Three production firms have contacted London estate agents Douglas & Gordon with a view to turning their ‘mockumentary’ into a film or TV programme.
Director Ed Mead said that one of the firms is California-based and the other two are British: “It’s a case of watch this space,” he said.
Mead said that the success of the spoof video – released in two parts last week, followed by the denouement on Friday – had caught the firm by surprise.
The Under Offer film, shot by Real Impact, had had no publicity but went viral thanks to the production company’s ‘seed master’. “We had been expecting it to take several weeks for it to take off,” said Mead.
Picked up quickly by EAT, the Mail on Sunday then ran news story about how a film showing a bunch of sleazy, lying estate agents had been made by … a firm of estate agents.
YouTube watchers tuned in, in their thousands, with many unsure what to make of it – and a few convinced it was a genuine fly-on-the-wall film showing estate agents at their worst.
Part Two went out on YouTube last week, featuring more bad behaviour by the estate agents – including the £2m ‘dump’ by an unabashed James, the almost-believable negotiator.
On Friday, the firm came clean – weeks ahead of schedule, and having made the estate agency world a happier place.
One thing’s for sure, though: it has certainly changed the way agents do their PR from now onwards.
So, any regrets from Douglas & Gordon?
No – although a woman with an asthmatic daughter did decide against having the firm value her house.
And a Douglas & Gordon competitor (you know who you are!) decided to circulate the video to clients, telling them how awful it was for agents to behave like that. But Mead thinks that backfired on the competitors, not on Douglas & Gordon.
“The point about the film,” says Mead, “is that it shows how agents – not just Douglas & Gordon – don’t behave these days. The industry, us included, has come a very long way.”
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Comments
Wilson's Nails
Wilson runs a nail factory and decides his business needs a bit of advertising. He has a chat with a friend who works in marketing and he offers to make a TV ad for Wilson's Nails.
"Give me a week," says the friend, "and I'll be back with a tape."
A week goes by and the marketing executive comes to see Wilson. He puts a DVD in and presses play. A Roman soldier is busy nailing Jesus to the cross. He turns to face the camera and says with a grin "Use Wilson's Nails, they'll hold anything."
Wilson goes mad shouting: "What is the matter with you? They'll never show that on TV. Give it another try, but no more Romans crucifying Jesus!"
Another week goes by and the marketing man comes back to see Wilson with another DVD. He puts it in the machine and hits play. This time the camera pans out from a Roman standing with his arms folded to show Jesus on the cross. The Roman looks up at him and says 'Wilson's Nails, they'll hold anything'.
Wilson is beside himself. "You don't understand: I don't want anything with Jesus on the cross! Now listen, I'll give you one last chance. Come back in a week with an advertisement that I can broadcast."
A week passes and Wilson waits impatiently. The marketing executive arrives and puts on the new DVD. A naked man with long hair, gasping for breath, is running across a field. About a dozen Roman soldiers come over the hill, hot on his trail. One of them turns to camera and says 'If only we had used Wilson's Nails!'.
@Billy
You surely aren't serious - that anyone could think that film is real? It's the same as the Shelter one (wasn't it) recently that showed an appalling Landlord putting tenants who had no other choice into an unfit property, ignoring TDP etc etc.
Thionk that was real did you until you saw the credits and Shelter's name?
Lord give me strength!!!
And yes good comments why post when all you have to do is emailthe site monitor? Or just delete the email as soon as it hits your inbox?
Sorry Billy we do not appear to have your unsubscribe requests, please post your email address and we will deal
So, Billy wants to unsubscribe this 'tiresome' website, yet continues to post on it.
Feel free to draw your own conclusions, everyone.
Billy - You are a complete and utter idiot.
1) Why did you come to this site in the first place?
2) Why did YOU register?
3) Why do you still continue to come back to this site and post your tripe?
Get a life, or actually make use of your own.
“ “is that it shows how agents – not just Douglas & Gordon – don’t behave these days.
So no one drinks, no one complains about timewasters?? Think he's lying to himself. Even worse then a 'typical' agent is a 'typical' agent in sheeps clothing (probably armani seeing as how much money he has to waste on making films).
Why not do a video showing people pulling out and then having to tell vendors face to face that they have no morals. Id watch that. Plus the vendor is allowed to have a gun....cool!
Fairly funny film but not sure how douglas and gordon want to be seen by the public. It is obviously what they think of their customers (which we all do) but how does this help you win clients?
Induistry Observer......Why could not one believe that the film is not real?
I am not an estate or lettings agent, but I do have regular contact with estate agents.... I am yet to find a competent one.
....this site is clearly been set up by estate agents, as despite numerous requests I have been unable to get myself removed from this tiresome website.
Can one of the useless gimps that run this website, please check their in box, and action ALL of the "Unsubscribe me" e.mails in there
Anyone who thinks that film was for real needs to get a life
On the other hand maybe they have had a bad EA experience?
“The point about the film,” says Mead, “is that it shows how agents – not just Douglas & Gordon – don’t behave these days. The industry, us included, has come a very long way.”
That is the point Ed and the whole point you and EAs generally need to be sure has happened and that the industry has come a long way. Maybe the beloved Mary Portas showed that it hadn't?
Very funny film, I agree with PeeBee (great holiday thanks pal!!) in his comments on it. Pity about the language and using bleeps would have had more impact
Could be up for a Razzie, a Golden Rasperry?
would be a great soap for tv............remember SOLD a few years back this would be even better!!