Documentaries
Good Afternoon Labia and Genitals.
Just to let you know that yours truly is working on a 3-part documentary series which will hopefully be out and about at the start of next year. What, oh what oh what oh what are the documentaries going to be about, I like to imagine you asking. Well shush your lips up and I shall say.
The idea is to spend a week or so for each one-hour documentary with a person who makes some kind of paranormal claim, and see what they get up to. As a sceptic (as opposed to a cynic), I’m interested in to what extent the evidence for their claims holds up, and thusly and therefore will be asking what are hopefully all the right questions along the way. Doing what I do for a living, my desire for these claims to hold up is accompanied by the fact I would love to be convinced and for the claims to be true. After all, I spend most of my time fabricating those very powers or worlds myself.
So far I’ve made two, and we’re doing one more for now. If you like them, then hopefully there’ll be more again. It’s been a fascinating journey for me, and there have been surprises and things I’ve learnt along the way. There have been very uncomfortable moments and some particularly eye-opening ones. The documentary participants have surprised me, and dealt with questioning that must have seemed at times relentless and pedantic. I certainly don’t have quite the gung-ho scepticism I had: I’ve realised it’s a much more complex and human area than I had imagined.
I shall blog more on the subject when the docs come out. We’re unsure of the title at the moment: ‘Derren Brown meets…’ and ‘The Unexplained’ have been suggested, both of which make me feel a little wobbly.
Hope you’re all happy.
I’m perfectly peachy thanks, happiest I’ve been in ages, hope your peachy too? I can see why your not feeling the suggested titles so far. Possibly just as bad (I have been awake a very long time), and I agree with Ms G it’s very dependent on the production angle, but how about ‘Surprising Scepticism’… allows you to retain or re-evaluate said scepticism accordingly. Now that I’ve had my tupence worth I shall crack on with the tedious assignment I have been avoiding for two days. All the best as always, and I shall look forward to the doc’s being aired…
Sounds like an awesome project, man. Can’t wait to see the end result 🙂
“I certainly don’t have quite the gung-ho scepticism I had: I’ve realised it’s a much more complex and human area than I had imagined.”
Well that’s certainly made it even more intriguing. Can’t wait for this, it sounds fascinating!
How about Derren Brown meets the fraudulent furniture shufflers of Most Haunted?… No?… Oh well
I’ve always thought that some ham acting and a few history books is all this show is about. Could be a winner.
Have a good day
Troy
if you do one about the paranormal and ghosts, how about calling it “Derren’s Brown trousers time”?
Interesting stuff. I own a crystal shop in Cornwall, and as such meet many many many – dear god too many egotestical healing ufo dousing ghost rumbling wand wielding pillocks. So many in fact that are full of themselves its enough to put you off. However, that said, I do readings for people who are really on the ragged edge and need some sort of guidance. I dont charge and never will because I feel that I could be wrongly interpreting what I see which I make clear. I am pagan also. But my background is Nuclear Health Physics so not a cloak swooshing eye rolling Johnny Depp typ. So I believe in things I just dont believe in a lot of people. Derren if you want to discover the truth, dont go looking, let it find you. If we share our techniques exaclty some common technique may arise then grow
Don’t call it ‘Derren Brown Meets…’ You always know to avoid shows with a name like that. I like a name someone else mentioned; ‘Sceptic’. Nice and simple.
P.s. My sister wants me to suggest ‘Derren Brown: Psychic Diaries’ (I know, I know…..But she’s young!)
– Not be confused with the upcoming “Derren Brown Meats – Derren runs a butcher shop stocked entirely with stolen sausage.” – Phillis
I’d forgotten about these docs. Very much looking forward to seeing them.
You could nick what I believe Dawkins was going to call ‘The Enemies Of Reason’ before it eventually was called… er… ‘The Enemies Of Reason’:
‘The Sceptical Inquirer’
Muchas grassyarse.
It would be great if you called it “Derren Brown goes a little bit wobbly” !
“well shush your lips and i shall say” MEGALOLAGE! Oh you are very funny! And extremely EXTREMELY charming…. Anyway can’t wait for these shows and more importantly tour! Im seeing you for the first time EVER in a place called Crawley…im not gonna lie i dont know even know where that is…ha! Take care sir xoxo
Call it something like all those ghost shows on Living. Like, Derren Brown: Ghost Hunter or whatever they call those things x3.
I’m so glad about the topic of these documentaries. I love to contemplate the sort of areas you cover, and I would find it helpful, interesting and, most importantly, stimulating to let your journeys throw me off of my feet and delve around and explore something I’m probably too naive (being a fourteen-year-old girl) to pass judgement on.
What makes me feel a little wobbly, Derren, is the thought that you’ll never read this, because I’d really love to know that you know how interesting you are to me – and I’m sure most people feel the same way, but that doesn’t make the feeling any less significant.
Thank you Derren! x x x
sounds really good – always hoped u might do something deeper into the unexplained so can’t wait. 🙂 happy happy happy. x
My dad used to get a weekly periodical on the paranormal in the eighties, when I was a tiny, called “The Unexplained.” It was, on the whole, very poorly written, which is surprising because a large number of the writers for it still write for the Fortean Times, which is not.
That is all
ooh – the spam box has gone!?
Good lord Derren, intros like that can be slightly unnerving you know, makes one wonder how much you actually CAN see… *crosses legs*
Sounds jolly interesting though – count me in! How about ‘Derren’s Do-They-Or-Don’t-They…’ as in, have it or not… LOL
Looking forward to it! :)))
Title could be ‘Derren Brown meets…his likes’
Cool – please say you will be meeting Derek Acorah – you could test his ‘residual’ powers !!! and also meet his spirit guide … he’s such a fake and made alot of money out of people’s strong held beliefs/
I would like to think that there is something more to the life currently – research and experiments Americans are doing are looking hopeful for an afterlife ???
I know that we will all love the show with your humour and interest in so many subjects
Love Ya ju
xx
How about
‘Derren Brown: Psy-kicks
Not a huge fan of ‘The Unexplained’ myself, if just because nearly every crackpot supernatural or pseudoscientific claim has already been pretty bloody thoroughly explained. Personally I’d go with ‘Derren Brown meets the lying liars and the hopelessly self-deluded’, but that might tip your hand too early.
How about Derren Brown Believes? Or Derren Browns Beliefs? Make me Believe
Open my Eyes, Derren Browns Truth or Tail? Derren browns Believers!
Theres just a few for starters. Hope this spurs you on. Jo x
Very curious to see this series! I’d maybe describe myself as a “cynic” rather than a sceptic and it gets me into way too much trouble, so maybe your documentaries can help me be more flexible with the other side. I’m curious to hear about this human aspect without having it muddled up with neo-scientific or overly spiritual hogwash.
Some great suggestions for titles in previous comments!
Ooops sorry thats Tale not Tail hehe xx
A “louis Theroux”-meets-“Derren Brown”-style documentary? Sounds fantastic
In the interests of balance, will someone such as James Randi also be interviewed?
sounds totally fascinating Derren, but i’m most keen to learn is what YOU learnt and if/how it changed any of your views and ideas…
I’VE GOT IT.
Derren Brown: Mostly Haunted.
Clever eh?
Would it be incredibly bad taste to call it “Out of the pink and into the Brown”? ……..ok.. that probably has no relevance to the show at hand and should probably be saved for a show about sexual suggestion.
unexplained: adj; strange or unclear because the reason for it is unknown.
so maybe the title should have the word reason in it beacuse about 6 of the 10 definitions in my dictionary would seem fitting.
any thoughts on this peeps?
I think what Derren meant to say was this:
“And behind it all there is a massive industry…..err I mean massive cover up of information by independant government research that uses billions of dollars to research all these phenomenons and use front groups to counter the possibility of such abilities thus raising the awareness of the massses as all this being one big hoax and so we then deem it crazy when anyone utters the word paranormal. Just like front groups used to counter the truth about global warming.
The scientific evidence may not have emerged because those in the know don’t want it to be….. just a possiblity but it’s unlikely since our governments are angels. 🙂
I have a backpack full of pigs and I will release them then they will go “Oink Oink Oink” then spread Swine Flu..
“I’ve realised it’s a much more complex and human area than I had imagined.”
That’s nice to hear.. makes you seem more human Derren 🙂
not quite how one would like to be addressed…
have you not got a better way?
Count me in…..again!! 😀
Look forward to viewing those early next year Derren with an open mind as i am with most things not sure if you were aware but down in Aberystwyth they do a week long thing on mediumship/spiritualism (Fiona & Jean (work together) both ive seen in person here in Yorkshire, Fiona is the one that really leaves me thinking OK now thats something unusual with what she does – they are the main 2 in attendance along with others within this field of work) & you learn transfiguration & all that. My gran & my uncle have both been on these courses & say they are worth popping along too just to get a more insight into the area of spiritualism.
Different titles for the doc’s though is very much needed as they really dont have a catchy hook to them and they sound like a lame choices (sorry)
much ♥ xox
I love this idea and I think it must be a quite interesting one. I’m very sceptic but was truly impressed when I went to a “Pai-de-santo” in Bahia (Brazil). I like to think he instinctively used the same sort of techniques you use professionally. However, isn’t that amazing enough?
Great idea, Houdini went round the states trying to find a medium who would or could give him access to the spirit world, he unmasked the lot of em as a shower. Would have been great if we could have had a camera crew with him and now we can, our very own Victorian marvel for the modern age Mr Derren Brown Esq. F@@king A!
p.s forget the roulette thing most people I know think you did it on purpose any way, not sure about the Stewie impression though.
How about
“Brown Noising”
I would do anything just to sit down and have a chat with you 🙂 You’re a fascinating person and i’d love to just listen to your views on life and well…stuff 😀 The new programmes sound amazing! Please keep making them, i’m hooked 🙂
Love you Derren!
Just wanted to see what the sad face was like lol 🙁
Yeeeayeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 🙂 we want more we want more !!! i hope you´ll never get rich enough to stop sharing your genious ideas with us 😛 I should probably stop buying your stuff?
I think this is a brilliant idea, but my only concern is the upshot for the participants. I hope that its done with sincerity and dignity it deserves and doesn’t become a character assassination fest.
Maybe a guest could be David Icke … 12ft shapeshifting reptiliams and all.
I really hope you go after John Edward, Sylvia Brown, and James van Praagh!
We could do with more people like yourself with their feet planted firmly on the ground debunking the sooth-sayers, charlatons and emotional con merchants.
Looking forward to it Mr. B.
Kev
And Pet “Psychic” Sonya Fitzpatrick
Derren, In these shows do you get to punch Derek Acorah? And if you don’t, can I?
– Please! We do not support violence here – maybe wee on his leg at the most, we just can’t have fisticuffs – Phillis
Yay! Looking forward to more great tv. At last my colleagues have heard of you too – was getting a little bored constantly explaining who Derren Brown is whenever I go to see him 😆
‘Not be confused with the upcoming “Derren Brown Meats – Derren runs a butcher shop stocked entirely with stolen sausage.†‘
Phillis, you fool! LOL! 🙂
I like Derren Brown’s Paranormal People, or even Derren Brown: Open to Suggestion from the ideas above.
But I don’t like Derren Brown meets… It’s too Louis Theroux, and that’s just not you. And The Unexplained sounds even worse.
If you use the word skeptic you’ll have to decide on the US or UK spelling.
Interesting that you are a skeptic as opposed to a cynic. I’ve always appreciated your openness and honesty about those things (despite you making a living “fabricating”.)
Hey You got rid of the type the code letters thing to prevent spam!
How about
‘Derren Brown Meets…. OR DOES HE?!!’
I agree with Wardville, above, ‘Derren Brown: Open to Suggestion’ – that’s a great title.