[68CaliberEditor]

I just did an interview with the writer/director of the movie Splatter - an indie film that has been getting a lot of attention at film festivals (the director is a former television star) and one major topic of discussion was how goggles are shown and used in movies.

We've all seen it - players playing without masks, lifting their masks to talk, yada yada - and we all complain about it.

Lonnie (the director) is a paintballer himself and knows how sensitive we all are to the issue, but he explained that in order for the emotional side of an actor's acting to come through, we need to see the face. (He thinks that the Spiderman movies - blockbusters though they are - leave a bit to be desired because the Spidey mask hides Peter Parker's face).

Lonnie says that he had to take some artistic license to make a film that would be well received by a general audience. (He's also gone on to say that he'll be putting a disclaimer about goggle use in the titles of the film - a first for any motion picture or television show, so score one for paintball!)

I tend to believe that theory - but think that too often, many films (not this one) go way too far. Rather than trying to keep those masks off on the playing field scenes to a minimum, they just forget about the masks entirely.

There's no way that our industry could dictate to a filmmaker how they're going to film their movie, but maybe we could work on them to ALL include a disclaimer. What do you think?

[cryptic.paintball]

A disclaimer would be a good thing. Something to tell the viewers that paintball fields do everything they can to protect their players, and lifting up your masks in playing areas is strictly forbidden. Make sure they stress that any lifting of the actors mask during the movie is for artistic expression, something that cannot be seen with goggles on.

[davidmorgan744]

I many movies this game is played by the users. It is among the games that is most oftenly used and describe about that.

[aerosaaber]

I just made a post in the safety forum about the movie failure to launch and the recent beer commercial not depicting safety properly. A disclaimer would be excellent because I'm afraid some newb will do what they saw on tv and get hurt.

[flippinburgs]

Yes a warning of some sort would be great!

Paintball has such a bad name in general that movies just dont help our cause

[JohnotronV1]

sick

[JohnotronV1]

haha thats actually really sick

[68CaliberEditor]

The film is being premiered at the Paintball Extravaganza next week, hosted by 68Caliber, and it has the disclaimer in the credits. First of its kind.

It states that goggle use is mandatory and that the producers of the film want players to follow the rules for safety.

[EthanK.]

It really does hurt to see a commercial or a bit of a film where players don't wear goggles. I like the idea of putting a disclaimer at the start of something like that. Well, thinking of the Bud Light commercial, the ref didn't have goggles, just shop glasses, they shot him up like crazy, and everyone was okay with that? There is a certain level of respect the paintball community needs to address to the outside community about our feelings on the safety of the sport.

[Etek3Baller]

The media is what really kills paintball. All the politics!

[Big Jims Son]

Okay I understand wanting to see the actors face, but why couldnt they just use the old style goggles that just cover the eyes instead of the entire face? at least there wearing the vital part of the mask that matters. I know a number of older players (my dad being one of them) who prefer to just play with the goggles. sure you might get shot in the mouth but hey its your choice. just put on the stinking goggles.

[EthanK.]

Originally Posted by Etek3Baller

The media is what really kills paintball. All the politics!

I'm in agreement on that one....

[tempxl]

Yep