UK Roller Coaster Documentary

[chrisj0509]

Hi guys

 

Last week I posted asking for examples of extreme coasters that have been redesigned. But if you don't know me, I'm a TV Production student at the University of Leeds and for my final project I'm developing a 30 minute documentary based around roller coasters. I've had a number of ideas and I've decided stick to the UK industry (because it's more practical), and I've narrowed it down the these three.

 

Which one would you be most interested in watching, or otherwise, which is the better idea in your opinion? For the guys in the UK, the channel gives some indication to the style of the film but if you're unfamiliar with the channels then just choose what you think is best anyway

 

Of course, please do ignore the titles, I realise they're rather awful but it's not so important at this point.

 

Thanks guys!

[ernierocker]

Moving this to the main forum so you will get more views and responses. Good luck!

 

The extreme rides thing has been played out before, I think a program on the history of the coasters would be interesting for a change-up to the usual. But I say this as an enthusiast and not the common person who would probably find a program about the best and most extreme more interesting.

Edited February 3, 2012 by ernierocker

[mousch]

Moving this to the main forum so you will get more views and responses. Good luck!

 

The extreme rides thing has been played out before, I think a program on the history of the coasters would be interesting for a change-up to the usual. But I say this as an enthusiast and not the common person who would probably find a program about the best and most extreme more interesting.

 

I would rather watch about the history of the uk's coasters rather than the other options

[sspaz1000]

I definitely think there's potential with the history of roller coasters in the UK.

[jonnyfingers]

The history would definitely be the best. We don't have enough absolute top quality roller coasters to fill out a "best and worst" or "extreme" documentary. However if you look at some of the older coasters, at Blackpool and the former Dreamland park in Margate, Kent, there should be plenty of interesting details.

[cfc]

I think dealing with the history of UK roller coasters would be more interesting, but you could easily do a half-hour on Blackpool alone.

 

So, maybe this is the question you need to answer: "Which topic can I do properly in just 30 minutes?"

Edited February 3, 2012 by cfc

[tiger01]

I believe a documentary of the history of coasters would be nice and how they have developed to todays top rides.

Also, A documentary of rollercoasters won't go on BBC1 or 2. Its not that sort of channel. Channel 4 or Channel 5 would have something like that.

[RollerCoasterSmi]

I would most like to watch a "how it's made" style documentary, but since it really isn't practical (since there are no major coaster companies in the UK), I would rank the documentaries as follows:

 

1 The History Of UK Coasters

2 UK Coasters The Most Extreme

3 UK Coasters Best & Worst

 

I have watched a few coaster documentaries similar to the "Most Extreme" and all of them seem to focus on height, speed & inversions. Trying to put the ideas accross to the GP about airtime etc. is hard.

 

A "Top Ten Coasters In The World" (can't remember what it was called) programme I watched recently featured: Alpengeist, Riddler's Revenge, Superman The Escape, Goliath, Millenium Force & BuzzSaw Falls! Yes it was an old documentary, but there were certainly more extreme coasters around at the time!

 

I don't think the Best & Worst is a good idea at all, I don't like the "worst" aspect of it; it is too negative.

 

As an enthusiast, the best one would be the history documentary, but the one most likely to get on TV would be the "most extreme" programme.

 

Hope this helps.

 

RCS

[jason10]

I think from an enthusiast point of view, a history of roller coasters shown on BB4 would be my favourite. I think BBC4 would be the channel that would be able to create a documentary of actual quality rather than some of the more cliched programmes that have been shown more recently. BBC1 and 2 wouldn't really show this type of show I don't think. Channel 4 and 5 I could definitely see showing one of the cliched coaster documentaries on the biggest and the best (mainly showing record breakers or gimmicky coasters). BBC4 has the sophistication to house the one I'd be most interested in. But obviously that's an enthusiast point of view and I feel the GP would eat up one of the ones shown on Channel 4 or 5.

[QueerRudie]

When I CAN see BBC4, it's usually what I watch anyway- so it's a good fit for your program, I think.

[StealthFan]

I know this isn't in the list but I figured it’s something worth throwing out there if you’re interested in it. I would be more interested in a series of shows that follow the history of not just the roller coaster but the parks themselves. So for example you could have 30 mins or even an hour on Blackpool Pleasure Beach or Alton Towers that covers the park from inception to the modern day. I believe something like that would appeal to a wider variety of people than just history of roller coasters.

 

Of course as it’s your final project at uni, out of those choices would definitely be a History of UK Roller Coasters on BBC Four as that is my favourite channel for documentaries.

 

I wish you well on whatever option is picked and hope you get a fantastic grade.

 

-Craig

[dominoes]

I've seen enough "History of" programs. I really like the sound of the "Best and Worse", but only if it really pokes fun at the bad coasters.

[chrisj0509]

Thanks guys All your responses have been really helpful. After discussing this with my tutor, I have decided to go with the History programme for BBC Four. It also helps that my tutor produces programmes for this channel too haha!