This E4 Documentary

[lupestripe]

There has been a lot of talk lately regarding the documentary that E4 are proposing to make about the Fandom. This followed on from the mass mailing that Mint Media, the production company, did on the UK Fur Forums a week ago. This has, in turn, caused a great deal of division in the Fandom, with some being for and some being against the making of the programme.

I have never been a fan of division and I also believe that this proposal needed considering deeper. I believe that it at least deserved the chance of an explanation. This is why over the last two days I have spent three hours talking to the production company. I did this because I want to be as objective as possible regarding any opportunity we have to promote or support the Fandom.

However I must point out that at the moment I can see the pros and cons in participating and as yet I am undecided on what to do myself.

My general consensus though has remained unchanged. If people want to appear in the documentary then I think they should be given that opportunity whilst if people don't want to appear in it then that decision should be respected.

The fact is that the documentary is going to go ahead. They already have footage of a London Meet and enough other material to fill the show. This means that from a Northern fur perspective, the decision to appear on the documentary appears to be a wholly individual one as even if you're not in it, the show is still going ahead.

I know that they are keen to recruit some Northern furs and in some ways it will be a shame if we are not represented but again, I think the decision to appear in the documentary should be that of the individual alone and whatever that individual decides, that decision should be respected.

Because the documentary is going ahead the onus has shifted as the question of "Do we want the publicity?" has now been rendered irrelevant. There is no doubt that appearing on TV will attract people to the fandom so the aim now is to show the fandom in as positive a light as possible. The only way this can be done is if we do that for them. However if you do appear on camera, then that is an admission that you are into furry and locally this could attract some of the less tolerant people in society to be vitriolic against you.

Added to this is the question of how much you have to lose. In my own case, if I appeared on camera it could damage my career and this is why I am as yet undecided whether I will participate or not.

After my conversations with Kitty, I am as sure as I can be that this show is not about yiff. The remit of the documentary is to show how the Internet has brought communities and subcultures together. This show is part of a series and this makes it less likely to be about yiff. The other subcultures they are focusing on are not sexual and Kitty has reassured me on numerous occasions that there is no point making a yiff show because a) it's been done before and b) it's not what they want to achieve. However, I know the media can lie and sex sells but in this case, I don't really think that's the case. They are not going to shift the time of one show in a documentary to a later slot just because they want to film yiff.

HOWEVER THEY WILL FILM WHAT WE ALLOW TO BE FILMED. THIS MEANS THAT IF YIFF IS INVOLVED IT IS OF OUR OWN CAUSING AND NOT NECESSARILY THEIRS. I personally don't think it will come to that.

Ultimately the question you have to ask yourself is this. E4 is a major satellite TV channel and if the series is popular, it may move to Channel Four. So picture the scene; you're round at your granny's house and you're idly flicking through the channels. Suddenly, she sees you on TV dancing with a giant panda. How would she take that? If the answer is fine then go ahead be involved, if not then I'd consider your options.

As part of the social side of Furry the makers are interested in talking to people about their experiences. This includes charity work and fursuiting but they also want to talk to people who live in a furry house. They are also after couples where one person is a fur and the other is not. The impression I am getting is that they want to make as positive and as constructive a programme as possible. But as yet, I am still undecided on what my own contribution will be due to my own doubts regarding revealing my identity to the national media (I am also trying to figure out what editing rights and rights of veto the community will have). I think that is the crux of the debate here.

If you want to find out more about the documentary then by all means give Kitty a ring. She's nice, down to earth and willing to answer any questions you might have. Either that or drop me an email and I will do my best to answer your questions.

I'm doing this because I believe that the opportunity should be evaluated and discussed. As yet I am undecided if I will participate at all but this could potentially be a good opportunity to promote the good side of the Fandom. Either way, I am just trying to come to a decision whilst being as objective as possible about things.

Comments

[lazyhowl.livejournal.com]

You should get them to a United Kritters thing, that would help show what some of us want path for the fandom to take.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

The problem with that is I don't want to discredit the charity work that we do. If it's seen to be associated with the Fandom then we may have a problem, particularly if some yiff does make it into the documentary. That will ruin us.

Having said that, the publicity we would get from doing this may be a good thing. It's a microcosm of the whole issue I feel.

[enteirah]

A lot of the division comes from age. People who've been in the fandom longer know how bad things have been in the past, and that furries are their own worst enemies anyway when they get on camera, so tend to be cynical. People who have been in the fandom for much less time have more faith in being able to change the world and make it a better place on these things. =:P

Myself, I'm just avoiding the whole thing, but that's as I'd rather not be associated with the Londonfurs without knowing what exactly *they* got up to when being filmed first!

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

It sounds very much like politics then, the older you get the more cynical you become. The problem is that, as you say, there are a few furs out there who could easily discredit the whole Fandom and if they do infiltrate the documentary then we have a problem. Personally, I don't want to be associated with such actions, I'm embarrassed enough when they happen at meets so I don't want them prostituted on national television.

I still think that as the documentary is going ahead anyway some of us sane ones should be involved but it's somewhat of a risk. In terms of Londonfurs, hmm, I may be able to circumvent that.

[baloki.livejournal.com]

Personally what I do in my private life is my business and I don't appreciate being constantly berated by them from all corners trying to get me to appear on TV. I also do not like the way their trying to force their way to Manchester Meets by getting younger furs to invite them along when organisers have made it clear to them they are not allowed/welcome at meets. We've always had a no media policy at main meets because the media and cameras being present put some people in a situation they are not comfortable with, and people shouldn't have to avoid a meet just because some media show wants to make a quick buck.

Anyways ':p'

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I completely understand your view hun which is why I am opposed to them turning up to a main meet. I think people should be given the opportunity to go on it if they like but that shouldn't be to the detriment of those who don't want to feature either. As I say, I have two paws in both camps at the moment but I 100% agree with where you are coming from.

I don't like the development of getting younger furs to invite them to meets. When did that happen? Indeed I think the younger furs is where the problems will be.

[albrecht-fur.livejournal.com]

I thought they seemed pretty sound. I went on the suit walk in suit and didn't mind them filming, but I refrained from being on camera out of suit.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I think that's the action I'm probably going to have to take. I don't mind being filmed in suit at all and they seem nice people but if people recognised me then it could get somewhat difficult. I'll think about it.

[baloki.livejournal.com]

Remember you show your suit to a lot of people furs and non-furs alike so suiting might not make you as anonymous as you think.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I agree with you when it comes to the fandom but outside it, no one really knows what my fursona is. Those who do, also know about yiff so it's not a massive risk. I'm still undecided though.

[baloki.livejournal.com]

Don't you also use your suit for charity work?

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I use one of my suits for charity work but I am not sure about the second yet. The thought had crossed my mind and if I did suit on the documentary I would ensure that it wasn't one I use for charity. After all, I have changed the identity of Lupestripe for charity purposes to deal with this very problem.