Faceless People

July 2, 2008 11:03 AM

Mysterious faceless people have been attending prominent London events. Everyone seems to agree that this must be some viral marketing scheme, the most likely culprit being Group Lotus cars who have the facelesspeople.com url. The 'Faceless Ones' were also on Doctor Who forty years ago.
posted by Hollow (73 comments total)

I'd trade my face for a Lotus. Well... better make that two.
posted by Debaser626 at 11:05 AM on July 2, 2008

From photo #2: "Faceless People Plaque London Town."

Shouldn't that be 'plague?'
posted by ericb at 11:10 AM on July 2, 2008

If guerrilla marketers don't have a face can I still get in trouble for punching them in it?
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 11:12 AM on July 2, 2008

All I get is a picture of Madonna with some robot armage.
???
posted by Dizzy at 11:13 AM on July 2, 2008

Here we go again ("True Character Will Emerge in 19 days | 13 Hours | 46 Minutes | xx Seconds")!

I bet it's just a viral campaign for a ski area in Taos, New Mexico. ; )
posted by ericb at 11:15 AM on July 2, 2008

Splash news link broken?
posted by rooftop secrets at 11:16 AM on July 2, 2008

The main link is not working for me, it goes to the main page for the site.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:16 AM on July 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

Why do people link to headline pages and imagine the same headline will be there even an hour later?
posted by A189Nut at 11:17 AM on July 2, 2008

Better link here.
posted by beagle at 11:17 AM on July 2, 2008

What shall we use
To fill the empty faces
Where we used to talk?
How shall I fill
The final places?
How should I complete the wall...
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:18 AM on July 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

I dinna see no faceless ones in the first link.
posted by Mister_A at 11:18 AM on July 2, 2008

Here's the correct link

Creepy.
posted by Rhaomi at 11:18 AM on July 2, 2008

Splashnewsonline took down that post for some reason. Here is another one with the same pictures.
posted by Hollow at 11:18 AM on July 2, 2008

I really hope it's about this guy.
posted by tjenks at 11:18 AM on July 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

Oh I see now. Yawn. Things devoid of faces is so June of this year.
posted by Mister_A at 11:20 AM on July 2, 2008

Story unpublished at first URL, apparently rewonderfuled here.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 11:20 AM on July 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

Maybe Splash News decided it wasn't newsworthy. Which would be bad tidings for this post.

So how exactly are they "faceless?" A latex mask making it look like they have no eyes, nose or mouth? While that would be pretty cool, I can't imagine that they would be very good at walking around by themselves.
posted by Citizen Premier at 11:22 AM on July 2, 2008

Yeah you can see in some of the pictures that they're wearing a little badge with the Lotus logo on it (the same one on facelesspeople.com). I don't particularly care, but there you go.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:25 AM on July 2, 2008

Ah, I see.
posted by Citizen Premier at 11:27 AM on July 2, 2008

Well, I guess there's hope the Rorschach mask will look cool in the upcoming Watchmen film...
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:29 AM on July 2, 2008

"True Character Will Emerge in 19 days | 13 Hours | 46 Minutes | xx Seconds"

The projected date: July 22, 2008 coincides the day before the London Motor Show. I suspect that it's a promotion for the official debut of the Lotus Eagle at the 2008 London Motor Show -- Spy Shots | Teaser Shot.

Check out the "face" of the new Lotus Eagle.

In related news -- Lotus teases us with more of its mysterious Eagle project.

"Lotus' vague Eagle car project was given a bit more light today with the release of a teaser image on the company's website announcing the brand's 60th anniversary party."

posted by ericb at 11:29 AM on July 2, 2008

Actually Shakespeherian, those badges are their passes to Wimbledon. See?
posted by Hollow at 11:29 AM on July 2, 2008

Dude. Mutilation week was last week.
posted by ardgedee at 11:29 AM on July 2, 2008

No, see it's a pseudoderm attached to the face using a bonding gas released from the wearer's belt buckle.
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 11:30 AM on July 2, 2008 [2 favorites]

If it's an advertisement for Lotus and there's 19 days until the reveal, they've started a bit early, no? And I'm not entirely sure associating a sports car with terrifying no-face people who can't see very well is terribly clever from a marketing standpoint - vague notions of being creeped out then run over by partially sighted mutants is not something I'd want associated with my new supercar, really.
posted by jack_mo at 11:33 AM on July 2, 2008

Damnit, how'd I miss tjenks post?
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 11:35 AM on July 2, 2008

Boing Boing strikes again!
posted by Artw at 11:35 AM on July 2, 2008

I'm willing to buy that, Hollow, but I don't see anyone else wearing the same badge in those photos (the man next to them might have one, but it's either glared out or white). If it is the Wimbledon pass, it certainly closely resembles the Lotus logo.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:35 AM on July 2, 2008

If it's an advertisement for Lotus and there's 19 days until the reveal, they've started a bit early, no?

It's likely a promotion for the first public showing of the Lotus Eagle -- with expected availability in 2010 (which has been previously reported). It's probable meant as a "trade" promotion aimed at the industry reps and automobile aficionados who will be attending this year's London Motor Show.
posted by ericb at 11:39 AM on July 2, 2008

Billy Idol missed it by this much.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:40 AM on July 2, 2008 [2 favorites]

*probably*
posted by ericb at 11:41 AM on July 2, 2008

Ugh. None of my links are going where I want them today. Here in the corner you can see the Wimbledon logo, which is clearly closer to the logo on the badges that they are wearing than the Lotus logo.
posted by Hollow at 11:44 AM on July 2, 2008

Instead of "booth babes" they'll have Faceless Folks wander the convention floor.

Having already had these faceless folks show up at Elton John's White Tie & Tiara Ball, Harrod's Summer Sale and Wimbeldon, over the next two weeks I'd expect them to appear at other fancy, "classy events" -- right in line with Lotus own marketing. Cost effective teaser events.
posted by ericb at 11:47 AM on July 2, 2008

I just can't face another viral marketing post.
posted by dersins at 11:50 AM on July 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

Looks like they were unfaced.
posted by basicchannel at 11:50 AM on July 2, 2008

Uh, the Lotus logo on the tags they're wearing might contain a clue as to who's responsible.
posted by jimmythefish at 11:51 AM on July 2, 2008

I truly despise how large corporations are slowly bleeding the mysterious and whimsical of all life. In creating a context where it's assumed anything extraordinary like this is simply another advert, artistic intervention becomes a tool for cultural circumvention, the loop of consumption comes that much closer to being closed, and everyone gets that little bit more cynical.

Stunts like this are a crime against imagination, and I deeply resent them.
posted by regicide is good for you at 11:51 AM on July 2, 2008 [12 favorites]

On the PLUS side, I need one of those masks.

Alright, Lotus, time to mail me a no-face and a passel of tickets to New York's finest cultural events.
posted by 235w103 at 12:04 PM on July 2, 2008

I just can't face another viral marketing post.

Yeah, and it bugs a bit that someone's very first metafilter post is a viral marketing post.
posted by weston at 12:05 PM on July 2, 2008

Actually, I posted one a couple years ago about George Lucas, but it got deleted. We all got to start somewhere.
posted by Hollow at 12:12 PM on July 2, 2008

If you had an iPhone you could see their faces.
posted by srboisvert at 12:13 PM on July 2, 2008

I hope they're re-filming the two missing episodes of The Faceless Ones.
Damn those lazy BBC archivists!
posted by ...possums at 12:16 PM on July 2, 2008

Phew! I was worried for a minute that there wasn't enough advertising on the internet passing itself of as genuine discourse. Thank god we always have reality to fall back on for our advertising needs.

Can I pay $10 dollars to reality and get rid of the ads, matthowie? please
posted by davemee at 12:19 PM on July 2, 2008

I'm a car nut, and even I don't think this is a good post for MetaFilter. Unless, of course, it comes with a free Lotus, preferrably in blue. Pepsi blue, specifically.

Yeah, and it bugs a bit that someone's very first metafilter post is a viral marketing post.

It is a somewhat eponysterical FPP you've made there, Hollow, now that I look at it.
posted by davejay at 12:19 PM on July 2, 2008

Lotus should pay them to ride the tube and shake their faces at passing trains ala Jacob's Ladder just to fuck with people.
posted by The Straightener at 12:23 PM on July 2, 2008

I truly despise how large corporations are slowly bleeding the mysterious and whimsical of all life.

You hire creative people and then you'll get creative output. I dont see how this is hurting anyone and in fact looks pretty neat. If your sense of wonder is so easy hurt then perhaps you should stay off the internet.
posted by damn dirty ape at 12:34 PM on July 2, 2008 [3 favorites]

It's one thing for a couple of people with Photoshop to trot out some bullshit on the Internet for fun, but it's another for it to have the backing of a multimillion dollar company. This world does not need institutionization and monetization of bullshit. Fuck viral marketing.
posted by crapmatic at 12:42 PM on July 2, 2008

You know, real aliens could successfully invade simply by making their invasion look like viral marketing.
posted by joannemerriam at 12:43 PM on July 2, 2008 [2 favorites]

Pepsi British Racing Green?
posted by Skeptic at 12:43 PM on July 2, 2008

It's probably just a calcium spill: it's the Helvetica scenario!
posted by oonh at 12:47 PM on July 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

Valar morghulis.
posted by Pallas Athena at 12:52 PM on July 2, 2008

More importantly, where/how can I get/make one of these masks for Halloween?
posted by gottabefunky at 1:12 PM on July 2, 2008

Not a fun job, by the look of it. Also: I know they must breathe, but I'd love to know how that works through the apparently impermeable masks.
posted by everichon at 1:17 PM on July 2, 2008

So that's what the Stig looks like under his helmet.
posted by afx237vi at 1:27 PM on July 2, 2008 [2 favorites]

Yeah. Calling this out for an ad campaign is all well and good, but let's get to the bottom of how the masks are made. That's The Question in need of answers, right there. 'Cause I'd reverse my relatively solid stance against superhero cosplay in a split-second with that kind of knowledge.
posted by grabbingsand at 1:36 PM on July 2, 2008

Creepy
posted by zeoslap at 1:47 PM on July 2, 2008

Not a fun job, by the look of it. Also: I know they must breathe, but I'd love to know how that works through the apparently impermeable masks.

From some of the photos it appears to me that the masks are made of a sheer fabric stretched across the face -- and likely held in place with adhesive at the edges and covered with make-up to obscure the "seal."
posted by ericb at 1:51 PM on July 2, 2008

Yeah. Calling this out for an ad campaign is all well and good, but let's get to the bottom of how the masks are made. That's The Question in need of answers , right there. 'Cause I'd reverse my relatively solid stance against superhero cosplay in a split-second with that kind of knowledge.

I remember seing awhile ago someone doing an anon cosplay with some sort of material I don't remember the name of. I'll remember the name eventually. I'm pretty sure that's the same one used there.
posted by darkripper at 2:34 PM on July 2, 2008

Sapphire and Steel !

Never forgot that episode. Still freaks me to this day.
posted by Webbster at 2:34 PM on July 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

I totally want one of these masks.
posted by troybob at 2:57 PM on July 2, 2008

235w103 : Alright, Lotus, time to mail me a no-face and a passel of tickets to New York's finest cultural events.

I'll handle the Midwest, I am going to require a no-face mask and an Exige.
posted by quin at 3:06 PM on July 2, 2008

Cheesecloth! that was cheesecloth.
posted by darkripper at 3:26 PM on July 2, 2008

Of course, this rekindles my eternal fascination with and desire for the Rejuvenique mask...I wonder where these guys got theirs...
posted by troybob at 3:45 PM on July 2, 2008

I remember seing awhile ago someone doing an anon cosplay

That was me! I dressed up as anonymous askme once but it sucked! I failed to communicate and to say say what I really wanted so no-one liked me. Then I developed a drug problem. All In one night!
posted by uandt at 4:24 PM on July 2, 2008

I bet this is what Buckethead looks like under the mask.
posted by Flunkie at 5:20 PM on July 2, 2008

They're also at Henley
posted by Greener at 6:33 PM on July 2, 2008

Unfortunately, there is no "advertising" flag on MeFi - yet - so I can't flag this as such.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 6:40 PM on July 2, 2008

The song remains the same.
posted by Balisong at 8:00 PM on July 2, 2008

With a name like "Eagle", I would've expected it to be Lotus' entry into the increasingly lucrative SUV market.

Alas, it seems it's an unholy marriage of a Lotus Esprit and an Exige
posted by slater at 11:40 PM on July 2, 2008

Doctor Who did the faceless thing again only a couple of years ago in the story The Idiot's Lantern.
posted by w0mbat at 11:42 PM on July 2, 2008

Got a joke:

A faceless man walks into a bar, gets drunk (or pissed how multi-cultural of me), and then the bartender kicks him out and says never show your face around here again! The next day the man walks into the bar.... Wow tough crowd!
posted by Mastercheddaar at 6:48 AM on July 3, 2008

See, it probably doesn't matter how the masks are made, because if a normal citizen tried wearing them to these events they'd be booted at the door, or shortly escorted out by security if they donned them after entering. We're 2nd class compared to the semi-person corporations.
posted by nobeagle at 7:19 AM on July 3, 2008

What strikes me as interesting is that it seems to be a change from the ususal suspects that show up to these events: pretty faces that stand for nothing but are paid millions to use their talents (read: pretty face) to shill products. In this case we get faceless people that stand in for products for which the corporations have paid for permission for these people to shill.
posted by Pollomacho at 7:44 AM on July 3, 2008