User:Alan Rook/sandbox

A brand new entertainment ?
'The Harlequin Game' is an experiential entertainment service developed by an international group of TV and theatre professionals. It uses actors, who appear unannounced and in character during players' daily lives. Once a player signs up to 'The Harlequin Game' they will wake each morning not knowing if, or when, that day will include actor interventions and various tests and trials. Key moments in the game are filmed - often covertly - and players don't always know when they're 'in the game'. Its creators describe 'The Harlequin Game' as a sequence of 'tailored surprises'. Each game is bespoke - a unique experience designed around the player during a pre-game production process. The precise nature of the actor interventions and the various tests and trials the player is instructed to complete are based entirely on the player's likes, dislikes, passions and fantasies. It's a process that usually requires collaboration with the player's family, friends and colleagues. Its creators bill the experience as a 'brand new entertainment' and market the game as an answer to the age old question: 'what do you buy for the person who has everything?'. [edit]What the Harlequin Game's creator says Designed as a single player experience, or as an event for groups of players, the company's founder promises to: 'make you the star of your own real life adventure movie'. Harlequin creator, the English television executive Alan Rook, describes the experience as ' a first person video game, brought into the real world'. He told reporters at a launch event in England in April 2012: “After watching films like 'The Truman Show' with Jim Carrey and 'The Game' with Michael Douglas and TV shows like 'Candid Camera' and 'Punk’d' down the years, I thought there was huge potential to offer the same sort of immersive experiences in real life. What we do, though, is unique and significantly less dark than some of our many cinematic, TV and video game influences. “We’re all about fun and excitement and inspiration too. What we provide is a ticket to the unknown. My team and I firmly believe people will love it. It’s an entirely new form of escapism - real life escapism, not living it through a video screen.” The exact mechanics of ""The Harlequin Game"" are shrouded in some secrecy, but producers say they devise stunts that makes players the stars of their own real life adventure. And at the end of it all they’re given a professionally filmed and edited movie in which they have the lead role. Creative Director Alan Rook says: “Our bespoke experiences are about the thrill of the unknown – and they’re all specifically built around the players. We provide tailored surprises based on deep research. They know when the harlequin game starts and when it ends, but players never – ever – know what’s coming next. “A stranger stops you in the street. You’re told your mission is to make a rendezvous point across town in 30 minutes. There - a hot dog seller passes you an envelope. Inside - keys and directions. They take you to your teenage dream car - and a note explaining it's yours for the afternoon – but where are you headed? "You may receive clues over several days that lead to an unexpected reunion with a long lost childhood friend. Saturday off? No. New clothes in the post - paparazzi outside - a limousine to a recording studio where your microphone awaits." The Harlequin Game website promises: 'Adrenaline experiences. Meetings with people you never thought you'd meet. A look at another side of life. Key moments captured on camera – often when you don’t know we’re there'. Rook, who’s a former network news boss and Editor of the iconic UK Daytime TV show This Morning, says: “You’re buying into the unknown. We aren’t. We’re all TV and theatre professionals and we do our homework very well, making sure what we do doesn’t interfere with important commitments. “Before a game begins there’s the induction. We question you and those close to you about your likes, dislikes, your passions and your fantasies. That makes every single game unique and bespoke. We combine adrenaline challenges that need quick thinking with plenty of fun, like you’ll see in the best TV prank shows. “We often include an element that shows you a side of life you might not be that familiar with too. It’s always thrilling and always exciting, but we think it’s genuinely life enriching too. In fact that’s the whole point.” [edit]Harlequin Diamond The single player game, 'Harlequin Diamond', lasts for an entire month and begins with the unannounced delivery of a harlequin calling card. Thereafter you’re ‘in play’ for the next four weeks. Every time you wake you won’t know if and when that day will include curious encounters, challenges or trials courtesy of The Harlequin. Sometimes Harlequin interventions are obvious, sometimes they’re not. Who’s acting and who isn’t may not be clear, so players are warned never to assume. Their job is simply to follow The Harlequin’s instructions. And all the time, cameras and microphones capture key moments - sometimes covertly, sometimes obviously. And at the end of it all? A party… timing and venue a surprise, but it’s there that your professionally filmed and edited movie of your Harlequin month is shown and shared with friends, family and colleagues. How much didn’t you realize was part of the game? [edit]Citizen stars 'The Harlequin Game' website showcases the first in a series of teaser films featuring non-actors. Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHpJ4B4YpYU Alan Rook says: 'The Harlequin Game' is all about people starring in their own film, so we decided to get out there and make a scene-setter movie starring people in their everyday jobs. We had a fantastic response. "Our games regularly include people in all walks of life who simply get into the spirit of what we plan to help make the experience for our players that much better. Often a contribution of a few minutes can make the world of difference to the realism of our experiences.” A hotel barman, an antiques shop worker, a pub manager, a hotel chef and a busker all feature in the first harlequin teaser film, set in the cathedral city of Canterbury, Kent, England. [edit]References To hear what players who've played 'The Harlequin Game' say, watch here: http://www.theharlequingame.com/what-people-say-video.php The month-long, single-person 'Harlequin Diamond' game is linked here: http://www.theharlequingame.com/diamond-plus.php 'The Harlequin Game' also offers a range of shorter team experiences including stag, hen and corporate events. Details can be found at 'The Harlequin Game' website http://www.theharlequingame.com. To find out more about the harlequin team and their professional credentials visit here: http://www.theharlequingame.com/team-harlequin.php Harlequin Game creator 'Alan Rook' is profiled here: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=59350971&trk=tab_pro