Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rich on November 8, 2012 at 7:40am

In general, they're fun to watch, but they can be misleading.  Video of people getting autographs is only marginally helpful.  If you have video evidence of the exact celebrity making that exact signature on the exact item - which you can find at times - this does seem to significantly boost value at times. 

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Permalink Reply by sling on November 8, 2012 at 9:20am

can a video be faked as easily as a photo?

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Permalink Reply by Rich on November 8, 2012 at 9:33am

They can be cleverly edited for sure.  I'm not convinced that anyone is all that great at faking exact proof photos.  I've seen the ARA ones, but I always thought it was funny that all their doctored proof pics looked like they were taken with a 1978 Goldstar.  But I have seen a few videos where I would classify it as rock solid proof that the exact signature was made by the celebrity.

Here's one that looks like it was taken with a perhaps camera phone.  The signature itself is the usual blah IP quickie, but the video proof was likely what made the sale easier on ebay (it apparently went for $160.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coOxNrvLIyQ

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Permalink Reply by sling on November 8, 2012 at 11:31am

yeah-polaroids are the hardest to fake ... to bad they don't make that type film anymore.

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Permalink Reply by sling on November 9, 2012 at 5:56am

Yeah, but the video section of the signature is blurry.

I would put forward that even if an expert had the actual signed item shown being written in the video, he/she would not be able to confidently know that it is the sig being created in the video.

What do other think?

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Permalink Reply by Rich on November 9, 2012 at 7:39am

I wouldn't buy the item on the basis of it being a quick, hurried mediocre signature (which is pretty common for her actually), despite having some compelling evidence of authenticity. 

There is a good ebay seller called jodeci78 who takes photo proof, sometimes to virtual perfection.  Sometimes they aren't so lucky and the photos are a bit blah, but in more ideal circumstances he gets some great pics.

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Permalink Reply by DB on November 8, 2012 at 11:35am

with various editing software one can be just as ingenious if not more than those that photoshop.

remember Forest Gump as just one professional example.

of course, if someone is providing a service then one would expect it to be legitmate. As providing value, if you were on a very high end item or perhaps selling "many" from the same celebrity then it might have some value add, I suppose.  What that would be would remain to be seen.

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Permalink Reply by sling on November 9, 2012 at 5:59am

Don't know what you mean about forest gump, but Zelig for sure.

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Permalink Reply by DB on November 9, 2012 at 6:06am

did you ever watch the movie?  If you did you saw him injected into a number of "historical" scenes (B&W as well) and if you didn't know any better you would think he was actually at the civil rights school integration and johnson ceremonies.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on November 9, 2012 at 8:15am

No, the costs and time involved in doing something in video like we've seen them do in Photoshop would be prohibitive and involve experts who could talk. Plus the actual signer and signing would have to be done on blue screen, shot separately, and show them actually signing the object.

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Permalink Reply by DB on November 9, 2012 at 8:26am

ever hear of video8?  Used it quite often to produce shows while editing out and editing in different segments from different videos.  If there is talking it can be a drawback but if it's just a signing w/o talking then anything is possible and it's not cost prohibitive at all.  Some of the editing software that is not much more has even better editing for not only video but audio as well.

Of course, it's doubtful some would go to that extent for minnie pearl.. but a suite of MJs could be another story.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on November 9, 2012 at 9:18am

It's not a matter of editing segments in and out. In the case of ARA's doctored photos, they added the guitars, covering the other items being signed so it looked like they were being signed. For the Axl Rose one, they took him from a scene and put him in another one and changed his hand to a different one holding a pen.  

With motion involved, that's not just editing...it's animation and all sorts of tech and talent. Could it be done? Yes. But you're talking thousands of dollars each if not more. Not to mention bringing others into the mix to create the scene. Too dangerous. Too expensive.

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