In recent years, with nerd culture assimilating more into popular culture, documentary films on the culture have been popping up left and right. Documentaries on video gaming culture, cosplaying culture, and all different sects of nerd culture that were previously hidden away are now in the spotlight. Yet, there is one documentary that has yet to break ground.
And that is the documentary film I want to create.
In the Line of Fire: Gender, Nerd Culture, and the Women Who Play Hard is a documentary film that follows a group of women who participate in nerd culture in different ways, but come together in solidarity over the behavior and reactions they have received. The film is a way to bring to light the prejudice and bigotry in nerd culture that has been thrown at its female members. And also to help incite change in society by showing how the group of women confront the prejudice and harassment.
In the Line of Fire's concept works because it is a way to depict the severe gender divide in nerd culture through a raw, uncut, uncensored fashion. Through the camera's eyes, the audience will be able to see just how horrible of an effect the gender divide has, not only the members of nerd culture, but the morals and ideals held by the culture. Instances of harassment, threats, discrimination, and prejudice are just some of the events that will be shown throughout the film. And while most film producers would tread carefully as to not tarnish the reputation of the culture, the film will remain true, raw, and uncensored. There will be no rose-tinted lens on the scenarios that these women go through.
While the content will be intriguing and shocking, the overall impact of the film is to incite change. Many people, both inside and outside of nerd culture, don't understand the severity of the issue of gender and nerd culture. They claim that it's just the way it's always been. Or that these women are being "too touchy" or "too sensitive." The film will open the public's eyes to what it actually means to be a female nerd and the repercussions that come with taking on that identity.
Hi Undercover -
ReplyDeleteI really like this idea. Documentaries provide a lot of great insight into the way people operate. They are also great teaching tools - people often don't even realize how harsh they come across until they see it on film. That additional perspective can really change a person, hopefully for the better. It's definitely a film I'd want to see.
Good idea!
Twin B
Hi Undercover! I love documentaries and am considering my own, so naturally, yours sounds really cool. Your pitch is well organized and I think, if presented in an interesting and informative way, you could work to educate people about the issue of gender (identity/ association) and nerd culture.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
MadMom
Hi Undercover,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really fun concept. Your pitch is well organized, as madmom says, and states clearly your key points and goals. I think it's well written and clear, with a clear image of the content in the film.
In my real life, I actually write one-sheet pitches for non-fiction shows on a daily basis. Since that is essentially what your piece here is, a couple recommendations:
1) Pump up the tone. This is feeling really scholarly for a media pitch. Since your writing a piece directed to media professionals, they want to know that this is something people will get excited about to see. E.G. ticket sales, DVD sales, good ratings numbers, branded product sales, etc. For your first paragraph, I would actually encourage you to condense all the info into one sentence. Perhaps:
"It seems like everywhere you look lately, nerd culture is bursting into the public eye, with video games, cons and cosplay all making their documentary debut. But there is one facet of nerd culture that has yet to make it's appearance on the big screen.
GamerGate."
Yeah, I would use news buzzwords and action verbs. Something I do when I'm trying to write something exciting and enthusiastic is (and this is really ridiculous) try to read it in an announcer voice. My personal favorite is an imitation of Robert Downey Jr.'s Australian News Reporter in Natural Born Killers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3LqIrj7ZiU) but you have to find the right tone for what your writing. Reading in that tone actually helps me hear where the pauses should be, what parts are too slow, and what parts go on too long.
2) Since this is for a documentary, I'm also really interested in how you plan on capturing all this. Also how you plan to keep the tone scene-positive but bias-negative? I'd be interested to know how you plan to film it, how you intend to incorporate some of the culture's bigger names and how you plan to market it. All of this can be serve in a short paragraph, but would be helpful to know.
Best,
VM
Hi Hipster,
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea. I collected comic books for a while and I enjoyed playing RPGs when I was in high school. During that time I had long hair, wore a leather jacket and I considered myself to be pretty cool. Nearly every time I entered a comic book store I was treated rudely by a self proclaimed 'nerd.'
I've been snubbed and insulted for simply not being a 'nerd.' I can only imagine how difficult it can be for a woman participating in these 'boys only' activities. I think your pitch is well thought out and I'd love to see it made into a documentary. Well done.
-Austin Kent