Well... I am (ashamedly) usually up on the latest junky media craze. But this time I have accidentally stumbled upon something that is quite interesting. Much as The Blair Witch Project caught viewers (who believed it to be real) off guard, another group of videographers have fooled the UTube folks.
I was looking for something on UTube the other day (God I can't even remember what now that my brain has been completely preoccupied with this story). As I searched the video blogs I came across a bit of "controversy" that started me down my own path of peculiar fascination.
I discovered Lonelygirl 15.
I vaguely remember hearing about this when the actress posing as a lonely 15 year old girl on UTube outed herself on Leno. At the time I didn't pay much attention to it.
And, since this seemed to be a teenie thing I forgot about her existence.
Until I caught her on UTube.
I'm surprised I haven't heard more about it since the actress has been interviewed everywhere now. (Yeah! I must be watching less TV than I thought!)
What interests me most about this phenomenon is how the audience comes to feel so intimately about the character when they think she's real and accessible. When they find out that she's a character, they feel betrayed and angry.
After watching a few videos I figured they were false (too professional looking compared to most video blogs I have seen, they film some things that (like Blair Witch) you wouldn't take the time to film, and the plot is completely outrageous (religious cult storyline). But I thought it was "Gosh some fun!"
As an actress I find it wonderful that she had this opportunity. Though it didn't seem to propel the Blair Witch kids to fame.
However, none of them were as cute
as vulnerable
as lonely
As "Bree."As a non-video blogger who is writing some about my real life to the few who are interested, I am amazed that anyone would feel betrayed by a contrived storyline on a blog. I'm pretty sure most (sorry Gareth I meant MANY) folks who have blogs make up who they are. Maybe the fans are upset because these were made by professionals. I happen to think they would have to be to know how to "reel" people in. Otherwise, they would be poorly acted, written, and lighted like the knock offs you'll find in the "Paul and Andrea" videos on the LGPEDIA. That's right...their very own pedia, which provides loads of Lonelygirl trivia.
Like this pic that is on leading lady Bree's wall with an alter and candles under it. It is of Aleister Crowley , a 20th century magick/occultist/religious leader who seems to be a part of Bree's mysterious cult like religion. At first this plotline concerned me, being wary of anything that misrepresents any religion. But they seem to have chosen a real historical cult to pick on, so.... ok. Just don't think all Taoists, Hindus, Buddhists, Qabalahists, Astrologers, tarot card readers who enjoy Yoga are somehow involved in the occult or religious cults. Some of us are just a tad open minded :)A bonus is that the music is way cool too. Even for this way past teenie mother of four.
So check it out. I'll warn you though... the videos start out slow, but they become sort of addictive.
So hat's off to the creators. They did something original and successfully pulled it off for a few months before avid fans realized it was a scripted production. I'm always a sucker for creativity.
