Media Interaction Guidelines
Media pieces are a great way to show parkour and freerunning to the world; however, mass media often latches onto the "extreme" aspect of the "sport", even though within the parkour community it is not considered "extreme" nor even a "sport". These guidelines were written to help you do a media piece that best illustrates to the general public what these disciplines are, and promotes the safety and the training involved. SFPK Area Reps and Admins are always available to come in and help organize though, so feel free to use us as a resource.
Things you should know going into it
Media pieces, be they local news or something else, all have their own goals. That can be to shock, educate, or simply get ad revenue.
- They will have an angle (so help guide it!) Look at previous pieces they’ve done. If you get the sense they want to portray parkour as extreme, dangerous, or having an anti-establishment culture, you probably don't want to participate.
If they plan to portray parkour in a way you disagree with, suggest another angle true to the discipline. Unless you come up with an alternate angle and convince the producer that it will be sufficiently interesting, they're just going to do what they originally planned.
- They will publish what they want. They likely saw a freerunning video and want that. Ask. Freerunners shouldn't avoid news pieces or only stick to pure parkour for them. Help them get what they’re after by ensuring what you’re into is represented correctly, with appropriate terminology and talk about the relationship between the disciplines.
- They will feature the coolest thing they see. No matter what you explain or how much they seem to "get it", they'll use the tricks. So use them responsibly if at all.
Plan it out
The success of a piece, like most things in life, requires planning.
- Use a closed group. It's easier to plan and manage if you have a set group of invitees who are clear on the agenda, talking points, and do's and don'ts.
- Decide what you will say and do, and what you won't. Decide as a group whether you will be doing any tricking. How you will address risk and previous injuries. Dole out talking points. If you do any freerunning at all, make sure everyone says something about the relationship between parkour and freerunning.
- Keep your answers short. They always seem to ask the same questions: "What is parkour?" "Where did it come from?" "How long have you been doing it?" "It seems dangerous – is it?" "What's the worst injury you've seen?"
Have a concise answer to each of these. Not just because it's easier to remember, but because they (news pieces especially) use only sound bites. The more you talk, the more likely you are to say something that will be taken out of context because it sounds outrageous.
During the shoot/interview
Be as organized as possible, limit improvisation, make it a textbook jam. Whatever you choose to represent, do it well by doing following:
- Be professional! They’re at work so act as if you are too. Be on time, introduce yourself and be courteous and respectful toward the crew that's there (they now control your image) and the laws of the location you're at.
- Make it easy for the interviewers/camera crew. Stay around the same location, tell them if you move, give them access to what you're doing, and tell them what moves you're doing before you do it so they can prepare. Suggest angles you know will work – you've seen a lot more videos than they have and they're completely unfamiliar with the movements. Line up interviewees, and stick to the schedule.
- On open jams, come early. If they insist on coming to an open jam, schedule everyone to come earlier to go over the above.
- Stay safe! It may seem obvious, but if you get injured on camera it will hurt you, the piece, and perception of parkour in general.
Save pushing your own limits for another time. Often people feel the need to represent well by doing something spectacular, but don't risk your own health for the entertainment of others.
- Don’t talk smack! People like positive people. Bad-talking just makes you and those you represent look judgmental. Don’t put down skateboarders, freerunners, parkour purists or anyone else no matter how you feel about them. You can point out the differences and how you ended up the way you are, without put anyone else down.
- Be yourself. You don’t have to stick to the party line and only say or do things that everyone can agree on; you’re representing yourself as well as parkour. Be clear that you’re describing your experience as everyone’s will be different.
Things to work in
We can all agree on a few things, and if you get the opportunity, it’ll make us all look like better people which will come in handy when the time comes to get grant money, parkour parks or avoid “no parkour” signs.
- Leave No Trace initiative. It started with surfers long ago, and it’s one of those good ideas we as an international community are adopting. We respect our environment and want to leave our world better than the way we found it.
- Strong training ethic. The international parkour community evangelizes many training methods that focus on slow progression and safety.
- Respectful attitude. We recognize we’re not always understood or wanted, and make a point to obey police, security, and property owners. It’s a cultural attitude we all embrace.
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