Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Hey there lonely girl...lonely girl...


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.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll have to watch more of these to understand what you are talking about here. I have never heard of this person's series of videos so I'm kind of out of the loop on this one :(

Zen Davis said...

Just go to the Lonelygirl 15 site I have on here and watch away. Start from the beginning or you'll be lost. Each video (originally posted on Utube) is only a few minutes long.

I think you'll be smitten Gareth! (It's ok to be b/c she's really 19 ;)

Z

Anonymous said...

Yeah I knew she wasn't 15 from as soon as I saw the first series of pics of her. I thought she was either 17 or 18 :)

You think that most bloggers make up who they are? I'm glad you said "most" because I'm just me and I would not even know how to be any different and I'm VERY sure that everyone on my current blog list and others who leave comments on my blog are all genuine people too. I have a sixth sense about these things lol.

Zen Davis said...

I thought I said "many" made up who they are instead of "most". Sorry Gareth!

But I do believe the art of blogging for most is to show only the sides of themselves they wish to project to the world. That may not always be their "true" selves.

Z

Zen Davis said...

By the way...

This really got me to revisit Blair Witch. I need to edit the post to include the urban legend info too. I forgot the Blair witch site continues the hoax by perpetuating the story.

It is a good ghost story though.

Zen Davis said...

Fixed it! Check out Blair Witch links in the posts. Good time of year to hear a good ghost story :) Might have to scare the kids this weekend with this one !

Anonymous said...

No worries about the "most - many" thing, it's all good ;)

You are an evil mum wanting to scare your kids like that. Try to record the screams and post it :D

Zen Davis said...

Well Anna is screaming right now for my attention. So you'll have to use your imagination!

Speaking of which/witch...

Check out the other info on the blair witch page about the hermit who became possessed by her and killed small children.

Very spooky.

Anonymous said...

Just popping my nose around the corner :P

Anonymous said...

I vaguely remember hearing about this. I'll have to check it out sometime.

And for Gareth, I TOTALLY make up who I am! I'm not near as nice as I am on here. I could give a rat's patoot about many people on here!!! (except for Z of course!!!)

Zen Davis said...

coming to you live from NJ this weekend! Uh-Oh....I smell another family road trip blog in the future.

And Gareth... I can attest to DG's confession. She's not nearly as "nice" in real life as she is in here. (Except of course, to me!)

Z

Anonymous said...

I'm sad now, so so sad that I'm a rat's patoot now :(

Anonymous said...

Happy Halloween to you too Z :) :)
Are you taking the kids out trick or treating and is the big kid (hubby) going out too. Hehe ;)

Zen Davis said...

Kids went Trick or Treating on Sunday. Due to safety, many US cities do Trick or Treating in the day time, usually the Sunday before Halloween. At first I didn't like it, but it is easier for us to send them out in costume without worry that they'll be hit by a car in the dark.

We left NJ at 5:30 in the morning Sunday, and got home at 2:45, 15 minutes before Trick or Treat started! But they made it :)

Z

Anonymous said...

Just checking in with ya.
Well actually that's a lie - I actually stopped by to bug you some more. Did it work??? :D

Anonymous said...

Is it working yet?

Anonymous said...

How about now?

Anonymous said...

Now am I getting on your nerves??

Anonymous said...

I'll wear you down sometime

Anonymous said...

I think you are beginning to crack under the pressure

Anonymous said...

NOW?
Oh yes I think your eyes are beginning to glaze over

Anonymous said...

Yep, there they go.
And what's that?! A little puff of smoke just came from your ears!

Anonymous said...

Stand back for the big head explosion everyone!!

Anonymous said...

THAR SHE BLOWSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

;)

Zen Davis said...

Gareth,

You must really be bored!

Haven't been online for a few days so you didn't get to bug me ;)

Z