Fear of Girls
Encyclopedia
Fear of Girls is a series of short mockumentaries
created by Dangerously Adorable Productions and written and directed by Ryan Wood. They detail the lives of two heavy Dungeons & Dragons
players and LARPers, Doug Douglason and Raymond Ractburger. The first episode became popular due to the filmmakers' use of viral marketing
.
on it, they re-enact medieval fantasy battle scenes in their living room in full barbarian and wizard costumes, and they are socially inept. Although Raymond likes girls and has an unrequited crush on the pizza delivery girl (who is obviously repulsed by him), Doug is less enthusiastic and there are scenes of homoerotic tension between the two. They also claim to be "platonic life partners."
There is a short middle segment in which Doug dresses like a Druid
and has an obviously antagonistic relationship with his sister-in-law
(while his brother attempts to keep the peace and explain away Doug's behavior). The humor is heightened by the fact that both Doug's brother, and his sister-in-law are obviously fundamentalist Christians.
Fear of Girls Episode 1 was the #1 Blogged site in the world at one time according to Daypop.com, and was Slashdot
ted January 29, 2006. Additionally, during the week of February 3, it was the top link on blog trackers and resulted in the filmmaker being contacted by Mtv
.
Eventually, they decide to use their new fame to start a special game and invite three girls to participate. The first girl to show up is a self-professed psychic
and admirer
of Doug (who does not return her affections). The second is an overdramatic method actress
who is trying to use Doug and Raymond to promote herself. The third is an actual female gamer who becomes involved in the adventure and manipulates Raymond so that she can kill off his character. Her character is stopped by Doug intervening in the game, obviously to keep his platonic life partner's character alive.
, only to finally blurt out "Can I have $10,000?"
Next, Doug attempts to present his idea to his brother and hostile sister in law, who eventually agree to fund the game's creation if Doug will attend an "event" with them. The event, clearly planned by the sister in law, is an "extreme exorcism" hosted by a professional wrestler with bulging muscles. When the exorcist attempts to exorcise Doug by placing him in a headlock, Doug shouts that he has been "hate crimed" as he is a "registered druid
". The result is that the wrestler is taken to jail and Doug's family refuses to give him the money.
Eventually, Doug and Raymond obtain their money by shilling for a spam website that sells erectile dysfunction
pills and mortgages.
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
created by Dangerously Adorable Productions and written and directed by Ryan Wood. They detail the lives of two heavy Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
players and LARPers, Doug Douglason and Raymond Ractburger. The first episode became popular due to the filmmakers' use of viral marketing
Viral marketing
Viral marketing, viral advertising, or marketing buzz are buzzwords referring to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of viruses...
.
Episode one
The two main characters are stereotypical D&D/LARPing "dorks." Raymond wears an oversized t-shirt with a picture of a dragonDragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
on it, they re-enact medieval fantasy battle scenes in their living room in full barbarian and wizard costumes, and they are socially inept. Although Raymond likes girls and has an unrequited crush on the pizza delivery girl (who is obviously repulsed by him), Doug is less enthusiastic and there are scenes of homoerotic tension between the two. They also claim to be "platonic life partners."
There is a short middle segment in which Doug dresses like a Druid
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
and has an obviously antagonistic relationship with his sister-in-law
Sister-in-law
A sister-in-law is the sister of one's spouse, the wife of one's sibling, or sometimes the wife of one's spouse's sibling...
(while his brother attempts to keep the peace and explain away Doug's behavior). The humor is heightened by the fact that both Doug's brother, and his sister-in-law are obviously fundamentalist Christians.
Fear of Girls Episode 1 was the #1 Blogged site in the world at one time according to Daypop.com, and was Slashdot
Slashdot
Slashdot is a technology-related news website owned by Geeknet, Inc. The site, which bills itself as "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters", features user-submitted and ‑evaluated current affairs news stories about science- and technology-related topics. Each story has a comments section...
ted January 29, 2006. Additionally, during the week of February 3, it was the top link on blog trackers and resulted in the filmmaker being contacted by Mtv
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
.
Episode two
Episode 2 departs somewhat from the original formula, but is a follow-up of the first episode. In it, Doug and Raymond have become somewhat famous for appearing in the first episode and briefly discuss the odd people they've met as a result.Eventually, they decide to use their new fame to start a special game and invite three girls to participate. The first girl to show up is a self-professed psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
and admirer
Limerence
Limerence is a term coined c. 1977 by the psychologist Dorothy Tennov to describe an involuntary state of mind which seems to result from a romantic attraction to another person combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one's feelings reciprocated...
of Doug (who does not return her affections). The second is an overdramatic method actress
Method acting
Method acting is a phrase that loosely refers to a family of techniques used by actors to create in themselves the thoughts and emotions of their characters, so as to develop lifelike performances...
who is trying to use Doug and Raymond to promote herself. The third is an actual female gamer who becomes involved in the adventure and manipulates Raymond so that she can kill off his character. Her character is stopped by Doug intervening in the game, obviously to keep his platonic life partner's character alive.
Episode three
In episode 3, Doug and Raymond describe a new RPG they have created and attempt to find funding ($10,000) to produce it. Raymond is shown at his mother's house (where he still lives), surrounded by her sizable collection of dolls. His sales pitch to her is an abject failure, with him reading directly from a prepared script and accidentally knocking over his whiteboardWhiteboard
A whiteboard is a name for any glossy, usually white surface for nonpermanent markings. Whiteboards are analogous to chalkboards, allowing rapid marking and erasing of markings on their surface...
, only to finally blurt out "Can I have $10,000?"
Next, Doug attempts to present his idea to his brother and hostile sister in law, who eventually agree to fund the game's creation if Doug will attend an "event" with them. The event, clearly planned by the sister in law, is an "extreme exorcism" hosted by a professional wrestler with bulging muscles. When the exorcist attempts to exorcise Doug by placing him in a headlock, Doug shouts that he has been "hate crimed" as he is a "registered druid
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
". The result is that the wrestler is taken to jail and Doug's family refuses to give him the money.
Eventually, Doug and Raymond obtain their money by shilling for a spam website that sells erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
pills and mortgages.
Cast
- Tom Lommel as Game Master Doug Douglason
- Scott Jorgenson as Raymond Ractburger
- Charles Hubbell as PastorPastorThe word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
Douglason - Emily Hansen as Maryann Douglasson
- Angela Dalton as Pizza Girl
- Ellie Johnson as Jogger #1
- Paola Cardenas as Jogger #2
- Eric Webster as Jerk
- Heidi Fellner as Vanessa
- Brandon Marilee Williams as Solera
- Jazmine Kim Sigler as Female Gamer
- Nancy Marvy as Raymond's mother
- Bill Borea as Reverend Roy Heat, extreme exorcist