Ian Pollack of The Amazing Race 3 has been answering questions about the show on the RealityTVPlanet message board. He's not allowed to reveal many of the production details, but he's been very accomodating and patient with his curious fans at RealityTVPlanet. Here's what he's had to say:
Q. Do the contestants have to buy the tickets for their cameraman and soundman?
A. Not out of their own funds.
Q. What about eating during the race...do they eat on the run? How do they pay for it all?
A. Unless you’re in a pit stop you eat on the run using only money provided by CBS as announced at the beginning of the leg. Production crews pay for their own food.
Q. Did you ever have to access your "emergency" fund ($200 available from the crew one time during the race)?
A. We never had to use it, but we took it at the end.
Q. When did you feel you were in the most danger during the race?
A. We never felt that we were in danger.
Q. How many days did the race actually take you from start to finish?
A. Approximately 30 days.
Q. Did your family know very far in advance that you were going to get to call them?
A. No
Q. What was the most exhilarating task that you accomplished?
A. Repelling – Being in the final three, and going the distance.
Q. If you could go back and choose one competition to do a different way, which one would it be and how would you change it?
A. On the jet ski in Mexico we would go a different way.
Q. What were the pit stops like?
Q. Beds?
A. At most locations,
Q. Food?
A. Yes
Q. Laundry?
A. Your on your own time and dime with laundry,
Q. Phones?
A. No personal calls.
Q. How frustrating did it get to "bunch up" between legs of the race?
A. When you were the one catching up it was great, when you were the one that got caught it was terrible.
Q. Did you ever have any "political incidents" that weren't shown?
A. We were received very well everywhere we went
Q. How much money did you finish with (that you'd saved)?
A. Not really sure but we budgeted and never ran out of money…Teri Starved Ian on a few legs…lol
Q. Who did you think would be your biggest competition during the race?
A. From the start Flo/Zack, Ken/Gerard, John/Jill, Drew/Derek, Andre/Damon
Q. Were you right?
A. For the most part Yes,
Q. Who surprised you either by their failings or their successes?
A. Andre/Damon
Q. How often do you get in touch with the other racers?
A. With some often.
Q. Have you ever gone to any other reality TV reunions (e.g., Survivor)? Did everyone recognize you?
A. We have not been to any other reality reunions as of yet, but we are recognized often. Recently while the cruise we won on the race we were recognized by at least a third of the passengers it was very nice.
Q. What country shocked you the most?
A. None we are well traveled and knew what to expect
Q. Once you check into the pit stop...does Phil join you for your meals/relaxation?
A. We got to interact a little with Phil who is a great guy, but he was running his butt off to.
Q. If he joins you, how does he get contacted to know that someone else is coming?
A. Can’t answer that.
Q. How close on Phil's tail were all of the racers? Was he scrambling just to stay ahead?
A. Don’t know but as I said he was moving pretty quick to.
Q. Did he have a private jet to keep ahead of all of you?
A. Don’t know.
Q. What activities from the current race are you glad you didn't have to do?
A. Winter,
Q. Which ones do you wish you could have done?
A. All of them we love the race…well except the bungee Teri would do that for Ian cuz he is scared to death of free failing.
Q. Do you have any fears? Were they ever pushed to the limit during the race?
A. Everyone has fears, in some cases they were pushed but never to the limits mainly due to being in the right place at the right time and not having to face some of them. When in a situation like the Amazing Race you do what you have to do and think later.
Q. Do they film Phil's descriptions of the tasks during the race while the production crew is around or are some or all of these filmed at a different time, before or after the race is going on? How does Phil manage to get to all the detour, road block, and fast forward locations and still be at the pit stop when the racers arrive?
A. We're not really sure how they do the filming of Phil doing all those things, but as I said before he is not on vacation he is running his butt off to.
Q. At the Rheinfall in Switzerland, both people in 4 of the teams climbed to the top of the rock, but Jill waited in the boat while John Vito went to get the clue. to what extent do the racers have to stay together when they reach route markers?
A. As for the watrefall I wish I would have thought to keep our boat there. Jill was thinking smart...and no I wasn't mad, just jealious I didn't think of it! As for the spacing question I can't answer that part, but it made no difference at all as far as the racing went.
Q. After one detour you and the other 3 teams left got to call home. I was wondering if the sequestered teams also got to call home and did they have to pretend like they were still in the race also?
A. As for the folks in sequesterville I have no idea what they did or if they called home.
Q. when they are given the money for each leg of race, if they don't use it can they keep it for next leg? Is this money also for food and water? or do they get more?
A. You keep your money from leg to leg, and the money is for anything and everything you need on the leg, food water, lodging. etc. etc.
Q. I really wonder about the first question too. Last night the train was packed and everyone was in such a rush. I wonder what would have happened if the camera man could not have fit on the train?
A. There has to be room for all or no go.
Q. The show's producers are always careful not to show cameramen/women and soundmen/woman, but we know they were there. Did they ever talk to you, or maybe even hold you back or slow you down at times?
A. Yes of course we spoke to production people, no they could not help in any way that wouldn't be fair at all. The production folks are the real hero's of the race they work very very hard, Example: When we ran from the soccer feild in Lisbon to the castle they ran backwords to film, pretty tough stuff.
Q. At Waterworks Park in Seattle people must have known something was up, how did they keep crowds of people from seeing The Amazing Race finish line?
A. We had no problems with crowds.
Q. Was the race as organized as it seems?
A. Yes they are very orgainized very professional.
Q. How did you find out you were selected as the 1 of 12 teams for TAR3? What was it like signing a confidentiality agreement putting a $10,000,000 bounty on your heads if you said anything? How long was it from that point you left for the Race and how many days were you away from home?
A. I can't answer your questions.
Q. What did it feel like the morning you woke up and you headed out to Dodger Stadium?
A. Your question is for AR-4 racers Teri and I raced in AR-3.
Q. I've never seen any microphones, but the sound is great. The sound men must be geniuses. How do they do it?
A. The sound men are geniuses...lol
Ian adds:
On a different note I’d like to mention that our great friend Gerard (AR-3) and his wife are expecting twins, to compliment the set they already have. Teri and I are extremely happy for them Congrats guys.... HOORAH
Well I think that should answer all the questions thus far if we missed one let us know. We will be gone next week to NYC to visit with some of the best teams from AR-3 what a great group of people.
Best Regards to all,
Ian
PS Oh and remember "Take on the Challenge" "Do the right thing" "and most of all "GOD BLESS AMERICA"..... HOORAH
(Ian and Teri's would like to invite everyone to visit Realityreel.com and read their commentaries on each episode of the AMAZING RACE 4.) |
