Time For A Coaster "Mockumentary"???

Tina, let me branch off of your idea. Rather than the event being the opening of a new coaster, make the unifying theme the grand opening of a new park. This being the ULTIMATE THEME PARK. Thus the rival coaster groups, with their individual story lines, descend on this one place. The antagonist becomes management from another park that is afraid of going out of business [insert mouse ears here]. The antagonists try to sabotage the new park, and on and on.

There is one obvious problem here. We are talking about a low budget project that now requires on-site shooting and would need the cooperation of an existing park.

Scott

OK, it's time for a little reality check here. It's easy to think up story lines and funny bits to include, and it's made for a fun couple of days. However I'm curious how you're planning on pulling this off. I mean even a low-budget film would cost a boatload of money and require major financial backing. If it's a film about amusement parks, that would require major filming on location. I just don't see any park closing operations to allow that, unless someone's brother is on the board of directors for Cedar Fair. We can fantasize all we want about turning our geek lives into Hollywood folly, but it seems little more than a pipe dream. Sorry to pop people's balloons.

^ First off, the original poster mentioned this idea was something he was seriously considering doing and asked for ideas from the rest of us. True, some of the ideas could only be done as part of a larger film, with a larger budget.

But I think something like this could be done without a cast of thousands or weeks of location filming. Who says it has to be feature length anyway? Just a few characters in a few unspecified locations, done more in interview style than involving a major plot line could be done quite well.

Even a spoof on some of the cable channel coaster shows could be really funny if done the right way.

^I agree. I've seen a few Mock's on IFC (Independant Film Channel) that were low budget and good. *** Edited 12/1/2006 9:29:58 PM UTC by FLYINGSCOOTER***

We are approaching this from two totally different vantage points and are going to see which one "sticks."

1) With park permission, we are going to shoot a lot of digital footage of various enthusiasts at different functions in 2007.

2) There is also a scripted screenplay project that is running concurrently with this.

The two will probably intersect but we are still very much in the early phases of development and so all of this has been very beneficial for the creative process.

I am "packaging" the project for possible sale to both network and cable television but we are, of course, much more interested in selling it as a feature.

Thanks again, to all, for the great stuff here.

Barry J.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great idea and could be hilarious. There's many different angles that it could be approached from. It seemed like the major obstacle would be the on-site shooting and convincing the parks to allow it without interfering with their daily operations. It's certainly possible a park would agree and could be convinced that they would be getting free exposure/advertisement and it could be beneficial to them.

^Not if the park name is fictional. ;) But still, I am sure there would be several parks that would love to be involved if they had time, and of course they would get credit at the end just like any movie/documentary.

I am sure a lot of ride ops would jump at the chance! :)

-Tina

*** Edited 12/2/2006 1:27:43 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

well, how did they film that Brady Bunch episode at KI?

and the amusement park scenes in "Hairspray"?

and Wallyworld?

obviously, SOMEONE had SOME connections to the right people that would allow it to be done.

couldnt a park be approached to film just before opening day somewhere? like a buyout? and put out a call to all of us coaster nerds to help fill said "buyout" and get this done right?

Trust me when I say that clearnance and proper protocol will be followed, as regards filming at parks. There isn't a park in the country that isn't going to jump at the chance of having their park filmed when presented with the proper credentials and project orientation.

It will be tightly regulated, of course, as it should, but I think that any chance for a park to get a free PR blitzkreig is going to jump at the chance. Scenes in movies are shot at amusement parks all the time.

And how much raw footage has Robb Alvey gotten away with over the years for his exceptional coaster videos? Hell, he's even strapped them to rides and had digital cams in the front seat with him on just about every major coaster in the country.

Barry J.