ADLOCVTIO
NEWSLETTER OF THE TWENTIETH LEGION
Vol. XVIII, no. viii, August 2008
ROMAN DAYS 2008
The next Roman Days will be on the weekend of
September 26-28, 2008 (not June!), at George Mason University in
Fairfax, VA. Richard, Deb, and Alec have been hammering out the
details--HUGE thanks to them for all work they've been
doing! The discussion is on the Roman Days list, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romandays/
To all reenactors out there, we want everything from
the Iceman to the 5th century AD. Romans, Gauls, Greeks,
Iberians, Persians, Germans, Samnites, Etruscans, Thracians, Numidians,
more Romans, and all the rest. The focus as usual will be on
general living history and public education, but there is growing talk
about sparring with needlefelt weapons or other such activities.
The artillery range (the west field) is unfortunately smaller than we'd
like, but we do plan to shoot there. (We're hoping to talk George
Mason into a larger space for next year!) Bring your catapultae
and ballistae! We're still fiddling with how to lay out the
encampment area, but there should be plenty of space for all our tents
and displays.
Remember, you do NOT have to be a reenactor to
participate! We can accommodate wargamers, scholars, and general
enthusiasts as well. A variety of kids' activities and
educational displays are planned.
The new site is a pair of grassy fields at the
intersection of Patriot Circle and George Mason Boulevard, at the north
side of the main campus. (Search Google Maps with the address
4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030, and the pointer will be one
block north and one block west of the fields.) This is about 2
blocks east of Ox Road, VA Route 123. From the Capital Beltway in
Virginia, I-495, EITHER take Little River Turnpike Rt. 236 West about 5
miles, turn left on Ox Rd., then go about 2/3 of a mile and turn left
on University Drive; OR take Braddock Rd. Rt. 620 West about 5 miles,
turn RIGHT on Ox Rd., then go about 2/3 of a mile and turn RIGHT on
University Drive. Then go 2 blocks and turn right on George Mason
Blvd. Parking will probably be in the lot on your left, but we
will confirm that. The site is straight ahead, one block.
There may also be a fee for parking, but hopefully not for
participants--we'll try to let you know as soon as possible.
The Fairfax County Latin Teachers Association is
heavily involved, and will be arranging for a few hundred high school
students to attend. In fact they plan to come on Friday, so we
are setting up a special program for that, involving whomever is
available to participate. We have also gotten a positive response
from Eta Sigma Phi, the national Classics honor society (with chapters
at a number of local colleges and universities). So right off the
bat we are sure to get a much larger audience than we have had in years
past.
VENDORS: The University is planning to charge a fee
of $60 for the weekend. Don't know how to pay that or when, yet,
but we'll find out.
We will not have a food vendor for the public there,
but there are many places to eat on campus. Reenactors may
certainly provide their own food, of course. We can cook on
stoves but no ground fires. The nearby campus buildings have
bathrooms! There are also several good hotels nearby, for those
far from home who do not plan to camp. Alcohol is only allowed if
we have a permit from the Events Office. Please do not carry any
weapons outside of our camp and demonstration areas.
Apologies for the delay in getting the website
updated! There's been an awful lot going on behind the
scenes, as it were. Changing the event to a new site has been
much more difficult than we'd imagined. But hang in there!
Roman Days WILL happen!
FILMING, from David Smith
Friends, Romans, "barbarians," et al:
Salvete,
I have been in contact with a film maker who is interested in shooting
a docudrama in Gettysburg-- probably the weekend AFTER Roman Days [or
Oct. 11-12?].
This film maker is interested in "fit" and "accurate" Romans and
"barbarians," including some civilians.
Details about pay/legal have not been worked out, but the film maker
has asked me to coordinate personnel, equipment, etc. When I get
more information, I'll start contacting unit leaders for individual
talent shots and resumes. The director wants me to stress two things:
1) Reenactors must be fit enough to look like active legionaries;
2) Reenactors must be willing to get their equipment wet and/or dirty.
The reason this project seems especially cool is that the director is
willing to shoot narration/dialogue in Latin with English subtitles,
and is interested in doing some battle sequences with "barbarians.
" Also, there would be camp scenes demonstrating aspects of daily
camp life. I have already suggested that this film maker visit
Roman Days, Lafe, Pompeii II, etc. to get an idea of what we Romans can
do. Let's show the shiny boys of Ermine Street Guard that we
Yanks have come of age!
Since there are already Revolutionary War and American Civil War
docudramas out there, why not for Rome?
Please let me know if anyone is interested. This project will involve a
screening of individuals, working with the casting director, so if you
have a 'talent shot,' that would be great.
Gratias,
David
dsmith7070 AT comcast DOT net
MORE DISTANT EVENTS
--CASTRA ROMANA POMPEII II, THE ERUPTION CONTINUES, from Rusty Myers
**Event unfortunately cancelled due to Tropical Storm
Hanna!
-------------------------------
-- REENACTOR FEST 5: February 5-8, 2009 at the Westin Chicago North
Shore Hotel in Wheeling IL.
http://www.reenactorfest.com/
CALENDAR
September 6-- Monthly workshop at Roger and JJ's house
September 26-28-- ROMAN DAYS!
October-- Rest…
December-- Presumably Christmas Bethlehem shows at the
Adventist World Headquarters, and Parkwood Baptist Church.
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ADLOCVTIO is the Official Newsletter of the Twentieth Legion,
supposedly published on the Ides of each month. I am Quintus, aka
Matthew Amt, the Legion's Commander and Editor of the Newsletter,
matthew_amt AT yahoo DOT com, http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
.