Documentary to Film at Britcon

Documentary Film of U.K. National Wargames Championships at Britcon 2011 - Manchester

M60 TV, a prominent video production company, is making a documentary film of Britcon and the tabletop miniatures wargaming event to be held in Manchester this August. The film will be released on DVD and iTunes later in 2011. We are grateful to the British Historical Games Society and in particular to JD McNeil, who has been principal organiser of this event for the past 15 years.

Jon Chappell, Managing Director of M60TV, says, "We are indebted to JD for all his help and support in making this happen, we are well aware he is also a director of Matrix Games and Slitherine who are leading players in the wargaming videogames market, so he knows a thing or two about this topic and we are looking forward to working with him and his team at the event."

We are now looking for ideas from all of you who have attended in the past or who are coming along this year. We want to know what aspects of miniature gaming you would most like to see featured in the DVD. What drives your passion for these games? E.g. painting armies, tactics, creating terrain, brilliant game play or is it just the camaraderie of like minded individuals. We will also be going behind the scenes at the event, joining you in the bar and we want to interview as many of you as we can, star players, champions in the making, overseas players, the convention team or you. Have you got something to say about this fascinating hobby? M60 TV will also be filming examples of good tabletop gaming, interesting situations and top quality terrain and models. In fact anything that catches our eye at the show.

We are also interested in learning about video clips that you may have found on YouTube or other resources that you feel might enhance the quality of the film. With help from you we hope to produce a war gaming video that anyone can watch and enjoy and that explores and explains this fascinating pass time.

In fact, M60 TV is offering to take your advice on how this should be filmed, so the person who puts forward the best filming idea will be given the opportunity to help direct that particular scene at the event in Manchester. This will involve suggesting angles and shots to the cameraman, so that we don't miss the details that will make the film a success.

The film will be directed and filmed by cameraman Jon Chappell, who has been making TV documentaries for 24 years. His experience includes filming the civil war in Chechnya and a number of filming trips to Afghanistan where he was embedded with British forces. Jon has recently become interested in tabletop war gaming, and had the idea to make this film after watching some YouTube clips and discussing the possibilities with JD. He says, "The detail in the figures, the terrain, tactics and the personalities involved make these games ideal filming material. I can't understand why no one has made a serious documentary about such a photogenic subject before."

JD says, "Jon and I have been planning this for some months now, and it truly is an exciting opportunity for us all to become part of this movie and to promote wargames in the best possible light. Who knows, there may be some agents out there looking for new star material for their next Hollywood Blockbuster, I am sure there are openings for even the more rotund stars."

Filming will start on Thursday, 11 August, and continue till Sunday night. Clips from the film will be available to view on a special Facebook page and at the show, where you will be able to pre-order the DVD at a special event price.

You can contact M60 TV at info@cameraskills.tv with ideas and links for the video, or for any other information JD McNeil at jdm@slitherine.co.uk.