I would be lying if I said that I wasn't afraid of Florida. It seems I can't turn on my computer without reading strange news stories about a man dying in a cockroach eating contest or a sinkhole swallowing someone up in the middle of the night. I can not attempt to understand the level of strange things that seem to seep from the depths of that south-eastern State. Therefore, it stands to reason that one of the most fascinating and hilarious documentary films I've ever seen takes place and centers around the residents of a little town called Vernon, Florida. Unlike the last documentary I reviewed (or really any other documentary I've ever seen) this film has no real agenda, it doesn't intend to show how people deal with a certain situation nor does it address a social issue. Instead of making some kind of political point, this film simply highlights a lifestyle that most people would consider odd.
Errol Morris delivers his second feature under some strange circumstances (seriously, everything about this movie is strange). Vernon, Florida was originally supposed to be titled Nub City in which he interviewed the inhabitants of Vernon discussing the town's reputation for lobbing off their own limbs in order to make a living off of insurance. This had to be scrapped due to the fact that the people he interviewed threatened to murder him. Plan B was used and Vernon, Florida was born. Rather than focus on lost limbs, Morris simply allows the residents of the town talk about their lives and their hobbies. What emerges are some of the most bizarre conversations I have ever heard. The local worm farmer talks about his business and how if you want to get in to worm farming you might as well forget about what the library books say, because they're almost all wrong. We hear a man who is more passionate about turkey hunting than anything else in the world. The pastor in the town delivers an entire sermon focusing on the worth "therefore".
The format of the film is different from other documentaries in many ways, one of the most noticeable being the lack of narrative. While documentary films focus on real life, they almost always use something as a form of narration. In Vernon, Florida, we aren't following one particular persons journey, we aren't shown questions asked to interviewees, we don't even hear any of the film crew. We literally sit there for almost an hour (it's a very short movie) and watch the inhabitants talk. It's an iffy move that wouldn't work under most circumstances, however in this instance, the longer the people talk the more entertaining the film becomes.
Something that has become popular with reality shows is quick editing and sound effects. The editing deck allows the manipulation of circumstances to make people look favorable to the public or idiotic, all with just a few slices here and there. Almost all of what we see in "reality" TV is manipulated for the sake of ratings to the point where situations are so far from what really happened that the people in the shows wouldn't recognize what's happening on screen. Where modern reality shows mock the people involved, this documentary does not stoop to that level. We're shown some of the most bizarre lifestyles and, honestly, some of the strangest individuals I've ever seen. And yet the filmmaker feels no need to mock them. This movie is hilarious, but it showcases a different lifestyle, one where the town is happy with their existence. The residents of Vernon freely give interviews and talk about their beliefs and their day to day life, for that Errol Morris delivers their story with long cuts and few edits to the public. It's funny, but this movie is not there to humiliate the residents of Vernon, rather it's there to give us a glimpse into a life that is hilariously different from our own, and most likely a whole lot simpler, which is something that almost anyone would want to have.
The particular way in which an individual chooses to spend their free time reveals much more about their interests and who they are than any one conversation could. In Monster Camp a group of individuals is examined specifically because of the way they choose to use their free time. In our society their are certain norms. It is expected for people to be interested in sports or politics, or even video games. However, what is uncommon (for the large majority of the population) is the subject of this documentary. Live Action Role Playing, or L.A.R.Ping, is essentially playing a video game in real life. This requires real people with real jobs and lives of their own to dress up and learn over 200 pages of rules.
Monster Camp follows the process of a few different events, all within the "Nero" universe. Nero is the name of the game, just as one might sit down and play "Halo" or "Call of Duty" only in this instance the specific rules regarding the game must be closely adhered to. The movie is interesting, if for nothing else, but to see just how one would run something like this. Costumes, rules, characters, plot lines; all these things have to be carefully set up, leaving very few people to run the success of a much larger group of players. Having run small scale versions of what this movie portrays, seeing the scale of the world that they run is incredible. To do something like this, something that is universally seen as "nerdy" requires so much skill and imagination in order to organize the story lines and battles, while at the same time giving players free range to do anything they want within the scope of the game. This movie is just as much about the players and their relationship to each other, as it is about the game that they all love.
Stereotypes are a dime a dozen when it comes to nerd culture. The funny thing about stereotypes is that they typically stem from some truth. In watching this movie, you can see exactly where these generalizations stem from. Typically, the types of people that become intrigued with these games have fewer social skills and enjoy fantasy, fiction and video games. This is escapism at it's highest form. A few of the players realize that it's escapism and realize that they are indeed trapped in this game, the lines between reality and fantasy are blurred for them. While as a viewer it becomes comical at times, there are various instances where individuals explain to the camera just how damaging an addiction to gaming, or any other escapist function, can be. Then there are the ones who live for nothing but the game. While it's comical and entertaining to watch, there is a real human drama that unfolds in this movie. These individuals, who fall in love with their games, are drawn together and form bonds of friendship, and occasionally love. The complexity of separating real life with their RPG characters becomes a subject that is discussed as well.
This film shows a class of people that have generally been mocked and ridiculed for their interests and lack of social abilities having fun in a way that is different than the norm. Just as there is levels of intensity in anything there is so in this game. As far as documentaries go, it's short, sweet and surprisingly heart warming.