Cameramen

Dice · Wed, 14th Jan '09, 6:21am

I was watching a T.V. show called The Mantracker and I started thinking about how ridiculous the premise for this show is. For those of you who have not seen the show, it is about a person who tracks other people and catches them in varying wilderness locations. This is a 'life challenge' sort of show and it always involves the main character - a 50something bearded coyboyish sort of man on a horse and he always has a helper, who is also on horseback, who knows the area that they are going to chase their 'prey' in. The prey are two different people who work together and try to reach a specific location in an allotted amount of time before the mantracker and his assistant catch them.

It is an interesting show as far as watching what people do to try and elude the Mantracker but what makes the whole thing kind of silly is the fact that there is always at least one cameraman running along with the prey. So no matter what they do, there is always another person along to leave extra tracks make noise or generally give away their location. Yet people still watch the show and strangely believe that they are watching just 2 people trying to beat the mantracker.

LKD · Thu, 15th Jan '09, 1:46am

I believe it was Samuel Johnson who coined the term "willing suspension of disbelief" -- I mean, how does Dog the Bounty Hunter manage to be discrete with 2 or more crews following him?

But most TV is mere escape anyhow, right?

Splunge · Thu, 15th Jan '09, 2:27am

I watch that show on occasion, and the same question occured to me. I googled it, and one of the things that came up was that there are a few set routes that the "prey" can take, and cameramen are set up on those routes. If Mantracker comes along, they play innocent. This presumably would require some communication with the cameramen as to Mantracker's location at any point in time. I have no evidence that any of this is true; it makes sense; however, I find it odd that none of this is disclosed in order to end speculation such as this. Maybe there are certain "trade secrets" that need to be kept from the "prey", but still...

T2Bruno · Thu, 15th Jan '09, 6:26pm

Having a few set routes for the prey must make the mantracker's job a bit easier....

Dice · Fri, 16th Jan '09, 6:10am

The only show that remains true to itself in this aspect would be Survivor Man. In that show the main character of the show goes to different locations to practice his survival techniques. He does the filming of his survival journey by himself. You have to give him credit for that because not only is he surviving the elements on his own but he's also lugging around several different cameras and equipment which would be an additional drain on his energy. He also has to set up his cameras in particular locations and do a lot of backtracking to retrieve them.

Saber · Fri, 16th Jan '09, 4:12pm

I prefer Man vs. Wild because Bear Grylls is so badass... and we know it is fake because they tell us at the beginning that he is put in these situations intentionally to show people how to get out of them.

Wed, 14th Jan '09, 6:21am	#1
Dice Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,477 Blog Entries: 35 Like: 32 Liked 51 Times in 30 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,392 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 50.89% Daily Activity 62.5% Weekly Activity 18.3% Monthly Activity 28.06% Achievements	Cameramen I was watching a T.V. show called The Mantracker and I started thinking about how ridiculous the premise for this show is. For those of you who have not seen the show, it is about a person who tracks other people and catches them in varying wilderness locations. This is a 'life challenge' sort of show and it always involves the main character - a 50something bearded coyboyish sort of man on a horse and he always has a helper, who is also on horseback, who knows the area that they are going to chase their 'prey' in. The prey are two different people who work together and try to reach a specific location in an allotted amount of time before the mantracker and his assistant catch them. It is an interesting show as far as watching what people do to try and elude the Mantracker but what makes the whole thing kind of silly is the fact that there is always at least one cameraman running along with the prey. So no matter what they do, there is always another person along to leave extra tracks make noise or generally give away their location. Yet people still watch the show and strangely believe that they are watching just 2 people trying to beat the mantracker.

Thu, 15th Jan '09, 1:46am	#2
LKD Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Winterfell Posts: 6,204 Like: 20 Liked 31 Times in 22 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 16,659 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 92.63% Daily Activity 2.98% Weekly Activity 9.79% Monthly Activity 22.29% Achievements	I believe it was Samuel Johnson who coined the term "willing suspension of disbelief" -- I mean, how does Dog the Bounty Hunter manage to be discrete with 2 or more crews following him? But most TV is mere escape anyhow, right?
	__________________ If women are so perfect at multitasking, how come they can't have a headache & sex at the same time?

Thu, 15th Jan '09, 2:27am	#3
Splunge SPS Account Holder Bhaal’s financial advisor Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: In hiding after Bhaal became Lord of Murder when I had him put everything into subprime mortgages. Posts: 6,545 Like: 13 Liked 57 Times in 38 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 15,912 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 23.01% Daily Activity 2.98% Weekly Activity 1.28% Monthly Activity 69.38% Achievements Awards	I watch that show on occasion, and the same question occured to me. I googled it, and one of the things that came up was that there are a few set routes that the "prey" can take, and cameramen are set up on those routes. If Mantracker comes along, they play innocent. This presumably would require some communication with the cameramen as to Mantracker's location at any point in time. I have no evidence that any of this is true; it makes sense; however, I find it odd that none of this is disclosed in order to end speculation such as this. Maybe there are certain "trade secrets" that need to be kept from the "prey", but still...
	__________________ I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering. - Steven Wright

Thu, 15th Jan '09, 6:26pm	#4
T2Bruno SPS Account Holder The only source of knowledge is experience Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chicago -- far west suburbs. Posts: 9,315 Like: 20 Liked 78 Times in 59 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 22,265 Level: 41 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 57.88% Daily Activity 62.5% Weekly Activity 43.83% Monthly Activity 41.75% Achievements Awards	Having a few set routes for the prey must make the mantracker's job a bit easier....
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Fri, 16th Jan '09, 6:10am	#5
Dice Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,477 Blog Entries: 35 Like: 32 Liked 51 Times in 30 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,392 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 50.89% Daily Activity 62.5% Weekly Activity 18.3% Monthly Activity 28.06% Achievements	The only show that remains true to itself in this aspect would be Survivor Man. In that show the main character of the show goes to different locations to practice his survival techniques. He does the filming of his survival journey by himself. You have to give him credit for that because not only is he surviving the elements on his own but he's also lugging around several different cameras and equipment which would be an additional drain on his energy. He also has to set up his cameras in particular locations and do a lot of backtracking to retrieve them.

Fri, 16th Jan '09, 4:12pm	#6
Saber A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 4,897 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,218 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 30.62% Daily Activity 2.98% Weekly Activity 1.28% Monthly Activity 2.11% Achievements	I prefer Man vs. Wild because Bear Grylls is so badass... and we know it is fake because they tell us at the beginning that he is put in these situations intentionally to show people how to get out of them.