Over the last decade or so, Discovery Channel has launched a variety of reality-based television shows. Their biggest hit in this realm has undoubtedly been Gold Rush. As well as giving fans an in-depth look into modern-day gold mining, it made household names out of the likes of Todd Hoffman and Parker Schnabel.
Of course, not everything that happens in the Yukon is filmed or makes it onto our television screens. The producers leave out plenty of details about exactly how the show is made. There can be a variety of reasons for this but whatever the case, it means viewers miss out on some interesting and juicy behind-the-scenes details. Fortunately, you can find out what really happens off-camera on Gold Rush if you look hard enough.
14. Elements Of The Show Are Allegedly Scripted
Several former cast members have suggested that Gold Rush is scripted. At least, they allege that parts of it are anyway. The likes of Jimmy Dorsey and James Harness have said that producers know the story they want to tell and push the cast into performing certain actions or saying things that they can then use to tell a scripted tale.
13. The Teams Spend Months Away From Their Families
One of the hardest things about filming Gold Rush is the fact that it takes people away from their families and friends. The gold mining season can last for more than four months, meaning that the cast and crew have to spend that much time isolated in the Yukon away from the people they love without being able to have much contact with them.
12. Producers Have Storylines And Manipulate Footage
Another dishonest thing that the producers of Gold Rush have been accused of is the way they plan out what is set to happen and manipulate the footage they have. Former cast from the show have alleged that the people behind the scenes don’t just show exactly what has been filmed. Instead, they use the footage they have to paint people in a good or bad light depending on how they want to progress with the plot that season.
11. The Salaries The Miners Get Paid By Discovery
Anyone watching Gold Rush would probably assume that most of the miners are struggling for money. If they don’t make a certain quota of gold, the producers make out like the crew will go home empty-handed. That is not strictly true as the cast are all paid a salary. The likes of Todd Hoffman could make hundreds of thousands of dollars a season, while those lower down the pecking order still came away with a nice chunk of change.
10. The Miners Are Often Good Friends Who Have A Lot Of Fun Off-Camera
A part of the mining experience that is rarely shown on camera is the camaraderie that the miners share with each other. The relationships on the show between the crews often look strained but in reality, many of them are friends. They spend so much time together eating, drinking, and working that they can become good friends and have a lot of fun with each other.
9. Inspectors And State Officials Are Often On Set
Gold mining is not something that you can just decide to do on a whim. Crews need a lot of paperwork to even begin trying to extract any gold from the ground, requiring permission from local officials to simply move their equipment to the mines. That means that inspectors and state officials are often at the worksites but are never shown on camera unless directly influencing the action.
8. The Crews Have Gotten In Trouble With The Law
The miners involved in Gold Rush have occasionally fallen foul of the law. For instance, the crews have gotten in trouble for illegally shooting bears that posed no threat to them or their property. In other cases, they have faced allegations of destroying natural habitats and disrupting the lives of nearby wildlife.
7. Scenes Are Reshot Multiple Times
Not every scene you see in Gold Rush is actually a real-life spontaneous event or conversation. In fact, the producers often have to get the cast to reshoot scenes multiple times. This often happens when plans are made off-camera at night and then the producers need an explanation for what is happening the next day.
6. Fans Show Up At The Mines To See Their Favorites In Action
There’s a growing problem with Gold Rush as its popularity has increased over the years. Fans now regularly gather at the sites where the show is filmed. This poses a problem for both the film crew and the miners, as the producers don’t want members of the public in shots and they could pose a risk with all the heavy machinery.
5. Bears Are A Constant Threat To The Miners And Production Crew
Due to the fact that Gold Rush is primarily filmed in the Yukon in Alaska, the miners and film crew face a variety of dangers. Most notably, there is a large population of bears in the local area. Many of the miners have guns to help protect them along with bear spray, to keep the large animals a safe distance from their sites.
4. The Camera Crew Face A Lot Of Danger Filming The Show
It is not just the miners that face dangers on Gold Rush. The camera crew and other production staff at the mines are also in a lot of danger. The biggest problem is the machinery and large vehicles used by the miners, with the crew filming them often in blind spots. This means that everyone has to be extra alert to make sure that no one is involved in any accidents.
3. The Producers Cut Out Pretty Much All Talk Of Religion And Politics
The producers for Gold Rush tend to have to remove a lot of footage from the final edit. This is a process that happens for practically every reality television show. However, when it comes to Gold Rush, the editors tend to remove all talk of politics and religion. Many of the miners, such as Todd Hoffman, speak passionately about these topics but they don’t make for good TV.
2. The Producers Have To Ask The Cast To Be Clearer
In order to make Gold Rush accessible to the vast majority of viewers, the producers have to ask the miners to be clear. They will often use slang or complicated terms to describe what they are doing, but these don’t make any sense to those outside of the gold mining industry. The producers even have to ask the miners to use the word ‘gold’ more often.
1. The Show Has Clashed With Local Residents
Gold Rush might be incredibly popular but not everyone is a fan. Local residents in Alaska and in other areas where the show has filmed have voiced concerns about the show. Some of them are upset that the success of the series will lead to more miners showing up. However, others have come into conflict with the miners over issues such as the destruction of local environments and mining in areas where they shouldn’t. There have even been claims that some have shot at the crews.
