people and sometimes they would politely say that they can't tell you that but everyone was real nice and easy to approach. I think they encouraged you to speak with them because it allowed them to get a better read on you.

As far as parties, Not this time. The casting people were very careful to seperate anyone who got to close to each other. As I said previously, They would come over and seperate people who they felt were getting too close or they would pay attention to an area where there were a group of us to make sure we weren't talking. There were SEG people all over the hotel and they knew exactly who you were. There were SEG people that I never even seen before and they would wave to me like they knew me my entire life. Very strange.

The only thing close to rebel candidates were the group of contestants that were in the Gym or at the pool 3 times as much as everyone else and they disappeared after days 4-6. My gut feeling says that they were SEG employees that were acting as contestants. I could be wrong but it was too strange.