How to Get Cast on ‘Survivor’: Season 50 Cast Advice

There are two types of Survivor fans: the ones content to watch from the couch and those who are already planning their audition tape. For anyone in the latter group, the cast of Survivor 50 has some advice. While on location during filming of season 50, The Hollywood Reporter asked every returning player to share their best tips for getting on the show. The responses — spanning practical strategy, personal storytelling and a fair amount of blunt honesty — reveal what casting is really looking for and why standing out starts with authenticity. Here’s your blueprint to getting your torch lit.

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Dee Valladares: I get this question a lot. I’ve looked through a lot of audition tapes, even though I’m not supposed to, but I do it because I want to help people out. The one thing in common in those tapes is people always saying what they’re going to do in the game and, before you know it, three minutes pass and I know nothing about them. I always come back and tell them, “This tape sucks. I love your ideas on what you’d do in the game, but who are you? And why would Jeff want you on his show?” So it sounds so corny, but be authentically yourself. Talk about yourself, talk about your hobbies, what you like to do and then tie that into how you’d play Survivor.  

Rizo Velovic: I love this question because I was someone who would ask people how to get on Survivor. Everybody says it but it truly is: Be yourself. People are like, “That’s bullshit. I am myself.” You need to know how to sell yourself. And your story. They’re not asking you to be the next Coach or the next Jonathan or the next Ozzy. They want you to be the next you.

Mike White: My sense is that they want likable people now, so lean into your likability. Then be as authentically, specifically you. You don’t want to be a carbon copy of someone else. You want to be uniquely you. So the things that make you stand out as a specific type of person, even if those qualities are not necessarily attractive to casting, but if it’s unique to you, that helps. 

Ozzy Lusth: You have to understand that you’re going to be on a screen, so practice your monologue [for your audition video], watch it and make sure you are able to tap into your emotions when you’re telling your story — and be as authentic as possible. But also turn up the volume on your personality a little more so you can blast those emotions across the screen. Because at the end of the day, you’re a storyteller and if you’re boring while telling a story, no one is going to watch that. So be authentic and be yourself, but also be a bit of a caricature of yourself.

Emily Flippen: If you’re not genuine and authentic, you won’t survive out here. And if you complete the application process and you’re not cast for being yourself, that is a compliment to your personality. It probably means you’re nice, well-adjusted and normal. If you are cast, that’s probably a red flag and you should probably self-assess. I wish I had.

Kamilla Karthigesu: I waited until I got extremely emotional. I filmed the video when I was very angry and sent it in, and that worked. I am so sorry Hannah Rose — I filmed the video after watching the first episode of season 45 and it was a rant about Hannah quitting. I have not talked to Hannah — I am so sorry but thank you for fueling me enough to make that video because that’s what got me here.

Savannah Louie: I saw a TikTok from Jesse Tannenbaum, the casting director, and I was like, “I need to do this tonight.” So I took out my phone and I made a three minute selfie video about why I deserve to be on the show. No crazy production, no frill. It was just, “Hi, I’m Savannah, this is my story.” And that three minute video got me a call from producers. So if you’re thinking about applying, stop talking about it and just do it. Survivor’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. It’s an incredibly fun game, but it’s so much more meaningful than that.

Charlie Davis: Be high energy. Be yourself, but be high energy. I see a lot of videos where people are talking about really interesting things, but they’re not talking about it in an interesting way and you have to be able to do both. If you have some really cool life experience or life story, you have to sell it. You have to be captivating and energetic, and do that from the jump. Sell yourself hard. You only have three minutes, you gotta go for it.

Cirie Fields: Be naked — not literally, but expose yourself. What’s going to catch casting is authenticity. They don’t want gimmick or a bit. They want to see who we are going to present to the world to represent this show that we love. Be you, be authentic. Whatever you think the energy level should be, bump that up 50 times because they don’t want to go to sleep. They’re looking at thousands of tapes, so your first line is your shot. Whatever you come up with authentically, let that be as energetic as you can muster because you want to be seen. If you’re not seen, you can’t be on.

Genevieve Mushaluk: Everyone is going to tell you, “Be yourself.” And it’s so ambiguous and you don’t know what it means. But you only don’t know what it means because you’re nervous about all the other things that you think it should mean. You are enough and just be that. It’s perfect. Just show that.  

Rick Devens: Don’t overthink it. Turn in a tape. And then do it during the next casting process. I’m not in casting so I don’t know what they want, but I do know they love storytellers. Make sure you’re telling a good story that has an emotional punch or a twist ending. If you’re not a good storyteller on your tape, it might be hard to get on. 

Quintavius “Q” Burdette: You have to be yourself. Show them why you are who you are, don’t try to be anyone you’re not. It’s important to be true to who you are, because you’re good enough to get on this show just being you. 

Tiffany Ervin: Pretend you’re talking to your best friend. Talk your shit and give them a show, because at the end of the day, they want to know if you’re going to be fun and entertaining to watch.

Aubry Bracco: Be yourself loudly, proudly, louder than you ever thought. And pour it all out on the table, hold nothing back. 

Jenna Lewis-Dougherty: You have to be yourself. You will be broken down to whoever you are out here anyway, that’s why all these physical elements matter. That’s why not eating matters, why getting eaten by bugs matter and why feeling psychologically like you’re being hunted by the other players matter. It breaks you down to who you are. So if you can show production and Jeff who you are, and that is something that’s likable and something we want to see, you’ve shown them someone real. 

Jonathan Young: If you aren’t yourself on your audition tape, you’re going to be out on the island anyway. One way or another, you’re going to get to the point where you’re starving and you have to be you. Approach Survivor being the best you. And don’t wait, actually go do it.

Christian Hubicki: Know yourself and know who you are and how to present yourself to other people in a way that highlights what you think are the best parts of who you are. Survivor will cast any type of person, but you have to show them who you are in order to get there. 

Colby Donaldson: It can’t be stated enough: authenticity. If there’s a reason why Survivor invited me back now, because I was shocked that they actually gave me an invitation, it’s because Probst knows I’m back to being my authentic self. I’m back in Texas doing what I love. If you look at my bio this time, it will read the exact same as it did when I was 25. I’m me again, and I don’t know if I was the second or third time.

Joe Hunter:You need to focus on who you really are and break that down and then look at what you’re not. What are your weaknesses? What are your true emotional and mental weaknesses? It takes time to really do that. Analyze those things and embrace them, and try to strengthen them. Number two, when you’re applying be you — the vulnerable you that people don’t normally see. The version that’s in the mirror that you don’t like to share. If you put that out there, Survivor will take you.

Kyle Fraser: People think they have to do crazy stuff in their videos, but one thing people don’t realize about Survivor is the narrator is the players. I think Jeff and casting are looking for people who can tell a story about themselves or something else in a real, authentic way. 

Benjamin “Coach” Wade: Just be yourself. Don’t eat stupid food, don’t do music in the background. Just show them how and why God has created you as an individual because that’s what they want. They want to see people with true personality. Go for it, the time is now. 

Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick: Be yourself in the video. Nothing is off limits and just go for it. And if you don’t make it the first time around, keep applying.

Chrissy Hofbeck: This is a game for anyone, so just do it. If not you, then who? I never wanted to look back in my life and wished I’d tried. I’d rather try and get a no than just wonder.

Angelina Keeley: Just go for it!

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The Survivor 50 three-hour finale airs Wednesday night from 8-11 p.m. on CBS, streaming on Paramount+.