A Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) Game in the 1980s: A Super 8 Movie by Ethan Gilsdorf Ethan Gilsdorf 2012-02-02 | It's 1981, and yes, this is poorly shot. But this is an actual (silent) movie from a real Dungeons & Dragons session back in 1981, shot by Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, on Super 8 (back when I was about 15). This takes place on a Friday night in Lee, New Hampshire. Look for the classic Mountain Dew can at 1:53. An account of the author's D&D nights can be found in his book "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms," his travel memoir investigation into fantasy and gaming subcultures. Read more about the book "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks" at http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com
The Desert Town: A Super 8 claymation monster movie from 1978, by Ethan Gilsdorf Ethan Gilsdorf 2024-08-16 | Ethan Gilsdorf, writer and author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, made "The Desert Town": A Super 8 claymation monster movie, in 1978, when he was 11. Shot in the "back lot" of his sister's bedroom, repurposing his HO train layout and a ton of sand from the local sandpit. Clearly inspired by Godzilla and other movies seen on Saturday afternoon Creature Double Feature. Read more about Ethan Gilsdorf ethangilsdorf.com.
Gaming at the Gygax House: A Visit to the Basement Where D&D Began Ethan Gilsdorf 2014-07-18 | A visit to the former home of Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons. It was in the basement of this home at 330 Center Street, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where Gygax, Dave Arneson, and other gamers added fantasy and role-playing elements to miniature tabletop strategy games. These rules would eventually become the first version of D&D. The tour also includes a brief tour of Lake Geneva, home of Gygax's company Tactical Studies Rules, later known as TSR, Inc., the publisher of D&D and other role-playing products; there's also a brief visit to Horticultural Hall, the first venue for the gaming convention Gen Con in 1968). D&D historian Jon Peterson, author of Playing At the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, shot this video, entitled "Gaming at the Gygax House."
200 People Singing Happy 40th Birthday Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) at PAX East 2014, Boston Ethan Gilsdorf 2014-04-15 | At PAX East 2014 (in Boston), at the panel Why D&D Is Still Awesome: A 40th Anniversary Dungeons & Dragons Tribute, Ethan Gilsdorf, author of "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms," leads the 200+ person crowd in a rousing "Happy Birthday to Dungeons & Dragons" singalong. More info http://east.paxsite.com/schedule/panel/why-dd-is-still-awesome-a-40th-anniversary-dungeons-dragons-tribute and http://www.ethangilsdorf.com. (with David Ewalt, author of "Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It"; and ; and Jon Peterson, author of "Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games.")
Dungeons & Dragons According To My Nephew Ethan Gilsdorf 2013-03-13 | My nephew Jack explains the version of D&D that he's created, aka "Dungeons versus Dragons," "dice versus mini characters," "figurines versus dies," and "flicking die."Footage ©2013 Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. http://www.ethangilsdorf.com http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com
Viggo Mortensen, audience Q&A, Coolidge Corner Theatre, March 5, 2012 Ethan Gilsdorf 2012-03-13 | Viggo Mortensen, in Boston (Brookline), Mass., on March 5, 2012 to accept the Coolidge Corner Theatre's Coolidge Award, answers questions from audience following a screening of his movie "Eastern Promises." Footage ©2012 Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. http://www.ethangilsdorf.com http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com
Viggo Mortensen Press Conference, March 5, 2012, Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline/Boston, Mass. Ethan Gilsdorf 2012-03-11 | Viggo Mortensen, in Boston (Brookline), Mass., to accept the Coolidge Corner Theatre's Coolidge Award, answers questions from the media. Footage ©2012 Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. http://www.ethangilsdorf.com http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com
Viggo Mortensen sings Aragorns Coronation from Lord of the Rings Ethan Gilsdorf 2012-03-05 | Viggo Mortensen, in Boston to accept the Coolidge Corner Theatre's Coolidge Award, sings "Aragorn's Coronation," the song Aragorn sings in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Shot by Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. http://www.ethangilsdorf.com
A Hard Days Knight [with Ethan Gilsdorf] Ethan Gilsdorf 2011-05-29 | Ethan Gilsdorf, author of FANTASY FREAKS AND GAMING GEEKS dons his chain mail and takes to the streets to find glory, camaraderie and donuts. Searching for Gandalf, Frodo and Harry Potter, our hero battles indifference and ridicule as he tries to convince others to join his fellowship and begs for spare change for the quest. Read more about Ethan's adventures in geekery at http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com.
If you want him, come and claim him! Ethan Gilsdorf 2010-11-11 | A Lord of the Rings mash-up, shot on location at the Ford of Bruinen location, Arrow River, Arrowtown, South Island, New Zealand."To read more about Ethan Gilsdorf's geeky Lord of the Rings filming location adventures in New Zealand, and much more, read "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms," now in paperback. More info: http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com
Guillermo del Toro plugs Ethan Gilsdorfs Fantasy Freaks & Gaming Geeks Ethan Gilsdorf 2010-09-23 | film director/visionary and author Guillermo del Toro, author of "The Fall" (the sequel to "The Strain") and Ethan Gilsdorf, author of "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms," have a brief love in and plug each other's books. More info: http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com
Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, by Ethan Gilsdorf, paperback teaser 1 Ethan Gilsdorf 2010-07-29 | A teaser trailer for the Sept 1, 2010, paperback release of the book by Ethan Gilsdorf, "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms." The critically acclaimed book is an exploration and celebration of fantasy and gaming subcultures. More info: http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com The paperback edition will be available Sept 1, 2010. +++ "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks" has been named a "Must-Read" book by the Massachusetts Book Awards +++ PRAISE AND REVIEWS for Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: Named a Must-Read Book by the Massachusetts Book Awards: "A readable and enlightening look at the gaming world, its various lore, arcana, and substrates, driven by the author's candor and insight into one manifestation of a human need to 'deny death and provide a vacation from everyday thought.'" "For anyone who has ever spent time within imaginary realms, the book will speak volumes. For those who have not, it will educate and enlighten." —Wired.com "Gandalf's got nothing on Ethan Gilsdorf, except for maybe the monster white beard. In his new book, Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, Gilsdorf . . . offers an epic quest for reality within a realm of magic." —Boston Globe "Master geek theater." —The Times of Trenton "A breathless adventure/quest/memoir that is uniquely contemporary." —Andrei Codrescu, NPR commentator "Imagine this: Lord of the Rings meets Jack Kerouac's On the Road...."—National Public Radio's "Around and About" "What does it mean to be a geek? . . . Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks tackles that question with strength and dexterity. . . . part personal odyssey, part medieval mid-life crisis, and part wide-ranging survey of all things freaky and geeky ... playful ... funny and poignant ... It's a fun ride and it poses a question that goes to the very heart of fantasy, namely: What does the urge to become someone else tell us about ourselves?" —Huffington Post "More fun than being a Dungeon Master to a group of high-level mages and thieves." —A. J. Jacobs, author of The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically "Gilsdorf is an engaging and personable guide. Like many who will pick up his book, he's got one foot squarely in the real world, the other in the fantasy one. This is a journey well worth taking." —Booklist "Journalist and 'avowed, out-of-the-closet geek' Ethan Gilsdorf embraces his love of J.R.R. Tolkien, Dungeons & Dragons and all things fantasy, embarking on a quest to discover what motivates those who devote significant portions of their lives to what many others dismiss as escapist fantasies. The book is also a journey of self-discovery.... engaging, occasionally poignant and emotional." —Boston Globe "Witty, downright funny, poignant, honest and ... well, wistful." —R. A. Salvatore, New York Times bestselling author of The Dark Elf Trilogy "Gilsdorf rekindled his childhood fascination with Dungeons & Dragons as a launch point, and then proceeded to wander the country exploring MMOs, LARPs, and other non-acronym endeavors in order write his fascinating memoir/travel/geek-world exploration." —The Onion A.V. Club
Willie Nelsons On the Road Again Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-09-25 | This what happens when you're on book tour (for Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks) with too much time and wanderlust on your hands: car karaoke. Yikes! with apologies to Willie Nelson ....http://www.ethangilsdorf.com
Kindle book signing a postmodern moment in book selling Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-08-18 | Beth Davidson of Greensboro, North Carolina, met me at Gen Con, at the booth where I was selling my book "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks." Beth wanted to take home one of the signed copies my signage was not-so-subtly touting. But she didn't want to buy a "physical" copy of the book. She wanted to buy it on Kindle, AND she wanted the signature. So she asked me to sign her Kindle. She flipped it over to reveal its pristine, shiny metal backside. I took out my Sharpie. And I did it.
At Gen Con Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-08-14 | A short look at Gen Con 2009 -- Ethan Gilsdorf reporting for Boston.com, promoting his book "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks"
the night before the action at Gen Con Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-08-14 | The hall is getting set up at Gen Con. The natives are restless outside the door. They are coming.
Introducing Fantasy Freaks & Gaming Geeks! with author Ethan Gilsdorf Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-08-07 | Follow Ethan's adventures in his book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks! http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com Available in paperback, Sept 1, 2010! Author Ethan Gilsdorf introduces his book "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms," a narrative non-fiction book that's a humorous, lively, and provocative blend of travelogue, pop culture analysis, and memoir about fantasy subcultures. The book is coming out September 1 from Globe Pequot/The Lyons Press. Synopsis: Fantasy. Science fiction. Role-playing games. Tens of millions of people around the globe turn away from the "real" world to inhabit others. Movie fan-freaks design costumes and collect Lord of the Rings action figures. Some attend comic book conventions and Renaissance fairs, others play live-action role-playing games (LARPs). The online game World of Warcraft (WoW) alone has lured twelve million users worldwide. Even old-school, "pencil-and-paper" role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) are still wildly popular. Who are these gamers and fantasy fans? What explains the irresistible appeal of such "escapist" adventures? And what could one man find if he embarked on a journey through fantasy world after fantasy world? In an enthralling blend of travelogue, pop culture analysis, and memoir, forty-year-old former D&D addict Ethan Gilsdorf crisscrosses America, the world, and other worlds—from Boston to Wisconsin, France to New Zealand, and Planet Earth to the realm of Aggramar. On a quest that begins in his own geeky teenage past and ends in our online gaming future, he asks gaming and fantasy geeks how they balance their escapist urges with the kingdom of adulthood. He questions Tolkien scholars and medievalists. He speaks to grown men who build hobbit holes and speak Elvish, and to grown women who play massively multiplayer online games late into the night. He seeks out those who dream of elves, long swords, and heroic deeds, and mentally inhabit far-away magical lands. Gilsdorf records what lures them—old, young, male, female, able-bodied and disabled—into fantasy worlds, and for what reasons, whether healthy, unhealthy, or in between. Delving deeper and deeper into geekdom, our noble hero plays WoW for weeks on end. He travels to pilgrimage sites: Tolkiens hometown, movie locations, castles, and archives. He hangs out with Harry Potter tribute bands. At a LARP, he dresses as a pacifist monk for a weekend. He goes to fan conventions and gaming tournaments. He battles online goblins, trolls, and sorcerers. He camps with medieval reenactors—12,000 of them. He becomes Ethor, Ethorian, and Ethor-An3. He sews his own tunic. He even plays D&D. What he discovers is funny, poignant, and enlightening.
Ethan Gilsdorf Worst Guild Candidate Ever audition movie for The Guild Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-06-28 | Ethan Gilsdorf Worst Guild Candidate Ever audition movie for The Guild ....not my real self. well, sort of my real self. read more here http://www.ethangilsdorf.com http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com
A visit to Hobbiton (Matamata, New Zealand) with Ethan Gilsdorf Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-06-26 | A visit to Hobbiton (Matamata, New Zealand), the filming location for Lord of the Rings (and, soon, the Hobbit), and a search of hobbits, with Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks & Gaming Geeks. Follow Ethan's adventures and more info on the book here http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.comSynopsis:Fantasy. Science fiction. Role-playing games.Tens of millions of people around the globe turn away from the "real" world to inhabit others. Movie fan-freaks design costumes and collect Lord of the Rings action figures. Some attend comic book conventions and Renaissance fairs, others play live-action role-playing games (LARPs). The online game World of Warcraft (WoW) alone has lured twelve million users worldwide. Even old-school, "pencil-and-paper" role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) are still wildly popular.Who are these gamers and fantasy fans? What explains the irresistible appeal of such "escapist" adventures? And what could one man find if he embarked on a journey through fantasy world after fantasy world?In an enthralling blend of travelogue, pop culture analysis, and memoir, forty-year-old former D&D addict Ethan Gilsdorf crisscrosses America, the world, and other worlds—from Boston to Wisconsin, France to New Zealand, and Planet Earth to the realm of Aggramar. On a quest that begins in his own geeky teenage past and ends in our online gaming future, he asks gaming and fantasy geeks how they balance their escapist urges with the kingdom of adulthood. He questions Tolkien scholars and medievalists. He speaks to grown men who build hobbit holes and speak Elvish, and to grown women who play massively multiplayer online games late into the night. He seeks out those who dream of elves, long swords, and heroic deeds, and mentally inhabit far-away magical lands. Gilsdorf records what lures them—old, young, male, female, able-bodied and disabled—into fantasy worlds, and for what reasons, whether healthy, unhealthy, or in between.Delving deeper and deeper into geekdom, our noble hero plays WoW for weeks on end. He travels to pilgrimage sites: Tolkiens hometown, movie locations, castles, and archives. He hangs out with Harry Potter tribute bands. At a LARP, he dresses as a pacifist monk for a weekend. He goes to fan conventions and gaming tournaments. He battles online goblins, trolls, and sorcerers. He camps with medieval reenactors—12,000 of them. He becomes Ethor, Ethorian, and Ethor-An3. He sews his own tunic. He even plays D&D. What he discovers is funny, poignant, and enlightening.
In search of Weta Workshop, Weta Cave & Wellywood, with Ethan Gilsdorf Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-06-26 | Author Ethan Gilsdorf travels to Wellington, New Zealand, and visits "Wellywood," Weta Workshop, the Weta Cave, and tries to stalk Peter Jackson and sneak onto the studios. Gilsdorf is the author of "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms."Follow Ethan's adventures in his book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks! http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.comSynopsis:Fantasy. Science fiction. Role-playing games.Tens of millions of people around the globe turn away from the "real" world to inhabit others. Movie fan-freaks design costumes and collect Lord of the Rings action figures. Some attend comic book conventions and Renaissance fairs, others play live-action role-playing games (LARPs). The online game World of Warcraft (WoW) alone has lured twelve million users worldwide. Even old-school, "pencil-and-paper" role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) are still wildly popular.Who are these gamers and fantasy fans? What explains the irresistible appeal of such "escapist" adventures? And what could one man find if he embarked on a journey through fantasy world after fantasy world?In an enthralling blend of travelogue, pop culture analysis, and memoir, forty-year-old former D&D addict Ethan Gilsdorf crisscrosses America, the world, and other worlds—from Boston to Wisconsin, France to New Zealand, and Planet Earth to the realm of Aggramar. On a quest that begins in his own geeky teenage past and ends in our online gaming future, he asks gaming and fantasy geeks how they balance their escapist urges with the kingdom of adulthood. He questions Tolkien scholars and medievalists. He speaks to grown men who build hobbit holes and speak Elvish, and to grown women who play massively multiplayer online games late into the night. He seeks out those who dream of elves, long swords, and heroic deeds, and mentally inhabit far-away magical lands. Gilsdorf records what lures them—old, young, male, female, able-bodied and disabled—into fantasy worlds, and for what reasons, whether healthy, unhealthy, or in between.Delving deeper and deeper into geekdom, our noble hero plays WoW for weeks on end. He travels to pilgrimage sites: Tolkiens hometown, movie locations, castles, and archives. He hangs out with Harry Potter tribute bands. At a LARP, he dresses as a pacifist monk for a weekend. He goes to fan conventions and gaming tournaments. He battles online goblins, trolls, and sorcerers. He camps with medieval reenactors—12,000 of them. He becomes Ethor, Ethorian, and Ethor-An3. He sews his own tunic. He even plays D&D. What he discovers is funny, poignant, and enlightening.Follow Ethan's adventures in his book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks! http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.comAvailable in paperback, Sept 1, 2010!Ethan Gilsdorf, author of "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms" goes on a quest to Wellington, New Zealand, in search of the Weta Workshop, Miramar, Peter Jackson and that elusive "movie magic".... and what does he find? Read all about it here, in "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks,"Publishing September 1, 2009 from The Lyons PressISBN 978-1-59921-480-1 / Retail $24.95 / Hardcover320 pp / Social Science/Popular Culture / 25 b&w photoshttp://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com
In search of Rivendell and the Elves, with Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-06-26 | Author Ethan Gilsdorf travels to New Zealand's Kaitoke Regional Park in search of the Rivendell LOTR filming location, and the elves.... Gilsdorf is the author of "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms." Follow Ethan's adventures in his book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks! http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com Synopsis: Fantasy. Science fiction. Role-playing games. Tens of millions of people around the globe turn away from the "real" world to inhabit others. Movie fan-freaks design costumes and collect Lord of the Rings action figures. Some attend comic book conventions and Renaissance fairs, others play live-action role-playing games (LARPs). The online game World of Warcraft (WoW) alone has lured twelve million users worldwide. Even old-school, "pencil-and-paper" role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) are still wildly popular. Who are these gamers and fantasy fans? What explains the irresistible appeal of such "escapist" adventures? And what could one man find if he embarked on a journey through fantasy world after fantasy world? In an enthralling blend of travelogue, pop culture analysis, and memoir, forty-year-old former D&D addict Ethan Gilsdorf crisscrosses America, the world, and other worlds—from Boston to Wisconsin, France to New Zealand, and Planet Earth to the realm of Aggramar. On a quest that begins in his own geeky teenage past and ends in our online gaming future, he asks gaming and fantasy geeks how they balance their escapist urges with the kingdom of adulthood. He questions Tolkien scholars and medievalists. He speaks to grown men who build hobbit holes and speak Elvish, and to grown women who play massively multiplayer online games late into the night. He seeks out those who dream of elves, long swords, and heroic deeds, and mentally inhabit far-away magical lands. Gilsdorf records what lures them—old, young, male, female, able-bodied and disabled—into fantasy worlds, and for what reasons, whether healthy, unhealthy, or in between. Delving deeper and deeper into geekdom, our noble hero plays WoW for weeks on end. He travels to pilgrimage sites: Tolkiens hometown, movie locations, castles, and archives. He hangs out with Harry Potter tribute bands. At a LARP, he dresses as a pacifist monk for a weekend. He goes to fan conventions and gaming tournaments. He battles online goblins, trolls, and sorcerers. He camps with medieval reenactors—12,000 of them. He becomes Ethor, Ethorian, and Ethor-An3. He sews his own tunic. He even plays D&D. What he discovers is funny, poignant, and enlightening.
Harry and Potters play Dumbledore, in Ethan Gilsdorfs book Fantasy Freaks &Gaming Geeks Ethan Gilsdorf 2009-06-23 | Harry and the Potters' 500th show in Norwood, Massachusetts., June 19, 2009, recorded by Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. Harry and the Potters are profiled in my book! Follow Ethan's adventures in the book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks! http://www.fantasyfreaksbook.com Available in paperback, Sept 1, 2010!
