RAF Morale Video
 

Enginesuck's idea on the RN video thread, but could see this developing so starting a thread of it's own.

My thoughts

1) Must hit the 6 o clock news. Army's did (and the RN too I think)

2) Needs a good soundtrack. Road to Amarillo was very clever as it capitalised on the song of the time.

Ideas ?

'Paint it black' by the Rolling Stones springs to mind atm.

Believe it or not, we in the SH world suggested it and we were poo pood because the public associate SH with Army....

They wanted the fast pointy things to take the lead :cool:

How about lots of RAF people in sandy places singing 'The Sloop John B'!!!

So 'they' even interfere with unofficial videos? Trust the RAF to ruin an opportunity for some fun by trying to stage-manage it for maximum PR. The other services' videos worked because they were made by real people and were relatively pointless, not a £1m recruitment extravaganza!

'king typical

Some fr'ends 'n I thought about this after the Amarillo one came out. Unfortunately some big knob at HQ PR Command then announced that they wanted the RAF to come up with one and we lost interest. Make it official = kiss of death.

We thought "Perfect Day" might be a good one - I was taken with the idea of Chinook crewman hosing down the countryside with his M60 whilst singing "you're going to reap just what you sow....." Not particularly politically correct but then thats the idea surely. All to be filmed somewhere hot and rubbish obviously.......

:)

Some dittys spring to mind!

In-keeping with one of the current theatres: By the rivers of Babylon

The hugely predictable: Leaving on a jet plane (however with things in Beruit this may not be true and army infantrymen will definately disagree!)

Or in true omnipotent form: We are the champions




edit - spellin

I like this. We need something to incorporate the spectrum of those in the RAF serving away. And we have every branch away somewhere.

Someone posted a link about a guy who goes around the world dancing. That's got mileage in it, but with a RAF theme and a witty song.

I can get footage from BSR and MPA . . .

Listening to the Sloop John B now for inspiration !

ACDC 'Shoot to Thrill' with some TELIC footage perhaps? :}

Been there, done that......long time ago, though
 

On det with 111 in Malta in 1968, we accomplished a very amusing (and slapstick) version of The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations". This was on cranky old Super 8 film as I remember, with a scatchy open-reel portable tape recorder to provide the sound track.
Great fun, and when shown with lots of beer flowing always brought the house down.
Even had a very young LFITTNI checking the dither of the F3 autopilot to the refrain "......you're giving me excitations, ooh, bop, bop, good vibrations, bop, bop". There was also a very shapely WRAF in there somewhere too......:E
No idea where the film and tape ended up, unfortunately.
Agree with comments above--it has to be non-official to be any good.

"LEAN on us, when we're not strong, can't somebody know, these cutbacks can't go on...."

Brilliant idea, non-official of course, and about time.

But the music doesn't need to have 'appropriate' words does it? Amarillo was great but no sandbox context, just the idea.

And you can't do one without a Status Quo song . . . Rocking All Over the World would work. Thumping beat, easy lyrics, and everybody recognises it. (A lot of fun could be had matching the repetative "I like it. I like it." bit.)


:ok:

How about loads of blokes clutching P45's set to Talking Heads ''Road to Nowhere'':mad:

Like this idea a lot.

Yeah - that ideas got legs. Just keep the grown-ups away from it or it'll end up sh!te with logos, slogans, 'visions' and other bollox.

Im personally sick of the RAF Vids of pointy fast things though i suppose they make exciting viewing to the ill informed.

I think a video of the comings and goings at Basrah could be an idea incorporating all of our a/c including us blunties on the ground.

Hey, you leave the pointy fast things alone. If we got rid of them the airshow crowd would lynch us.:}

hows about the end is near by frank sinatra?

or

shotgun blues by guns n roses

or

numb by U2 "too much is not enough":eek:

Quo - shot a vid on the Ark Royal...

Go with "Brass In Pocket" by the Pretenders. Then you can "pretend" that you've all been paid correctly, and the "brass" is a little more substantive than tap washers....

Sorry, going back to the RN Vid thread.

I suggested Road to Nowhere to the head of RAF PR when he jumped on the bandwagon; he took rather a dim view of my suggestion!:O

I know, shoot a video of the F3s flying round the UK to the Beatles, 'Get Back'. Factual and fast and pointy.:E

Don't need the proper words
 

A bunch of Norwegian troops made this one during Kosovo:
http://www.break.com/index/kosovo.html
Don't need the original words just a good tune and imagination - working on both now.

Rockin all over the world works a treat, all we need is a bunch of video cam's in Basra and Afghan making clips of guys and gals singing it and a couple of slice and dice wizards to put it all together:ok:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

I'm a retired pongo, but in the spirit of cooperation -

Why not show what the RAF does when it is all tied together?

example...

Scene: BBC news : disaster somewhere hostile a long way away. Politician saying that "Measures are being put in hand"..
Scene: Commcen. Signal coming off teleprinter: Mission....rescue...
Scene: The "machine" springs into life, people called into work, wifey at doorway waving goodbye, holding small child.
Scene: Techs prepping Alberts/Wokkas/Tristars etc. Stores being loaded.
Scene: Mission planning.
Scene: BBC News : hostility increases.
Scene: Commcen - Mission...force protection
Scene: Techs prepping E3s,F3s, GR9s. Aircraft being bombed up.
Scene: Briefing
Scene: Dawn takeoff.
Scene: AAR en route
Scene: E3 detects threat
Scene: GR9 deals with threat.
Scene: Rescue mission detail. Happy rescuees.
Scene: Rescuees meeting family at Brize etc.
Scene: Tea and medals

Anyone on here use an Apple Mac to access the site? If so, you have all the kit you need to assemble the finished version. The video capabilities of the Mac are great. I'd be happy to have a bash at putting together any footage you guys have, but then again, I'm a pongo, so I've only made some home made porn with mine so far ;)

I think it's a great idea. Good luck to you, chaps.

You've missed the bit where the RAFP opens the barrier. And closes the barrier.

If you did that, it would look to staged!
the RN and pongo vids were impulse stuff with no real meaning or showing off the service! Just get hold of some blunties in iraq/falklands and afghanistan and ask them if they would make a vid. Sure they would put something good together. especially the falklanders with not much else to do.
But definately to rockin all over the world!:ok:

Scene: BBC news : disaster somewhere hostile a long way away. Politician saying that "Developments are being monitored" and "There has been a year on year increase in defence spending. In real terms".
Scene: Commcen. Signal coming off teleprinter: Middle of the night. Orderly Officer decides it can wait til morning.
Scene: The "machine" springs into life. People called but not answering mobiles, safe in the knowledge that it'll be another daft callout. Eventually go in - Argument with wifey at doorway. Small child wonders who that strange man was.
Scene: Techs prepping Alberts: None available, all on Ops or u/s. Wokkas: None available, all on Ops. Tristars: Loads of em. All u/s though. Stewards rush to stores for extra issue of 15 desert flying suits each, just in case. Stores being loaded onto pallets then mislaid by movers.
Scene: Mission planning. Flt Ops file flight plan to wrong airfield.
Scene: BBC News: "Phew! What a scorcher!! Hottest july since 1911 blah blah blah....And finally tonight, some army hercules, assisted by Royal Navy Chinooks left for Um Bongo today where hostility is increasing.
Scene: Commcen - Mission...force protection...Immediate new IRT syllabus drawn up. Everyone to do Short Service commission in the Army, once a year, as training.
Scene: Techs prepping E3s: Sandwiches loaded. F3s: local scrap metal merchant contacted. GR9s: then realise all are on Ops anyway. Aircraft being bombed up. Jags: plan several LL routes round the UK to burn any excess fuel that might have been lying around.
Scene: Briefing. Multitude of high level meddlers and long screwdriver wielders get stuck in. Actual flying crews can't get into briefing room due to number of meddlers there before them.
Scene: Dawn takeoff. Check in as 4 ship, taxy as a 3 etc etc
Scene: AAR en route rolexed. Spec aircrew VC10 navigator claiming his crew rest was not adequate as he could just about hear the airport from his luxury apartment and it disturbed him.
Scene: E3 detects threat. Galley oven No2 u/s
Scene: GR9 deals with threat. Lineys deliver hot meals courtesy of crewroom microwave
Scene: Rescue mission detail. Hercs arrive. Evacuees complain about noisy freight bay and uncomfortable seats. Happy rescuees ask where they can file compensation claims for the loss of their holidays in aforementioned war torn republic.
Scene: Rescuees meeting family and lawyers at Brize etc.
Scene: Tea and medals for all the big knobs who thought it up. Continuous detachments, shortage of kit, etc etc ad infinitum for the actual crews.
Scene: RAF News does 5 page article on C17. Two page article on F3. Beaming scrap merchant.

As per usual the fast pointy drivers tune up 'meee meee meee meee' ...

Cool idea if impromptu...

Use some real footage, Alberts an 'rotary' in the sand...

Maybe some airshow footage for the spotters...

Perhaps a CAS/AMP roadshow for high powered b:mad: s

All backed up by Tony's fav...'Things can only get better..' wet D:ream

:ok:
5d2d

Spontaneous
 

Keeping it simple, perhaps utilise 'word of mouth', and get various people to send in a few clips of the boys and girls at work, at various locations of the world. Keep it simple, without any need for costumes, or play acting. Shoot on digital video.

Ask them to include some lip synching to a song (such as the Status Quo legendary song), and then get a Guru to chop it all up into 3 - 5 second clips.

Then you would have variety in locations, quality, faces, jobs, and maybe a few good laughs as well.

Now that would make a good tune for a vid with a warts 'n' all content. Lots of army types ducking incoming then shots of wokkas/Alberts etc grounded due to.........blah blah blah, pointy things on the ground due to lack of prima.....sorry pilots. :p Etc, etc, etc. :ok:

Or perhaps a shot of the lads being really well looked after, servicable aircraft, people having time for leave, hard work being appreciated, that sort of thing. Trevor "JPA works perfectly" Field could do the voiceover to add some credibility to the tale.

Have not stopped laughing yet!:D :D :D :D

Official lyrics now selected by RAF PR guru
 

Gentlemen - after much dithering, procrastination and a few shandies, the lyrics you are to set to video have been chosen:

Cheer up, Brian. You know what they say.
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad.
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle,
Don't grumble, give a whistle!
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
And...

the music fades into the song

...always look on the bright side of life!
whistle

Always look on the bright side of life...
If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten!
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing,

When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps,
Just purse your lips and whistle -- that's the thing!
And... always look on the bright side of life...

whistle
Come on!

other start to join in
Always look on the bright side of life...
whistle

For life is quite absurd,
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow!
Forget about your sin -- give the audience a grin,
Enjoy it -- it's the last chance anyhow!

So always look on the bright side of death!
Just before you draw your terminal breath.
Life's a piece of sh*t,
When you look at it.

Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true,
You'll see it's all a show,
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you!

And always look on the bright side of life...
whistle
Always look on the bright side of life
whistle

StopStart, I now need a new monitor (and a fresh cup of tea):ok:

Here one from the industry side for those about to submit a proposal...

Sung to the tune of Abba's SOS...

Where are those happy days, they seem so hard to find
I tried to do my sections now I have lost my mind
Whatever happened to my life?
I wish I understood
It used to be so nice it used to be so good

Oh when they're near us
Do ya think DPA can hear us
SOS
The deadline they gave us
Nothing can ever save us
SOS

We're not done
And we cant really say
It's that fun

When we've won
We will cry
Coz we weigh half a ton

It seems so far away but that deadline is really near
Now I don’t have a life in fact I live right here
I really try to make it out
But security's there
I want to run out now but with them I wouldn’t dare
Oh when they're near us

Do ya think DPA can hear us
SOS
The deadline they gave us
Nothing can ever save us
SOS
We're not done
And we cant really say
It's that fun
When we've won
We will cry
Coz we weigh half a ton
:ugh:

StopStart - you're a genius! :D

This is coming along !! Here's a plan of sorts . . . .. . .

Clips from around the world. Basra, Afghanistan and MPA essentially but the odd night stop / exercise to break it up.

We need to be "as one" i.e Coppers, Regt, Techies, Aircrew, Movers, Admin, Ops, Medics, IntO's and every other branch out there.

Life of Brian or Status Quo. I'm thinking Status Quo here.

We need some unified form of action (easy now !!!:p ) such as some dance moves to provide continuity between the shots. This "something" needs to be our catch, it needs to be the equivalent to the marching to Amarillo Song. Suggestions . . . . ..

It needs to be 100% unofficial. The first the PR dept are to hear of it is when Trev McDonald talks about how the IT system crashed today due to the video.

No sensitive stuff i.e blasting around somewhere hot and sandy filming through the HUD.

Need a computer wizz with editing kit. My mate in AKT maybe able to help.

Mind you, We Are The Champions is looking good when you consider the lyrics.....

I've paid my dues -
Time after time -
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes (Fade in JPA sign)
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls -
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all -

But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose -

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world

All stunning ideas chaps.

But.

It sort of typifies the RAF.

The Army and RN entries were spontaneous. They just sort of happened.

The RAF turns it into a debate, at least two pages on the internet and even if it does take off, it will more than likely be subjected to hideous amounts of beurocracy and H&S. :)

All jolly fine stuff but I'm afraid I agree with wg13 :D :D
The key to good comedy is wit and spon...




....taneity.
There'll be an Op Order for this soon. :hmm:
I admire your enthusiasm FFP but really this kind of thing needs to just appear out of nowhere, cobbled together by a particular unit somewhere far from home (army in al faw or navy in the oggin somewhere) just out for a bit of fun. The Amarillo thing wasn't intended as a great PR piece but it just turned out that way. The navy one likewise, was just people arsing about; I suspect it was planned the night before in the bar. If an RAF unit somewhere deployed is of the right mind and has the right personalities then videos like these will eventually appear. Anything else, organised RAF wide as you suggest, is just a bit too contrived for my liking :)
But then who am I to argue?

Looks like the US Army is getting into the video game...
Lazy in Ramari
(Based on Chronicles of Narnia, a recent Saturday Night Live skit)
Cheers! M2