Making a Larp Documentary

Community Larp discussion
#1

Hello, I am Judit, Anna K’s sister. I’ve met a handful of you and will probably be meeting more of you at St. Wolfgangs. I am currently 7th form (Year 13) in high school at Selwyn College and one of the subjects I take is media studies. A big part of our NCEA course this year is making documentaries. Me and the two other people I am working with (who most likely none of you have met) have decided to make ours about LARP.

Our documentary will be 4-6 minutes and focus on what LARP is and getting involved in a game. In October the documentaries will all be screened at Selwyn College. We’ve had some people from Prime TV come in to talk to us about the process involved in making a documentary and then we had to pitch our concepts to them and my teacher told me later that they were very interested in our idea and if it is of a high quality they might use it. We have also had someone running workshops in the Glen Innes Community interested in screening some of the documentaries as well. I think this is a good opportunity to promote the community with the possibility of recruiting new members.

After talking to Anna, we have gotten permission from the GMs to film at St. Wolfgangs and I just need to make sure I have players’ consent to being filmed. It will be mostly done on Saturday and maybe a bit on Friday night. I will be at the game anyway as crew and the other two will be in some form of costume so as to not distract too much and regard will be taken not to disturb the game.

So what I need is consent of some form from those participating in St. Wolfgangs. Regard will be taken to those who do not wish to appear. What we also need are people who are willing to be interviewed as we require a few people just to answer a few questions (all LARP related of course) on camera and one main person to focus, ideally someone who has been involved in the community and in a variety of games for a while. If you are interested or have any questions or comments, feel free to message me and ask.

Thanks and I look forward to meeting you all at St. Wolfgangs. =)

Promo videos
#2

I’ll answer your questions, always happy to help

#3

yeah i’m keen to help out too :slight_smile:

#4

I’m always happy to help out any way i can.

#5

I’m happy to be interviewed if you want. I will have my sexy new costume for St Wolfgang’s and I never let the truth get in the way of a good story :wink:

#6

It’s a testament to your character that despite everything you still say that.

#7

I would suggest that this is best done on an opt-out basis, either done on this forum, where I assume most of the players/crew are lurking, by PM you, or at sign-in initial briefing at the game. Perhaps this is already happening.

I’m sure you’ve probably thought about it, and perhaps I’m being paranoid, but I’ll say it just in case, that with SWVH being based on catholics, that it may be controversial in the real world, if this got played on TV /web wrt to the mocking christianity etc. If this is a doco on LARP in general, you may want to play down this aspect, so mainstream don’t think we’re all raving demon worshippers or whatever. IMO

#8

heh - I’m game.

EDIT- Due to unfortunate circumstances, I will have to withdraw.

Alan

#9

raises hand I’d be happy to help.

#10

Sounds interesting. I’ll help.

#11

I’m happy to be filmed in character during play. Not volunteering for interviews.

#12

I’d appreciate it if I was not included in footage, thanks.

#13

It’s probably a good idea to introduce yourself to Judit at Wolfgang’s and let her know if you are keen or not. I’m not sure if she’ll be able to translate our diatribe handles into RL personas.

#14

In that case, Judit, look for the guy named Jared (or IC, Darnon), dressed as featured in my avatar picture…

#15

Just an update, the three of us in our group met up yesterday and did a few good hours planning for our doco yesterday and I have also been in the process of sorting out the nuts and bolts of what will be happening with Anna.

Just want to start out by thanking everyone who has volunteered for interviews and helping out and offered advice, we are very appreciative for any feedback and are the pleased at what we’ve gotten so far. We will keep in mind who’s volunteered for interview and will try to be in touch before the game to confirm. Besides our main talent, those who we interview will really just be a brief question or two so is also easy enough to sort out on the day (which will be the Saturday) for anyone who wants to express interest then. Just to reinstate what I mentioned in my first post, utmost care will be taken to not disrupt the game itself in going about this and other filming.

Anna suggested the easiest way to let everyone at the game know about it and to confirm consent is to make up an information and consent form which will be given upon arrival and sign in at the game. Everyone will be pointed in my direction anyway as Anna has recruited me to take photos of everyone upon arrival (for non-doco purposes.) so any questions regarding the documentary can be directed straight to me. (Anna correct me if I speak lies). It will also give me a good chance to say hi to and meet you all. =)

Will update progress on the more finer nuts and bolts of what exactly we will be doing on the day at some point after Tuesday.

#16

Final notes regarding filming before we go off tomorrow and get into the game:

-Consent forms have been made up and printed outlining again the doco and its purpose which will be handed out upon arrival and sign in. Any questions can then be directed straight to me and you can hand back the form with a yes or a no.
-No one except the main talent has been contacted regarding interviews. Anyone who expressed interest at being involved or wouldn’t mind being briefly interviewed at the game will just have to tick a little box on the consent form to indicate as such. Interview will only be 2-3 questions.
-I’ll just say again that after discussion with Anna, we have been briefed on what is required of us to ensure minimal disruption of the game. We will be communicating with GMs regarding when we can yoink people for interviews.

I think thats all I can think of at the moment, not even sure how many people will see this by tomorrow but any questions are best left to ask me tomorrow. Thanks again for co operation and support. =)

#17

See you tomorrow then Judit.

#18

hope we get to see this one unlike the last doco

#19

I bump into Adam now and then at the supermarket. He’s still working on post-production for the doco. The reason for delay is that he wants to get it to entry quality for festivals/competitions.

#20

Oh yeah, absolutely. Once the date of the screening has been confirmed I will make sure it is announced loudly. Usually what happens is they screen all the year 12 media studies students’ horror films and year 13 media studies students’ docos on one night projected onto huge white screen in the theatre. Last two years it has also been held on Halloween which also means dress up opportunity. =D

But thats later and will be confirmed. First to actually make the doco.