Monster Camp
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{about|the 2007 film|the 2024 AI-generated trailer|Dream Machine (text-to-video model)#History}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Monster Camp
| image = MonsterCamp.jpg
| caption = Promotional poster for Monster Camp
| director = Cullen Hoback
| producer = Aaron Douglas,
Cullen Hoback
| starring = Shane Macomber,
Dave Overman,
Paul Vorvick,
Fern Zimmerman,
and Rebecca McNamee as The Strega
| music = Speechwriters LLC
| cinematography = Cullen Hoback
| editing = Cullen Hoback
| distributor = Multivisionnaire
| released = {{Film date|2007|03|03|Cinequest Film Festival}}
| runtime = 79 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
}}
Monster Camp is a 2007 documentary film that chronicles a live action role-playing game organization. Monster Camp looks at the lives of the participants, and considers the pro and cons of escapism through fantastical outlets. Freedom State director Cullen Hoback documents the fantasy world, following several participants over the course of one year.
The group followed is a Seattle, Washington chapter of NERO Alliance (now Alliance LARP), one of many live-action role-playing organizations in the US. Players create their own identities selecting from a variety of races and classes, similar to Dungeons & Dragons or World of Warcraft. Participants dress up and are involved as either player characters, non-player character, or Plot Members.
It premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival 17 in 2007, where it received the Audience Award for Best Documentary.{{cite web | url = http://cinequest.org/media/PRCQ17WrapFinal.pdf | title = Cinequest 17 Wraps | accessdate = 2007-05-28 | date = 2007-03-12 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091024/http://cinequest.org/media/PRCQ17WrapFinal.pdf |archivedate = 2007-09-28}} (Press release) Monster Camp screened at the Seattle International Film Festival{{cite web | url = http://www.seattlefilm.org/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=23872&FID=32 | title = Monster Camp | accessdate = 2007-05-29 | work = 2007 Seattle International Film Festival | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070824064416/http://www.seattlefilm.org/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=23872&FID=32 | archive-date = 2007-08-24 | url-status = usurped }} and the Corvallis da Vinci Film Festival.{{cite web | url = http://davinci.bside.com/2008/films/monstercamp_davinci2008 | title = da Vinci Film Festival 2008 : Monster Camp | accessdate = 2008-06-24 | work = 2008 Corvallis DaVinci Film Festival | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080607014228/http://davinci.bside.com/2008/films/monstercamp_davinci2008 | archive-date = 2008-06-07 | url-status = dead }} According to the film's site, it has screened in approximately 40 film festivals around the world.{{cite web | url = http://www.monstercampmovie.com | title = Monster Camp | accessdate = 2009-06-01 | work = Listing and links to all festivals on official Monster Camp web site }}
Production
The film was shot largely at Millersylvania State Park in Washington State. While shooting, temperatures in the region dropped below zero degrees. The main weekend chronicled in the film occurred during the coldest temperatures recorded in the Northwest in 50 years. Many of the costumes worn by characters during this filming were abnormal. The lower temperatures during filming made it impractical to wear purely character specific clothing, and incidentally led to a die off of the species of freshwater crab endemic to the park, which is mentioned in passing by characters.
The film's score is done by California band, Speechwriters LLC.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
- "[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933275.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Monster Camp: The Story Of Nero Seattle]" by Dennis Harvey in Variety
- "[https://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=9783 Monster Camp]" by Felix Vasquez Jr. for Film Threat. 4 out of 5 stars.
- "[http://www.sover.net/~ozus/monstercamp.htm Monster Camp]" by Dennis Schwartz for Ozus' World Movie Reviews. "B" rating.
- "[http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=siffbox2007&date=20070526 Today schedule]" by Moira Macdonald for The Seattle Times. 3 out of 4 stars.
- "[http://www.baywindows.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&AudID=0813BC739F2044E5A03DCF2DE3FDF7C9&tier=4&id=F1D05A58FE4E4712996CB8C9F9F31FFC A monster hit for Boston film fest]" by Brian Jewell for Bay Windows.
- "[http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/051907/lif_170983188.shtml They are their toughest critics]" by Brandy Hilboldt Allport for the Florida Times Union.
- "[http://www.eujacksonville.com/pages/05-17-07/jffmonstercamp.htm Monster Camp: Interview with Director Cullen Hoback]" by Jon Bosworth for the EU Jacksonville
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.monstercampmovie.com}}
- {{IMDb title|0970948|Monster Camp}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|monster_camp|Monster Camp}}
Category:American documentary films
Category:Live-action role-playing games