The end came quickly this week for Shawnee-based Outsiders Productions' strategy to use the YouTube video site to market the premiere of its new horror film, "A Beautiful Day.”
The short, apocalyptic film was to debut April 25 at Muskogee's Bare Bones International Independent Film and Music Festival. Instead, it's been pulled from the lineup after its Internet trailer caused concern among Muskogee residents and led to an investigation by police and the FBI.
"Meant as a publicity stunt, and it just went bad,” said Brad Holt, community relations director for the Muskogee Police Department. "They didn't mention anything about a movie. It sounded like a threat.”
Billed as a warning to Muskogee, the video featured bold text and a synthesized voice saying, "People of Muskogee. Open your eyes. April 25th is a day you'll come to remember.” Along with images of dark forests, it included the message "the end is coming.”
The film synopsis, now removed from the Bare Bones Web site, describes "A Beautiful Day” as "a mind-bending homage to classic suspense and religio-horror” and "an unforgettable walk into the stuff of hell.” It was filmed in Dale.
The video, removed Thursday from the site, was designed to match the tone of the film. The problem: It made no mention of the movie itself.
Without context, the video came across as a possible terrorist threat, Holt said. Muskogee school officials alerted police to the video after word spread among students.
Muskogee police contacted the FBI and began investigating with federal agents, Holt said. He was notified of the video and viewed it Wednesday evening; by Thursday, authorities had determined it was not a threat but a film trailer.
"We were on it before I think a lot of people found out about it,” Holt said. "If it had went one more day, I'm sure the phones would have been ringing off the hook.”
The video included the attention-grabbing line "the wicked of the world will be separated from the children.” April 25 is prom night for some area schools, which only heightened concern, Holt said.
FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said, "We did take a look at the situation and determined there was no threat or danger to the community.”
He said the FBI investigation is now closed and no charges are expected against the filmmaker who posted it.
