(( 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.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 11:23 PM PST [General]
Join us for the Role Models, LARPers Movie Night! We will be meeting at the theatre at 9pm to have plenty of time to get organized, get our tickets, get food, and get good seats. (Please see us first before buying your ticket!!)
Come in costume if you can! No LARP weapons or any other weapons allowed inside the theatre of course.
Address: Edwards Ontario Mountain Village 14 1575 N. Mountain Ave. Ontario, CA 91762
See the meetup group for these and future details - http://larp.meetup.com/129
Call us if you have questions - 619-993-3929 (ask for Adrianne or Rick) All new folks are welcome to join us as well!
See you there if you can make it (or get a group in your area to go see it) ! :D
~
PS. Look for fellow LARPers in the movie, the Iron Liege banner in the background, the LARP Alliance in the Special Thanks at the end of the credits, and my own name, Adrianne Grady, as Technical Advisor towards the middle of the credits. :D For more secrets and info regarding behind-the-scenes, feel free to contact me.
We will be going up to the ROC game with a special invite from JJ, the
owner, and would love to give others the chance to ride up and game
with us!
Though some of our friends are going up on time for
Friday's game start...As we have the LARP Haunted House going on every
night of Halloween week, we will not be leaving till really late Friday
night or reaaaaaally early Saturday morning.
ROC is having a OOG Halloween party on Friday night and then jumping into game from there on. It should be a blast.
So
if you want to go up Friday, let us know and we'll get you in touch
with the early-bird carpool and if you want to go up with us after the
haunted house, tell us so we can fit you into the LARP van for our
vanpool up.
This is ROC's traditionally big Halloween game so if you haven't been to one before, we encourage you to go!
NPCs
fees are covered by the LARP Alliance (so it is free for you to NPC).
As part of a new LARP Alliance project, we are also reducing the cost
for a PC to $40. The difference of cost between the reduced fee and the
regular fee for the event is being covered by the LARP Alliance (this
has nothing to do with the ownership of ROC and is not an official
offer from them). There may be conditions in the future that apply to
PCs getting the reduced fee, but we will go into those at a later time.
Please RSVP on the Meetup group for this event so we know how many we're bringing up - http://larp.meetup.com/129
Saturday, October 11, 2008, 10:34 PM PST [General]
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v230/xatrian/SCAGWW/SCAGWW08/ (link to everything)
(password for photobucket account is "secret" - without the quotation marks)
http://www.caid-gww.org/ - for event info
I just got back from a day at the GWW which was held in Taft, CA. About a two hour drive that was pleasant and the weather was very warm but with a cool breeze. The location is flat land with little greenery, but next to a gorgeous little lake.
There were probably hundreds of tents everywhere. I liked that the roads were easy to walk (not crowded), the food and wares were reasonably priced (unlike at typical ren faires), and the atmosphere was very laid-back.
I thought it would be hard to find my friends, but I lucked out and found them all immediately. Rory was the first I bumped into as I drove up and he'd just gotten back from an awesome battle I was sad to have missed (but his recap was very entertaining and I should let him tell it). He was really cool introducing me to new folks and was great company as we walked everywhere and explored. He'd already been to everything since he was there for nearly the entire duration of the event (wednesday through the weekend to sunday I believe). Anyhoo, I totally recommend him as a tour guide and hang out buddy. *grin*
I stopped by Nick and Robin Baumann's tent area (gorgeously decorated area that was really pretty and calm - those are the pics with the hanging asian lanterns from the trees). It was nice hanging with both of them for bit. Nick and friends were playing an interesting card game with goldish coins inside the **** And Bull tavern at the back.
That's where I also met my friend Joel of Oak,Ash&Thorne Brewery ( http://www.oakashthornbrewing.com ) who I'd been looking forward to seeing again. I bought one of each of his bottled treats to bring back with me to give samples to friends and potential buyers. This is the best mead I have ever had. I dare anyone to try it if you doubt it. Hey, prove me wrong with whatever you think might be better, I'm totally going to try that too. But it won't change my mind how awesome his meads are. I loved the Apple Piety (tastes like spiced apple pie) and the Lingonberry and Elderflower meads.
So then I ended everything by watching a super cute bunch of kiddos fighting with boffers in mini arenas.
LOTS OF FUN!
If I'd stayed later, I would have seen the evening parties and dancing and more. Also there are a whole bunch of battles to see throughout the event duration. I liked hearing the mass of warriors shout in unison.
