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Darkon
DARKON is a feature documentary that follows the real-life adventures of an unusual group of weekend "warrior knights," fantasy role-playing gamers whose live action "battleground" is modern-day Baltimore, Maryland, re-imagined as a make-believe medieval world named Darkon. These live action gamers combine the physical drama of historical re-enactments with character-driven storylines inspired in part by such perennial favorite fantasy epics like the legends of King Arthur, Lord of the Rings, and the saga of Conan the Barbarian. As role players, they create alter-egos with rich emotional, psychological, and social lives. They costume themselves and physically act out their characters exploits both in intimate court intrigue and campouts and in panoramic battle scenarios involving competitive strategies, convincingly real props, and full contact "combat." Because real life so often gets in the way, its easy to understand these players' motivations. Everybody wants to be a hero.
Screenings
Alamo Downtown, 409 Colorado St., TX, Jan. 29, Feb. 6 and Feb. 12, 7pm
Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State St, Chicago, IL, Feb. 23 - 27, March 1
The Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson AZ, Feb 2 - 8
NW Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave. Seattle, WA, Feb 2 - 8
Bell Theater,
10 Church Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN, Feb. 9 - 14
Nickelodeon Theatre
937 Main Street, Columbia SC, March 9-11
Capitol 6 Theatres / VIFVF
805 Yates, Victoria, BC Canada, Feb. 3
Hear Stories About the Film
Andrew Neel & Luke Meyer, Directors, Darkon
A fantasy world like Darkon provides its residents with opportunities to effect change in their immediate surroundings, even if those surrounding are make-believe. The game is a microcosm of the world where global politics and one's destiny is no longer beyond individual control. MoreShare Your Own Stories
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Learn more about live-action role playing games.
- Darkon the Movie
The Official website of the award winning documentary on live-action role-playing Darkon. Everybody Wants to be a Hero
- The Darkon Wargaming Group
War game system featuring medieval re-enactment, roleplaying, and full contact combat.
- Shade's Live Action Role Playing (LARP) List
Links to groups around the world, sorted by geography and gameworld.
- NERO LARP live action role playing (RPG)
The homepage for NERO - The Live Adventures Company. The best site for information on NERO. Includes chapter lists, rules updates, official play tests, etc.
- Dagorhir Battle Games
You've read Lord of the Rings, how would you like to live it?
- Society for Creative Anachronism
An international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating pre-17th-century European history. Includes information about membership, kingdoms, etc.
- Amtgard.com - The Home of Amtgard
This site is the online home of Amtgard, the live action role-playing game.
- How to Make a Basic LARP Weapon
Most LARP's that use boffer-style weapons use a variation of the style presented here. Because safety is of the utmost importance, weapons must be padded.
- SeeThink Productions
A small film production company based in Brooklyn.
- Ovie Entertainment
Official website of Ovie Entertainment. Film production and distribution company.
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'Darfur Now' is a story of hope in the midst of one of humanity's darkest hours - a call to action for people everywhere to end the catastrophe unfolding in Darfur, Sudan. In this documentary, the struggles and achievements of six different individuals from inside Darfur and around the world bring to light the tragedy in Sudan and show how the actions of one person can make a difference to millions.
Watch Excerpt (6:12)
Watch Interview with Don Cheadle
Watch Darfur Now PSA
'Angels in the Dust' is the story of a courageous, self-sacrificing, fiercely loving woman who chooses a spiritual path over a material one; it tells of the life-changing power of one compassionate heart. For a nation overwhelmed by an epidemic of HIV/AIDS, orphans, rape, violence, and Apartheid's legacy of social and political unrest, the film offers a clear pathway of hope and a replicable paradigm for the future.
Watch Preview
Watch Excerpt 1
Watch Excerpt 2
On his first weekend back after serving in Iraq, Mike Deerfield (Jonathan Tucker) goes missing and is reported AWOL. When Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones), a former military MP and his wife Joan (Susan Sarandon) get the phone call with the disturbing news, Hank sets out to search for their son. Local police detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron) reluctantly helps him in his search and soon finds herself in a fight with the military brass. When the truth about Mike's time in Iraq finally begins to emerge, Hank's entire world is challenged and he's forced to reevaluate long-held beliefs to solve the mystery behind his son's disappearance.
Watch Excerpt
"I can still hear him hollering and coaching.."
-- William Haley (L) and his brother Glen remember their father, Joseph Howard Haley, founder of Jackie Robinson West Little League in Chicago. More
'Fears of Your Life', by Michael Bernard Loggins, read by Tom Wright
What are you afraid of? Michael's afraid of exactly 183 things. He counted. More
Cinematical
HBO Documentary Films
Reel Works
International Documentary Association
StoryCorps
Media that Matters Film Festival
Independent Lens
Docs that Inspire
Doc it Out
Indiewire
Skip Lipman, Lord Bannor of Laconia
"If you watched Darkon the movie you may be wondering what is going on in the realm now. Every other Sunday we take to the field and fight out our battles, but so much goes on off the field as well..." More from the Darkon Blog"
Jim Iddings, Saruk
"If you come across more agonies, they'll be bought. But the one thing that I do need, and will pay greatly for, is a supernatural death poison."
Dog
"I come here, pay five dollars, three days, beat everything within sight. Have a good time, sit down, drink a beer. Good times, good friends. I'm sorry, what else is there? It's almost as good as the American Dream."
Kevin "Great Scot", On the Darkon Message Board
"If you watched Darkon the movie you may be wondering what is going on in the realm now. Every other Sunday we take to the field and fight out our battles, but so much goes on off the field as well..." More from the Darkon Message Board"
Rebbeca Thurmond, Nemesis
"When kids role play fantasy it's expected because they're children. And when adults do it?they get looked down on for it, because if you're grown-ups you shouldn't be playing games unless it's on a board."
Gary Black, Malkin
"You come to this game and you're able to wheel and deal with people, manipulate things, make things happen, make things work?something I wish I could do in real life."
Dane McCoy, Exodus
"It's imaginary hexes of land on a map, but when someone wants your imaginary hexes you get upset and defend them."
Kenyon Wells, Lord Keldar of Mordom
"Keldar was who I wanted to be. Over time, playing Keldar helped me become the man I wanted to be in real life."
Jonah Rapino, Composer, Darkon
"Before Darkon I had never seen real Live Action Role Playing. Watching the fight scenes for the first time got me really juiced up to compose some epic metal-esque battle music." More