BBC Merlin Filming Locations

The question has been raised of whether we will allow 'commercial' content in posts to the community. And after some pondering we thought it appropriate within certain reasonable limits.

If we're about helping fans actually visit these wonderful places, then inevitably questions of travel, accommodation and money arise. Posts by fans whose genuine intent it is to assist other fans in making travel plans seem fair to me. Just like a post in a general Merlin fannish community might point you towards Jethro standees or Kangaroo Poo t-shirts. A heads-up about a discount or an opportunity that we might otherwise miss also seems fair.

Anything beyond that would be questionable. This isn't a place for commercial advertising. Obviously.

So the following has just been added to the Rules on our profile page. All (polite!) discussion is welcome. I'd rather deal with any identifiable problems now rather than later. On the other hand, if you're willing to run with it and see whether it ever does actually become a problem, I'd be very happy with that, too.

Given that this community exists to help fans visit filming locations in the real world as well as virtually, some 'commercial' content is permissible within reason. It must be posted with the genuine intent of assisting our fellow fans in making their own travel plans. It might include, for example, hotel recommendations or a heads-up about a relevant discount or opportunity. It must be brief and subtle; if a longer post is required, post it on your own journal, and link to it from a brief post to the community. Such posts must never overwhelm other fannish posts in style, content or number. The intersection of fandom and the commercial world can create difficulties, so the mods reserve the right to apply, amend or withdraw this policy without notice at any time. Thank you for your understanding!

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XD {sorry couldn't help myself}

So... this is what happens when I really should be concentrating on Real Life. I start creating mood themes quite gratuitously... It's called avoidance through immersing oneself in the pretties.
 
Actually, what I really wanted to do was create a mood theme using only my photos of the actual locations, plus the ones I've taken of the cast. And that's still my plan, ultimately, though it's a bit of a challenge. Because how do you represent 'anger' or 'groggy' using only that kind of source material? Though some are easy enough - 'weird' is a gargoyle at Pierrefonds, 'indescribable' is the castle rising from the fields, 'hungry' is the menu item 'Filet de Colin'. And so on. Anyway, I'll keep pondering all of that...

In the meantime, as a practice, I created a Road Trip mood theme using screen captures by yorkshirewench (and a few from gealach_ros) of the BBC Wales show The Real Merlin and Arthur. Thank you both!

Except I cheated a bit. It was easy enough finding 'happy' and even 'sad' - but 'angry'...? Just didn't happen. Though Colin did get mildly irritated in his Colin Morgan way with the map. And then I thought, well, is this the kind of community where people often get angry...? Perhaps not! (Or maybe I am just an incurable Pollyanna. Well, OK, yes. I am.) But I just used colours for the mood families of 'angry' and 'okay'. I'm not saying you can't feel them - in fact, going back through some of my entries, I see I have a nice red 'frustrated' in there - it's just that the boys didn't act those ones out for me on their road trip. Bless their good hearts.

Anyway, if you're interested, you can see all the moods here.

And today I feel 'accomplished'... Show us how it's done, Professor James!

Thanks are due to denkiva, who has kindly featured both the merlinlocations community and our companion website in the blog known as The Camelot Chronicle. Check out the blog, and also the associated Merlin TV Series Fan Site - there's lots of info and goodies here. (Though I must say I found the slideshow of Colin!images a complete distraction... Still, if I'm going to waste time, it may as well be pleasant!)

I am delighted to launch a new website, created with the help of friends, which acts as a companion to this Merlin Locations lj community.

You can find it at: merlinlocations.com

For now, it is a fairly basic site, designed to show off foist my photography upon you. (Except I just realised I didn't include anything from Raglan Castle yet. Obviously it's already in need of updating!) I've also included my cast photos, seeing as they've been so happily received. (Thank you!) If I may presume... if anyone would like hi-res copies of anything to help with icons or other graphics, please feel free to ask.

I hope you enjoy the site!

Edit: I have now added Raglan Castle to the site, so it is at least momentarily up to date!