Answers with Malcolm Freberg

Answer 1

What was the inspiration behind Wayfaring?

The primary inspiration was those 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books, the ones where you reach the bottom of the page and you have a few options on where the story will go next. You would read a page of the story, then be presented a choice: If you want to go into the cave, turn to page 34; If you want to turn around and continue driving down the road, turn to page 41. That format transformed books from simple linear narratives into interactive journeys where the reader got to control what happened next. That concept is the core of Wayfaring. We'll provide the options, but the audience is going to choose all of our major actions for us. This is going to be the viewer's trip as much as it is ours.

Answer 2

How is Wayfaring different from other travel shows?

The first difference is the interactivity. Instead of predetermining every step of our journey beforehand, we're letting our path be decided by the audience. But beyond that, we're going to be producing all of our episodes in-sync with the trip while we're on the road. Wherever the public sends us on July 1st is going to be shot, edited, and uploaded to www.Wayfaringlive.com on July 2nd; wherever we get sent on the 2nd is shot, edited and uploaded on the 3rd; and so on and so forth for nearly three weeks this July. This makes the gratification immediate - whatever the viewers decide to make us do, they will get to see the very next day. The travel shows you see on TV choose where they're going all on their own, then need months to craft a single episode; we'll be allowing the audience to give us just a few hours notice where we're going, and then producing an episode in less than 24 hours for twenty straight days this summer.

Answer 3

What are your hobbies besides traveling?

Whenever I'm not working, my waking hours are spent researching the real location of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Answer 4

What is one place you haven't visited that you want to check off your bucket list?

The moon. In all seriousness, I always wanted to be an astronaut, but I eventually read the academic requirements for admission into the NASA training program and decided that reality TV was more feasible.

Answer 5

What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?

'Spontaneous' implies doing something without a plan - that accurately defines my twenty-seven years of life. One story I'm quite proud of, however, was my wooing of the Barberess of Portsmouth: I was nineteen and needed a haircut (this was pre-flowing-locks-era), so I went to a Great Clips. My hair-chopper was my age and, surprisingly, drop-dead gorgeous. We flirted a bit during the cut, but I lacked the nerve to ask her out afterwards; I just tipped her stupidly well. Whatever, I was young and dumb. I hated myself for days, regretting missing out on what could have been. I drove by that Great Clips everyday on my way home from my internship and the storefront mocked me like a drunken heckler, shaming me for my cowardice. Perhaps a week later, I was driving home on a Friday and - in a spurt of completely random bravado - pulled into the parking lot, marched right into that Great Clips, and demanded to see the Barberess, my muse. She walked over, confused that I already needed another trim. I loudly announced, "Let me take you to dinner tonight." 'Awwws' filled the room. An old woman getting a perm beamed. The flamboyantly gay male employees did that cute-puppy head-tilt clap-thing. The Barberess smiled and said yes. The room cheered, and I was an epic champion for all of fifteen minutes...until the date actually started. It was a total disaster - I think I took her to an Applebee's and spent the evening avoiding eye contact, mumbling to my 2-for-20 deal. Whatever, I was young and dumb.

Answer 6

Do you have a favorite reality show that you like to watch?

I don't watch a lot of TV, but I do sometimes catch myself watching American Idol or The Voice and imagining myself as a rock star. I'm completely devoid of singing talent and have been banned from a number of local Karaoke bars, so all I can do is fantasize from the couch with a drink.

Answer 7

What's one thing most people don't know about you?

That I'm an X-Man. I have a genetic mutation/superpower that is a first step towards the human race's eventual evolution: I have webbed toes on both of my feet. This adaptation aids me in Sharks and Minnows and late night party tricks.

Answer 8

What was your favorite Survivor season to be on: Philippines or Caramoan?

Caramoan was infinitely more fun: we won more challenges, we had better weather, and my tribe-mates were closer to my age group. In addition, during my final week or so on the island, I'd fallen on the wrong side of the voting numbers, but there was a sense of devil-may-care desperation gameplay that --- while admittedly poorly executed --- was a hell of a lot of fun at the time.

Answer 9

Who is your favorite Survivor cast member (besides yourself)?

John Cochran, who famously/annoyingly demanded to be acknowledged by his last name on the show, is a good friend to this day. We're both varying degrees of overgrown children.

Answer 10

What would be your one piece of advice you would give someone considering going on Survivor?

Know who you are. If you're delusional about the way you're perceived by the rest of the world, you're going to get torn apart both in the game and by the audience, and you'll come out battered and broken on the other end. Self-awareness is the key to both playing the game and not being eviscerated by the public. As I typed that, I realized that if you lack self-awareness, you're not going to know that you lack self-awareness, and you're going to ignore my warning. Good luck anyway.