Rising Stars: Meet Dom Raona

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dom Raona. 

Hi Dom, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Since I was a kid, I have enjoyed the TV show “Survivor”, but no one else would watch it or try to get into it. After graduating high school in 2016, I decided to put matters into my own hands and invite eighteen of my friends to my parent’s backyard where we filmed our first 2-day season and released them weekly on YouTube for friends to see. We quickly gained interest from our community and Season 2, 3, and 4 were filmed and released in the following years. 

But we got older, college became more demanding, and life was beginning and our weekend-long summer adventures ceased. 

Four years later, I had the urge to bring it back, but this time, in West Michigan. In the summer of 2022, we filmed Season 5, Survivor: Grand Rapids – Fresh Meat. Eighteen new castaways returned to the backyard to play the greatest game created. Two Survivor: Dearborn veterans joined them in an attempt to rewrite their stories from years before. 

After three days battling the elements of West Michigan, a winner was crowned. Currently, the season is releasing episodes weekly on YouTube Channel Survivor: Dearborn Productions. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The show has never had a smooth road. Starting the series as an 18-year-old high school graduate, there was a lot to learn from a technical standpoint. Managing a cast and crew of 25+ people was also a challenge. From last-minute dropouts, to equipment breaking, we are making real-time decisions as small content creators that big studios make with budgets much greater than ours. And we’re doing it on par, if not better. 

Essentially, we are creating a weekend experience for the players, but also for ourselves. So many people have contributed to the show’s success and blood, sweat, and tears get put into every season both in front of and behind the camera. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been making content since I was a kid, for better or for worse. While some of my videos should be left in the archives of YouTube, others serve as memorable moments shared between good friends. 

In 2020, I graduated Grand Valley State University with a degree in film and marketing right at the start of the pandemic. The job market at the time was not favoring film, so my career expectations took a drastic turn. For the next two years, my camera would remain in the corner collecting dust as a reminder of what could’ve been. 

In 2022, I found myself reflecting on the years that have passed and how incredibly blessed I have been with the people I have in my life. I was inspired to get the gears turning on how we could do another season of Survivor. I wanted the series to not only showcase the growth of myself as a creator on screen but also the stories of the people that took the time and be a part of the experience. 

I specialize in creative storytelling. Giving a voice to those that typically don’t have one or don’t know how to use it. I know how to make them engaging for audiences while still holding their core truth. 

Over the years, we have had over 70 people take a chance on me and become a part of something bigger. They set aside time in their busy schedule to spend three days in a backyard – rain, snow, or shine – pushing themselves outside their comfort zones to be a part of the series. I am most proud of being able to say that we have all these memories held on camera and on YouTube for us to always relive and enjoy for years to come. 

What sets me apart from others is my objectivity and sociability. I know when to lead and when to listen. I can look at a situation and know the right people to rely on. I have a strong background in leadership and am proud of how I can create and capture the commitment that I’ve inspired and translate it for the screen. 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I don’t actually read books or listen to podcasts at all. I watch a ton of movies and understand narrative aspects of what best ways to tell a story. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://survivordearborn.weebly.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivorgrandrapids/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SurvivorGrandRapids/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGAwYvxsgyLLOhOJZk8qqDA 

Image Credits
Dom Raona