I had the (bad?) luck to take part on this French tv show: Midi en France (12 o'clock in France) presented by
Laurent Boyer and Evelyne Thomas.Evelyne Thomas was known as the ex presentator of a talk show called « C'est mon choix » (It's my choice).
It will be franck: it was my first and
LAST participation on tv events.
The tv show « Midi en France » principle is simple: they stay one week in a city and talk every day about its culture, cooking...etc.
The manga association I'm a member of was contacted one month ago by the show producer. He wanted to make a short sequence about the manga festival organised each year by the association. He wanted to meet some cosplayers too...
I had put clear limits to his ideas and we had agreed on a precise sequence: me and another cosplayer friend showing:
1: definition of cosplay
2 how to choose a cosplay
3 how to make it (sewing etc etc)
4: wig and accessories technics.
I had sent them documents to explain what cosplay is, so they wouldn't say rubbish in the off voice comments.
Day of the sequence making: I bring with me two bags of cosplay stuff as I was asked.
We talk and eat lunch with the journalist which seems open minded and trustful.
Sequence making.Instead of me and the other cosplayer making our demo....I end up EMPTYING my bags (FILMED OF COURSE) under the eyes of the association presidents which have no way in hell knowledge in cosplay. The guy wanted the two president to make comments or questions about the cosplay tools I had bring. LOL. I won't describe you the funny awful silences in this sequence since we were all 3 LOST in the same boat. No wonder I began to panic since all the text I had prepared and learnt was useless!
Then I began to wonder « what am I doing here??? » when the guy asked me 3 times if he could FILM me while changing. And when he wanted to place himself the mic in my bra...
The word « NO » seemed to be new for him. He was quite deceived by my refusal!
And the urge to yell or hit him when he asked that philosphical question:
« do you cosplay because you were frustrated not to disguise yourself in Haloween during your childhood? »
I was schocked at the difference between the journalist attitude before and during the filming. From open minded and honnest, He had gone to simply insolent and stupid.
I won't describe the rest of the movie making which didn't correspond at all to what was previewed.
Legal note: we didn't sign any legal document about filming autorisation.
I was very angry, deceived and worried.
Yesterday, the tv sequence was diffused on national tv.
Link to the video:
http://www.pluzz.fr/midi-en-france--2012-10-09-10h45.html(it begins at minute 35). I don't know if you'll be able to watch that video from foreign countries but let's give it a try.
All my interview was cut off (something I'm rather grateful for) but no image shows the stuff I had bring with me to describe what cosplay is. T__T
I appear with my Madame Red cosplay.
Overall it wasn't that bad. It could have been worse.
Still, I cound't resist to share with you the comments (off voice) of Evelyne Thomas. Definition of manga «a japanese comics for children ».
ERRORR«
that guy read japanese manga...but he doesn't know Japanese »:
ERROOORR The guy in question knows well enough Japanese since he has been employed as a traducer in Animation studios.
During the presentation of the association president, the camera zoomed on a child book called « Mister Funny ». Great way to humiliate the guy and his manga passion!« cosplay and manga are a odd passion »: repeated 3 times as if it was a illness!! The worst happen in the live part. The association president and some cosplayers were present. I wasn't there.
Best moment was when she asked the public two or three times «
wouldn't you be afraid to meet such person in the street? » Euh, we aren't robbers or vilains right? Cosplayers and manga fans are normal people!
«
Why do you take interest in Japan since your region is so interesting ? » That's the principle of culture, dummy!
Why the hell somebody would have to be passionated by his town ONLY?
« don't you think people consider you as crazy ? » O___o
Evelyne Thomas is rather insolent and disrespectul in that sequence. Incompetent too since she has been sent documents and basic information about cosplay so she wouldn't say rubbish but was too lazy or incompetent to read /understand it.
I may add that the cosplayers and gothic lolita talked with her some minutes before the show to explain again what is cosplay or gothic lolita. Evelyne Thomas had no excuse for her incompetence!
I won't even describe my deception when Laurent Boyer compared cosplay to «
disguising childishly like in Harry Potter ». Laurent Boyer was as insolent and arrogant than her journalist.
They cut the mic of our association president every time he wanted to talk or answer. Great way to do their job!
The good element is that the spectators didn't react to their insolence and made good comments to the cosplayers and manga fan. They didn't follow them in her intolerance. But still...
What did I learnt from this tv show experience?DO NOT TRUST journalists/interviewers/tv cams. They can manipulate your words and make you say the contrary of what you truly said. They can cut it off to make you appear ridiculous or stupid (gives more audimat it seems).
Even if you send mails to the producer/journalist to prepare the sequence, nothing says the final result will be positive since the cutting, off voice and music can change everything.
So follow my advice: stay away from tv shows, cams and journalists!!!