Promoting archery in film

[Marcus26]

we've seen a huge increase thanks to the fantasy genre and it's movies.

[clickerati]

I see that The Weatherman finally arrived in UK cinemas this weekend (it came out on DVD last week in the US), and it appears the GNAS want UK clubs to help promote it, which isn't a bad idea.

Here is the press release from the GNAS website, if you hadn't seen it already.

[clickerati]

Finally got around to watching The Weather Man on DVD tonight. I loved it.

Yes, there is archery in the film and some cracking shots of him shooting an ice-covered target outside in winter. Some funny scenes of his apathetic daughter doing badly, too. But more than the archery, this film is about life, how it doesn't always turn out like you planned, the mess we make of it, and how we can rise above it.

I really needed to see this film at this point in my life.

[whisky]

I'd say interest in archery is on the up. The GNAS figures keep rising steadily and my club has to turn people away because they can't fit them all on beginners courses - and they run a good 1/2 dozen courses per year.

However of the 20+ newbies i'm always suprised they don't convert more into members at the end. Guess its because they tell em all I'm a member - thought I'd get that in before someone else does!!

I wish there was more funding for juiors to bring them on like there is in ********. We are such a poor sport in comparison.

[SimonW]

Went to see the Weatherman at the cinema last night.

To be honest I only went because of the archery as I'd read reviews that said it was a bit sad/depressing.

And it was.

But, Michael Caines peformance is brilliant. And after the first 20 minutes (which are painfully slow) it does get better.

The archery is OK. One of the first quotes has Nicholas Cage saying something to his daughter about the fletchings when I'm sure he is actually referring to nocking the arrow. Oh well.....

Then we have him wandering around (Chicago? / New York?) in his suit and tie, a back quiver full of arrows (with obligatory 5" feather fletchings) holding his strung bow.

At this point I cringed. Is this really what we want to promote to the masses?

Go and buy yourself a bow and arrows and just wander around with them*.

We also have him shooting at tree's and even pointing his loaded bow at his wifes new lover.

Worth watching, not worth watching twice and I'm not sure it was worth the £20 or so the cinema tickets cost.

Simon


(* the fact that I did this when I was 13 with my first greenkat clubman recurve and goldstrike arrows is besides the point!!! And anyway, when I did this someone called the police and I got a big b*********g from my dad. Happy days)

[clickerati]

There's a phenomenon called "suspension of disbelief" we have when watching a film, Simon. That's what this is, a film. There are a million and one examples of things done incorrectly for cinema's benefit.

Personally, I loved this film. Sad and depressing, yes a bit, but whose life hasn't been a mess at some point? I could empathise with the character and his feelings of despair. Also remember, it's set in America where the popularity of bowhunting far outweighs any other kind of archery. When they can't shoot a live deer, a plastic one will do.

OK, so pointing a drawn bow at someone is not acceptable behaviour, but again, it's a film. The same goes for him walking around New York City with a bow and and a quiver full of arrows. Do you honestly think the NYPD wouldn't have noticed? Can you imagine someone walking around London like that? No, of course not.

I truly doubt that this film will have as much affect on archery as Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.

[SimonW]

You know for a while, I really thought the film was real.



I'm a bit tired of films these days that are trying a little too hard (to make money) and forgetting that someone pays to sit through them.

recent examples:

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
The New World
The Proposition

And just for the record, my ability to suspend disbelief is something I practice daily. I really really enjoyed Superman the movie and I can't help thinking Homer Simpson and Bender are real.

Simon

[clickerati]

Originally Posted by SimonW

...I can't help thinking Homer Simpson and Bender are real.

LOL. I love Futurama!

[JohnK]

I reckon Eternal Sunshine was a superb movie and wasn't actually all that long (less than 2 hours; it had nothing on the bladder-busting LOTR series ).

[LineCutter]

Have spotted that the Games has archery in it (for the ladies only)?