MovieChat Forums > Mantracker (2008) Discussion > Production Team Intervention?

Production Team Intervention?

posted 14 years ago by ahcm
5 replies | jump to latest

I have a question that perhaps some of the more experienced viewers of Mantracker might be able to answer.

I watched a mini-marathon of Mantracker for the first time today on the Science Channel, and I greatly enjoyed the show. However, what I was wondering is whether or not there is production team intervention at certain points.

For instance, in the episode where Mantracker is pursuing the two Olympians, they get behind him and he loses the trail. Yet, somehow, he and his guide manage to stumble upon them a few hours later after being completely turned around on the trail. In another episode, a team wandered almost a mile and a half off the trail, and yet managed to stumble their way back to it. Still in another episode, Mantracker manages to pin down the prey between a raging river with only one bridge to cross and then inexplictly turns off and camps a distance away, instead of camping smack dab in the middle of the bridge or right near the trail where they couldn't sneak by.

This made me wonder to what extent the production team guides the show, afterall they have to make an entertaining program and it wouldn't be that exciting if he caught them five minutes in. It is only logical to assume the camera teams have radios and possibly GPS positioning tags to make sure they don't get lost and also have a lifeline in the event of serious injury, animal attack, etc.

I suspect that when Mantracker loses the trail or when the prey become hopelessly turned-around that the production team points them in the right direction.

In the episode where Mantracker was tracking Mike Sage and Simone Crook (the gay man and the forest planter in upper BC), he literally pins them against the river with only one route of escape. Instead of posting a sentry during the night, or camping right on the bridge, they move some distance away and let the prey sneak across. This is likely one example of when the production team tells Mantracker to "back off". It is really the only explanation I can come up with.

Has anyone read any interviews or seen any makings of that explain this?

To me, this does not diminish the show, nor do I believe that the entire thing is scripted as a result, but I am almost certain that the above examples must be the case.

Thoughts, explanations, discussion?

[–] jstang411 14 years ago

Haven't seen all those episodes, but your examples are just more fuel to the fire of something is going on other than what we see on screen.

Two general questions are why no one ever moves at night and why there are never any first day captures. But hey, they are trying to do a show.

My best guess is that Mr. M. Tracker tries to shadow the prey, but only really really goes for the capture when they are a few miles away from the prize (although he may be willing to get one of the team but not both).

You aren't the first to be a bit suspicious. Check out these threads below:

Not real tracking, even!
Have to be rules we don't know about
How do the cameramen hide their tracks?
Fastest capture?

[–] natster2012 13 years ago

Regarding the episode with Sage and Crook, I know the situation you are alluding to. There was a lot of thick forest on steep hills around that bridge. The prey were somewhat stuck on it and knew they had to cross the bridge to progress. Mantracker chased them into the forest and knew they had to be somewhere up there. He tried to wait them out and probably waited at least an hour and they did not move. Because he couldn't determine exactly where they were and wasn't 100% sure they were still up there, when it got dark MT and sidekick re-located to a spot more suitable for camp. They might've thought the prey could have doubled back. The prey made their move in complete darkness as the escape was shot in night-vision. They basically waited them out and were lucky MT wasn't camped closer. If it's one thing I noticed about MT, he isn't particularly patient as he rarely sits too long at any one spot. There have been several other instances of prey out-waiting MT's team.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] bluwater55 13 years ago

First of all, i love this show. I started watching this show with an open mind,mostly because it's a Canadian production,and i tend to totally mistrust American shows. The skills of the trackers are never in doubt but to me,it appears that this is just another scripted show.It would be terribly interesting(and exciting)if a program similar to this(or even this one)could be made in such a way as to let chance(weather, accidents, other variables) and skill(of all parties involved)determine the outcome.Perhaps without all the false drama it would be too boring for the viewing public and wouldn't last long, but i for one,would watch every minute.

[–] jstang411 13 years ago

I started watching this show with an open mind,mostly because it's a Canadian production,and i tend to totally mistrust American shows.

How exactly does one mistrust Seinfeld, Big Bang Theory, Law & Order or for that matter...Sesame Street or Square Bob?