Video links:
- CBS pre-game "Meet Artis" video (YouTube)
- CBS pre-S25 "Meet the Cast" video (YouTube)
Images from the preview, pre-game interviews, and other circa-Ep1 Philippines footage:
Vidcap gallery: Click on thumbnails to expand; use arrow keys to navigate between enlarged pics.
From MSN.com's Meet the Cast gallery (by Minh Nguyen):
"Artis says: 'Throughout my whole life, I've been surviving. I've survived numerous encounters with death. In this environment right here, I will survive because I am a chameleon with the tenacity of a praying mantis.'
Jeff Probst says: 'Artis is going to be in trouble. He's just not going to jell with people. They're not going to get him. And he's not going to get them. He's not going to see it coming, and he'll probably be blindsided.'"
Excerpts from his CBS.com Survivor: Philippines bio page:
"Personal Claim to Fame: Beating stage 4 cancer.
Inspiration in Life: My ex-wife - she’s my light, my strength, my everything. I pray everyday that we are brought back together.
Hobbies: Martial arts, motorcycle riding and bowling.
Pet Peeves: Traffic, know-it-all people, bullies or people that prey or pick on those weaker than themselves.
3 Words to Describe You: Spontaneous (sometimes explosive), opinionated and competitive.
Survivor Contestant You Are Most Like: I’m a combination of Rudy, Rupert and James. I have Rudy and Rupert’s cunning leadership and likability. I have James’s physical appeal – even at 52.
Reason for Being on Survivor: The million dollar prize and the chance for the experience of a lifetime. Plus, I’m tired of yelling and screaming at my TV about how the contestants are playing.
Why You Think You’ll 'Survive' Survivor: I have physical and mental strength, creativity, adaptability and a sense of humor. I’m an incredible manipulator and I have an uncanny ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole Survivor: When the odds are stacked against me that is when I shine the most. Although I’m definitely no angel, I believe I do have a guardian angel watching over me. No one has been more persistent than me to be on the show and it is because I know I can win if given the chance."
From his EW.com pre-game interview, by Dalton Ross:
"'I'm like a chameleon with the ferocity of a praying mantis,' says Artis. I have no idea what that means…but I love it! 'The minute that I feel that you're threatening me, I will chew you up and spit you out.' A man who has already beaten stage 4 cancer should be able to handle the rigors of living off the land, but unless Artis is able to adapt socially to his younger tribemates, he may be the one that is spit out."
Summary of evidence for Artis Silvester being on Survivor: Philippines.
- (8/13/12) After longtime spoiling pariah Jim Early apparently tweeted his name (no link for you!), actual reputable cast spoiler guatemala fanfic posted the following at Sucks:
"Missyae has released the black guy's name on Twitter, so I will release his photo:
This is Artis Silvester (with an "i" not a "y"), 53 years-old from New Orleans. Similar to James Clement and Philip, but he is a genuine huge fan since Season 1 and an applicant. Very charismatic and hates quitters." (follow link for the picture, which we've stolen, above).
Who is Artis Silvester?
- Your guess is as good as ours. LinkedIn says he's worked at SPAWAR SYSCEN Atlantic since 2000, as a systems engineer/project manager.
- He's also an actor: Back in 2001, he played Jackie Robinson in a New Orleans stage production of "Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting." Reviewed by Dalt Wonk (10/9/01) here. (Includes a small photo of Artis onstage.)
- If the video-survivor site still worked, it's possible he had a video on it.
