The Bitterroot Footage

A couple of weeks ago Stumbleupon – the bittersweet harpy it is – directed me towards a supposed discovery of old photos and video footage by a New Yorker called Chad – as if his ethnicity was in any question with a name like Chad.

A the story was intriguing and begged for a little more information. Fortunetly, Chad had supplied two dates in the near future when he would 'release' the visual treats onto the internet. I made note of them with the intention of returning to the page on the 5th and 12th to see some more.

My suspicions had already been raised as to the credibility of this story, as setting release dates for images that Chad already had access to wouldn't really help get his story out there. It kept my attention, though, and my thoughts of a corporate, bottom-up advert simmered.

I also found it pretty strange that Chad had bothered getting a domain for his relatively small discovery. He would have had to pay for www.thebitterrootfootage.com and the presence of Facebook and other social media networks allows us to make fan pages and get things out there with no need for payment.

I stuck with it though and, true to his word, Chad uploaded some photos on the 5th. To my great pleasure, a staid cliché was emerging. A hooded figure with a dark face seemed to be our main protagonist.

Still, I stayed with it, the footage has to be something a bit better, I assumed.

The 12th rolled along and, again, true to his word, Chad uploaded the video. For everything I can say against this jock – for I assume he is a jock, no man named Chad could be anything but American and a sports fan – he was reliable. No dates have been set for the future, but I'd be very surprised to see him being late for any upcoming after dinner speeches, mall openings or NASCAR rallies.

We are told 'More info soon', though. I wait with baited breath.

The video itself screams "I'm scary! Be scared of me! I have little material plot or background but, by gum, I'm a little bit spooky! Pleeeeeeeease tell all your friends how weird and spooky I am."

So I did.

What I find funniest, though, is the rather definite lack of attention its getting. Chad's Youtube video has had a little over 50,000 views. A number that would have once impressed me, but in the days where this talentless weirdo gets over 3 million views - 50,000 is nothing.

My own internet video success even dwarves Chad.

This stunning HD footage of a sheep sneezing got over 200,000 on Myspace and Youtube combined. The Bitterroot Footage hasn't got shit on a sheep from Homewood school that's probably dead now.

Oooooh. Spooky. Dead sneezing sheep.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share the failure of this advertising campaign, whatever it's for. Unless it was meant to flop and draw out low quality, cynical blog posts like this one.

That'd be clever. I'm sneaking a look behind the magician's curtain. Although I doubt any media executive would give it the go ahead.

Although someone did OK this advert.

Mental...