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The 'Scary One' Was No. 2 (interviews)

Posted by: producer
August 16, 2003

By Tracy L. Scott - Staff Writer
Washington Post
Sunday, August 17, 2003

Matthew Von Ertfelda was known as the scary survivor who concerned his tribe members when he spent hours at a time sharpening a machete.

Von Ertfelda, 34 and "still an eligible bachelor," designs restaurants in the Washington area and was one of the final two contestants on the show.

He lost this past season's "Survivor: The Amazon" title by six votes. Only one member of the jury voted him the victor over winner Jenna Morasca.

Von Ertfelda, who lives near the National Cathedral, said he made a promise to himself to make it onto the show the first time he saw the program.

"I watched a couple minutes of one episode. I made a promise that I would not watch the show until I was on it. For me, it was about coming to a game that I knew little about and learning as much as I could and learning from the successes and failures of others.

"I didn't really know a lot about the game when I began to play," he said. "There were a lot of factors working against me."

Von Ertfelda's limited exposure to the "Survivor" game was an obstacle, but the social climate on the island was also difficult to overcome.

"It was rough. I was being shunned by the group and being ostracized like sophomore year in high school," he said. "I tried my best to become part of the clique and relate to these people, and they just shut me down. That haunted me right up to the end of the game.

"It's also because of the natural evolution of the game. In this game, people are always looking for a reason to vote you out."

Although Von Ertfelda's physical fitness was an advantage when the competition was tribe vs. tribe, when the individual competition began, his prowess became a disadvantage. Those that depended on him earlier in the game began to view him as a threat.

Despite the difficulties, Von Ertfelda said he has no regrets.

"I'm a gracious loser. I get satisfaction out of knowing I won the respect and admiration of the audience," he said.

"I get so many nice e-mails, letters and voice mails from people saying they admire me and that I have great principles," he said.

While others on the island were depicted as either extremely conniving or judgmental about others' strategies, Von Ertfelda was portrayed as the somewhat unstable castaway.

"I played the crazy card a bit, and had fun too," he said. "My strategy was to get people to dismiss me."

It might have been this strategy that kept Von Ertfelda from the $1 million prize.

"I played the clueless role a little too well. People discounted my strategy. I thought the jury would respect that. In the end, I

didn't read the jury well," he said. "I knew they weren't going to give me any credit for my strategy, which was really covert.

"I never played the game for the money."

In addition to walking away with the satisfaction of making it to the final two, Von Ertfelda said he also walked away knowing more about himself.

"There's comfort and security in conformity. I'm just a lot different. My parents have taught me to value people's distinctions and differences, not the similarities."

OTHER LOCALLY CONNECTED 'SURVIVOR: The Amazon' COMPETITORS LOOK BACK

Christy Smith, 24, is the first deaf contestant of the "Survivor" series and shocked the members of the all-male tribe -- who never expected she had a disability -- once the original teams were disbanded.

Smith lived in the Washington area from 1994 to 2001 while attending Gallaudet University in Northeast.

She was the 11th contestant voted off the island.

How did your experiences in D.C. help prepare you for "Survivor"?

Gallaudet helped me prepare for "Survivor" because it gave me confidence, identity, and support.

What is your favorite place to visit in the District?

I loved the National Arboretum Park.

What would you have done differently on the show?

I would have signed more on the show.

Did you have a strategy going into the game?

My strategy was to be myself.

Would you consider your deafness an advantage or a disadvantage?

I feel that I was at a disadvantage but then I had to look beyond that to be able to stay in the game.

What was the best thing about your "Survivor" experience?

The best thing was waking up in the Amazon, knowing that I am living in the Amazon -- the environment.

What was the worst thing?

Social interactions were the hardest thing.

How has your life changed since the program?

I have been recognized. I have been an inspiration to many. I have had a lot of requests to participate in public speaking.

Dave Johnson, the eighth person to be voted from the game, lives in California but was raised in Columbia, Md.

Johnson, 24, was the first person to form the seven-member jury that ultimately decided the winner of the $1 million prize.

He said he learned a lot through his Amazon experience not the least of which was that "brushing your teeth is an important thing. A month and a half of not brushing your teeth . . . you will see effects."

How did your experiences in D.C. help prepare you for "Survivor"?

I think anybody's upbringing makes them who they are. A lot of my interests and traits can be attributed to my parents and the wonderful communities throughout the D.C. area.

What is your favorite place to visit in the District?

I really like wandering around Georgetown and finding my way into various bars.

What attracted you to "Survivor"?

The challenge. The adventure. It is one of the most organic and the most natural challenges out there. It's man versus the environment, man versus himself, and man versus other men all wrapped up.

What would you have done differently on the show?

Hindsight is always much clearer than the first time through. I made the best decisions for what I knew at the time.

What was the best thing about your "Survivor" experience?

Developing friendships with people that I would not have had the opportunity to be with.

What was the worst thing?

Being voted off.

How has your life changed since the program?

It was nice to be recognized.

Ryan Aiken will be remembered as the first contested to be ousted from the Amazon.

Aiken, a 24-year-old actor from Howard County, said he contracted a parasite during survival training, which took place before the first episode of the show.

"I lost 11 pounds in three days," he said.

How did your experiences in D.C. help prepare you for "Survivor"?

It helped me cope with different types of individuals.

What is your favorite place to visit in the District?

MCI Center for sporting events.

What attracted you to "Survivor"?

My mom and her best friend are huge fans of the show. I thought it would be a great adventure and life experience.

How did it feel to be the first voted off the show?

Humbling. I'm competitive.

What would you have done differently on the show?

I don't think there's much I would have done differently . . . maybe strategize a little better and not allow myself to get sick.

I would have stuck with Dan [contestant Daniel Lue] in the immunity challenge.

What was the best thing about your "Survivor" experience?

The relationships. The people you meet you never would have met in your entire life. Going in, it's about ego and money. You come out humbled and with a lot of good relationships and friendships.

What was the worst thing?

Being sick.

How has your life changed since the program?

You think your personality is one way, but you learn how you come across.

� 2003 The Washington Post Company

Posted by producer at August 16, 2003 08:48 AM

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