TNBO Promo video

Glen K · Post by **Glen K** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:28 pm

I finally stumbled upon this today....

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.9065

Is that three arrows in a soccer ball?

Be sure and download the video of "live battle action" in the lower right hand corner.

I blame English Heritage, and not The Vikings (NFPS) for the crap-fest that is this video. The first part with the choral music is actually pretty cool, but part of that is because the site is awesome. And then, here come the farbisms, not in the background but HIGHLIGHTED by the brilliant movie-makers at EH. And not just here and there, but one right after the other:

-Cast Iron pot (not too bad)
-Modern bit and bridle on horsie (not to bad) with rider's tunic having fakey printed ribbon stuff
- round pavilion tents (two sepereate yet consecutive shots)
- Dead Critter (tm) Dark Age (tm) decoration (w/ zoom effect)
- Abomination of Sutton Hoo [sic] helmet
- 1180s faceplate helmet
- woman on horseback (not so bad) with sword (awful)

And all that from the :40 to :52 portion of the video.

Am I still going to Hastings? Duh, you bet.
Do I think all the UK folks look like this? not even close.
Why am I comlaining so much, then? Probably because a) the filming style is just horrible, b) it's not very flattering to ANY dedicated LH types, c) they could have easily made it better with little more effort. I'd also put in more shots of the event and less of "people looking at the event"

As my son says, "oh well, maybe next time"

Black Swan Designs · Post by **Black Swan Designs** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:12 pm

Is that three arrows in a soccer ball?

Well, yes--the whole setup is a parody of an advert for the World Cup, which just happened 2 weeks ago-

The Big Match:
King Harold vs. William of Normandy

Gwen

earnest carruthers · Post by **earnest carruthers** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:31 pm

As Glen says, there are some very good groups going to this one, Conquest namely, who are very good at this era not just militarily.

All look out for a large ginger chap called Nigel, he is a Norman... ;-)

Shame about the shots of some of the kit, it is not a good advert.

but hey it is EH's biggest battle event, so it will be a good crack. Grtting my teeth in frustration as I can't go and be a Norman archer....aargh.

Halvgrimr · Post by **Halvgrimr** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:13 pm

grimstone bar wrote:All look out for a large ginger chap called Nigel, he is a Norman...

--If its the same 'nice' fellow Nigel from Conquest that is on the Hastings Yahoogroup Id rather have my asshairs plucked by an epileptic than have to meet him.

Halv

Glen K · Post by **Glen K** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:17 pm

Gritting my teeth in frustration as I can't go and be a Norman archer....aargh.

I lament that as well. We could insult each other and brag about our experiences over the best ales and stouts until our friends had to bodily carry us out of the pub and dump us back on the battlefield.

Well, yes--the whole setup is a parody of an advert for the World Cup, which just happened 2 weeks ago-

The Big Match:
King Harold vs. William of Normandy

Ah, thanks Gwen!

stupid damn soccer.....

Thomas H · Post by **Thomas H** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:31 am

We take football a little more seriously over here so makes more sense in terms of how to spend cash.

earnest carruthers · Post by **earnest carruthers** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:58 am

Halv

"If its the same 'nice' fellow Nigel from Conquest that is on the Hastings Yahoogroup Id rather have my asshairs plucked by an epileptic than have to meet him. "

Yep sounds like him.

'Nice' is a relative term.

Whilst abrupt and sometimes snippy he is very well intentioned and utterly honourable to deal with. He does not exhibit the stereotypical British reserve which can be a bit disconcerting. Plus his dyslexia makes his texts that bit blunter than usual.

In the flesh and there is a lot of that, he is as nice as pie, a big pie.

"I lament that as well. We could insult each other and brag about our experiences over the best ales and stouts until our friends had to bodily carry us out of the pub and dump us back on the battlefield. Smile "

yeah sounds like a plan. Mind I am hatching a plan that might allow me maybe the Sunday or the Saturday to attend.

AZPapillion · Post by **AZPapillion** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:32 am

I didn't mind it and as someone who will be heading over there as a tourist (I'll leave the norman stuff to the guys) it looked like the public were enjoying themselves and that there was a good show.

Isn't that what this is about? The visitors? The ones that bring the money in to the English Heritage Society...

Kim

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:38 am

Halvgrim

I think I see Steve at 1:08 in a group of people.

Glen K · Post by **Glen K** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:09 am

Isn't that what this is about? The visitors?

Sorry, Kim, but obviously you just don't get it.

James, have a talk with her.

AZPapillion · Post by **AZPapillion** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:16 am

Glen K wrote:
Isn't that what this is about? The visitors?

Sorry, Kim, but obviously you just don't get it.

James, have a talk with her.

Follow the money, then you'll know what its about...

You're right, I don't get the norman stuff - hence the reason James will go run up a hill and I'll be exploring some castle in Southern England... :lol:

earnest carruthers · Post by **earnest carruthers** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:20 am

"The ones that bring the money in to the English Heritage Society."

Not from the reenactors' perspective, most reenactors' prime motivation is not the public, even though they may enjoy dealing with them, I do a lot but it is not why I do what I do, it is not to raise money for a Government charity liek EH, they are not a society but a historic preservation trust, government part funded IIRC.

This is about getting 2000 mad people together to get all sweaty and matey and a wee bit drunk. The UK has very few events that field this number of people, exceptions being the English civil war periods, but medieval, not many that come this close. Hell I don't do Norman, but I can shoot bow safely and my calling is to shoot, so am seriously looking at rescheduling something I am doing that weekend, only one day but it will be enough. Mainly to meet up with people a fair few that I only ever communicate to via this forum, makes future communication much better and nice to see people in the flesh, oh di d I mention that I wanted to shoot people and get drunk and matey? ;-)

Halvgrimr · Post by **Halvgrimr** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:33 am

James B. wrote:Halvgrim

I think I see Steve at 1:08 in a group of people.

--Yeah, I see many people I know:)
I used to watch these things in fascination
Now I watch them and try to pick out all the folks I know:)

Halv

Egfroth · Post by **Egfroth** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:06 pm

Don't forget the 14th century tents!

The Wars of the Roses actually field considerably more people than this one will, but hey, that's almost Renaissance, and therefore flakey . . .

Overall, though I agree about the ghastly out of period stuff, the video is designed as a promotion for the public, to get them along to the event. As such it's not too bad. We can always talk to them on the day and correct wrong impressions.

In fact, why don't we do that? Though I'm sure many participants just do it for the fun, we all bitch about the horribly wrong public perceptions of our period. This is a heaven-sent opportunity to change that. How about each attendee take on the job of talking to at least one member of the attending public and setting them straight if need be? Or maybe two? Or more?

Glen K · Post by **Glen K** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:22 pm

In fact, why don't we do that? Though I'm sure many participants just do it for the fun, we all bitch about the horribly wrong public perceptions of our period. This is a heaven-sent opportunity to change that. How about each attendee take on the job of talking to at least one member of the attending public and setting them straight if need be? Or maybe two? Or more?

Oh, believe me, I'd planned on it, though I'm not sure they'll neccesarily believe an American telling them about "their" history.

Even though it's a battle, and therefore a horrible and inaccurate interpretive tool, it does provide a good 'hook' to the public and give us a chance to actually get them to accidently learn a thing or two.