20/20 are coming to Chimera!

Auckland Chimera
#1

Hi everybody,

New Zealand current affairs program 20/20 has approached us to do a story on larping in New Zealand and as its focus, they will be attending Chimera to see one of our biggest events in action. We’ve met the producer and the journalist for the piece, both of whom are lovely, enthusiastic people with a really positive attitude to learning about us. The journalist is particularly keen to avoid ‘taking the piss’ or to ‘pull stunts’ and is more interested in getting in there and seeing what we are all about. They will be consisting of a three person team: the journalist, the producer and a cameraman. They will not have big, obtrusive equipment/lighting to set up.

They will be primarily following a pre-arranged small group of people through the weekend, but they will also talking to people before and after games (“So, you’re green. Tell me about that.”) and be discretely filming parts of some games for general footage, montages, etc. They will not be filming games to present as large unedited chunks (so no “And now for ten minutes of Spy Hard!”) so there won’t be a “videoed larp” effect.

If you do not under any circumstances wish to be filmed or shown on TV, even in passing or in the background, please let me know and at the start of the weekend (or when you arrive) I will introduce you to the team and they will film around you. It is their job to not film you, so don’t worry about staying out of their way, they have made it clear that they understand that this is their responsibility.

If you don’t mind being in the background or in passing but don’t want to speak on camera, then feel free to not engage them in conversation should they come up to you. They understand that not everyone wants to comment.

If you’re happy to speak to them, by all means bowl up to them and explain about your character, your costume, your game, why you larp, why it’s awesome, why Chimera is awesome, etc.

There will be advance warning of which games they may film in, and anyone who is not comfortable will have the opportunity to communicate this to them. They are friendly and easy going and this is what they do for a job, so have plenty of experience in dealing with this kind of thing.

This is a really fabulous opportunity to get some good publicity in the wider New Zealand media, but I am very concerned that this does not cramp anyone’s fun for the weekend. Therefore, if people have any concerns or comments, please feel free to raise them below, or via PM, or via email (chimera@nzlarps.org)

Thanks,
Anna and the Chimera Team.

#2

Great, yet another mishap image of larp posted 2 years after the event occurs on a tv program only nutters watch…

#3

I’m good with all that :slight_smile: but hey when have i ever run away from the camera? :stuck_out_tongue: lol

#4

Hey Adam, 20/20 is a highly watched mainstream documentary programme in NZ. Don’t rain on the parade. If you don’t want to participate, then opt out. I’m happy to trust professionals do a professional job.

#5

Indeed. They are known for their balanced and well presented work on current happenings, and are genuinely enthusiastic about popular culture and the arts. This is a bloody good thing for LARP in NZ.

Hell, at least it’s not “Jono’s New Show” trying again. Then you really would have something to complain about…

#6

jonos new show is stupid however they interviews SAFE for the pig welfare campign in the media at the moment and rather going for the low blow crazy-hariy-hippys-love-pigs they were actually serious and supporting

…TV3 knows my dad…

#7

Actually I kinda like Jono’s New Show. As long as you approach it with the realisation that its just mindless bollocks and arsing around then its fine.

As for 20/20 - I still have nightmares about how media portray fringe interests. You only have to look at the usual Armageddon segments to see they’ve managed to find the type of weirdos that we all cringe at.

#8

So we should all be extra careful to not do something that may give us larpers a bad reputation?

#9

somone lock dylan up

#10

I think Scott’s concern is valid. We may want to keep in mind when the cameras are around between games and consider how we come across. Editing can amplify silly moments, even if that’s not the original intention of the journalists.

#11

I think it’s also important to remember the time and effort 20/20 are putting into the article. I’m coming from the assumption that 20/20 are not Jono’s new show (who have made a successful and respected career out of being 11 years old) and are doing a curiosity piece on a fringe hobby.
Of course we need to behave like adults and communicate effectively.
i don’t think 20/20 are going into this with the goal of making us look like crazies. Lets give them the benifit of the doubt and let us start treating our own hobby with the respect it deserves.
Yes it’s fringe and not everybody understands it. Fine, i’m still proud of it.
be careful of immediately being defensive! that’s just going to alienate everybody.
(Note to self: think before opening mouth)

#12

Heartily agree with tigger here, lets not look upon it as an impending disaster, remember when we did the nightline show at the cathedral, Mr farrier did a reasonable job without making us look like freaks, even though it was a bi light hearted on the presenters part.

look on this as an opportunity to promote our favourite hobby :smiley:

#13

I’m not being defensive, what I was trying to get across is essentially what you’ve said:

[quote=“tigger”]
Of course we need to behave like adults and communicate effectively.[/quote]
20/20 will work with what they get. All I’m sugesting is people think about about what they’re going to give them to work with and how they are protraying themselves.

I’d love larp to become bigger and more mainstream to attract more people, but if we come off looking odd it ain’t gonna happen.

#14

Games like the Great Exhibition are probably a bit more mainstream than ones where people dress up as orcs. So, if we’re looking for mainstream acceptance, I think showing the games that are more mainstream would help.

Most people can understand the idea of pretending to be Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, because you’re dressing up in nice clothing pretending to be a famous literary character. It’s almost theater after all and theater is respectable*.

However, painting yourself green and playing “Sam the Shrub” - a walking tree that hates humans - is always going to be a bit wacko.

*you can get knighted for it, so it must be respectable.

#15

:blush:

/hides in the corner from the 20/20 team…

#16

…I’m just saying is all!

#17

:blush:

/hides in the corner from the 20/20 team…[/quote]Bah, your Knightshade costume last year was awesome :slight_smile:

#18

A short list of things that look silly on camera:
[ul][li]Blurring the in-character and out-of-character, e.g. describing your character to the camera while speaking and acting in character (I’ve cringed at this in several pieces of UK media coverage)[/li]
[li]Discussing personal problems[/li]
[li]Getting really, really excited[/li]
[li]Taking it too seriously (the one I’m most guilty of)[/li][/ul]

#19

Ryans spot on.
Watch the intensity.
Remember its just a hobbie, you do not “live your character in real life”, its a national pastime in some European countries, its great for socialising and exercise, its acting, its costuming and prop making etc.

I’ve always had dreams of being able to get funding/support from SPARC, especially by pushing the “online gaming, offline” tag and things like 20/20 are a great opportunity to raise our profile if we can pull it off correctly.

Theres a segment on tonights 20/20 about people in NZ that believe they’re vampires.
The promo segment has a guy say "Yes, I am a vampire"
Watch and learn how the fringe are dealt with and appear to general public.

I’d actually suggest that a few people are specifically chosen to present themselves for interviewing rather than let the crew pick ad hoc. And at the risk of people taking it the wrong way I’m going to suggest people like: Matt, Ryan, Kara, Mike, Jared, Dave, Hans, Simone, Craig, Derek, Hannah, Astra. Its going to be the 30-45 age range that are most likely to be watching. To help relate to that demographic I’m suggesting some of our more mature members and a sterotype exists for gamers so we want to break that stereotype. e.g I wouldn’t be appropriate because I’m a bespectaled gnome geek who fits it. :slight_smile:

#20

[quote=“Scotty”]

Theres a segment on tonights 20/20 about people in NZ that believe they’re vampires.
The promo segment has a guy say "Yes, I am a vampire"
Watch and learn how the fringe are dealt with and appear to general public.

:slight_smile:[/quote]
is anyone taping this?
i would quite like to see it and we’re doing the gear thing tonight…