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Subject: Re: Scott, with all due respect ... From: Hawkwolf posted Tue, Jul 10 2007, 4:30am  Scott, if I were to fake a 'hairy hominid' for video, I wouldn't use a simple mask. Instead, I'd go with one of the foam latex appliances out there sold by various costume companies. Most of these kits include detailed instructions on how to blend the appliance on to your own face, color it, etc. I fail to see how MK (or anyone) could rule this method out, especially given the quality of the original video. It wouldn't take Rick Baker, just someone with a bit of a live theater background and around $50 to spend. Even in broad daylight , it would look more 'real' than a mask, and at night .... Scroll down this page to see examples Honestly, I don't see where any sort of image enhancement would show where the edges of a halfway decent makeup job would be. Perhaps MK can enlighten me. Subject: Re: Scott, with all due respect ... From: scmarlowe posted Tue, Jul 10 2007, 6:56am  This is a good point and the reason that I'm associating with Ripley's and studying their special effects methods. It is also the reason that I requested that Tom submit the material to another expert -- not because I question MK, but because I expect something similar. MK is a specialist in video enhancement and analysis, but not in makeup special effects. I cannot discount the possibility of a hoax based on this and Brad's contention that the movements were rehearsed -- as I said before. Just that it would complicate the production process such that the producer would have to have a motive beyond the typical hoax. This is also a reason that the film requires considerable study. Subject: Re: Scott, with all due respect ... From: Hawkwolf posted Tue, Jul 10 2007, 11:47am  Nice to see you're trying to keep all bases covered. "I cannot discount the possibility of a hoax based on this and Brad's contention that the movements were rehearsed -- as I said before. Just that it would complicate the production process such that the producer would have to have a motive beyond the typical hoax." Complicate the process? Not really. As I mentioned before, the facial makeup might take the involvement of someone familiar with live theater. The same type of individual would have no problem with the idea of rehearsing their movements until their 'director' was satisfied. As to motive, your own words provide one: "beyond the typical hoax". Face it, most of the BF vids you'll find slogging through You-Tube are , to be kind, amateurish at best. I can easily conceive of a couple of film or theater students deciding "Man, if you're gonna do a hoax Sasquatch vid, do it right." In other words, professional pride. Before anyone plays the 'expense' card, as I noted above, the facial appliances are around $50 if you don't have the expertise to make them yourself. Figure maybe another hundred tops in materials for the suit. Filming at night adds credibility, and covers a multitude of sins. Now, assuming you made your 'best hoax BF vid ever', who do you contact to get it out before the public? Just uploading it to You-Tube won't do it. You want publicity for your work, and maybe a chance to recoup the little bit of money you put into the project. Let's see ... who's a prominent 'Bigfoot researcher' who might give you a few bucks for this thing, but at the very least will hype it? Tom something ..yeah, that's the guy. As my hypothetical scenario plays out, our little band of filmmakers is in hog heaven right now, because their project is good enough to warrant serious study, instead of the scorn most BF vids get. Mind you, I'm not dismissing it out of hand as a hoax. There's enough ambiguity here for me to wait until all the analysis has been done. But, I can understand the mindset of someone taking a little more time and effort than the "usual hoax", knowing their only real reward will be a private satisfaction in a job well done. Subject: Re: Scott, with all due respect ... From: scmarlowe posted Wed, Jul 11 2007, 12:39am  Hawk, True. But, that kind of ego would also have a hard time containing itself long enough to max out the hoax. Moreover, the more people involved in such a hoax the greater the potential for a "leak." I'm with you on the logic, but as with the other possibilities, only time and research will tell us what the facts actually are. Until then, every explanation is only speculation. Subject: Re: Scott, with all due respect ... From: Hawkwolf posted Wed, Jul 11 2007, 5:52am  I don't know, Scott. It would only take at most two people if they had the right expertise: an actor and a director to rehearse the 'scene' and get it the way they wanted. Either might have the necessary background to handle the make-up and costume. In fact, since (iirc) this is supposed to come from a trail cam, one person with the necessary skills could pull it off. It'd take a bit more effort, since you'd have to review the tape, and adjust your 'performance' until you felt you had gotten it right. As for great egos containing themselves over an exquisite bit of fakery, how long was it between the first publication of the Surgeon's Photo and the revelation that it was a hoax? Even in today's internet-driven, instant gratification, mental fast food world, there are people left who would find all the gratification they needed simply knowing their little gem was taken seriously. But, as you said, all the facts that can be reasonably obtained aren't in yet, so all anyone can do is speculate at this point. I'm merely applying Occam's Beard Trimmer here. (It's kind of like Occam's Razor, only with a wider range of settings, and thus much more flexible. It may not shave quite as close, but it gets the job done.) Sadly, perhaps the only real proof of any sort of unknown hominid or ape in North America would be gently referred to as a 'type specimen'. Thanks for keeping us informed here, and for your thoughtful replies and good humor. You ,sir, are both a gentleman, and a scholar.

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