REEL OR UNREEL? Film fools people in Brentford, West London, over "fascinating undiscovered movie footage". Can you spot the clues that reveal the truth?
When John Dale posted this home-made movie, he thought it would provide some interesting entertainment for the people of his hometown. He certainly didn't expect the response he got. "Fascinating!". "Wow!" "Where did you find this?"
To Dale's amazement, Brentonians thought he had stumbled upon a priceless treasure trove of undiscovered movie footage.
Locals enthusiastically welcomed his "discovery" of footage apparently filmed from a helicopter in the 1930s and earlier showing Brentford's Golden Mile, the old gasworks and other local scenes long gone. There were just a couple of problems: the first helicopter did not fly until 1939; and time machines still do not exist.
How did Dale do it?
Look carefully and you will see that no one is actually moving in the film, a fact carefully disguised.
Dale says: "Film of old Brentford is almost non-existent. I patched together some old still photographs and made them look as if they were movie footage. I never expected anyone to take it seriously. It shows how easily things can be faked these days – and we can all easily fall for it."