Meet Dom Raona | Producer & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dom Raona and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dom, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
The biggest risk I have taken was producing our fifth season after initially retiring our series in 2018. We had an amazing run with Survivor: Dearborn, but going into my junior year of college it became hard to balance. Our cast and crew were also growing up, taking more classes and internships – closing this chapter of our lives.

I then graduated college in peak pandemic April 2020 with a degree in film and marketing with no opportunities on the horizon. It was one of the lowest lows I could feel. Not only was I struggling professionally, but I was also disconnected from friends and family.

As the pandemic progressed and eventually became less severe in 2022, I found myself surrounded by a community of friends looking to put their energy into something exciting. We had just spent two years inside and disconnected, so the passion to be apart of something was there.

I was hesitant to revive our series as Survivor: Grand Rapids because I knew how much work goes into it. I was unsure how this would affect me financially or professionally and even feared I may not have it in me anymore.

Despite this, my friends encouraged me they would help and I went all in. Through their support, I was able to bring back our series bigger and better than ever – showcasing my skills as a creator on an epic scale.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Since 2016, I have been producing a backyard version of the hit Reality TV show “Survivor”. The series started in Dearborn, MI where 18 castaways spent 2 days in my parents backyard on little food and sleep while simultaneously participating in challenges and voting each other out. It was filmed with a bare bones crew on whatever cameras we could find, edited on iMovie, and released on YouTube to relive our summer memories. It garnered interest from friends and family members, and our community yearned for a second season. So we obliged, launching the era of Survivor: Dearborn. After four seasons, we retired the series due to real world obligations taking over our summers.

As time past, stories of our show bled into our day to day – sparking interest for a comeback. And in 2022, we filmed our fifth season, this time on the west side of the state. Survivor: Grand Rapids – Fresh Meat brought new contestants together from across the United States seeking their chance at a speed-run adventure of a lifetime. Upon its release, it was met with critical acclaim – solidifying our second era of our show’s run. We had bigger challenges, better equipment, and were no longer in our parents’ backyards. Season 6 is currently in post-production, with an anticipated 2024 release date.

Producing our series is no easy feat. We spend months planning our season, and without fault something will go wrong. As a production team, it is how we adapt and maneuver these obstacles that makes the experience worth it.

When you watch our series, you can sense a community on screen. These castaways give everything they have into three days, pushing their bodies and minds to their limits. No matter how exhausted they are post-game, they still know they were just a part of something bigger than them and get to watch it all back once I edit and release episodes.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to embrace the experience. In Season 1, I was so caught up trying to replicate CBS’s Survivor to a T. Looking back, it is the series’ imperfections that make it special. We can plan for only so much, and whatever happens from there will happen. I just trust I am surrounded by a cast and crew ready to help, and a camera ready to capture it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
John Ball Zoo is a favorite spot. Our cast and crew celebrated there for Adult Night after Season 5’s wrap.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I think about what makes the heart of Survivor: Dearborn and Grand Rapids, it is impossible to narrow down an individual. Since its conception back in 2016, there has been overwhelming community support from family and friends to either help, participate, or simply watch on screen.

Our series wouldn’t be what it is without the cast of now 83 people who decided to on this wild idea of “Backyard Survivor”, sharing their stories and experiences with with world. It especially wouldn’t be possible without my dedicated crew who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make our massive self-made project possible.

I am continuously inspired by these amazing people that dedicate their time and energy year after year to this project. It inspires me daily knowing that my cast and crew believe in me to create this lifelong memory we all get to share with our families, friends, and the world.

Website: https://www.survivorgrandrapids.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominicraona/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SurvivorGrandRapids

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGAwYvxsgyLLOhOJZk8qqDA

Image Credits
Dom Raona