Make sure to look through the journals that are already established. If you create, for example, Mandy Moore, and there was already a Mandy in Fuckin Fake, the first would have priority, and you will have only wasted your time. So please remember to check the community.
If you really want to be a celeb, as a last resort, check to see when the celebrity last updated. If it has been two weeks to the day, or more, they have lost their standing in the community, and may be overridden.
Overrides can be difficult sometimes, especially when a member being overridden has been around for a while, and formed bonds within the community. However, Fuckin Fake is firmly establishing the two week rule. As much as it may pain us, we will make few, if any exceptions.
The best way to override is to make a post in Fuckin' Fake, introduce yourself as the celebrity, and then make an OOC note (See the RP Terms at the bottom of this page) that the other insert celeb here hasn't updated in the allotted month, and you'd like to take over. If there is an OOC conflict (say the celeb's computer crashed, and the mods know this), we'll inform you of that, and an override will not be successful. If not, your override will be appoved. Overrides are all subject to approval by the owner and moderator(s), who will have the final word in terms of validity.
If it isn't obvious already, its always best to play someone you're a fan of, or at least intrested in. While we aren't the actual celebs, it is a good idea to have a good idea of the basics: family, birthday, favorites, accomplishments, etc. Its also a good idea to keep up with what the celebrity is doing in real life. While it isn't required, its always a good idea to comment on movie premiers they've attended, or upcoming albums to be released. If you're portraying Eminem, and he's going to be appearing at the VMA's, a live, televised event, it would be in your best interest that he be there, and you comment on it. The bottom line is do your research. Generally, the more realistic the celeb is, the better.
Also, pick someone you feel you can portray accurately. Vanessa Carlton is not a perky cheerleader, so please don't make her out to be one. Marilyn Manson would not giggle, so don't have him cackling like a school girl. Bono is extremely intelligent and informed; you would not find him saying "OmG dAt Is SoOo FuNnEe LoLeRz!" Do you understand the distinction?
2. How to Get Started
To start at Fuckin Fake, there are a few basic steps that must be followed.
First, and foremost, you need to set up a journal. Unlike LJ, DJ, and UJ, Blurty has not established the need for a code to set up your journal. So creating your celeb journal is quite easy. Simply go to www.blurty.comand set up an account. Its free, easy, and generally painless.
Once you establish your account, you'll need icons of your celebrity. Photos need to be resized to a size no larger than 100x100, in GIF, JPG, or PNG format. They may be no more than 40k in size. ICONS WITHOUT TEXT ARE APPRICIATED. If you don't have a photo editing program (Such as Adobe Photo Shop or Jasc Paint Shop Pro), simply ask the owner or moderator(s), and they'll be glad to help you out.
After you've made your icons, move onto you main means of communication, your AOL Instant Messenger screen name. This is possibly the most important part of the RP experience, as most interaction takes place in IM's or AIM chats. Make sure your screen name relates in some way to your celebrity (i.e-pissed off paris; do not use "Baby1MoreTimexo" for Britney Spears. Incorporate the name of the celeb).. Do NOT use personal IM names.
Finally, and this is extremely important: You HAVE to have the link to the Fuckin Fake Disclaimer in the website portion of your journal. Celebrities have attempted to take legal action in the past against members of LiveJorunal's Must Be Pop, yet their lawsuits have failed because of the strength of their disclaimer. So to save your asses, and ours, just do it. It'll only take a moment or two.
3. Playing the Game
Once you've got your journal set up, and you've added the disclaimers, you need to comment Fuckin' Mod and ask to be added; you'll be added to the community ASAP. Begin adding friends to your friends list; we're a friendly bunch, and they'll probably add you back soon. A good place to start is with people the celeb knows if real life. In other words, it would be smart if Nick Carter added the other members of the Backstreet Boys, or Ashton Kutcher added Mila Kunis and Laura Prepon. After you've added them, comment their journal entries. Add their AIM screen names to your buddy list. This will get you noticed faster.
Again, and this is so very important: KNOW YOUR CELEBRITY. Keep up with tour dates, television appearences, movie premieres, album releases and promo. Most celebs have fan sites that can provide this information. The research is an ongoing process, and lets face it, the more realistic your celebrity is, the better your journal. Nothing is worse than another 'celebrity'knowing more about the celeb you're portraying than you do. So please, kids, do your homework.
4. Going 'OOC'
OOC is role playing jargon for out of character. When you see text within brackets [....] this means a person is talking as themselves, out of the character that they're portraying.
OOC is generally discouraged, both in chats, and in your journal. We have a community for this purpose, but if you DO make an OOC post, PLEASE make it a locked ('friends only') post in the community, and make sure to use a cut tag (<lj-cut text="whatever you want the link to say"). Please limit OOC posts to notices that you won't be around (i.e-you're ill, on vacation, etc.), or notices that you're giving up your character/putting him or her up for adoption. OOC is more common in chats, however it disrupts the game, so if you wish to have an OOC conversation with someone, please take it to IM's.
The cardinal rule of OOC is NEVER, and we mean NEVER, take anything that is said IC (in character) OOC. Just because Character A doesn't like Character B, that DOES NOT mean that Character A's writer dislikes Character B. Do NOT take ANYTHING IC, OOC. You WILL be removed from the community.
Also, please remember, in relation to OOC, many writers want to keep their real life identities a secret. Do not disclose your identity unless you feel so compelled. If someone has disclosed their OOC identity to you, please do not inform other players unless you have the other person's consent. If you're worried about someone finding out who you are, for whatever reason, just keep your mouth shut. We understand the need for anonymity, and respect it.
5. Getting Along with Your Fellow RP'ers
Remember, no dirrector ever made a good movie without some sort of dramatic plot twist.
The same goes for RP's. Not everything is apple pies and smiles in real life, and we don't expect the same thing in the game. Don't be afraid to pass up drama, or look like an asshole. We're a dramatic group, and it often seems like there is never a dull moment. Again, just bear in mind, rivalries IC do not translate to rivalries OOC. NEVER forget that.
It is highly reccomended that you avoid storylines involving sensitive issues, such as suicide, or terminal illnesses. Many people use role playing as an escape from a less than perfect reality, and would prefer not to hear about these topics. Also, these celebrities are still alive. Killing them off is in no way appropriate. You WILL be kicked out of the community if you choose to incorporate these themes.
If you can't spell, please use spell check when forming updates. If you tYpE lYkE dIs, please forgo joining the community all together. Standard spacing after comma's (one space, kids) periods (oops, thats two!), and other punctuation is appriciated. Just make it so we can read it, alright?
There are different ways of roleplaying, and it doesn't really matter which one you choose. Some people prefer to use actions in conversations (i.e.-*pets*, -purrs- :hugs you:). These actions may be in first or second person, depending on the writer. Some may rather just carry on a conversation, without any movements, and thats fine too. Also, remember, you cannot come into an RP and assume things will be as they are in reality. Just because Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are engaged in real life, doesn't mean they have to be in the gameYou should also never post an event that didn't occur during interaction between characters, unless the others involved give you consent.