a big hello! My brief introduction to the group.

[nyfilm]

Hello all,

Not sure if this is the proper place to introduce myself. Chris here, from the state and city with possibly the most restrictive laws and crazy-ass politicians, New York City. It's just getting worse here by the day and I honestly didn't realize how many of our liberties and freedoms are being stripped and violated since my return from the beautiful state of Oregon. My Portland based girlfriend took me to the Benchmade headquarters and I picked up an HK OTF (they charge full retail, which I was a bit surprised by) but it felt great being able to buy a knife without being looked at like a madman or criminal. Also had the opportunity to meet the wonderful Crystal there from customer service. Several weeks before, she sent me a free replacement clip for my first Benchmade knife, the Pardue 350 which I picked up in the late 90's I believe, so it's really run like an old school all American mom and pop company.

Just starting to learn to negotiate the site and it's quite a learning experience. So thanks for that!

Coming from the movie and TV industry, I've been focusing more on TV as the film business has changed quite a bit (you see the mostly crappy movies we have today -- pathetic chick flicks and kids stuff). The final straw for me was a film I wrote for Martin Scorsese in 2000 called "Deuces Wild". It was a great script with realistic 1950's gangs and a big focus on the tools (switchblades, shivs, home made armor etc. these gangs used to fight with. But the politically correct buttholes at MGM, demolished the screenplay and had some 20 year old girl who never stepped foot in a big city, or handle a weapon, rewrite my work, turning it into something that looked like Happy Days with profanity. So after that crap experience, I've focused more on documentaries and reality based TV work.

I am starting to develop a reality show or shows if there's a few great ideas, set within the knife world and would be very appreciative if any of the members here had any ideas, concepts or characters they think would make for a great TV show. From what I can tell, there's really nothing out there, besides the blade infomercials, which I confess are somewhat addictive to watch. Characters are everything and it would be ideal to find the "knife version" of Orange County Choppers. Characters and conflict are the main things a network needs before they greenlight a show.

Any ideas you guys have would be most appreciated -- and links to various characters/clips would be very cool as well. I hope to be heading out to this years Blade Show with my camera operator to get a better understanding of the world many people don't get a chance to experience. I hope to meet some of the board members if they are attending. First round of drinks are on me!

Anyway -- nice to find this VERY COOL place and thank you for your hospitality!

Cheers!
Chris

 

[Kohai999]

You are not welcome.

Generally, we as a community don't want the exposure....however, there is sure to be representative knuckleheads that suck the teat of publicity whoredom.

If you are at Blade, I will be sure to make myself known to you....chances are that I will be fairly hostile.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Characters are everything and it would be ideal to find the "knife version" of Orange County Choppers. Characters and conflict are the main things a network needs before they greenlight a show.

Chris

Greetings Chris,
It appears as if you're asking us to assist you to exploit a knifemaker by pointing out their dysfunction for the viewing enjoyment of a sick, depraved society hell-bent on garnering happiness through witnessing someone else's pain, while you reap the fortune.

...yeah, I can see where that will benefit the knifemaking community. Why not just get it out of the way and ask me to show you my tits?

I'm with STeven. Perhaps you might consider altering your definition of 'reality TV' to include reality, and maybe focus on the craft and the art, rather than the venal, base interpersonal dynamic of someone struggling... You know, be an agent of change for the positive, rather than just another scoundrel intent on using the anguish of another's life to further your own bank account?

...or perhaps I'm misreading your intention. Please correct me, if this is the case.

 

[Cougar Allen]

By the way, '50s juvenile delinquents did not use switchblades - not in real life. Only in Hollywoodland.

 

[snippy]

Here is my idea:

About a dozen supermodels each equipped with a different knife and a thong. Set them loose on a deserted island and see how they do.

I would watch that.

Eric

 

[Greykilt]

Hello all,

1. Chris here, from the state and city with possibly the most restrictive laws and crazy-ass politicians, New York City.
2.... our liberties and freedoms are being stripped....
3.... my girlfriend took me to the Benchmade headquarters and I picked up an HK OTF
4...... it felt great being able to buy a knife.....

...I am starting to develop a reality show or shows if there's a few great ideas, set within the knife world and would be very appreciative if any of the members here had any ideas, concepts or characters they think would make for a great TV show.

Characters are everything and it would be ideal to find the "knife version" of Orange County Choppers. Characters and conflict are the main things a network needs before they greenlight a show.

..... I hope to be heading out to this years Blade Show with my camera operator to get a better understanding of the world many people don't get a chance to experience....

Chris

Hello Chris.
You can tell by the responses above that perhaps your endeavor to make a program featuring a knifemaker hasn't been met so appreciatively. My experience has been that "reality" television isn't really all that real.
Not too far from here there is a gunsmith shop called Gunsmoke. I know the owner, Rich. A nice guy, retired police, etc. Family shop, Dad Mom, Son, Daughter, Brother, In Laws, the whole bunch. Mom and daughter always appear in skin tight tee shirts to feature their own "guns". That in & of itself was gratuitous to say the least. Well they made a show around them and their exploits and adventures. It was called "American Guns" & appeared on the Discovery chanel. Very first thing when the show comes on is "From beautiful Golden Colorado" & the gun shop featured against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. One can see the peak of Mt Evans against the skyline.
Actually the shop is on 44th Ave in Arvada between a Taco Stand and a Dairy Queen and true one can see the mountains (as you can everywhere in Denver) but the shop is not at the base of the summit & it is located in a very busy and congested city street. Point is the reality was altered to make it more appealing to the public.
And that would be my big concern tuning in to yet another reality manufacturer show. I certainly would not be entertained by the drama played out in Orange County Choppers. That father son feud got dull quick.
But you do have some ideas that I numbered above for a documentary. You enjoyed going to a knife shop. You enjoy carrying a pocket knife with no hassle. You and your girlfriend went there. Etc. Film that to show people the little known world of knife ownership.

I am a private person and am not that eager to show
What's in its pocketses?
to the world. And pocket knives are an intimate posession to a lot of folks. That is what you will most likely find here.

 

[Mecha]

Have you watched any reality TV shows? They generally make even the crappiest of movies look like cinematographic masterpieces.

Do the world and the entire history of Humankind a favor and make a show that is NOT in the "reality tv" format. The way those shows are cut and edited is an artistic disgrace, and it boggles my mind that the style has become the new norm. A bunch of poorly arranged, non-sequitous clips of idiots in action, arguing, boring camera angles and footage, punctuated continuously by inane "interview" clips where the speaker is looking off to the side, talking to nobody.

For the love of motion pictures, at the very least, make an actual documentary (or series) with clever footage, enlightening information and a good narrator/host.

With enough moxie, you could be a film HERO if you came up with a new show style that displaced the current "reality" format. It's a very low bar to raise.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

You rule, bro.

Have you watched any reality TV shows? They generally make even the crappiest of movies look like cinematographic masterpieces.

Do the world and the entire history of Humankind a favor and make a show that is NOT in the "reality tv" format. The way those shows are cut and edited is an artistic disgrace, and it boggles my mind that the style has become the new norm. A bunch of poorly arranged, non-sequitous clips of idiots in action, arguing, boring camera angles and footage, punctuated continuously by inane "interview" clips where the speaker is looking off to the side, talking to nobody.

For the love of motion pictures, at the very least, make an actual documentary (or series) with clever footage, enlightening information and a good narrator/host.

With enough moxie, you could be a film HERO if you came up with a new show style that displaced the current "reality" format. It's a very low bar to raise.