Wanna know how I'm planning on spending my Friday night? Attending the screening of a short 23 minute documentary about tailgating Raider Fans, that's how. I need to see if the makers of the film do justice to our Raider Nation image. I'm a bit suspicious of persons who've never been to a Raiders game all of a sudden thinking their the Jack Cousteau of fandom. Don't let the costumes and tatoos fool you, we all have jobs and families just like anyone else. Takes money to attend a professional football game these days.
The film maker, Jason Blalock, says he was inspired by a Heavy Metal documentary. Well I don't ever remember seeing infants and grandparents at a Heavy Metal concert, do you? Sure, the Raider Nation has elements of heavy metal types, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more in what I consider one of the most Diversified Nations on earth.
I guess I'm hoping that this film shows more than the "wild side" of tailgating with Raider Fans. With reporting there's responsibility to show and tell all. Unfortunately, Jason may have bought into all the negative hype about drugs and alcohol being the theme of tailgating with Raider fans. Well Jason, if you're going to show the ghetto of a city you should also show the palace.
We're a Nation that welcomes everyone. The only requirement to becoming part of the Raider Nation is pledging your loyalty to the Oakland Raiders, through good times and bad. Our only prejudice is against the opposing teams and some of their obnoxious fans entering our perimeter. And against wanna be documentarists looking for a "shock and awe" type story to pimp. Especially someone from SoCal who's never been to a Raiders game at the coliseum. My question is, who sent you? Jim Rome?
Stay Tuned!
Interview: Jason Blalock
The first time SFist went to an A's game (back when they were only $1 on Wednesday nights) we were struck not by the impressive management, nor the players themselves, but rather by the fans. Not the A's fans, mind you, but the Raiders fans. Yes, Raiders fans at the A's games! We knew that there was something, uh, shocking and aweing about this motley crew.
Jason Blalock combined inspiration from an old SFist fav, Heavy Metal Parking Lot, and his shock and awe-induced state from encountering the Raider Nation, and turned this all into art. Jason's film Oakland Raider Parking Lot is well, amazing. It takes you into the depths of the so called 'Black Hole' of the Raider Nation. Turns out some of those costumes cost THOUSANDS of dollars to make. Make sure you check out Jason's flick while you can at the SF Independent Film Festival.
Oakland Raider Parking Lot screens before 24 Hours on Craiglist and can be seen on Saturday. An additonal screening is TBA, probably on Monday.
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