GIBSON — Generations of Terrebonne and Lafourche Cajuns have made their living catching, killing and skinning alligators. But are local hunters ready to hunt monster crocodiles overseas?
That’s the concept of a new reality show that will be holding auditions next weekend in Gibson.
The show, seeking only experienced gator hunters, will air on a U.S. cable network and a network abroad sometime this year, said Angela Prince, CEO of Herd Records Productions, the reality show’s production company. Prince said specifics can’t be disclosed yet due to network agreements.
The show aims to be “more of a documentary” than a reality show, focusing on what happens when the culture of south Louisiana is taken overseas.
Audition interviews, which will be taped and aired as part of the series, will be held Saturday at Greenwood Gator Farm and Tours, 125 Gator Court, Gibson.
You can’t just show up for the audition, however. You must reserve a spot ahead of time by emailing jason@herdrecords.com or tonym@herdrecords.com, or calling 251-432-2067. You should provide a short description of yourself and your hunting experience, along with a phone number and mailing and email addresses.
After the cast is selected, individual members will be tracked down at home or work and notified in person while the camera is rolling. They’ll later be put on a plane and sent to an undisclosed location, where they will stay from May 15 to June 25.
While the ultimate location is a surprise, Prince gave a hint, saying that filming will have to be wrapped quickly due to monsoon season, a period of heavy rain and storms that strikes Africa and Asia beginning in June.
While overseas, gator hunters will have to accomplish five weeks of missions, some involving hunting crocodiles, to work toward the ultimate cash prize, though the amount is also a secret.
Prince said the show settled on Terrebonne for its cast search after a lot of research and talks with wildlife councils.
She said the crew understands that some locals are sensitive about the way south Louisiana hunters are portrayed on the History Channel’s popular series “Swamp People.” They hope to also focus on the culture of south Louisiana by filming life in Houma and surrounding areas.
Prince said about 30 people had contacted the production company as of Friday. The goal is to have at least 90 applicants to get a mix of personality, culture and experience.
Jacob Lirette, a local nuisance-alligator remover, said he thinks locals will be interested in the show.
“Everyone is always looking for the next stupid or exciting thing to do,” he said.
But Lirette added that he’s soured on reality shows. He’s been around gators his entire life, having assisted famed nuisance reptile remover Easton “Alligator Man” DeHart prior to his death last year. He said “Swamp People” exaggerates the danger of alligator hunting for television audiences.
“Most reality shows these days aren’t reality,” he said. “It’s dramatized to make people watch it for the action.”
But other residents, like R.J. Molinere of Grand Bois and his son Jay Paul, welcome reality show fame. The father-son team will be featured on “Swamp People” this season. Their first episode airs at 8 p.m. Thursday. Molinere, 40, has been hunting gators since he was 15.
“It’s going to be good,” Molinere said. “We’re a good team.”
Molinere said his son has also contacted the production team of this new croc-hunting reality series in hopes of joining the cast.
“I’m ready to face a challenge because that’s what I did all my life,” he said.
Molinere is a champion arm wrestler, and his son is a boxer and a mixed martial arts fighter. And as Cajuns who spend a lot of time out in the swamp, he’s not worried about the conditions or insects they might face working overseas.
“As far as the mosquitoes go, the ones they got over there that carry malaria, you can’t tell a Cajun about mosquitos,” he said.
Lirette, however, said he wasn’t interested in trying out.
“There’s no way, with work and doing the nuisance-alligator thing,” he said. “No way.”
Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.
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