Wired 14.12: The Secret World of Lonelygirl

Goodfried's advice was simple. "If anyone asks point-blank if you're real, don't answer the question," he said. "Don't lie to people. The answer is no answer. In my mind, it's the equivalent of not lying. But if people talk to Bree like she's Bree, that's fair game."

Highlighted by richar19

"If anyone asks point-blank if you're real, don't answer the question," he said. "Don't lie to people. The answer is no answer. In my mind, it's the equivalent of not lying. But if people talk to Bree like she's Bree, that's fair game."

Highlighted by needle10

Don't sell merchandise and don't use any copyrighted music without a license. If people buy Lonelygirl15 stuff thinking she is real, they could claim false advertising and sue.

Highlighted by sunflower123

He had two other rules: Don't sell merchandise and don't use any copyrighted music without a license.

Highlighted by winter43

Don't sell merchandise and don't use any copyrighted music without a license. If people buy Lonelygirl15 stuff thinking she is real

Highlighted by sipala1

commune-raised screenwriter a green light to unleash Lonelygirl15 on the world.

Highlighted by jgirl0910

In fact, Beckett and Flinders hadn't even found an actress to play the part.

Highlighted by meyerb15

on 2008-02-13 by meyerb15

They probably couldn't find an actress because, like I said before, this guy is probably a huge creeper.

But this first clip laid the groundwork for everything that was to come.

Highlighted by newtypexvii

(one called her an "attention whore" and another a "video slut"),

Highlighted by jgirl0910

A day or two after that, a new user named Lonelygirl15 posted an animated scene of a dinosaur stomping on a house, intercut with Emily's original videos.

Highlighted by vanamb16

A day or two after that, a new user named Lonelygirl15 posted an animated scene of a dinosaur stomping on a house, intercut with Emily's original videos.

Highlighted by butler09

It was a sly move: Post a video that comments on an already-popular vlogger and piggyback on the existing audience.

Highlighted by sunflower123

Emily's fans loved it and offered a deluge of comments, giving Lonelygirl15 instant cred. Viewers praised this funny, creative new vlogger, encouraged her to keep the videos coming, and signed up to receive her future clips.

Highlighted by mccrar25

Now Beckett and Flinders had made her sign a nondisclosure agreement and, clearly pleased with themselves, told her that they wanted her to play the lead in what they billed as the future of entertainment.

Highlighted by hughes27

JESSICA ROSE WAS SUSPICIOUS and frankly a little pissed off. She had come to this organic-tea shop to discuss what she thought was a feature film called Children of Anchor Cove.

Highlighted by needle10

It was exactly what her acting coaches at Universal Studios' film program had warned her against: unkempt producer-types hawking shady deals.

Highlighted by coffma46

The previous videos had gotten between 50,000 and 100,000 views after a week, but this one logged 50,000 in its first two hours.

Highlighted by sipala1

The previous week, one guy had offered her a part in a movie if she would use her student ID to buy him discounted film at Kodak

Highlighted by liz_somer

^#8 The previous week, one guy had offered her a part in a movie if she would use her student ID to buy him discounted film at Kodak

Highlighted by richar19

For free.

Highlighted by foodyj65

But he did persuade her to meet again the next day. It was at a crowded coffee shop – she figured she'd be safe. Beckett showed up alone and explained the plan this way: The project was a sketchbook for a film. If it was a success online, they could go to the studios and use the material as a screen test for both her and the story. That seemed to soften her. This was just a stepping stone to a feature film. She decided to give it a try.

Highlighted by sunflower123

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT JESSICA ROSE that the webcam loves. Her distractingly large eyebrows and small round face are bent and stretched by the fish-eye lens into a morsel of beauty that fits perfectly in a pop-up window. That's not to say she isn't pretty off camera – she is – but every step she takes closer to the cam multiplies and enhances her looks. It's a face made for the browser screen.

Highlighted by coffma46

Her character is also deliberately crafted to target the Web's most active demographics. Nerds geek out on the idea that this beautiful girl lists physicist Richard Feynman and poet e. e. cummings as heroes. Horny guys respond to the tame but tantalizing glimpses of her cleavage. Teenage girls sympathize with her boy troubles and her sometimes-stormy relationship with her strict parents. Early on, viewers started emailing to offer advice and sympathy. Others wanted to talk dirty and discuss mathematical equations.

Highlighted by sunflower123

Her character is also deliberately crafted to target the Web's most active demographics. Nerds geek out on the idea that this beautiful girl lists physicist Richard Feynman and poet e. e. cummings as heroes. Horny guys respond to the tame but tantalizing glimpses of her cleavage. Teenage girls sympathize with her boy troubles and her sometimes-stormy relationship with her strict parents. Early on, viewers started emailing to offer advice and sympathy. Others wanted to talk dirty and discuss mathematical equations.

Highlighted by winter43

Highlighted by hughes27

Teenage girls sympathize with her boy troubles and her sometimes-stormy relationship with her strict parents.

Highlighted by sipala1

As Bree, she struck up friendships with people in Sweden, Scotland, Ireland, Portugal, Australia, Mexico, and all over the US. > She never offered much information about her character. Rather, she'd research an emailer's

Highlighted by coffma46

As Bree, she struck up friendships with people in Sweden, Scotland, Ireland, Portugal, Australia, Mexico, and all over the US.

Highlighted by goulds28

Highlighted by coffma46

For Amanda, it was a welcome departure from her day job, where she answered phones and handled the demands of high-powered stars.

Highlighted by myraycole

Highlighted by education1st

on 2008-04-17 by education1st

This is how they draw people in. When they see someone is upset and trying to deal with a problem, the viewer is drawn in. Humans like to see others besides themselves with problems.

ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, Lonelygirl15 posted a different kind of video. Her first handful of clips had been funny: She lip-synced a rap song, made fun of her friend Daniel, and danced around with a hand puppet named Purple Monkey. But now her tone had changed. "I'm really upset," she began. Although she was hugging Purple Monkey, she seemed older. The title of the video was "My Parents Suck …," and she explained that her religion prevented her from doing things that other kids did. Still, she felt that her parents had gone too far when they said she couldn't go on a hike with Daniel. It was the first time Bree was emotional on camera.

Before heading out to a barbecue, Goodfried noticed a spike in hits. The previous videos had gotten between 50,000 and 100,000 views after a week, but this one logged 50,000 in its first two hours.

Highlighted by wolffw

Highlighted by puccak07

on 2008-04-17 by puccak07

It is amazing how this is all a script and that none of it is true. It is so believable and it really gets you thinking how you can't believe anything you see anymore without doing further research and questioning.

The title of the video was "My Parents Suck …," and she explained that her religion prevented her from doing things that other kids did. Still, she felt that her parents had gone too far when they said she couldn't go on a hike with Daniel. It was the first time Bree was emotional on camera.

Highlighted by hughes27

Rather, she'd research an emailer's MySpace page and ask questions about their life. They responded enthusiastically and helped spread the word about the amazing new YouTube vlogger named Bree

Highlighted by vancej

Rather, she'd research an emailer's MySpace page and ask questions about their life. They responded enthusiastically and helped spread the word about the amazing new YouTube vlogger named Bree .

Highlighted by sipala1

because it wasn't

Highlighted by foodyj65

The previous videos had gotten between 50,000 and 100,000 views after a week, but this one logged 50,000 in its first two hours.

Highlighted by richar19

. ^#15 The previous videos had gotten between 50,000 and 100,000 views after a week, but this one logged 50,000 in its first

Highlighted by richar19

⁹ The previous videos had gotten between 50,000 and 100,000 views after a week, but this one logged 50,000 in its first two hours.

Highlighted by butler09

a hand puppet named Purple Monkey

Highlighted by foodyj65

Popularity Report

Total Popularity Score: 0

Rank

URL Tag Cloud

Groups (0)

Related Lists

Bookmark History

Public Comment

Public Sticky notes

on 2008-02-13 by meyerb15

on 2008-04-17 by education1st

on 2008-04-17 by puccak07

Site Community

Readers (25)