Thursday, December 20, 2007

One-Eighteen-Oh-Eight Retires

For updated blog posts, please visit http://cloverfieldclues.com


In light of recent developments in my personal life and within the game, I’m calling it quits. I will, however, continue following the progression of all things Cloverfield at the forums of Unfiction. So if you’d like to chat, I’ll be there.

I believe Rob said it best.

I’m done.

You know how you can get totally absorbed with something, and because you are so focused on that one thing, you miss out on other opportunities? I now realize that's what has been happening here. Or maybe I've known it all along and have been living in denial, clinging to that empty hope that things were going to get better.

Cloverfield TV Commercial #3


ShockTilYouDrop.com has the exclusive third Cloverfield TV commercial. There is no new footage shown, however, the explosion seen from Rob's rooftop appears to have some new CGI.

Dennis at Cloverfield Clues has been kind enough to upload each of the commercials to YouTube.

Commercial #3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0Px_U4diqk
Commercial #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLLnLvVT1Kk
Commercial #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYKaKbEhTRU

Rob's Myspace Page Updated

Rob has recently updated his MySpace page with a new blog entry. Sounds like he's feeling down and out about a certain relationship. He's on a job search now. I hear Japan has a booming job market. Maybe he should look there.



Monday, December 17, 2007
I’m done

It's time for a change. I'm officially launching into a full-blown job hunt. I've been putting the feelers out for the past few weeks, but now it has become abundantly clear to me that I need to move on and try something else. I've put in a lot of time and effort only to be continuously misinterpreted or altogether unnoticed. I'm not opposed to leaving New York, if that's what it takes. Don't get me wrong -- I love this city. But there are certain elements that I need to get away from before I lose my mind. I'm sick of being the overlooked guy. Sick of being pigeonholed as one thing, when if you would just give me a chance, I know I can be so much more.

You know how you can get totally absorbed with something, and because you are so focused on that one thing, you miss out on other opportunities? I now realize that's what has been happening here. Or maybe I've known it all along and have been living in denial, clinging to that empty hope that things were going to get better. That certain things were meant to happen. Well, whether those things were meant to happen or not, they didn't. Not for me, at least.

Sometimes, you need to give up.
3:48 PM - 7 Comments - 16 Kudos

All of Rob's friends have sent him a message to cheer him up. I do find the timestamps to be a bit comical. Also, a random comment from Ron [1-18-08] has filtered through.

Lil: I know you're hurting, hon. I just don't want you to do anything for the wrong reasons!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 4:03 PM
Hawk: Jeez, someone needs to get laid.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 4:04 PM
HUD: Dude you can't leave me! Who's gonna shave my back?!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 4:04 PM
LenaDia: About time. And yes, you have been living in denial.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 4:04 PM
Ron [1-18-08]: I'm sorry to see you lose hope, Rob. Unfortunately for us, sometimes you just can't win, no matter how hard you try or how much effort you put in. Sometimes things just fall apart.
I wish you luck in the job hunt. May you find that one "thing" that seems to have eluded you for so long.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 4:05 PM
Jamie: Aw Robby! I'm sorry, babe, I know how you're feeling. Maybe we should get together and cheer each other up...
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 4:05 PM
Beth: Rob I had no idea you were in such a funk! Call me, we'll talk about it. We're friends, right?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 4:05 PM

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Cloverfield NYC Subway Poster



The image isn't anything new, but the location sure is. Cloverfield advertising has gone underground. My friend Chris has e-mailed me with the above picture taken from the Spring Street subway station in SOHO Manhattan.

I wonder if Spring Street is the station Rob and his friends take to escape the monster? It's fairly close to Rob and HUD's apartment and where the SOL's head lands. I guess we'll see...

Photobucket

MovieWeb Exclusive: Cloverfield Commercial

Paramount Pictures have provided MovieWeb with an exclusive first look at the next Cloverfield TV commercial. The video contains a few never-before seen scenes from the upcoming film, and is a much better quality (and different) than the commercial previously seen.


Update:
In case you can't view the video, here's a transcript. There are a couple of new scenes, so I've inserted screencaps of those when relevent. Otherwise, you've probably already seen the rest.

[Arial view of NY Harbor]
Photobucket
Rob: Seven hours ago, someTHING attacked the city.
Partymembers: What was that noise?
Woman on the street: What is it? Is it coming this way!?
Matt Reeves: I saw it! It's alive! It's huge!
Rob: Hello? Beth? Where are you?
[New scene of Rob, Lil, Beth? and (HUD behind the camera?) on a rooftop. This is where the fighter jets bombing the city was filmed.]
Photobucket
Soldier on Loud Speaker: This is a mandatory evacuation!
Rob to Soldier: We're going to go after her. If you want to stop me, then you're going to have to shoot me.
Soldier [his face isn't blurred now]: There's nothing we can do for you!
[New scene of Rob, Lil, and (HUD behind the camera?) on the street]
Photobucket
Rob to Lil: Stay here, okay? I'll go.
Lil: I'm coming with you.
Crowd on the street: Run, Run, Run! (Screams) Oh my God! Oh my God!
Announcer: Cloverfield...PG-13...January 18th


TIDOwave.com has finally added a blog entry about "the event." Although, it's not exactly what I would have thought they'd post. There is no post title, and it seems like this person is new to posting. Apparently, something has gone wrong.


I don’t know what to say. They told me to post here. I’ve never done this before.

Um…..things are not going as planned. There has been a problem with the “event”. Please contact me if you have any information on Randy or the others. I’m the only one here right now. Backup desperately needed.

I wonder if this means Randy is with Teddy on the Chuai station, and the event was supposed to take place there...

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Tagruato Whistleblower Memo #2


Dennis has received a new memo from "The Whistle Blower", which was sent by e-mail using the Tagruato e-mail address: 18kagashimad@tagruato.jp. Dennis had previously e-mailed them asking about the ParafFun recall.

The memo itself is written in Japanese, but another hand-written message reads:

Americans, No Oil Here! They must have known before they built! - The Whistle Blower

UPDATE: Kosmopol from Unfiction has provided a translation. The document is a financial statement for the third quarter of 2007, with a table of the profits from each drilling station. Conspicuously, missing from the list is the Chuai station.

Cloverfield TV Advertisement

Cloverfield advertising has finally hit the small screen. So far there are only a couple low quality versions available on YouTube, but for now, they'll have to do. This one seems to be the better of the two.



Here's the transcript if you can't view videos.

Announcer: Some Thing...Has Found Us
Random Citizen: Oh my God! Oh my...!
Lily: What is that?
Announcer: On January 18th
Hawk: You don't know what we saw! The point is, it's still here.
Announcer: Once you see it, nothing will be the same
Lily: Do you know what that thing is?
Soldier: Whatever it is, it's winning
Announcer: From producer JJ Abrams
Woman: Bite! We've got a bite!
Rob: Where are you taking her?
Woman: [Screams]
Announcer: CLOVERFIELD

Sci Fi Magazine Cloverfield Article


The February issue of Sci Fi Magazine has another interview with Bryan Burk, producer of Cloverfield. If you're not able to get your hands on a copy of the magazine just yet, Sci Fi Wire, the magazine's online counterpart, has created two smaller clips of the article. Check those out here and here.

"We've only had two internal screenings, and one was for a group of people who had not seen the script. All of their reactions, to quote them, was that it was one of the rare occasions where the movie lives up to the trailer. I think people are going to love it. It's like a nonstop ride. The experience of watching this movie is like nothing I've personally ever seen ... I hate using bad cliches, but it's an authentic, visceral thriller."

Thanks to Dennis for the scans of the article.

The Final Countdown

The month-long countdown has begun. There are only 31 more days until Cloverfield opens in U.S. theaters on 1-18-08. Are you ready?

Monday, December 17, 2007

Michael Stahl-David Interviews

As January 18, 2008 draws ever closer, Paramount will surely make a push to get all the free publicity they can. Friday brought us four seperate interviews from Cloverfield director Matt Reeves. Earlier today, Sci Fi Wire interviewed producer Bryan Burk.

MTV and IESB interview Michael Stahl-David (he plays Rob) about Cloverfield. Be warned, there are some mild spoilers.


About Rob:

So, Rob is a 20-something guy who is not a very extraordinary guy. He kind of has amounted to about as much as people thought he would. But now he’s got this great offer for a job in Japan so he’s gonna leave his friends and this girl that he’s always kind of been in love with but has been too afraid to do anything about and go to Japan. And that’s what the movie is about, at the beginning. We’re seeing a going away party for him. When catastrophe strikes, things become clear kind of quickly what’s important to him. Then he spends the rest of this movie trying to get to this girl.

Who is in the film:
"[My character] is someone who's not a big risk-taker or somebody who's very spontaneous," Stahl-David revealed. "And then there's Hud, the man behind the camera [played by T.J. Miller], who's loud and funny but not the most tactful guy, definitely — he really cares about his friends. Then there's Lizzy Caplan [as Marlena], who randomly gets stuck with us — she's not in our close circle of friends ... she's the outsider in our midst. Then there's Jessica Lucas [as Lily], who is the caretaker of my brother Jason [Mike Vogel], who is wild and reckless. She's the only reason he keeps his sh-- together.
"Then there's Beth [Odette Yustman], [and] I've always felt like there's something there between us," he explained. "We've been friends for a long time, but whenever I'm single, she's been seeing somebody and vice versa. We've never really connected, until a few weeks before the tape begins to roll — but I'm leaving, so it was just going to end where it was."

Acting opposite the monster:
In certain scenes, if you could physicalize something, it would give the animators something to do. Give them something to play off of really strong. Normally in a scene, you’re thinking about what you give your scene partner to play off of, but in this there was this invisible scene partner that if you did some big motion that was really going to help them, you know, it might feel ridiculous for you, in the moment, to do it but it was really to help them.

The monster is scary looking:
We got to see renderings that they had on the computers and, in one case, a really amazing model. A wax model they had built that looked just terrifying. So we had somewhat of sense. We got to know the style. But they were good about that. Of letting us have some idea of what it was going to be.


(Possible Spoilers)

Slusho! may be more than a drink:
"The concept of Slusho! is something that I'm not at liberty to discuss," he recited robotically, only half-kidding. "I think [my character] might've been better off if he found some Slusho! [during the attack], but that would've been too much like Popeye eating his can of spinach."

The end of the movie:
We did, however, learn that the monster is not named in the movie ("We took to calling it Clover ... when the movie comes out, people are gonna name it"); that Cloverfield contains Speed-like nonstop scenes as high-adrenaline as the clip ("There's a couple points where we can't run anymore and we have to sit with ourselves, but other than that, the movie is about you being with us, and us trying to survive"); and that a climactic scene takes place in the NYC subway system.
"The whole scene in the subway," Stahl-David said when asked for his favorite moment. "Once we go in there and get stuck and have to walk through those tunnels ... it's not a nice place to be ... I can't wait for the world to see that, and to hear their reactions."

Interview with Producer Bryan Burk

Today, Sci Fi Wire talks with producer Bryan Burk about Cloverfield. The interview doesn't reveal much new information, but does give strong support to news and rumors we've all heard before.

Sci Fi Wire Interview with Bryan Burk

"There's no tie-in to any of our other projects quite yet. We're obviously fans of the great monster movies. I remember when we were starting Lost, and we had references in it to all our favorite things, be it Jaws or Alien, and this feels like this is the same thing. I don't think it feels like any other movie you have seen before, but we were definitely inspired by a lot of our favorite films."

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Cloverfield Clues Podcast #3 Available

The Cloverfield Clues Podcast #3 is now available!
In this episode, CameronJr9 joined Dennis to discuss the latest Cloverfield news from the last week, including Jamie's latest video, the TidoWave updates, the new Exclusive Cloverfield footage, and the widget contest!

Download Now - 56kbps (right click, save as)
You also can stream the podcast online at TalkShoe.com

NEXT PODCAST - December 20th, 9:00 PM EST

The next podcast will start a little bit later to give more people a chance to join in, and hopefully our UnFiction panel will be available. If you are not able to join us live, you can post some questions here you would like asked, or you can pre-record a question as an MP3 and e-mail it to Dennis, and I'll try to include it in the next podcast!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Four Matt Reeves Interviews...and Counting

Cloverfield director Matt Reeves has been recently interviewed by IESB, ShockTilYouDrop, IGN, and MTV. Reeves talks about the film, how he became involved, the overwhelming Internet response, and he even hinted that Slusho may mean a little more than we think.

Each interview tells the same story, but each has their own exclusive information. They're all worth a read. Unfortunately, none of them bring any new pictures. But, I guess the new widget and four interviews are enough for one day. Check them out below.

IESB/Reeves Interview: http://www.iesb.net/

IGN/Reeves Interview: http://movies.ign.com/

ShockTilYouDrop/Reeves Interview: http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/

MTV/Reeves Interview: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Cloverfield Exclusive Preview

Instead of competing with another local blogger, I've decided to join forces and try to win an advanced screening of Cloverfield in Lexington, KY.



The contest has OFFICIALLY launched!

The rules for the contest are complicated:
Entrants are then encouraged to “share” the Widget with their friends. A successful “share” occurs when: (i) someone views the Widget on an entrant’s facebook profile (or other Internet location on which the entrant places the Widget) and clicks on the “grab this” link; (ii) the person who has clicked the “grab this” link for the Widget then must successfully embed the Widget on a website (e.g. their facebook profile); and (iii) at least one (1) person must then view the Widget on that new location. All three of the above conditions must be met in order for the “share” to be successful, for the purposes of this Contest.

Please grab this widget and post it on your site. Thank you all for your support!

Visit the official contest page: http://www.cloverfieldmovie.com/contest
Also, check out the official Cloverfield Facebook page: facebook.com/cloverfieldmovie

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Cloverfield Rated PG-13


The official Cloverfield site, cloverfieldmovie.com, has been updated with an MPAA Rating of PG-13 for "Violence, Terror and Disturbing Images."

So, what does this rating mean? The MPAA Web site explains:

A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category. The theme of the motion picture by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13, although depictions of activities related to a mature theme may result in a restricted rating for the motion picture. Any drug use will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. More than brief nudity will require at least a PG-13 rating, but such nudity in a PG-13 rated motion picture generally will not be sexually oriented. There may be depictions of violence in a PG-13 movie, but generally not both realistic and extreme or persistent violence. A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context. The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a motion picture PG-13 if, based on a special vote by a two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context or manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the motion picture is inconspicuous.

Personally, I have a feeling this movie is going to be scary, and probably have a lot of violence. I mean, a giant monster attacks NYC. I’d say there probably will be no nudity, no drug use, and very little “strong language.”

The Cloverfield site also offers our first look at the official film credits.

Monday, December 10, 2007

TIDOWave Updated

TIDOWave.com has been updated with three blog entries today. In one entry, "Randy" is mentioned. This comes right after Jamie's latest video blog where Teddy mentions that Randy will soon be calling Jamie.

December “Tip for the Field”

Many of you have written in and complained that when you get into a demonstration situation and it goes array, you often find yourself alone in a jail cell for hours or trapped outdoors with inadequate food, clothing, or hygiene options.

To address this need, I’ve created a “Survival Kit” of essential items to take with you to any gathering, should you be captured or forced to flee society for several days.

1. “Warm towel”
2. Dried fruit
3. Small comb
4. Jerky
5. Flare gun
6. Swiss Army Knife
7. Compass

I’ve been making pre-packaged “Survival Kits” of my own for distribution at Tidowave rallies. $30 per set. Please contact me on my cell for purchase.


Flower Donations

Please send all flowers and sympathy cards to Margaret. She’ll pass them on to the appropriate parties.


Call To Action

The “event” discussed in our last meeting has, unfortunately, had some problems. Therefore, we’ll be staging a repeat “event” for the weekend of the 14th. Please contact Randy on his green mobile for updated information.


Slusho Unrelated to Cloverfield?!

Peter Sciretta from Slashfilm has reported he's talked to four people who have seen early cuts of Cloverfield. According to his sources, Slusho! has very little to do with the actual plot of the movie. In fact, JJ never realized just how popular Slusho! would be.


All this Cloverfield viral marketing has got me wondering. I have now talked to four people who have seen an early cut of Cloverfield. I haven't heard one negative so far, although everyone is very reluctant to share any details about the film. But I have been able to confirm something that I have believed all along -

Slusho! has almost nothing to do with Cloverfield!

Yes, Paramount and Bad Robot are using Slusho! to promote Cloverfield. I'm not suggesting otherwise. Slusho! branded T-shirts were even handed out at the Paramount panel during Comic Con 2007 (where Cloverfield made a brief appearance).

What I'm here to tell you today is that Slusho! has very little to do with the plot of the movie, and only makes a brief appearance on the t-shirt of one of the characters. I’m being told that is pretty much the extent of it. So the question now becomes: How did a JJ Abrams inside joke become the focal point of the entire viral marketing campaign for a movie that has nothing to do with everyone’s favorite Japanese frozen beverage?

I’ve been told by numerous sources that Paramount, Bad Robot, and even JJ Abrams didn’t expect this much interest in their small January monster movie. Possibly afraid of a repeat of Snakes on a Plane, it appears that the studio doesn’t plan to up the marketing budget for the movie. So maybe Slusho! was JJ Abrams’ and Bad Robot’s way of advertising the movie on a low budget? Or...

Here is were the speculation begins...

Or maybe Slusho! is actually part of another JJ Abrams project entirely. Bad Robot has at least seven projects set up at Paramount, spanning the comedy, romantic comedy, horror and supernatural genres. Could Slusho! be connected to one of these projects? Could a teaser trailer be shown in front of Cloverfield?

One of my credible non studio sources has heard that “Slusho! is a project that JJ Abrams has been working on for years now...” But everyone else I’ve talked to seems to know nothing at all. So for now it is all just speculation. JJ Abrams is very good at keeping secrets, because he keeps them within the arms of his small production company. He’s big enough not to have to go through studio channels where the noise usually gets out.

Devin at CHUD.com seems to think everyone scrambling for clues in the Cloverfield viral marketing campaign is a big nerd. Well, duh. Proudly. This is news? My wife even makes fun of me. So what? Everyone needs a hobby.

Cloverfield Mobile Phone Advertisement Contest

E-Commerce Times and TelevisionPoint.com have reported Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot will use the mobile platform to promote Cloverfield and reward one lucky winner.

"Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot are both innovation leaders in their own right, so when we partnered on the upcoming film 'Cloverfield,' we wanted to find cutting-edge ways to market the film. We released an exclusive film clip along with a contest whereby the person with the most clip views will be the first one to see the movie before its release on Jan. 18. We're very excited to partner with MSN Mobile on this promotion because it extends our reach and connects us with our audience on an additional digital touch point." said Amy Powell, senior Vice-president, Interactive Marketing, Paramount Pictures.

Microsoft began to placing advertisements on its MSN Mobile page today, moving into the mobile phone advertising business. Jaguar (the car company) and Paramount Pictures will be the first brand advertisers to use the ad service, which will place banner-style ads alongside existing text advertisements on MSN Mobile pages, Microsoft said.

So, be on the lookout for more information about this promotion/contest.

Thanks to Adrian and Jason for helping with the photo illustration.

Cool Stuff: Cloverfield Wrap Party Invitation




Slashfilm has found a photo of a cast and crew invite to the Cloverfield wrap party.

Rob was going to Japan, and a bunch of friends gathered to throw him a going away party. But that was just the beginning. We’ve all seen the trailer (you know, the one where the guy clearly saying “It’s Alive!” and not “It’s a Lion!” right before the statue of liberty’s head rolls down the street), but did you know that Rob had ANOTHER gong away party?

Found on eBay, is a photo of a cast and crew invite to the Cloverfield wrap party which happened under the guise of “The 2nd Attempt Rob & Beth Going Away Party”, which happened on Saturday August 18th. The invite’s headline reads: “Bon Voyage Rob… Again!”

On the bottom right hand side you will see the many logos the production went under, Cloverfield, Slusho!, Chocolate Outrage, Cheese and 1-18-08. A cool piece of Cloverfield behind the scenes memorabilia.

Update: After vigorously searching, I've found the eBay page for these items. These items sold for $34!! Hopefully we'll see some more popping up soon.

Description
CREW GIFT FROM JJ ABRAMS UPCOMING FILM 'CLOVERFIELD"-AKA-"SLUSHO", "CHOCOLATE OUTRAGE" "CHEESE", ETC.- PERFECT FOR THE JJ ABRAMS/ MATT REEVES FAN . THE SHOULDER BAG IS CHOCOLATE BROWN CANVAS WITH THE TITLES OF THE FILM IN T'S VARIOUS FORMS PRINTED ON IT, AN AGED CREW BASEBALL HAT WITH THE SLUSHO LOGO, AND A MATCHING INSULATED MUG TOO. PLUS AN INVITE TO THE WRAP PARTY (LONG SINCE GONE) AND A HUMOROUS CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT WITH SOME WACKY INSIDE JOKES FROM FILMING. GREAT FOR THE FAN /COLLECTOR. WILL SHIP WORLDWIDE, WITH A TRACKING NUMBER. A GENEROUS PORTION OF THIS SALE WILL HELP FEED THE HUNGRY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. CHEERS.

JamieAndTeddy.com Video #5 - The Package


JamieAndTeddy.com has been updated once again. This time, Jamie is a little upset that Teddy still hasn't called, written, e-mailed, or text messaged her. But, I think we all know why. December 9th has come and it's time for Jamie to open her gift from her once-beloved Teddy. And she does! Quite exciting.

You can see the video here: http://www.jamieandteddy.com/video5.mov, or from the YouTube link above.

Here's the transcript if you can't view videos:

[Jamie sits on bed]
Hey Teddy. Uhhh, well, you haven't called and you haven't written and I haven't heard from you in probably about...a month! So, today's December 9th, and I'm going to open your gift. I wanted to do it on the phone with you, but you haven't called or responded to any of my text messages...pretty much disappeared from my life, so...
[Grabs gift]
I'm going to open your gift because I gave you my word that I would wait, and here we go.
[Begins to open gift off camera]
Well, at least you're good at wrapping.
[Grabs scissors to help open the box]
I mean, you can't even pick up a [mumbled] phone and let me know anything?
[Pulls out a Slusho! hat, tries it on, and tosses it]
Thanks for the hat...You know, most people send jewelry.
[Pulls out a plastic bag with tin foil in it]
"Primary evidence. Freeze ASAP. Jamie, don't eat this."
[Looks at camera, tosses primary evidence, pulls out a tape recorder from the box]
[Teddy's voice on tape recorder]
"Jamie, listen to me. All right, this is not a joke. If you're hearing this before we've spoken, then it means I've been captured by a company called Tagruato. Okay? Tag-ru-ato! Now listen, you...now this is important...don't call the authorities, it'll screw everything up. Just sit tight and wait to hear from Randy. He knows to call you. Um...we're on their station, okay. And, um, it's like they've done something, or they're making something, but look...the point is, I can't ca...I'm not going to be calling you again. You're not going to hear from me again. I just want you to wait for Randy. He will explain..."
[Jamie stops the tape recorder]
Oh my God...OH MY GOD! You know, Teddy! If you were seeing someone else, all you had to do was tell me, like a man. You know, I'm not playing your stupid [mumbled] games anymore! You're a prick, and I am done.

Special thanks to Amber Tubbs, who e-mailed me about this first. Please, feel free to comment about what the Primary Evidence is, or what you think of this video and what it means for our future.

Update: Randy works for TIDOWave.com. Thanks to smartart at unfiction for that bit of knowledge. This more than likely confirms that Teddy is working for TIDOWave as well.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Cloverfield Clues Podcast #2 Available

The Cloverfield Clues Podcast #2 is finally available!

In this episode, Dennis interviewed Me (CameronJr9).

We discuss everything Cloverfield that has happened so far, including all the in-game Web sites, theories, Transformers, Beowulf, JJ Abrams, the new Slusho commercial, and much more.

Links from the podcast:

Download Now - 56kbps (right click, save as)

You also can stream the podcast online at TalkShoe.com

NEXT PODCAST - December 13th, 7:00 PM EST

The next podcast will feature a panel of guests from UnFiction. If you are not able to join live, you can post some questions here you would like asked, or you can pre-record a question as an MP3 and e-mail it to Dennis, and we'll try to include it in the next podcast!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Double Negative Creating Cloverfield VFX


Double Negative Visual Effects has Cloverfield listed on their Currently in Production list. Double Negative has worked on several feature films, including four Harry Potter movies, Batman Begins, and V For Vendetta. Certainly their prior work speaks for itself. You can view their 2007 Showreel, which highlights some of Double Negative's best work to date.


Thanks to Foomandoonian from the recent Cloverfield Clues podcast for the heads up on this and to Webby for helping me with the video.

Cloverfield Terror Lasts 90 Minutes

Sources have reported to ShockTillYouDrop.com the running time of Cloverfield will be a mere 90 minutes.

A silly report? Perhaps. But there are those out there who do base their movie-going decisions based on running time. ("Wait, that movie's an hour and forty-five minutes? Screw that!") For theaters owners - the shorter the run time, the more screenings per day.

That said, when it comes to Matt Reeves' "destructo-vérité" Cloverfield, are we going to get an epic-length account of New York City's annihilation? Nada. Sources tell Shock, Reeves and company have cobbled together a lean 'n mean 90-minute tale.

Just enough time to bring the fam to the theater for a winter afternoon matinee and be out in time for an Outback Steakhouse dinner.

Happy Expressions Slusho! Commercial!!!




The Slusho! Contest page is now available. Above is the official Slusho! Happy Expressions Contest Commercial. The folks at UnFiction are working on a translation of the commercial here.

The contest is to create your own Slusho! commercial.

It is Superfantastic happy time!!! The first ever Slusho! commercial contest for users like yourselves! Now you can share your happiness with all of us by making your OWN advertisement commercial for Slusho! brand happy drink!!!!! The top five entries, chosen by a small panel of decision people, will receive Slusho!-branded laptop computers designed by Alienware masters, each valued at $3,000 American dollars!!! This is very phenomenal and true!!!!!!! And even if you are not a winner, we may show your commercial!!!

The winners will have kept in mind that Slusho! is NOT scary and bad, or related to anything scary and bad. Slusho! is FUN and HAPPY! The winners will make 30-second (but no longer than a minute) commercials that show the super joy of Slusho! and how much people love it! Slusho! should be shown to be good and fun to drink!!! And amazingly great for you as additions!!!

You can be winning! Make the happy Slusho! commercial for us! Do it right now! BUT FIRST, YOU MUST READ ALL THE OFFICIAL RULES VERY CAREFULLY! Or you will be disqualified and bring great shame on us. Do it right now!!!!!

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Cloverfield Myspace Pages Updated


For more than two months, the majority of the Cloverfield Character MySpace pages have been left alone, although HUD had his occasional blog entry about comics. As of yesterday, they’ve all been updated--except for Jamie’s page, her last login was 10/17/2007. Jamie’s probably been taking more strip classes and is too busy to update her page.

You can view their interactions here:
Rob Hawkins
Beth McIntyre
Lily Ford
Hudson Platt
Jason (JJ) Hawkins
Marlena Diamond

In other MySpace news, the folks at UnFiction have begun to convince me The Glass Helmets may be in-game. Their song, "The Green Force," is the same song Jamie danced to in her latest video. Even more convincing is their latest show at the TIDOWave Rally, which was subsequently canceled.

Monday, December 03, 2007

Rally Show Cancelled

We were really looking forward to seeing you guys at the Tidowave rally next week but we had to cancel our set. There's been an accident within the band and we are currently recovering, both physically and emotionally. That's all the info we can give out at this time. Thanks to all of you who sent cards and well-wishes.

Know that this will not in any way affect the release of our next single, "Arbiter of Digressions". We're super proud of it and can't wait for your reactions. Keep checking the site for more updates!

-The Bot

Is there any significance to the character MySpace pages? How about The Glass Helmets? Your thoughts are welcome.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Cloverfield Billboard Revealed


It looks like Cloverfield billboards are starting to appear. Mr Viper at Something Awful forums has taken some pictures of the billboard situated at (fittingly enough) Cloverfield Blvd. and Olympic Blvd. in Santa Monica, CA.




Update: I just talked to a buddy of mine in marketing/advertising. He's on the Paramount account in NYC and hadn't heard any buzz about the ads. He called his contacts in California and some people he knows in the NYC area. They confirmed the majority of billboards will be in LA because of the small advertising budget. But, we may see the billboards in other areas as Paramount is constantly advertising, and additional coverage may be given, per existing contracts.

If you've got a billboard in your area, we'd love to know. Pictures would be great as well.

Cloverfield Clues Podcast Featuring CameronJr9

Every Thursday night at 7:00 EST, between now and 1-18-08, Dennis from Cloverfield Clues will be doing a LIVE interactive podcast. You can call in to ask questions and provide your comments and theories.

This week will be a review of everything that has happened so far. There also will be a special guest - Me (CameronJr9).

The podcast will take place at Talkshoe.com: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=42208&cmd=tc

Podcast Instructions: During the podcast, you can join the chat room, call in to the show, or both. You will need to sign up for a TalkShoe account. To participate in the chat-room, download the chat software. Once the software is installed, click the link above, then the link for the podcast. This should open up the chat software, and allow you to leave comments during the show. To call in to the podcast, call the Talkshoe hotline (724-444-7444), enter the Talkcast ID (42208), then your PIN that you selected when you signed up. You will then be added to the list of callers.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Tagruato Hack Leads to TidoWave.com


UnForum member Eliss has used clues left from last week's two attacks on Tagruato's Web site to find T.I.D.O. Wave.

T.I.D.O. Wave is a "nonprofit, grassroots, environmental activist organization dedicated to saving our planet from the world's most nefarious corporations." It is run by a group called Les Guerriers de Mère-Terre (The Warriors of Mother Earth). The group was founded by notorious conservationist Les Bandit Vert (The Green Bandit).

Be sure to catch up on T.I.D.O history, read through the blog entries, and browse the Cruel-etin Board. There are several secrets to be found in this site, I'm sure. One of which is the story behind the mysterious death of Kazui Ichigawa.

Update: TIDO has now opened the comments for anyone. This means a lot of Out of Game (OOG) info is spreading. Does this mean TIDO is OOG? Either way, I think the blog is still useful, but I wouldn't put much stock in any of the comments.

Star Trek Teaser Attached to Cloverfield


Trekmovie.com and ScreenRant.com confirm the Star Trek XI Teaser Trailer will premiere in front of Cloverfield. The trailer should show up online (officially) a few days later at the usual locations (Apple Trailers, etc).

There is no confirmation as to why they picked Cloverfield. Chances are, it's to boost ticket sales from rabid Trek fans, and of course, the JJ Abrams connection probably doesn't hurt.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Viacom Screens Cloverfield

Ain't It Cool News reported earlier today of a Viacom in-house screening of Cloverfield, but visual effects were unfinished. The rave review?

Just saw CLOVERFIELD in a small screening in NYC. IT WAS AWESOME!

I guess for now, that's good enough for me. Of course, this being an "in-house" screening, who knows what the movie is going to be like.

Tagruato Voicemail Updated | Memorial Service

Tagruato's voicemail system has been updated again. This time with a message of a memorial service. You can listen to the English portion of the call here: English VM Message

Thank you for calling Tagruato. All of our lines are currently busy.

If you are calling regarding the Kazui Ichigawa memorial service, all seats have been filled, and registration is now closed.

For all other concerns, please leave a message, and one of our representatives will find you as soon as possible.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the incident mentioned in the Top Secret Tagruato memos being sent with Slusho! orders?

Thanks to Dennis and TeddyBear for this info.

Update: Recently discovered T.I.D.O. Wave Web site answers some questions about Kazui Ichigawa's death.

November 28, 2007
Death of Tagruato Biologist!

Many thanks to our friend in the field who passed the original article on to us. It’s translated below:

YOSHIDA MEDICAL RESEARCH MOURNS THE LOSS OF MARINE BIOLOGIST

Tagruato suffered a large loss yesterday when Kazui Ichigawa, 63, and his family were found dead early in the morning.

His body, along with the bodies of his wife, Rie Ichigawa, 55, daughter Norika, 36, and granddaughter Kyoko,10, was discovered in the Daisetsu-San National Park at a popular RV camping area. Early word from the police is that it was a gas explosion in their trailer.

In a statement released to the press, press consultant Aki Ito said, “We are shocked and saddened at the sudden passing of perhaps our finest Marine Biologist. Ichigawa was not only an employee, but also a friend. He died with honor.”

His tragic death comes mere days after he abruptly retired from YMR. When informed of that, Ito replied, “It is a shame and a tragedy- this is a man who always put his family first.”

A close friend and co-worker (who asked to remain anonymous) believes that Ichigawa uncovered a magnificent discovery before he retired. “Unfortunately, his computer and files, even ones he kept in his home safe, are nowhere to be found. Tagruato is currently conducting a search for them.”

Ichigawa is survived by his son-in-law, Toshiro, 39, who was away on business at the time of the accident.

A memorial service will be held at Tagruato Headquarters. For details, contact a Tagruato representative at +81-3-5403-6318.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Slusho! Hoodie Now Available


Slusho! make high-quality shirt for YOU!!!

The Slusho! Store now has a black hoodie available for $28, sizes Small to X-Large. Also, don't forget the ongoing sale. Buy a hat and get a second item for $10 off. Enter code HAPPYCOMBO at checkout to save.

Slusho Sweatshirt FOR EVERYONE!

Slusho! Store Orders Contain More Clues


Reports are coming in from several unforum members that have received more than random newspaper clippings with their Slusho! store orders. They are now being shipped with pieces of a Tagruato memo. Unfortunately, no one has an entire memo, and they're all in Japanese.

However, on the back of the memos, there's a message in English.

American, The Chuai station hides a dark secret. Good people are going missing. Expect further communication in the near future. - the Whistle Blower

Dennis has pieced together the torn pages. And members of unforum have been up all night trying to translate the memo. Here's what they've come up with.

TRANSLATION OF TAGRUATO LETTER
LABELED "IMPORTANT SECRECY"

兌 You obtain, the batten -----
---------------------------------------------------
{TO:} Level 1 Temporary Provision Staff Member
{FROM:} Judgement Council
{SUBJECT: Trusting Those Out of Our Sight}
{DATE:}11/24/2007
----------------------------------------------------
Effective Immediately!

Over the next few days, because of the incident that took place, starting now all letters to the outside will first
pass through our communication center, or they will not go out. Level 1 Personnel? They will remain where they are,
making certain to read the message from start to finish. (How will they know it is authentic, this message that is
dispatched everywhere? When it is inscribed by the 貫.)

In addition, working hard/employment rusted overtime? As for the employees, they will be made to wait in their
appointed lodging facility until told otherwise.

If one witnesses an act of misconduct, and neglects to report it to the Council, Chuai's department bureau will enforce
principles and regard it as a violation. There will be no exceptions.


THANKS TO KOZMO, MrTOASTY, JULIA, BACON ARMY, and KOSMOPOL at unforum for the translation!

The Chuai Station is located nearest New York City. The site was supposed to open in September 2007, but the interactive map hasn't been updated in a while. Perhaps there are some problems at the station as indicated with this torn memo? One has to wonder if this has anything to do with Teddy and "The Cause."

Cloverfield Monster on 30 Rock?


Last night on 30 Rock episode "Cougars", Kenneth accidentally showed Jack and Tracy a drawing from his "Dream Journal." His comment after he noticed the mistake; "They've all come true so far!"

Could this be the Cloverfield monster? Probably not, but at this point, anything is possible. And I wouldn't put it past the execs at NBC. Hey, at least Kenneth's monster does have three claws on each hand...

Update: Thanks to Whitney at Pop Candy for linking to this entry.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Cloverfield Plot Summary Revealed

A few days ago, Crave Network Web sites received an official plot synopsis for Cloverfield. Today, the movie's official site, http://www.cloverfieldmovie.com/, was updated with the plot synopsis as well. It reads as follows.

Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

This comes as no big news. We know about Rob and his friends. We know there's a monster attack. We know it's filmed with handheld cameras. We know they are fighting for their lives.

The big question is, who are Rob's five friends? From the MySpace accounts we've already discovered, we know Rob has six close friends. Beth, HUD, Jamie, Jason (his brother), Lily, and Marlena.

In the trailers, we've definitely seen Jason(1) and Lily(2) and Marlena(3). Promotional photos show Beth(4) and HUD(5) are in the movie. And from a picture featured on 1-18-08.com, we've seen Rob with Jamie(6) and HUD.

That accounts for all six of Rob's friends, all who we assume would be at the party. So, is this a simple mathmatical mistake on Paramount's part, or is it something bigger?

Also of note: During the credits for second trailer, only six actors are mentioned. The actress that plays Jamie is not one of them. However, Jamie has been featured in a series of four video blogs, which seem an integral part of the plot leading up to the movie.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Tagruato Web Site "Hacked" Again!

Tagruato has been hacked again. Interestingly enough, it's the exact same hack as before.

Yesterday, Tagruato was updated with three news articles. You can read those here and here.

Dennis still has the pre-pre-hacked mirror site up, so visit it for more clues.

Maybe we missed something the first time? Maybe we saw the right clues but interpreted them incorrectly?

Update: After roughly 7 hours, the Tagruato site is back up. Currently, there is nothing to indicate there was ever a hack on the site; no press releases, no explanation, nothing.

Cloverfield Trailer Sparks Yahoo! Searches

Yesterday, Yahoo! posted an article about the effects of Cloverfield on their search engine.

Cloverfield Monster Revealed?
Mysterious New Cloverfield Trailer Sparks Searches

By Erik Gunther
Tue, November 27, 2007, 3:23 pm PST

We're counting the days as January 18 draws closer. What's special about that ho-hum Friday in the middle of January? Well, that's the date the shrouded-in-secrecy "Cloverfield" is scheduled to land in theaters.

The trailer for the mysterious monster movie made its debut back in July and sparked huge buzz. Since then, the buzz has quieted a bit, but an ardent group of movie buffs are still scouring the Web for the scoop on the flick.

This week we witnessed a 371% increase in searches on "cloverfield monster revealed" after a new trailer offered a glimpse of the horror to come. Related queries on "cloverfield monster" and "cloverfield trailer" have also smashed through the Search box. Diabolical director J.J. Abrams, the mastermind of all this hype, has jumped 116% in searches over the past week.

The Web-based viral marketing component has been key in keeping the movie's buzz alive. Searches on "cloverfield clues" jumped 112% as sneaky sleuths attempted to unravel a few of the film's mysteries. One question as of late—does the movie's classified colossus have anything to do with the legendary Cthulhu? Searches on the horrific creation of author H.P. Lovecraft soared 64% this week as monstrous theories circulated around the Web.

We can't tell if Cthulhu is involved in the Cloverfield saga, but the latest cinematic clue to make a splash in Search is "slusho." Stir that latest tidbit with past buzzworthy bits such as "cloverfield myspace," "ethan haas," and "1-18-08" and you'll find yourself knee deep in the film's mysterious mythology.

Thanks to the guys at http://1-18-08.blogspot.com/ for finding the article.

Bold Futura Investor News


Two new articles are available on the Tagruato Investor News page. Both were posted November 27 and cover news about Bold Futura, a subsidiary of the company.

BOLD FUTURA HIRES “DREAM TEAM”
In a move surely to shake up the world of physics, Bold Futura has recruited one hundred of the top physics majors graduating from universities around the world. Most highly sought after was Johan Hedberg from Sweden. His internationally-acclaimed thesis on the intricate ecosystems of deep sea crevices landed him immediate tenure at his university but he turned it down for the opportunity to work for Bold Futura. “They offered me free reign to do whatever I want as long as the board approves and oversees it, “said Hedberg at Futura’s November press conference, “Plus I’ll have comfort and security for a long, long time.”

It is unclear what Futura’s expectations are for these young minds. The company is cheerfully vague regarding their intentions for the new all-star quantum squad.

“With those young, fresh minds working together, anything is possible. I’ve watched these new graduates - they have ideas on everything from creating new energy sources to starting us down the road to teleportation,” said Tokyo-based Professor Akira Okinawa. “As a citizen to Japan and the human race, I cannot think of a better place for their ideas to flourish. Bold Futura is cutting edge and innovative. It has a plan for us all.”

Ganu Yoshida is the CEO of Bold Futura’s parent company, Tagruato. When asked about this “quantum coup”, he answered, “Now that we have all the best minds, we won’t need to worry about competition. This is what the industry needs right now: a company focused not on what its competitors are doing, but instead what it can do to make the world a better place.”

American Mike Siegel graduated last May in a cap and gown. Now he’ll be on the other side of the world in a labcoat. He won’t miss home though. “They offered me a chance to make history and to work with the best in my field. How could I turn that down?”

TAGRUATO LAUNCHES FIRST SATELLITE

Through its Bold Futura subsidiary, Tagruato successfully launched its first geostationary satellite “Hatsui” yesterday afternoon. At first, the launch was thought to be rescheduled because of poor weather conditions. Yesterday morning brought heavy rain and lightning strikes near the launch pad. Despite this adversity, however, the abort command was overruled by CEO Ganu Yoshida. After a five minute delay, the launch went off without any disasters.

Mission Chief Kenji Matsui claimed, “At first we thought the lightning might strike the satellite. It could cause a fire to catch within the electrical systems. It would have been seven years of hard work and sleepless night wasted.”

When asked why he overruled the abort command, Yoshida said, “Because here at Tagruato, we don’t let lightning stand in the way of achieving our goals. In this case that goal was reaching for the stars.”

Yoshida could not be more specific as to what “reaching for the stars” entails, but assured us, “It will be big.”

Bold Futura recently announced that one billion Yen will be allocated towards space research. “The future of man depends on our ability to spread outwards into the universe. At Tagruato, we want to be the first to take you there,” Yoshida added.”

Slusho! Smilers! Visit Animal Control Center

The Tagruato Headlines have been updated again. In a story posted on November 27, the Slusho! Smilers! visited a remote animal control center in Takayama.


Smilers at the Animal Control Center!
Tagruato’s troupe of Slusho! Smilers! struck again last Friday, this time at a remote animal control center in Takayama. Bearing armfuls of Slusho! happy drinks for all the lower wage workers, the girls also organized a Slusho! drinking contest for two dozen of the center’s caged puppies and kittens.

“Kittens love Slusho! It reminds them of mother’s milk!” grinned Smiler! Mayu.

The workers whooped and cheered as the animals swam and drank their way through a 40-liter trough of Blueberry Zoom. After twenty minutes, Pickle, a spotted Labrador pup, was still happily lapping Slusho! “This one will come home to Ganu!” said acrobatic Smiler! Yuuka as she clutched the lucky puppy, “He just couldn’t get enough Zoom!” With the center in Takayama, the girls completed their nationwide tour of Japan’s animal shelters. While all the shelters received a generous donation from the Tagruato Cares! foundation, the centers with the most Slusho!-friendly animals were purchased and welcomed into the Tagruato family. These centers will undergo a full renovation in the next three years, making way for modern facilities with up-to-date research, technology, and rehabilitation equipment.

“Tagruato is working so hard to ensure a prosperous future for humans,” said company spokeswoman Suzume Soga. “We want that future for small animals as well.”

Monday, November 26, 2007

Slusho! Makes Another Heroes Appearance

Last week we reported a Slusho! sighting on the set of NBC's Heroes, and even a quick teaser shot of a Slusho! cup in the episode.

Slusho! got a little more screen time this week on Heroes. It appears Elle, played by actress Kristen Bell, really enjoys the drink. This week, on the episode titled "Truth & Consequences," instead of just the side of the cup, viewers could see a full-frontal view of Slusho!







Looks like Claire wasn't happy that Elle dropped her Slusho!

Now the real question is, how does this all tie in? Or does it? Is it just some ploy to boost ratings? Or is there some strange connection? A new Prime-Time spinoff?

Tagruato Web Site Restored, Kind Of...



The previous hack of the Tagruato Web site and the cryptic picture of CEO Ganu Yoshida have been removed. Currently, the page is "Under Construction" and displays the message seen above.

Update: Tagruato is back up and it appears to be exactly as it was pre-hack. I guess it didn't take long for the IT department to get it up and running again. Interestingly enough, there's no mention of the ParafFUN! recall.

Unforum Haiku Contest Deadline Today

As many of you know, unforum is hosting a Haiku contest that ends tonight. They are giving away an unfiction T-shirt (or Slusho gear, if available) to one lucky winner.

Write a haiku about the movie, monster, promotion, or whatever as long as it relates to Cloverfield.

Enter by posting here!

Use an American version of Haiku
5 syllables in the first line
7 syllables in the second line
5 syllables in the third line

The deadline for entry is November 26 midnight Eastern time. A winner will be announced no later than November 30.

So, don't forget to submit your Cloverfield Haiku by midnight Eastern time today!

Sunday, November 25, 2007

ParafFUN! Recall Notice on Tagruato Voice Mail


The Web page for Tagruato isn't the only thing that has changed lately. Nauttebayo at UnFiction recently called the Tagruato phone number and noticed the voice mail had changed. The voice mail is as follows.

Thank you for calling Tagruato. Due to high call volumes, your call has been transferred to an automated answering service. If you have questions concerning our ParafFun recall, please leave a message, and one of our associates will find and support you as soon as possible.
Looking back at the pre-hacked Tagruato Web site (thanks again to Dennis, for hosting the mirror), you'll notice ParafFUN! wax was used for lots of things.

ParafFUN! WAX DISTRIBUTORS
One of the many byproducts of our Petroleum reservoir is paraffin wax, an alkane with dozens of handy uses in your day to day life! Edible, malleable, colorable, and a fine electrical insulator. ParafFun! Wax Distributors meets all your wax needs.
The word "edible" is interesting. My guess would be this wax, as a petroleum byproduct, comes from the same place Tagruato harvests the Slusho! secret ingredient, Seabed Nectar. Chances are, Tagruato has begun noticing some side effects of their special ingredient and are now recalling ParafFUN! wax because of it.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Tagruato Web Site "Hacked"



It appears someone has hijacked the Tagruato site. The site is now simply an image of CEO Ganu Yoshida with devil horns and some random sea creatures. Also of note is the destroyed city in the background. The site's new title is "TAGRUATO IS DESTROYING OUR OCEANS."

The image also can be seen at http://tagruato.jp/tagru_009.jpg. A quick search for other images using that same filing system brought back no results.

While this appears to be a hack of the Web site, this is most likely a part of the viral marketing scheme. This could be very much like the hack on the Hanso Foundation by Rachel Blake in the LOST ARG. Could this be the work of Teddy and "The Cause"?

UPDATE: Dennis appears to have found some clues within the picture itself. The wave and sea animals all have roman numerals hidden on them.

I. Tanner Crab
II. Irukandji Jellyfish
III. Dumbo Octopus
IV. Ogrefish
V. Ocean Waves, similar to Hokusai's "Great Wave Off Kanagawa"


Interestingly enough, if you use the first letters of the message, "Tagruato Is Destroying Our Oceans," and use letters from the animals, Tanner Crab, Irukandji Jellyfish, Dumbo Octopus, Ogrefish, Ocean Waves, they match up. So, what is TIDOO ? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Dennis also has created a mirror of the old Tagruato site, in case any sleuths out there can find other clues hidden in the lost Web pages. Visit it here: http://tagruato.cloverfieldclues.com/