The Dark Knight Just got a TXT on the phone. HELP

[calibercop]

I am upset as much as anyone over this, and in listening to this "prank" theory I think that this community has moved into the first stage of grieving: DENIAL.

This is ok, perhaps even healthy as it shows that the feelings we are all having about this really great and talented young man were positive and genuine. In a world that can seem cold and harsh, it's nice to know that we have individuals like Mr Ledger that represent positive things: artistic integrity, individual responsibility and hope. It has only been a couple of days and the shock from this tragedy is still with us, to echo the sentiments of others in this thread it would be great to know that Heath is not dead, that somehow this didn't actually happen. With time I think that our sense of rationale will deconstruct the obsurdity of the "prank" theory and this will help us see in a logical way that this beloved actor has departed.

As we head into the next stage of our grief, lets be careful with our anger and not direct it at those we know bear no responsibility for this event. Anger at the existential difficulty of life and death is totally appropriate and helps us turn the argument away from the external and towards ourselves. Ask yourself why you are angry, why does this young man's death affect you and what purpose your feelings are serving.

 

[Snoo]

Yes, I do think the Joker (the character) would find this absolutely knee-slappingly hilarious.

But no, I think Heath's really dead. 42 and WB would NOT take their marketing this far. We weren't supposed to pretend that the actors were the characters themselves - the character just came to life for us.

Yes, they'd never bring the real actors into this, the shock he's actually alive would have been too hard to stomach. He'd never be forgiven. Or WB.

He's had problems with the paparazzi before, them throwing stuff at him and one stupid guy using a water pistol at a premiere, etc. Imagine the backlash from the press and the paparazzi if he faked his death! Heck, they'd be the least of his worries. Fans and other people would shun him a lot more.

I'd understand if this were Joker the fictional character we were talking about and they did something crazy with him for the viral campaign like let him appear at a talk show (with clues in the viral behorehand so people would know which show to watch and when) and make a "speech" to the masses. That would have been helluva funny ("Starting July 18..."), though I'm not sure if Heath would have gone that far for a role. Since he was a private person he didn't like the promotion phase and all the media attention movies get when they come out. Maybe he would have changed his mind about TDK, I don't know. Maybe he would have made an appearance somewhere, full in costume.

But he'd never fake his own death, that's for sure. That's absurd. As much as I'm grieving and want to erase the past 2 days from existance, I know that much.

A tiny part of me wants all of this to be fake, yes, but that's because I'm still in shock and want him back. The rational part of me knows he's never coming back.

 

[Adamire Voss]

my final post

 

[MissHush]

Adamire Voss, i hate to say it but i REALLY doubt the WB would plan a prevalent actor's death just to improve its marketing strategy. sure, those references are quite ironic, but really, if you were heath ledger, would you go along with faking dead and hurting your entire family and friends for one role? i think not.

 

[ianskyvox]

IF they were to fake Heath's death obviously it's something his family/loved ones would have to be in on.

It's strange how it does all line up where it really isn't ABSURD for someone to think his death was faked. Hollywood/celebrities have come CLOSE to it before... just look at Britney Spears. The whole fiasco with her kids, her "insane behavior" is all a scheme. Don't believe it? Think of how many magazines that woman has sold in the past year. Her musical career began to flop so her management had to come up with a new way for her to generate profit. And so far it's worked WONDERS. Also... why was Cloverfield such a commercial success its first weekend? Simple: outside of the box marketing.

Sadly... as possible as it actually would be and how it would ironically fit perfectly with the marketing of TDK... the unfortunate truth is that we simply lost a fantastic actor in his prime, no matter how much we all wish that wasn't the case.

 

[DarkDefender]

has anyone brought up the fact that if this was really just a prank, that the people responsible (including heath) would go to prison. FAKING SOMEONES DEATH IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY LAW. it's real. he's dead. sorry to kill the conspiracy theory.

 

[Snoo]

It's strange how it does all line up where it really isn't ABSURD for someone to think his death was faked. Hollywood/celebrities have come CLOSE to it before... just look at Britney Spears..

Yes, it's really quite sad, isn't it? That we don't immediately think: "Absurd! Can't be! Ridiculous!" when we hear about an actor dying. Instead we think about pranks and conspiracies and marketing for shock value.

Lots of people love conspiracies and sensationalism, I guess it's normal. And there's denial, too.

The fact TDK has had such a great viral campaign so far doesn't exactly help, with a jokester type of character at the helm, so to speak. I kind of see why some people would go: "Oh, it's just one of Joker's pranks for TDK!" but once every tv station and newspaper is on it and the actor's family members are involved and you're getting quotes in, you know it must be real. The bubble has burst.

 

[Anita18]

The fact TDK has had such a great viral campaign so far doesn't exactly help, with a jokester type of character at the helm, so to speak. I kind of see why some people would go: "Oh, it's just one of Joker's pranks for TDK!" but once every tv station and newspaper is on it and the actor's family members are involved and you're getting quotes in, you know it must be real. The bubble has burst.

It's definitely an aspect of the denial for me, although I've gone past the anger and I'm on my way to acceptance. I think. But it's still shocking. And definitely a painful irony, in light of the ARG.

 

[Lightning257]

i think it's just a coincidence that he died on the 22nd. I mean it would probably get a REAL BAD reaction from the people who have no idea about the whole batman thing and are ACTUALLY grieving about the loss.. Plus i don't even know if WB has the pull to ACTUALLY convince the ENTIRE world that he is dead..

Here's another wierd coincidence - remember, the graphic on atasteforthetheatrical.com has the following:

Heath was 28 when he died.

 

[Nodwarves4u]

Thats just pulling at straws. but weird none the less.

 

[Alixyveth]

This conspiracy stuff is weird but he's dead and gone, you guys. It's tragic but he isn't coming back, although I'm sure we would all welcome him with open arms if he did, even if he had faked his death.

The 22 thing is just downright creepy, though.

Something else that was weird was a "psychic" who was doing celebrity predictions for 2008. In December she said that there would be another media frenzy around an Anna Nicole type death situation for a young blond. It's a pretty vague description and I don't believe in that stuff, but the only really odd thing was that she titled that item "Another dark night..."

 

[tuffenoughtoroc]

Of course I don't believe in a conspiracy, but it's interesting just finding connections between certain events.

 

[Nodwarves4u]

The connections atleast provide something to discuss untill the marketing starts again. *knocks on virtual wood*

 

[prince_dylan]

i can't remember the director, but i remember there was a point in time where Crispin Glover wanted to do a documentary on the effect of a star's death on people, it would end up being a hoax of course. it was originaly intended for him, but he thought it should be someone more famous to really have a noticeable effect.

just thinking out loud, nothing too serious...

 

[Nodwarves4u]

Didn't they do that with Pauley Shore is dead.

 

[prince_dylan]

if it was, then they picked the wrong "star".

 

[Nodwarves4u]

lol. Not really, little enough to not be a tragedy but big enough to be known

 

[baTT]

Didn't they do that with Pauley Shore is dead.

That was just a movie.

 

[Pennyworth]

Something else that was weird was a "psychic" who was doing celebrity predictions for 2008. In December she said that there would be another media frenzy around an Anna Nicole type death situation for a young blond. It's a pretty vague description and I don't believe in that stuff, but the only really odd thing was that she titled that item "Another dark night..."

That's creepy.