I've noticed some comments on other blogs and tweets so far regarding the Chapman University Logo that appears toward the beginning of the trailer for a new film entitled "the Fourth Kind."
No, Abigail Tyler tyler is not a professor at Chapman, and no, I am not aware of alien abductions at Chapman University nor do we have a creepy owl infestation.
The answer is much simpler than that - the director of the film (Olatunde Osunsanmi) was a student here at Chapman University. The fact is, Chapman has lots of alumni working in 'the industry.'
We at Chappenings are very excited for Olatunde Osunsanmi and "the Fourth Kind." We still remember Olatunde's student film Malachi from the Chapman years. In fact, a clip of Malachi can be found HERE.
Make sure to see the film opening weekend and support to the incredibly talented Olatunde Osunsanmi!
Thanks for reading,
-dm
____ALSO____
We have recieved lots of comments regarding if Chapman should have done this or not. We at Chappenings are curious what everyone things - please take a half a second to vote in this poll.
Thanks!
29 comments:
Very fun to see alumni hit it big!
I had a question for you...
When you guys are reading admissions essays, what kinds of things do you really enjoy seeing? What makes an essay stand out to you?
Thanks!
Hi Colin,
Thanks for your question. That's a fun one to answer - we're actually going to do a full blog post about it since we think it's such a good topic. Be sure to check back in the next day or two to see that posted.
Best,
Dena
Interesting that the university would allow it's name to be used for a movie that claims to be based in fact but is complete fiction. Chapman University is well know and respected school, and I can't help but feel that by lending it's name to this lie it somehow tarnishes that image.
I'm disapointed that Chapman University would allow it's name to be used in a totally fictional film that claims to be based on fact. Chapman is a well known and respected school, I can't help but feel that this somehow tarnishes that image.
Hello Meme Warrior!
I wouldn't take it too seriously - I think everyone will realize that this is a "Hollywood-ized" fictional film based on supposed "actual events." Another film that comes to mind is "The Mothman Prophecies - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265349/" which was also allegedly based on true events. In fact, even the "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" claims to be based on true events. I'm believe that most folks will understand that when Hollywood says 'based on true events' it's always somewhat of a stretch.
One of the questions we get frequently regarding our film school is "who has graduated from your program that has 'made it."
We actually have lots of alumni working in Hollywood, but their names are still catching up to the general public. The Fourth Kind 'name dropping' Chapman is not because of it's content, but because the director graduated from Chapman. From this prospective, it will be good for the film students to see that Chapman students are doing well.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for your concern!
-dm
This movie makes Chapman the MIskatonic University of the west coast. We have the hills for a potential Wizard Whately. Is there a locked up copy of the Necronomicon?
so the so called "actual footage" of dr abigail's interview- with the "chapman" name and logo intertwined into it- Proves the movie to be a fake.
They tout the movie as being a documentary. Its not real footage- because what does a film school have to do with a real psychiatrist interview of an alien abduction? Nothing...
You guys can be proud of Mr. O for his great accomplishment. Lying to the public to increase his sales. I'm sure he is laughing all the way to the bank, just like the telemarketers that promise your mother who is living off of social security the world and take her credit card info and drain her dry. Hey- i guess if she gave them her credit card she deserves it right?
Yes DM, there are many movies you can say were based on "facts" but none had an institute for higher learning lending them their good name.
Real or not, Educational Institutions should stay out of the viral promo biz, just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
Films are supposed to have a disclaimer about fictitious characters. ORRRRRRR??? Dont they teach that @Chapman?
Thanks for the comments everyone. I'm just a lowly admission counselor here so I can't speak on behalf of Chapman, or on behalf of the film's director but I personally think most people will realize that this is 'just a movie.' We are accustomed to having fun here at Chapman. If you don't believe me, check out our President tap dancing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocYrwF9MUAw
Thanks for reading!
-dm
Even for a "lowly admissions counselor," you are being naive and apathetic to the tarnishing of your school's reputation. I'm pretty sophisticated as a film goer and media consumer -- it's legitimate to assume that if the name of a university is used while a narrator simultaneously purports something to be true, than the university's credibility is being called into play. Your argument is akin to someone saying, "Yes, the name Harvard University is used in an advertisement claiming cigarettes to be healthful, but everyone knows cigarettes are not healthful." Montage and juxtaposition of text and images comprise media messages -- this is marketing 101 my friend. There is a subset of individuals who would NOT see this film if it were honestly portrayed as being pure fiction -- it is the "based on truth" aspect that will draw them to the theater -- and why ELSE would the filmmakers market this film as "true" BUT to attract an audience. That audience will have been misled because of your University's complicit association in what is a pure marketing scam. I'm pretty surprised by your lackidaisical response.
I just came from seeing The Fourth Kind and he did an amazing job with this film, but admittedly I'm freakin' creeped out of my mind. I'm an alumni of Chapman University and often helped film students with their projects so I figured it was because he majored in film there. I thought it was a good plug for the university though don't be surprised if people start asking if there is a paranormal and UFO studies department or major now!
...just saw the movie and liked it. I have to say - I don't see the big deal with chapman using their name if the director went there. So they did a shout out - what's the big deal? People are freaking out way too much about it. It's like they need a university to tell them if there are aliens or not.
Big difference between the movies listed (mothman, texas chainsaw); those movies all had the 'any similarities to actual persons ..not real' (paraphrased) disclaimer..this movie does NOT, and it needs to. This movie leads you to believe you are watching a police car cam recording of a man shooting his family than himself. Folks, if that's not crossing a line than I don't know what is. Will be interesting to see what comes about because of this movie.
That is pretty cool that your school was associated with this movie.
I thought the movie was a killer flick and definitely had me on my toes.
However, it was a crushing disappointment to find that it was not real at all even though it was portrayed to be.
I feel bad for the poor people in Nome that are getting incessant phone calls from people asking about the movie. Hopefully, Chapman isnt getting the same.
Hi everybody - I'm very sorry to disappoint anyone who is not satisfied with my statements.
Honestly, I have not seen the movie yet - I plan to see it soon because I do want to support Chapman Alumni whenever I can.
As far as the footage - I have no idea if any of it was real or not. Maybe some of it was and some of it wasn't. Maybe all of it was or maybe none of it was - I have no idea.
The only information I have is that the director did go to Chapman and (from what I understand) wanted to give us a 'shout out.'
My job is to talk to prospective students, read applications, and serve on the admission committee. I can't speak on behalf of the University at large, or the studio. I suggest if you want to get to the bottom of it... perhaps contacting the studio would be the best first start.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Thanks for reading,
-dm
Also, I just found this article that includes quotes from our PR department here at Chapman:
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/a-clockwork-orange/fourth-kind-olatunde-osunsanmi/
Best,
-dm
Im very disappointed at the "aw shucks" attitude this university seems to have at a man killing his whole family than himself in supposed archival footage. The fact that this university allowed its name to be lent to this sham of a movie makes it just as bad as the director. Do they teach "How to Lie, Cheat, and Steal Your Way to the Top 101" freshman year? If your school is so fun maybe it shouldn't condone outright lies!
Hello readers,
I assure you, Chapman University did not set out to lie to anyone, or to fool anyone, or to hurt anyone - merely to show support for our alumni.
Again, I am in no position to officially speak on behalf of the University, the director, or the studio.
Also, please feel free to vote on our poll. I probably won't comment back anymore on this post because this conversation does not have anything to do with admission, which is what this blog is for.
Thanks again for reading.
-dm
Just read the blog, can't believe how upset people are getting over it. It's a movie. Esp in a genre like horror, you'd think people would just assume that what they're seeing isn't necessarily fact...it's entertainment
they would have had me if only i hadnt been thinking, "now how did they manage to get police footage from a sheriff who didnt want anything to do with the movie..."
It's a big difference between BLAIRWITCH and FOURTH KIND [actual footage], because the lead actrees of BLAIRWITCH clearly states in this interview [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f7GpLmIljo ]that none of it is real[if some believed it was], but here in FK, well, you here them saying in the beginning that the grainy footage is real[docu style].I've never seen MICHAEL BAY claiming the footage from Mars with the transformer is real or JAMES CAMERON saying the Na'vi exist and they still got millions on their movies.[and here is the difference because they admit it's just a movie.
When directos say ''inspired by true story'' and make a movie on it you know it's a movie with it's details worked out,etc but when you mix something that you call actual footage [real real real]....and it is a BIG lie
you should be ashamed of, it's reallly bad for your reputation.He should have left it just a movie[even saying 'inspired by' wouldn't had been that bad[because then people would know that you added little details to make it more catchy, [sumerian, ''actual footage'' with spaceship,man shooting his wife, etc.]and we would've got it, this is hollywood.But saying it's real..It is quite insulting way of marketing.I'm not saying that i don't believe other intelligent life forms exist because it would be arrogant but[We are tired of UFO hoaxes, especially this big ....OSUNSAMI..your'e the new SANTILLI!!!!bravo!!!!
poorly orchestrated joke...
P.S.The ''real'' Abigail Tyler is quite pretty.
Interesting story as for me. It would be great to read more about this theme. The only thing I would like to see on that blog is some pictures of some devices.
Jeff Trider
Phone jammer
Pretty bad form to make up a fake story while claiming it to be "based on true events".
What is Doctor Abigal went there for a psychological evaluation?? I mean was SHE the one being asked questions...she knows the answers because she witnessed it. What if Chapman Uni. was the host for such psychological evaluations, i.e. Dr. Abigal...come on people put two and two together.
Ok so I just wrote a long message and deleted it by accident but here is my point:
It seems everyone is passing off the film as a " fun film" " a complete fiction" blah blah blah.I just think that people are too scared to admit that the the footage real footageproves that there are unrealistic and crazy things encountering our world. WHAT WILL THE PEOPLE OF NOME SAY? HOW DOES THIS EFFECT CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY? ALL of these questions are all fractions of the thoughts of the people who have denied the film some authentic value. I watched the film non-biased and was scared to death. I cannot sleep and movies usually dont scare me look at the evidence sumerian language played simaltaneously with abigails screaming and a man levitating . People were contorting their bodies physically hurting themselves a cop even seen it and it was on camera! Many other people had the same stories about the owl and something unknown possessing them. I dont know if i can believe it was aliens but something unatural was going on. ALSO, people need to stop laughing at dr. tyler's physical appearance. Looks and the title of " looking like a crazy person" does not correlate with actually being the crazy person. she looked well put together in the fottage most of the time except on the university parts but can you blame her after what she went through? is anyone with me on this? or is it safe to say that even the footage is rubbish? If we do this, and if all cops and investigators did this, we would refuse to accept things as they are, and no improvement could be made because no one listened.
student -- university of new brunswick
Hey nice to see you are all glad that your alumni hit it big with a fictional tale he hawked as real. When it's alien abduction it's okay to lie, but when Oliver Stone or Micheal Moore does it...no, it's all real. Because we know, nobody makes stuff up in movies. Decide all you Chapman Grads in "the industry", are you all fairy tales and make believe or not? Do YOU just get to decide what is and is not "based on a true story"?
press "delete" now blog author...
um seriously people its a movie so everyone needs to chill out. I had my questions as to whether the movie was really based on actual events so I immediately looked it up online after I watched.
Lets face facts people you want to be terrified and you want to believe that the events actually happened and the director did a great job of making you believe that. Hats off to him.
Ok... So I watched this movie and was sorely disappointed when I googled "chapman university" and found this blog. As for the director, I think it is sad for him to b able to label this as "based on actual events", Mainly because of the fact that the ONLY and I mean ONLY reason I had any desire to watch this piece of crap was because of the "true events"
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