Joseph Fonorito.

Joseph Fonorito is thankful to the Fiji National University (FNU) for giving him an opportunity to be a part of the US Emmy Award-winning series, Survivor.

The 22-year-old said he never imagined himself being a part of the post-production crew of the hit reality show for two consecutive seasons while it was being filmed in Fiji.

From wanting to quit at one point in his life to graduating and then working shoulder-to-shoulder with an international film crew, it has been a dream come true for the young man.

“Through FNU, I was given the opportunity to work with big time producers and directors from Los Angeles,” Fonorito said.

“The production team had contacted the University, I was recommended to them, and after an interview, I was chosen to become a part of the series.”

With paternal links to Noa’tau, Rotuma and maternal links to Sawaieke in Lomaiviti, Fonorito graduated from the FNU with a Certificate in Film and Television (Level 4) in 2021.

“Before joining FNU, I was studying Foundation in History and Politics at another university and after one semester, I realised that neither did I wish to pursue History nor venture into Politics.”

“I dropped out of the programme, and felt lost, and just when I was thinking of quitting school, I saw this Film and Television course being offered at FNU.”

“I thought to myself, that it is only a year’s course, and it is also in demand as I had heard on the news that lots of filming was planned to happen in Fiji.”

Fonorito was based on the Mamanuca Islands for three months during the shooting of Season 44 of Survivor.

“I was part of the post-production team that deals with everything that happens after the shooting is complete, from the labelling of the memory cards to data-entering of the records before everything is sent off to LA for editing,” he explained.

The allowance from the shooting also helped him pay for his University fees.

“When I was on the island, I got the email that I was behind on my payment for University fees, so I called my mum and asked her to pay then, and when I was back on the mainland, I will pay her with interest.”

“This I did with the money I earned while shooting.”

The future filmmaker recommends students who wish to study Film and Television to undertake the course at FNU.

“I had a very enlightening journey at FNU. I had the most amazing and down-to-earth guidance from FNU’s Film and Television Coordinator, Arun Chakravorty and Instructor Maneesha Wijekoon. The duo ensured we were industry ready and prepared us on what is expected from us when were out there working,” he said.

Survivor, which is hosted and executively produced by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst, is a TV show where participants are left stranded on an island with physical and mental challenges to earn the title of the Sole Survivor.

FNU’s Film and Television Coordinator Arun Chakravorty said that the Survivor show has been recruiting students from FNU since 2016.

Apply Now

FNU is now accepting applications for Semester 1, 2023 studies.

Students interested in studying Certificate in Film and Television (Level 4) programme or other TVET courses at FNU can apply now for one of the 4,600 placements available through the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS).

Eligible students must obtain a pass in Year 12, Certificate I, Certificate II or secure a final offer letter for any Certificate Level III, IV or Diploma level 5 programmes offered at FNU.

For further information, students can visit our website at www.fnu.ac.fj, email the Academic Team via admission@fnu.ac.fj, or Text (Toll-Free) 857 for Vodafone and Inkk users.