“How do we level the playing field?” said Jaffer, producer and co-creator of the Real Talk Series and associate producer of Canada’s “The Morning Show.” “If every show is supposed to be representative, competitions have to be equitable.”
Joining Hale, the first Black woman to win a regular season of “Big Brother,” and Holland, who also appeared in “Survivor: Winners at War,” will be Eliza Orlins (“Survivor: Vanuatu,” “Survivor: Micronesia,” “The Amazing Race 31″), Becky Lee (”Survivor: Cook Islands”) and Brice Izyah (“Survivor: Cagayan”).
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Lee, a domestic violence lawyer based in Washington D.C., finished third opposite fan favorites Yul Kwon (first) and Ozzy Lusth (second) in a compelling season that memorably began with four tribes divided by ethnicity. She says she knew gender played a role “in the very beginning” and especially as she attempted to advance strategically while being mindful of jury management.
“In ‘Survivor,’ gender matters 100 percent,” said Lee, who started the non-profit Becky’s Fund in 2006 with her “Survivor” earnings. “Women who take too much leadership are often considered aggressive, bossy or overbearing — I grew up with the Garbage Pail Kid nickname ‘Bossy Becky’ — but if a man shows the same qualities, especially in a game like ‘Survivor,’ he’s considered a leader to follow. So, if I ever had decisions or input to share with the group, I would always share them with Yul and tell him I needed him to speak on my behalf. ‘Survivor’ is a great microcosm of the world but it also (reveals) a dichotomy. How can women lead in a way (in which) perception gives you the results that you want?”
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
The forum, officially known as Brice & Wen Present: Real Talk Panel Series, launched in Toronto in February with “Race & Reality TV” followed by “Mental Health & Reality TV” in New York in May and “Player vs Character” in Toronto in September. The Dayton engagement marks the forum’s American collegiate debut.
“I wasn’t even looking at potentially bringing this to schools until 2024, so it’s a very big deal for us to come to Dayton,” said Jaffer. “We want to foster conversations that should be happening.”
HOW TO GO
What: “Real Talk: Gender & Reality TV”
Where: Boll Theatre in Kennedy Union of the University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton
When: 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25
Cost: Free. To register, visit Eventbrite
Parking: All visitors will need a parking pass for the Real Talk event. Parking passes can be picked up at the University of Dayton Visitor’s Center. For more information, call 937-229-2128.
FYI: The panelists will also attend a “Survivor” Season 25 Watch Party, hosted by Holland and Izyah, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Two Social, 123 E. Third St., Dayton. Anyone interested in attending should contact Holland and Izyah on Instagram: @briceandwenpresent, @briceizyah, @wendell holland
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
About the Author