Really clever...and creepy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N5OhNplEd4

Yah I saw that the other day....

While it is really funny, it made me question the validity of how real it is. You get a super scared person in there and you have a chance at a bad heart attack or worse, someone attacking/killing the little girl in self defense out of fear. Lawsuits follow.

I understand and find humor in the whole thing but its such an enclosed space with nowhere for people to run. I'm really shocked that in the videos they showed, nobody even made a move towards the girl but instead ALL cowered in fear. Maybe they have some unaired video that didn't go as well.

Yea I'm not sure how genuine the reactions are, or how many people were actually filmed.

Actually, you have some good points about health risks and potential violent reactions by people. But unless the girl actually attacked them, I don't think many people would want to approach her. It could very well be fake, though.

I'm sure there were a bunch of people who just said something like "How ya doin?" or "Wow, that's a really good trick you have there!" but of course, those didn't get shown. Most of these sorts of candid camera shows end up with a LOT of unusable footage.

It's very well done. I'm not easily scared myself - when I see something I can't explain, I'm usually more curious about what just happened, than scared. But I'm pretty sure that this situation would've sent shivers down my spine. We are so used to seeing elevators as confined spaces where you can't easily get in or out, that I probably wouldn't have thought about the possibility of a secret compartment, or a prank.

I might have thought I was having a hallucination. I probably would have uttered a careful, friendly, "Hello?", just to get a reaction. Apart from the screaming, the girl didn't seem aggressive or dangerous.

What I don't quite understand is the impulse to look away. If I perceive something as frightening and potentially dangerous, I want to focus on it, so that I can react quickly if it makes a move. But it's human, I guess. "I can't see you, you're not there".

Also, I agree with the others - these shows only show a tiny fraction of the material they filmed, the less spectacular scenes simply get trashed (or overwritten).

With regard to the dangers to the health of the people involved: I think you can take precautions if you plan such a prank. In one of the later scenes, you can see that the elevator doesn't actually move, so as soon as something dangerous happened, they could have opened the doors to intervene. Also, they may have preselected their "victims" - I don't know why they went into that building, but if I were pulling such well-executed scare, I'd probably publish an ad for a job interview somewhere, and make sure that only people with good health should apply.

Pure genius. LOL The last guy...poor guy...

Yea those are my exact thoughts after watching 2 days ago. It looks legit but the thought of how risky it is makes me doubt. Like you said risk to the targets/little girl and even if no heart attack (they were targeting some old ppl too), someone could be traumatized. Even if nothing happens people can sue for emotional damage or something (I guess thats mostly North Americans) . What if someone was carrying a weapon/gun. The chances of these things are small but the result can be very severe. If I were to plan this I would make sure the girl will stand fair distance from targets and there is some backup plan like ppl can rush in within seconds or/and speakers to tell them it was a prank.

things am wondering about:
do they research on the targets first to make sure say no heart conditions?
do they pay the targets afterwards? (i assume they do or they will be a lot of really pissed people)
if someone end up hurting/killing the girl is this considered self defense and no charges?

there are some great/funny Japanese pranks also and some are definitely physically dangerous too.

I was thinking, they are taking a huge risk by scaring people like that. A lot of people's reaction to that level of fear is becoming violent. It is flight or fight for people. If they had more people going into the elevator, eventually the girl would of been, punched or kicked or worse. So maybe like you said, it was 100% fake.

Didn't read your post prior to my above post but yea thought probably semi-select through the process of luring them in. But people can still sue them not sure how difficult it is in Brazil through.
I'm also extremely curious person, but for sure the initial jump shock effect will be HUGE. If I can calm down in time I think I will attempt to talk to it first its like "whats up... wanna talk about it" but I think her scream will give me another shock through.

@langurmonkey I wouldn't attack it unless it got real close, no reason to provoke it in a stalemate situation, it may not be hostile at all, the elevator may open after a while etc. yea definitely can't image charging at it but the scream may aggro some ppl heh.

Intellectually, I don't believe in ghosts. At all. Like nada.

But I know that in the heat of the moment, fight-or-flight takes precedence and I would be screaming my lungs out.

They probably can't do specific research on the victims - that would cost a lot of time, and you could still easily miss important info.

The best way to get ensured against later damages, if you are pulling such a prank, is (imho) the method I hinted at above. Do a newspaper ad where you offer a job. Make a point that only people with good health may apply. If you want to be even more sure, have them send in a signed form in which they declare to be of good general health. It might come across as odd, but it's not completely unreasonable in connection with a job offer, and most people looking for a job would probably sign it.

With regard to danger to the girl - as said above, the doors could have been opened any time. The chance that people enter the elevator with a weapon is small - but you could even take precautions in that regard, if you want to. Expanding on the job offer cover story from above, you could tell people that the job is security related, and check them when they enter the building.

With regard to victims suing the pranksters - I guess the inclination to sue the hell out of anyone as soon as an opportunity presents itself is probably a rather North American phenomenon. I don't think that it's as deeply ingrained in Brazil culture. But yes, if you're doing such pranks for a TV show, then usually you have a part of your budget dedicated to say sorry to the victims.

Not in elevator, but this one is the best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P06CYi8o7s

When I saw the video, it caught my attention that the young clerk always said "Boa sorte" (good luck) when people got in the elevator, so I had the impression that they were going to a job interview.

I liked the fake mirror prank, but I can't find a video of good quality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l64PffBtGGw

That's why travelers should always carry a towel!