Bitterroot
May 12, 2012 6:01 PM Subscribe
The Bitterroot Footage: Is this footage truly as disturbing as it is portrayed? Or is it a silly hoax? Or guerrilla/viral advertising for a yet unmentioned product/movie/etc?
The video was just posted today, and a few photos were posted last week. The website has been floating around the web for a few weeks, possibly being spread around through StumbleUpon. A whois IP lookup shows that the website was only registered in April, and whoever registered it, went through the trouble of setting up WhoIsGuard to try to keep themselves anonymous. Except he says his name is Chad. I see a few things that make this look like a poor attempt at viral marketing, to me at least. Any MeFite film experts want to tear this one to shreds?
The video was just posted today, and a few photos were posted last week. The website has been floating around the web for a few weeks, possibly being spread around through StumbleUpon. A whois IP lookup shows that the website was only registered in April, and whoever registered it, went through the trouble of setting up WhoIsGuard to try to keep themselves anonymous. Except he says his name is Chad. I see a few things that make this look like a poor attempt at viral marketing, to me at least. Any MeFite film experts want to tear this one to shreds?
This post was deleted for the following reason: This really seems like a viral marketing campaign, and the framing is sort of feeding into that. -- restless_nomad
Reverse IP lookup sez it's on its own server:
http://www.myipneighbors.com/thebitterrootfootage.com
(not conclusive, just seems odd)
posted by slater at 6:07 PM on May 12, 2012
http://www.myipneighbors.com/thebitterrootfootage.com
(not conclusive, just seems odd)
posted by slater at 6:07 PM on May 12, 2012
Is whoisguard an ordeal for people? It's just a checkbox on nameCheap and it's on by default.
posted by modernserf at 6:08 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by modernserf at 6:08 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
And they also have bitterrootfootage.com (same domain but without "the")
posted by slater at 6:09 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by slater at 6:09 PM on May 12, 2012
Totally reminds me of the stuff in this post -- Things that will haunt you.
posted by modernserf at 6:11 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by modernserf at 6:11 PM on May 12, 2012
I'd appreciate it if someone would summarize the film so I don't have to watch it if it turns out to be something I don't want to see.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:11 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:11 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
FWIW, that's not 8mm film. Tthe sprocket holes are only on the one side. It's Super 8.
1965 at the earliest.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:12 PM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
1965 at the earliest.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:12 PM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
Not even real vintage footage looks this vintage-y. Personally I think it's an ad for a funeral home or a hearing aid producer.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 6:13 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Foci for Analysis at 6:13 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Did an IP lookup on it and it's hosted by florida.phatservers.com, which if you go to that link, is the bitterroot page. Phatservers is the AmeriNOC that shows up listed in the whois records. Not sure what any of that really means though.
posted by x_3mta3 at 6:14 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by x_3mta3 at 6:14 PM on May 12, 2012
I can't think of any reason not to assume that it is the viral marketing it appears to be, but enh.
Interestingly, thebitterrootfootage is on a virtual host at phatservers, but bitterrootfootage appears to be hosted by an entirely different company (Black Lotus Communications). Different origins, or expecting different levels of traffic?
posted by hattifattener at 6:15 PM on May 12, 2012
Interestingly, thebitterrootfootage is on a virtual host at phatservers, but bitterrootfootage appears to be hosted by an entirely different company (Black Lotus Communications). Different origins, or expecting different levels of traffic?
posted by hattifattener at 6:15 PM on May 12, 2012
I sincerely doubt this is actual found footage. A super-8 catridge only last about 2.5 minutes, which means that for a 12 minute film (the length of the reel they claim to have found), unedited, they switched cartridges five times, which is a weird thing to do when stalking somebody through the woods, and with the amount that it's edited, it's fair to assume the original is supposed to be much longer. So we must assume they were popping out and putting in cartridges repeatedly while following a hooded figure. Unless, of course, it was regular 8mm, in which case they were actually stopping to pull out a light-proof bag in order to change film footage.
That being said, I sort of like the aesthetic of this. It's pretty cool looking.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:16 PM on May 12, 2012 [4 favorites]
That being said, I sort of like the aesthetic of this. It's pretty cool looking.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:16 PM on May 12, 2012 [4 favorites]
Video is someone allegedly, secretly following a hooded figure around into a house in the middle of nowhere. There's what looks like a chained up body on the floor. Then the camera person follows hooded figure into the woods where hooded figure tosses a bag into a ditch and leaves. Camera person opens bag and camera briefly films what looks like a severed human head.
posted by x_3mta3 at 6:16 PM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by x_3mta3 at 6:16 PM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
Also in the decrepit house is what looks to be an incubator with an infant in it. Perhaps the film is a reflection on the state of health care in America.
posted by audi alteram partem at 6:20 PM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by audi alteram partem at 6:20 PM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
Viral ad for a video game that isn't as scary as Amnesia.
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:21 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:21 PM on May 12, 2012
My money's on it being an Alternate Reality Game. On the Facebook page, the guy goes to great lengths to profess that it's not viral advertising, but dodges the question of whether or not it's genuinely genuine.
And yeah, that severed head thing is kind of a giveaway, ain't it? Why didn't he go to to the police blah blah blah.
If it is a new ARG, I think that that's great!
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 6:22 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
And yeah, that severed head thing is kind of a giveaway, ain't it? Why didn't he go to to the police blah blah blah.
If it is a new ARG, I think that that's great!
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 6:22 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's a good thing scary hood-man is completely deaf, and has absolutely no peripheral vision. Otherwise the camera noise, the walking on leaves, and standing right where he can see you by in broad daylight might have tipped him off.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:24 PM on May 12, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:24 PM on May 12, 2012 [8 favorites]
I found the exact same footage in a washroom at an NIN show.
posted by davebush at 6:24 PM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by davebush at 6:24 PM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
It's a good thing scary hood-man is completely deaf, and has absolutely no peripheral vision.
Maybe's it's a viral ad for a series of really well soundproofed hood-and-robe sets.
posted by audi alteram partem at 6:28 PM on May 12, 2012 [12 favorites]
Maybe's it's a viral ad for a series of really well soundproofed hood-and-robe sets.
posted by audi alteram partem at 6:28 PM on May 12, 2012 [12 favorites]
Also, who finds a severed head and thinks, I'm going to go home, mail off my 12 cartridges of Super-8 footage, wait three weeks to get the developed reels back from Kodak, then set up my editing kit and laboriously cut and tape it together in a 12-minute short film, which I will then hide away?
I mean, even psychopaths who actually used to film their own attacks, like Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, didn't then go through and edit the footage. They just let the camera roll.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:30 PM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
I mean, even psychopaths who actually used to film their own attacks, like Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, didn't then go through and edit the footage. They just let the camera roll.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:30 PM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
FWIW, that's not 8mm film. Tthe sprocket holes are only on the one side. It's Super 8.
Aaaaaaand I'm wrong about that. 8mm has 'em on just one side, too. Whoops.
In any case, there's nothing to show that the footage is actually on that film.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:30 PM on May 12, 2012
Aaaaaaand I'm wrong about that. 8mm has 'em on just one side, too. Whoops.
In any case, there's nothing to show that the footage is actually on that film.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:30 PM on May 12, 2012
(The aspect ratio of the footage does seem completely wrong.)
posted by Sys Rq at 6:32 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by Sys Rq at 6:32 PM on May 12, 2012
Bitterroot Blue
posted by mediated self at 6:33 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by mediated self at 6:33 PM on May 12, 2012
Bitterroot (2013) - IMDB "Because this project is categorized as in development, the data is only available on IMDbPro and is subject to change."
posted by you at 6:34 PM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by you at 6:34 PM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
Boy that soundtrack is annoying. I really hope it's not a part of whatever this turns out to be, because if it is I'm not watching/playing/participating.
posted by scalefree at 6:36 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by scalefree at 6:36 PM on May 12, 2012
FWIW, that's not 8mm film. Tthe sprocket holes are only on the one side. It's Super 8.
1965 at the earliest.
That's a common misconception, but both 8mm and Super 8 only had sprocket holes on one side. Whereas 8mm was made by splitting 16mm film down the center, Super 8 was a new format unto itself, and had smaller sprocket holes, which allowed for a larger exposure area.
posted by ShutterBun at 6:36 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
1965 at the earliest.
That's a common misconception, but both 8mm and Super 8 only had sprocket holes on one side. Whereas 8mm was made by splitting 16mm film down the center, Super 8 was a new format unto itself, and had smaller sprocket holes, which allowed for a larger exposure area.
posted by ShutterBun at 6:36 PM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is exactly like The Blair Witch Project advance marketing. Also, I think our fellow MeFite you found the smoking gun. (Congratulations, you, your tricky user name almost thwarted me!)
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:47 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:47 PM on May 12, 2012
I found the exact same footage in a washroom at an NIN show.
Must have been an enormous washroom. With unusually lush foliage.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:47 PM on May 12, 2012
Must have been an enormous washroom. With unusually lush foliage.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:47 PM on May 12, 2012
God I hate viral marketing. "Here is something interesting/provocative/frightening/infuriating! Let's discuss this and have an honest convers--WATCH OUR MOIVE COMNG SOOON"
I don't have the reaction to this of "Ha ha, you got me!" Maybe I did the first couple of times, but not anymore. Now I am only filled with seething rage. Take notice idiot marketing executives: fooling me into thinking your stupid pop culture artifact is a real life thing for even a second doesn't fill me with interest or admiration, instead it makes me determined to avoid giving you money for it at all costs.
I don't think I'm alone in this.
posted by JHarris at 6:49 PM on May 12, 2012 [8 favorites]
I don't have the reaction to this of "Ha ha, you got me!" Maybe I did the first couple of times, but not anymore. Now I am only filled with seething rage. Take notice idiot marketing executives: fooling me into thinking your stupid pop culture artifact is a real life thing for even a second doesn't fill me with interest or admiration, instead it makes me determined to avoid giving you money for it at all costs.
I don't think I'm alone in this.
posted by JHarris at 6:49 PM on May 12, 2012 [8 favorites]
The arguments over whether or not this is 'real' is hilarious. It reminds me of the arguments people get in over whether the Mayan long count ending indicates the end of the world or just a new cycle and yet somehow glosses over that magic isn't real and nobody, not even the Mayans, possess supernatural actuarial forecasting powers.
I know that some of you are just having fun talking about film stock, but come on...
posted by modernserf at 6:49 PM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
I know that some of you are just having fun talking about film stock, but come on...
posted by modernserf at 6:49 PM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
In fairness, that aesthetic dates back at least as far as the great film Medium Cool, filmed in 1969, which starred a supposed film crew at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and was filmed at the actual convention, and had the actors accidentally get caught in one of the police riots.
Snuff from 1975 and Cannibal Holocaust from 1980 also make use of the fake found footage approach. It's a pretty well-established trope.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:49 PM on May 12, 2012
Snuff from 1975 and Cannibal Holocaust from 1980 also make use of the fake found footage approach. It's a pretty well-established trope.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:49 PM on May 12, 2012
Bitterroot (2013) - IMDB
Probably not related - it seems to be this and "revolves around an aging Montana rancher who is scammed out of his life savings. Unable to locate the swindler, the rancher packs up his guns and rides his horse into Bitterroot to get his money back"
posted by xchmp at 6:50 PM on May 12, 2012
Probably not related - it seems to be this and "revolves around an aging Montana rancher who is scammed out of his life savings. Unable to locate the swindler, the rancher packs up his guns and rides his horse into Bitterroot to get his money back"
posted by xchmp at 6:50 PM on May 12, 2012
This BBC News story from 2009 doesn't mention Bitterroot, but it does say the original film makers are working on another sequel. FWIW
The legend of the Witch lives on
posted by Celsius1414 at 6:56 PM on May 12, 2012
The legend of the Witch lives on
posted by Celsius1414 at 6:56 PM on May 12, 2012
Yeah, I was just going to say that that Bitterroot looks like a real movie with real actors, so it probably isn't connected to this. Whoops, sorry, indie filmmakers, you've sunk money into doing viral marketing for a film you're going to be bullied into retitling!
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:56 PM on May 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:56 PM on May 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
The YouTube uploader, Chad Logan, has a Google Plus profile. Some of the people who have him in circles seem real, some are obvious fakes. One of them claims to be a "self proclaimed internet marketing guru."
posted by ob1quixote at 6:57 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by ob1quixote at 6:57 PM on May 12, 2012
I have yet to see someone comment stating that they think this is real so...yeah, this argument you mentioned...
posted by Brocktoon at 6:59 PM on May 12, 2012
posted by Brocktoon at 6:59 PM on May 12, 2012
The YouTube uploader, Chad Logan, has a Google Plus profile. Some of the people who have him in circles seem real, some are obvious fakes. One of them claims to be a "self proclaimed internet marketing guru."
Wait, there are people on Google Plus who are NOT self proclaimed Internet marketing gurus?
I think we've found the real news here.
posted by formless at 7:00 PM on May 12, 2012 [4 favorites]
Wait, there are people on Google Plus who are NOT self proclaimed Internet marketing gurus?
I think we've found the real news here.
posted by formless at 7:00 PM on May 12, 2012 [4 favorites]
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