(( This is posted in response to Mark's blog - http://www.larpspace.com/mark/blog/2008/11/10/role_models__a_must_see ))

That's great news, Mark! Thank you for posting your review and I'm
glad to hear that you liked it.

Rick and I have been saying it for many months prior to the movie that
this would be big for the hobby. We also went to the movie in a big
group all dressed up and got some new folk interested in attending our
fighter practices. Imagine what we could have done if all of the
LARPers had gone to the movie and done that.

Regarding how much I was involved in the process; it was a lot. I was
pulled into a few meetings (multi-departmental as well as one just
with the writers) as a consultant prior to the actual shooting days
which I was also hired on to assist with as the Technical Advisor (my
movie credit is listed about halfway through).

The team had done quite a bit of research on their own, but they
needed help - with mechanics, weapons, costuming, and LARPer quirks
(bad, good, funny, etc). I assisted each department with those
aspects and brought in additional items that the writers (David,
Marino, and Paul) could use. They were very easy to work with and
very respectful. I knew this movie would have fun with the hobby and
I was okay with that - more so if they had fun with the honestly silly
aspects of the hobby, than what they might make up on their own. And
yes, the majority of what they made fun of actually happens in many
LARPs. They also added some extras that went well into it. The
writers are incredibly silly and smart guys.

While sitting behind the director during the shoot days, I was able to
direct the extras (all including the real LARPers who I got hired onto
the project as well) with David's approval and assist the prop
department with getting things ready on-set. I could also advise
David and Marino as they needed me with questions as to what would or
wouldn't happen per scene...and contribute suggestions as they popped
up in my head. I was surprised at how comfy and professional the
environment was.

I also was one of the two acting coaches that worked with Ken J. (the
king) over the course of a few days to develop his character and that
was an amazing, educational experience I'm very thankful for. I had
done a bit of that in the past, but with theatre groups - not on this
scale, focus, or with an experienced and talented (and well-known)
comedian. He was incredibly skilled, picked up everything very quick
and developed the king character into something very cute and unique.
A generous man too with a beautiful family who I got to meet later
on. He's also a doctor in real-life.

I was able to get Iron Liege hired in as the official LARP
weapons/shields provider for the movie (the real LARPers in the movie
brought their own weapons - though some already owned Iron Liege
anyway). You can see the Iron Liege banner hanging in the background
of some of the LARP fest scenes. Props department hung it up for us
and I was happy to see that it made it into the final cut of the movie.

The montage of Paul's character learning the basics of LARP combat
with the Xanthians near the end of the movie wasn't scripted.
Everything they're saying is exactly what I had just told them to say
a moment before the director yelled "Action!". They got it down quick
and were so fun to watch! (Paul got into it walking on his knees with
the sword and hopping on one foot - which just reminded me that after
I had a meeting with the writers, I had taken them out to my truck to
see some of the LARP weapons I'd brought and Paul and I got to spar.
I think David and I sparred too but I don't remember. Paul's eyes lit
up though when he started sparring).

They also gave a special thanks to the LARP Alliance in the end
credits. I don't know if that was because I double-checked with them
about it at the last second or if was always in there, but that really
rocked!

The storm trooper folk you refer to were actually Tron folk LOL, and
there were more scenes with them but they were cut. There were more
scenes with the elves as well that were cut. Other scenes that were
cut were of Joe's character losing a contact lens and the group
calling a "Hold" for him to find it - another addition I gave them at
the set. There were also numerous funny scenes with Joe improvising
unrelated to LARP mechanics that I would love to see a montage of in
the DVD. I'm sure they will as we were all laughing so hard when he
did those. And there are some other dirty, funny scenes cut from the
movie to help with timing.

Finally (and I hope I remembered most of it), I was interviewed for
the DVD. That's the part I'm scared about since I'd only gotten two
hours of sleep just about every night. I think I may have said some
stupid or incorrect things and I hope I'm not "rogued" for it. Just
putting that in as a disclaimer. *laugh* Anyway, that's about it.
I'm planning on seeing it again and getting the DVD when it comes out.
Meanwhile, we're just working on uniting and supporting the hobby.
Hopefully more opportunities will come up and through that we gain
more media experience, as well as LARPers.

Adrianne Grady
LARPAlliance.net
LARPSpace.com
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