Fake Celebrity Pranks New York City

On the night of July 27th, 2012, a huge prank was pulled in New York City and this is the video of what took place. Brett Cohen came up with a crazy idea to fool thousands of pedestrians walking the streets of Times Square into thinking he was a huge celebrity, and it worked! Not only did it work, it caused quite a stir. This social experiment, of sorts, makes a profound statement about how modern culture is so attracted to pop culture, without any real credibility needed.

He dressed up like a typical celebrity and was accompanied by an entourage of two professional bodyguards, two assistants, and photographers pretending to be paparazzi. While the assistants and photographers waited for Brett to exit the 49th street marquee at NBC Studios, they started a buzz that a “big star” was about to walk out, thus making it worth their while to wait and get a picture. Many asked the crew whom Brett was, and no answer was given. They were forced to either make something up, or just take a picture with him in hopes that their Facebook friends or Twitter followers might have a better idea.

As the crew walked over to Times Square, the crowds around Brett grew on each consecutive block. Very few people even questioned who he was, where he was from, or what he does. Brett took pictures with nearly 300 people before the stunt ended. The video even includes interviews with people who had just taken a picture with Brett, and puts them in an awkward position when they’re asked questions such as, “Where do you know Brett from?” and “What’s your favorite movie he was in?” Many of them were overwhelmingly excited over Brett’s walk through Times Square, and it showed.
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Credits:

Executive Producer: Brett Cohen
Co-Producer: Edward Sturm (https://edwardsturm.com/)
Editor: Michael Sorace
Director: Edward Sturm
Principal Cinematographer: Benjamin Chacko
Principal Camera Operator: Woo Kim
Interview Camera Operator: Peter Bohnhof
Fringe Camera Operator: Michael Sorace

Celebrity: Brett Cohen
Interviewer: Edward Sturm
Bodyguard One: “Mr. E”
Bodyguard Two: Jeffrey Lichtenstein
Assistant: Sara Bowers
Publicist: Rebecca Lieberman
Paparazzi: David Dominick
Paparazzi: Nikita Vasilyev
Paparazzi: Malvika Jolly
Paparazzi: Joseph Laine
Paparazzi: Peter Guagliano
Paparazzi: Jennifer Haynie
Paparazzi: Ciaran Smith
Paparazzi: Joseph Dash
Paparazzi: Christian Eldridge

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