A fellrunning documentary?

I don't have a tv so I don't really have a vested interest here but I am intrigued by the idea that people see something on television and then go and have a go themselves. How true do you think this idea is? I'm not asking because I don't think its true, I really don't know, I'm just genuinely interested if anyone knows the statistics. Personally, I should think the number would be pretty small especially considering that the majority of people I know think that fellrunning is a crazy idea. I have enough trouble getting any women from my club to join me to get a team together and they actually like running already!

I have been watching "TRANSWORLD SPORTS" which is a weekly? magazine type sports programme on Sky Sports. This seems to cater for everything from International Football to Village Cheese Rolling. The programme makers apear to hi-light a less well known sport and focus, in a 5 min section, on one of the top participants. I am amazed that they haven't as yet picked up on fell running, unless I have missed that episode.
I would think they would do a really good job of producing a 5 min report into the sport without trying to promote it for the masses.

FITC is in the process of being made into a film, they're just waiting for the last bit of funding. I think of the existing documentries, 2x2 has been the best, though, it was done in 1985 so possibly of interest to do again. Otherwise enough has/is being done.
Wondered what happened to Transworld Sports, it used to be on Ch4, shame you'd have to pay extra to watch it now.

I am absolutely brand new to the fellrunning community and have never run a race (though I've stewarded a couple), but the thing that impresses me the most is the grass-roots nature of it; it's a genuine community. I'd hate to see macho gear fiends out on the hills pushing past people, or moaning about changing rooms and showers and stuff like that. I'd hate to see people who drive over sand dunes in 4WDs bragging to their mates about how fellrunning is their "summer thing". The community would be lost.

If niche activities get too popular, they lose their spirit. I don't see how a documentary would be shown on TV unless it was heavily edited to show only the glamorous bits, and if fellrunning starts to look glamorous, it will pull people in, rather than be there for people to find.

In the same way, the music festivals that get shown on TV are the ones with big name branding, strict curfews, lots of crime and high admission fees. The ones that don't get shown on TV still have an amazing atmosphere, low entry fees, little or no crime and masses of personality.

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Originally Posted by ZootHornRollo

Just wanted to canvas opinion on how welcome a documentary on fellrunning would be - say, one that might appear on BBC4 or the like.

Could the sport benefit from having its profile raised in that way?

Or do you think it more likely the sport and the fells would end up being changed for the worse by too much exposure?

What if it was specifically about the BGR? Or Joss Naylor?

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Nope!

"Griff Rhy-Jones, Jordan, Rory McGrath and Howard from the halifax adverts are on a mission. We have given them seven days to become fully fledged fell runners before throwing them in at the deep end. They'll be competing in the tough and challenging Round Latrigg fell race. Training them will be fell running legend Ben Fogle. Can they rise to the challenge?"

I'm thing of "Horny Mountain Goats" as a title. Living Tv are in a bidding war with Adult Filth (the jordan market) on this one.

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Originally Posted by ZootHornRollo

Or do you think it more likely the sport and the fells would end up being changed for the worse by too much exposure?

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Just about every sport has changed for the worse by too much exposure, nuff said.

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Originally Posted by mudclawed

"Griff Rhy-Jones, Jordan, Rory McGrath and Howard from the halifax adverts are on a mission. We have given them seven days to become fully fledged fell runners before throwing them in at the deep end. They'll be competing in the tough and challenging Round Latrigg fell race. Training them will be fell running legend Ben Fogle. Can they rise to the challenge?"

I'm thing of "Horny Mountain Goats" as a title. Living Tv are in a bidding war with Adult Filth (the jordan market) on this one.

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That's tickled me mudclawed:D

might happen yet mate!

OK interesting stuff. I do tend towards the wary and sceptical side of things myself.

Although I would like to see a well-made documentary film about the sport myself - it could be a valuable record. One great thing FITC did was to record some of the oral history from great figures in the sport who are not going to be around forever.

Maybe it doesn't have to be for general release - just shown at special screenings etc. Which would make it a labour of love, I suppose.