Instagram/@matpatgt
Matthew Patrick, a.k.a. MatPat the famous internet personality, has used mysteriousness around a charity event in London directly connected with the finding of a weird VHS tape recently to keep the world guessing. By the event on 18th October, the money that the participants will donate for Great Ormond Street Hospital in London will be together with the website tommydetective.com where the participants can solve a mystery.
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Matthew Patrick isn’t having the easygoing life of a retired person. The ex-Game-Theory host made a somewhat fascinating video titled “For the Birds”, in which he plays an ornithologist named Salem Elliott. A tweed jacket and soft, slow speaking are used as tools to capture the viewers in the trap of an unprofessional but serious-looking Patrick who is explaining to the viewers the reasons behind the supposedly innocent talking about the starlings. However, without warning, he pulls the audience into a private matter of his that involves an old friend named Jules, a beat box and a vital copper key that has just been unearthed in the hospital. What’s more, the character looks directly at the DSLR and declares that the key is bursting with their past and more importantly, he is the one who is begging for its return. Simultaneously, he is dropping a hint to the audience about a website containing more clues about the mystery. There is no doubt that this is a video but it also marks the start of a grand Alternate Reality Game, or ARG, which will turn out to be an engaging way for the audience to participate in the charitable cause.
That video was simply a piece of art in the shape of a weird story told in a humorous way. Patrick’s responsibility covers whole gamut starting from naming the unlikeliest of the birds such as “the Dixissel” and “the fluffy-backed tit-babler” and ending with waving goodbye to “the crow,” to which one commentator wrote: “made me laugh so hard.” The entire setting not only acts eccentric but also another viewer who commented it said it was “adult swim infomercials” in storytelling due to the strange and creepy atmosphere around it. This style is a deliberate shift from his whole range of content and reveals another side of his artistry.
The reaction and positive feedback on the post were already huge. Many were looking forward to Patrick taking two steps back rather than a project with such an aim. “Matpat is just playing sandbox mode at this point and I’m so happy for him!” was the reaction of one fan celebrating his post-retirement creative liberty. The performance aspect of the video was also pointed out as a viewer said, “love remembering that matpat is one of us (theatre people),” thus acknowledging his educational background and being the skilled actor. Mainly, the praise was for his acting ability. “I forget that not only is this guy incredibly smart, hard working, and dedicated, but also an amazing actor,” one viewer lamented, admitting he was under Patrick’s spell as the outlandish Salem Elliott.
The charitable cause was an essential part of the announcement that the story. Patrick openly asked the audience to “raise money for the great work happening at Great Ormond Street Hospital.” He was recommending making donations via the hospital and playing at his detective website. The charitable hook adds a strong motive to the playful mystery which turns it into a powerful good deed. His mate and fellow creator Rosanna Pansino brought a different humorous angle to what she called his “retirement,” saying, “Hi I’m matpat, I retired at a young age to pursue my lifelong dream: working harder than ever.” Her statement, which was named a fan favorite, aptly captures the irony of his situation—retirement but still he is more active than ever.
Of course, the community swiftly noticed the signs of an ARG. “Not the casual ARG drop,” another viewer quipped. The mysterious video and a call for a website, as well as the puzzle-like features are classic elements of such an interactive storytelling. The enigma of the copper key and the treasure allusions have attracted the audience and made them wonder. “WHAT’S IN THE TREE MAT,” one viewer shouted, referring to a small and obscure shot in the video, thus indicating the audience’s impatience to comb through every clue.
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With this new project, Matthew Patrick has solidified his connection with the audience and is ready to participate in the digital storytelling realm with even more creative solutions. The brilliant combination of character acting, mystery, and philanthropy has led Patrick to create an exclusive engaging experience that is not only for entertainment. The day in London on October 18th will be a milestone in this odd but amazing journey all for a worthy cause. It is safe to say for Matthew Patrick that retirement is just a matter of changing theories.
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