District 9 director’s strange new viral video

After the runaway success of “District 9“, sc-fi lovers have been waiting with bated breath to find out what director Neill Blomkamp will do next. Time Magazine even named Blomkamp as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2009. Meanwhile Blomkamp has received the go-ahead for his new sci-fi film titled “Elysium” due out in 2011, which Blomkamp has clearly stated is not a District 9 sequel.

However, in the latest iPad-app version of WiReD Magazine, you will find a cryptic video simply called “Video By: Neill Blomkamp”. The video is filmed in a similar documentary style to District 9, which is better known as “epilepsy-inducing shaky hand cam”.

The video features two men who have discovered an extraterrestrial-looking creature in a puddle on the side of the road. In the background you will see what looks like drag marks leading back to a factory. The beast seems to have been stamped in that blue ink reminiscent of old-style butcheries. The stamp reads “18.12 AGM Heartland Pat Pend USA” and “US Inspected And Approved”.

On closer inspection, the creature looks similar to the Montauk Monster and this video may be playing on the same crypto-zoological fascination that made the Montauk Monster so famous.

As for the meaning behind the stamp, film blog Slashfilm has done some sleuthing and discovered that “a Beverly Hills-based company named Sable Productions Ltd. filed for the trademark ‘AGM Heartland’ on October 18th 2010.

The trademark use is labeled as: Entertainment services by way of an online website with video, audio and textual content and images featuring characters and storylines about a fictional genetic engineering company that produces genetically engineered and altered organisms.”

They have also discovered that 18.12, the number on the beast, is also the number of the WiReD Magazine issue in which the video is found.

Interestingly, John Kiggins comments in the Slashfilm article: “In the printed version, Wired always brings in outside artists to do a full page interpretation of the issue number. From what I can tell, they’re more or less given carte blanche, aside from the fact that the piece must include the issue number. Wired has also started integrating video into the iPad version of the magazine, so it makes sense that they would try something new in this area as well.”

Artist’s interpretations of WiReD Magazine issue numbers can be confirmed through artist/coder Robert Hodgin’s blog.

Throwing the cat amongst the pigeons is our mate Wikus van de Merwe, better known as Sharlto Copley, who then posted the video on Facebook stating only: “mmm…. wonder what this is about….”

Could it be a teaser to a trailer about a teaser to an upcoming film by Blomkamp? Perhaps a hint at District 10 in the making? Although ‘AGM Heartland’ seems to be registered as an online endeavour only. Or is it simply Neill Blomkamp’s creative interpretation of the WiReD Magazine issue number?

Strange, intriguing and creepy. Perfect Neill Blomkamp territory.