How to make a viral video - Viral Video
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 10 июн 2021
- Want a video to go viral? Follow these steps!
SUPPORT US ON PATREON - bit.ly/36Hg7ZY
ALL SOCIALS - linktr.ee/vldl
TWITCH - / vldl
MERCH - vldl.shop
SONGS - bit.ly/2OBeB4O
SERIES PLAYLISTS
Epic NPC Man: bit.ly/NPCman
Bored: bit.ly/VLDLbored
PUBG Logic: bit.ly/PUBGlogic
FPS Logic: bit.ly/FPSlogic
Souls Logic: bit.ly/Soulslogic
Music Videos: bit.ly/VLDLmusicvids
Wildcards: bit.ly/VLDLwildcard - Игры
As a dude in marketing, this is spot on. clients have no budget and expect the world
Oh and then, getting them to actually pay the €1000 invoice....
Hope that they will not request from you to use a warm blue.
As a dude in (Cyber Security), this is spot on. clients have no budget and expect the world
Feel free to reply by inserting your own domain area in the parentheses
@@gittin_funky You first.
I mean... for $1000 it's not that hard to press the viral button, okay? I mean I can hit at least 5 buttons and only charge about $800, so.... just sayin
So many years of Bored has conditioned me to find it incredibly wierd when Alan and Rowan are on the same team and agreeable.
I know, Ben should have been there 🤣🤣
@@argentechgames it's OUTRAGEOUS that he wasn't tbh.
And Adam isn't being aggressively taken advantage of
It’s usually Adam and Alan
Exactly
3:25 That switch from confusion to completely finding out what morons they are is brilliant.
As a marketer myself I can say I’ve had clients like this in years past who wanted me to “click the SEO button” so they would rank first on Google. Great video guys!
as a consultant software developer for huge corporations... this speaks to me on a very real level.
That's it KrazyKain, you get a warning and massive pay cut.
@@zlostnypopolnik Damn, he should've shut it and clicked the viral button.
Add these to your vocabulary: "Impossible", "No.", "Give me six months", "Of course it's possible, for a small fee of one million dollars!"
@@eaaeeeea lol, thanks. I know how to talk to these people, and I do tell them when what they are asking for is impossible or outside of budget or scope. Doesn't make having to have the conversation over and over again any less frustrating.
@@C4H10N4O2 it's the "just make it work" button in my case
*"Click the Viral Button ✔"*
I have been doing that for years and does not work, RUclips says it's working as intended.
The REAL way to HIT THAT VIRAL BUTTON, is to consult MR. BEAST ... think of a very viewed VERITASIUM video, and the explanation to its viral tendency. (I even gotten it in my recommended 3 times since then, even if I viewed it entirely, liked and commented on it)
"It's not a bug, it's a feature."
Sorrry, did you pay your 10M$ monthly ‘Viral Button’ subscription?
Women have a viral button...sadly men don't!
Viral button is been on beta version for 10 yrs now, developer still working on it
The sad thing is that this isn't actually too wacky, there are people out there who think advertisers are able to do that and expect it when they hire someone
Just buy the "Viral" button add-on from my software, will you? Sure, it's a bit on the eeexpensive side but it will make the work done. Probably.
@@Hawky2947 stop trying to steal my technology. I have a patent on it that makes you offering it illegal under international copyright laws
@@flyings.monster6845 Oh, we don't want that... changed the button to a cheat key combo like in old games. And man, this new changed feature is selling like hotcakes! Thanks! (there's going to be many many many viral videos in the near future)
@@flyings.monster6845 the technology you stole? Let's be honest, everyone steals that button all the time 😂
This also happens a lot in engineering. Managers have literally asked me to make a brand new, disruptive version of a product... without changing anything at all from the original... for logistic purposes, of course. In many companies, the common logic is: when you want to improve something, do it in such a subtle level that time and money are minimal, and then they end up only approving changes that indeed are so subtle that, they obviously conclude, it's not even worth the time and energy to implement them, so the logic conclusion is always to do nothing at all. This goes on and on until some major reason forces them to finally make an upgrade and hell breaks lose...
Been there a lot of times. 1. We want this. 2. It only could be done if we would be doing this and that but... 3. YESS thats exactly what we will do! 4...its impossible, impractical and generally stupid... 5. Sorry are you telling me that you cant do it, 6 no no no no. 7 then do it.
I worked for a company, that used 3G to communicate with their products (mobile road lights mainly for constructions sites).
Never have it ever occured to them upgrading to 4G. It looks even worse for the other electronics, it's like 3310 age of electronics. It works but that like using ISDN while we already scratch at 1 gigabit/s.
As soon as 3G support cancel got announced, they went batshit to upgrade to 4G asap.
But don't think the higher ups, you dont even know exist, have made planning and engineering on how to actually do it in the best way possible. It's so contradicting. On every working step, they want the highest standards. Afterall, theyre really expensive products for customers. But when something new comes, those responsible for it go lazy mode, as they don't know about this. So some standard lowpay gotta figure everything out and basically deciding the outcome of the endproduct.
The explanation for what you're all describing is simple: it's basic economics. Minimize your costs and maximize your profits. In plain English, it's this: buy the cheapest possible materials, pay your employees as little as you can get away with, upgrade only when absolutely necessary and even then do it as cheaply as possible, and charge your customers as much as you can get away with.
And people wonder why the world is going to shit.
I actually did a complete clone, which was exactly what they asked for, and they got mad because they actually wanted a new skin and were trying to get it without paying for it. Humans are lame.
Amazon's gaming dept has the same idea: make innovative games that are guaranteed sales. Wonder why they're in such low esteem
I can feel PTSD vibes from Adam lol, this is probably straight out of his real life experience since he used to write commercials.
I was thinking the SAME!
Honestly think this was his skit, his idea
The deer in the headlights look on his face when they start listing things people like on the whiteboard was perfection itself.
You know what they need, an Expert. Someone that can make 7 perpendicular lines and red lines with blue ink. That should do it.
Oh, nice.
Love that miniseries
You should send the Link of the expert (It is a must to watch).
Btw we want to see the viral video about shit ^^
or if that is not possible two parallel lines that cross each other once in a while.....
You. Beat. Me. To. It.
Referencing a viral video with a pertinent analogy is just the right amount of irony
Has anyone noticed how Alan could totally be a Rowan. Like he acted just how Rowan does on daily basis at playtech and fucking nailed!
All he needs is a white shirt
@@shohamziner ye
HE’S WEARING THE BLACK SHIRT
Duh.. He was the super manager remember?
From what I recall, both he and Rowan were up for manager and Rowan just called it first.
They're actually a perfect representation of management everywhere.
I love how these guys are able to switch between being super smart characters in certain skits, to complete morons in other skits, to self aware NPCs...I mean, just incredible talent.
Damn straight. I have been thinking they should be given some award for their talent, like literally.
Yeah! It's almost like they're... _actors_ or something 😑
Yeah, this should go viral.
@@grapy83 exactly! These people work hard and their result show and that SHOULD be awarded. I made a commitment to support them through patreon. Not much but I hope it helps and I hope the premium account that I just subscribed myself into helps them as well.
@@thefinkie6459 You'd be surprised how many actors are plain bad. Even well known AND awarded ones!
This is so true. When business people become 'creators'. I'm surprised they didn't ask for this video in a PowerPoint!
Oh god... I work in it. Come on. We have problems enough with making people get why they need to reboot the computer at least once in a while. If they star putting videos in PowerPoint then they are going to complaint that they cane email this 500mb PP.. And guess who's going to be blamed.
If its so easy, you do it on your own and then come back here when you're ready to hear the actual budget.
I love the way Allan leans in and whispers "Self aware." So weird and so, so funny!!! 😂😂😂
This is literally a live action Dilbert comic.
Man. I haven't read Dilbert in years. But yes this screams Dilbert talking to the marketing doofus
Ah, those memories of seeing Scott Adams in the Pleasanton Home Depot and being excited, rather than remembering what a douchebag he is as a human being. Golden days…
I miss Dilbert! Man... that definitely brought back memories tanks
"What do people like"
"Puppies"
"Anything else?"
"Not to my knowledge"
@@sage4365 Inferior
Butts...everybody loves butts
Babies
@@lorax8172 solution, make a video about people sitting on puppies.
Sweater puppies
As a marketing consultant, this is accurate.
I feared as much but thanks for the confirmation.
Same in the graphic design field. Our jobs without clients would be heaven... but sadly also obsolete :)
I didn't really chuckle until he said "$1000 dollars." 😂
Especially considering how crazy expensive those Old Spice commercials are too make haha
This video is sentient. It correctly guessed the direction the discussion would go into at 1:49. 😲
Adam's correct response:
"Well yes, the budget for the video itself is only $1000. But to make it go viral, we need a viral promotional fund... about $5 million should cover it. I really like the puppies idea by the way. Unless you just want a regular non-viral video that is?"
Puppies and poop do go hand and hand in reality though. Unfortunately not normally in a cute way like pooping on someone's things or lap whom you are not fond of.
but how does one make a shitty viral video.... but with puppies? its a mathematical impossibility that puppies are shitty!
"This speaker goes to 11"
Regular Person: "Couldn't you just make 10 louder and get rid of 11?"
Mathematician: "This scale is completely arbitrary!"
Engineer: "For $50,000 I can make you one that goes to 12"
@@ilovefunnyamv2nd not necessarily, some dogs roll in shit. Just make it seem like mud for most of the ad, then slap the fertilizer tag at the end. In the fine print.
@@weezact7 that engineer is hired XD
As a product manager I can confirm. *This is literally what happens in executive board room meetings.*
Absolutely confirmed.
It hurt my something, I don't know but I felt something break under my chest somewhere. Especially Rowan's epiphany about a viral button and how natural his nonsense was... executives are such idiots sometimes.
@@dibaterman ন
As a marketing man, I feel like this video should have a trigger warning
Client be like : here is 10$, make my project “POP”
this skit reminds me of "the expert" from 7 years a go.
it still funny when you guys do it.
good job guys.
I was waiting for them to look at the camera after saying “self aware”
same
Too self aware, bail.
Yes, but I'm glad they didn't.
Me tooooo lol
That was weird when Alan is on Rowan's side to destroy Adam.
I thought so too. I think the ignorant client should be Adam and Alan should be bothered with the viral video about fertilizer.
I knew something was off
I think it would be sad if they were trapped in playing only one character and had to always stick to it.
When Rowan was voice actor, Alan and Adam destroyed him too. XD
Only now Alan left to be destroyed
Isn’t it not already done before? I’ve seen them “bully” Adam in a hundreds of videos.
As an owner of a business dealing with marketing firms the end of this is so true”so we can’t really give you the results you want for your marketing dollars but we will take your money anyway and act very surprised when you fire us in six months because we haven’t done anything useful”
Marketing is practically gambling. So you either take it or leave it.
@@randomdude8202 I would disagree the bigger issue is there is a disconnect between managers/owners and marketers. I sell HVAC and while I dont do marketing anymore my (good friend)does it for the company I'm at and we generally laugh at the fact that a lot of companies dont really understand what they are about or what the product should be pushed as. In the end if sales are up and leads are flowing they generally dont care which is honestly fine.
@@scottdodge6979 if the product is good it markets itself. If the company is good it does not need advertising...... marketing is just making people believe they need shit they really don't.
@@scottdodge6979 there are some aspects of advertising you can control, but engagement is usually bound by chance with a big margin. Especially when you don't pay large amounts of money for it to certain companies. So you can create a good content, and that is totally requires skill, but how well that content do is not up to you. And that is the reason why it is a gamble for small firms.
Hey, guys! I don't know where all of you worked before the VLDL channel, before the "Bored" series, maybe on a place which is something like that what is in the video, but it is frakking amazing how you are able to portray these "environments" and people because you know them very well. Maybe this is a little bit fearful too, because I experienced similar in my previous and current workplace too. Thanks for all moments, what you give us in every week! Greetings from Hungary.
You think this is a joke until you start working in consulting... Then.. You cry.
The one thing no company ever wants to do is ..... improve the product! Only exception to that seems to be Tesla.
Cry.wav
Sounds so painful. 😭
@@davidbeppler3032 You mean the company that won't let you repair your own vehicle? You mean the company that makes sedans that weigh over 2000kg? You mean the company that's run by a greedy corporatist egomaniac? That company?
@@roncatman6236 Yes, I mean the company that won't let you kill yourself, the company that builds sedans that weigh less then Mercedes S class. The company not ran buy a greedy business man? That company, yes.
The beautiful disconnected dance between manager and production. I used to have a boss that spoke in a similar maner. Kind of worrisome.
Game development in a nutshell.
Sad and scary more like
I'm your boss.
@@MementoMori1001 Peter?! 😱
Your acting is great guys, feels like this one comes from personal experience. I feel you shouldn't hesitate to make more of these, getting some American Psycho vibes
"What are some other ways that we can make the video go viral?"
Cats. It's going to be ca- so close.
When execs have an 'idea'
You run...
I'll never forget when I tried to explain the internet to my boss
@@moistnugget4147 Did you show them the fragile box that contains the internet?
@@HCBYRD Don't do it. The boss could break it. It is not like trying to turn it off and on again.
@@HCBYRD it was kind of like when Alan introduced Rowan to reddit, but then he almost fired me for it
I've been in these sort of meetings with the suits. Lol.
Been there, done that, got the ptsd to prove it...
How Adam acts at the end is exactly what you have to do to get through the dam things as well! You can provide all the evidence you want to say their new idea is bad or won't work but in the end you just have to agree In a super positive way! 🤮🤣
Same
Same lol it's so hard to explain how it actually works.
This reminds me of the video "the expert".
I feel this. Many talks with customers, same feeling most times.
I loved this video. One of the best they've ever done. Thanks to you, I dream of living in Auckland
I was kinda expecting there to be a sponsored ad for fertilizers at the end ...
I want That SHIT video MEOW!
@@DIGITAL3ERO search for drain addict
We will fertilize your lawn with the cutest fertilizer ever made
***Explosions and music by Micheal Bay***
Cutest possible!
Puppy's SHIT!
This has "the expert" skit written all over it. 😄
I was going to say the same thing! 😂
What is that?
My thoughts exactly, I think "The Expert" nailed this whole vibe over the couple of episodes
was looking for this
But it needs to be perpendicular!
as a non english speaker, i really appreciate that there is substitles. it help me to learn the New Zealand accent. i'm a french canadian. Thank you internet.
I can just see Adam’s soul leaving his body at several points in this video.
I don't think Adam is "dying inside," so to speak, for that to happen...I think it's more like "fleeing at light speed from the force of terrifyingly extreme levels of absolute absurdity."
Kudos to the VDL crew for figuring out how to express it in a short, concise manner.
Let me just say once, you guy's are so well tuned to each other's personages. Great acting skills. I love every second of it!
thx bby
They are great!
🤔 you think this is acting?! 😅
No way, this is a documentary
I've been a software engineer for the marketing industry for ~8 years. This is SCARILY close to what people actually talk about in brainstorming meetings...
I mean, Adam is/was a writter.
well how many people went through the damn windows then ?
It's a great spin on "Seven Red Lines" sketch
The internal screaming from Adam is heard all around the RUclips world.
Omg I relate so hard to this, my last company was obsessed with 'viral' marketing but never once did anything have the reach they had hoped for.
Please say it was a fertilizer company!
As a freelancer looking for jobs during covid in 2020, I got lotsa interviews that went something like that too.
@@DIGITAL3ERO actually it was it The music industry! 😂
looking forward to seeing you guys make a "viral" commercial about shit xD
You havent seen this year april fool video eh. The pubg one
I think this was the viral commercial about shit. We've been tricked.
I dont really think a commercial about shit will do well outside of koprophiliacs.
100%! I need this sponsored content.
At the beginning of this video, I thought that this video is proof of why they need to avoid any Netflix deals.
Him: "...a video about shit!".
So...they signed on for the Netflix deal, after all. :-(
This reminds me of "The Expert" videos series here on RUclips. Good Stuff
You guys nailed that general cluelessness that some corporate and management types seem to have in abundance! It's like some of them got their jobs instantly, without ever having to work their way up the ladder, or have no idea what life is like for normal people and can't relate.
I'm convinced this is just a rehashing of Viva La Dirt League's first meetings as a channel.
Or with PlayTech. Yes, I am aware, that, from now on, I have to avoid any red-, black-, gold- or white-shirted people getting anywhere close to my location.
@@petermetzger8550 you don't need to avoid red shirts... if anything you want them closeby
@@ilovefunnyamv2nd Unless you're in Star Trek ;)
@@ilovefunnyamv2nd Thinking it over, you probably are right. But would they be able to protect and shield me from black, gold and white? I am very worried, that they would not...
This reminds me of a certain "The Expert" video....and I love it
Totally agree. I watched it a few days ago
The Expert - 7 red lines is hilarious!
I have been in those kind of meetings myself, so that stuff really happens.
Ah, an all-time classics) did you know that it was written by a Russian children books writer?
The similarity is striking. This perfectly uncomfortable atmosphere when manager starts joking/no joking with the client. "Just click the viral button!" "Absolutely!". It's so well played in both sketches.
one of the top videos you ever made, I love it!
Before I was working with clients I couldn’t fully appreciate how accurate those sketches are. Why big companies be like this?
The funny thing is that there's people out there who really are like that 😅
EDIT: Seems like I found the viral button 🤯
That is funny, but it's also really disturbing! :)
yeah, that's the joke... xD
"there's people out there who really are like that"? mate.. all clients are LIKE THAT :))
@@dangreuceanu you mean all directors and higher in any company
As a web developer, I've had so many clients who wanted me to 'make the next Facebook'. Even better, they typically want me to make the next big thing... by suggesting all the same features that Facebook already has.
Click the viral button!
Why didn't I think of that!!
I’ve been in that meeting so many times and had that exact convo with clients
You guys make my day..
You crack me every time.
Literally ‘Rolling On The Floor Laughing’
These two can convince squares to turn into circles.
What, are you saying squares are sentient?
"Listen to this man he knows what he's talking about!"
Hands down best quote from this video 😂
Like this direction. How businesses discuss human behavior without being part of it and presuming they know best about things they have no clue how it really works.
As a design and optimization engineer this is scarcely accurate to how every group who comes to me to ask for help with their product acts.
My girlfriend relates to this so hard because of her old job as Social Media Manager she is now actually angry. Thanks guys.
Give your gf chocolate and ice cream 😂
smoke her some meats
Social media manager? You mean dean of an overpopulated kindergarten?
Didn't she know about the viral button?
@@Moctipotili1 Pretty much, except the company was a price comparable website with woman in their 40+'s. The I-join-every-single-contest-where-I-can-win-a-useless-product-kind.
This is too accurate to corporate meetings with the "strategy" groups, I'm crying right now.
The sentient joke came so out of the blue I almost choked laughing. Brilliant delivery too. Hats off to you guys. xDD Love your stuff
I work in the I.T. field and this hits so close to home lol.
Rowan is scaringly great at playing a useless manager :)
1:50 I was wondering why there are "Puppies" behind them :D Also, I like the mute ending, seemed like something fresh :)
A good eye.
Maybe you skipped part of the video. He wrote it up there as ideas to get it the commercial to become viral
@@StormySky48 it actually is a continuity error. He wrote it after the sentient video scene so it shouldn't be visible on the board when they are talking about the sentient video.
@@steffanaarts-greven1352 timestamp of what you're talking about?
@@StormySky48 1:49 it is visible and watch the video from there to see him write it on a blank board in the next scene.
It's like asking a child: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
And getting the responds: "I wanna be rich!"
(Damn, why didn't I think of that! It's so simple!)
lock him in the closet
🎵 do do dodo dodo do O-oh-oh 🎶
Rich is easy. Try being happy. That is hard.
Money doesn't buy happiness, but it's a lot more comfortable to cry in a car than on a bike.... Damn don't have a car.......... or a bike 🤣🤣🤣
These guys remind me of some clients I've worked with in the past!
Its sad and funny that all these skits are so ooooh real it hits close to home
"Morning, nice day for fertilizing, ain't it, huh ha"
This reply "stinks"...
nice day for sh***ing
Honestly, I can think of a lot of ways to make shit go viral. Hmm, not involving the internet.Turns out shit is a good medium if you want to go viral. Nice job ya'all
Shit in your hand and throw it at the white house while screaming "I don't eat pancakes on sundays!"...
Viral..
I absolutely love this series
it's weird to see Adam being the only congruent person in the office, but I love it!
It literally reminds me of “The Expert” sketch about 8 red lines :)
Yup, was about to mention it :)
That was 7 red lines... with blue ink :D
When CEO thinks that he's good in low-level company activities.
Video of CEO pelted with POOP would go viral. Any volunteers?
@@ashemgold i'd deff. play the role of a CEO and get covered in shit for 1k u$s. see, i live in argentina. 1k u$s is worth quite lot 'cos our currency ain't worth 1 puppy, and tbh, we all already work harder than any CEO out there but get shitted on for it anyway.
@@tobiasripper4124 Balkan salutes you Argentina. We feel your pain. We are also hard workers for foreign companies who give us 3 dollars an hour and expect us to do genius work.
This makes me want to go ssj 3 on Rowan and Alan bc this was just crazy one sided between actual brain activity verses idiocy
Absolutely fecking brilliant! Just fecking genius!
Please make a follow up skit that shows the advert that Adam ends up making. 😂
this is that video
Plot twist this is that video
Reminds me of the "the expert" series .
All too very true .
Engineer speaking, used to deal with boards and high level manasuits...
I run a small video production in the US. And this is basically how client conversations are.
That "of course you do" line was the heart of this video
the problem is, I can't tell if they removed the sound at the end as a joke, or did they just screw up :D
Ok it wasn’t my audio, I have been scrolling for a bit out of hope that it wasn’t just me haha, thank you
Lol I’ve been wondering the same thing~ The silence still sort of worked :P
Same, lol.
well since there was a whiteboard we'll never know, but i would love to see the data showing new subscriber rates after this video, becuase i couldn't read any of that on my phone. i wondee how many "instructions unclear, hand stuck in toaster" there will be
there were the wind and a quiet marker sound in the end, so I think the latter one
I’ve been in meetings like this while I was in the army.
Yep, beware when "the Good Idea Fairy" rears its ugly head.
Let me guess: You were dishonorable dismissed after snapping and shooting the guys after that shit?
@@19Sephirot93 Like you little troll your comment makes no sense and is idiotic.
@@playtime.5526 Dude I was making a joke in the spirit of this video 🙄 No need to get personal, god damnit
@@19Sephirot93 I have no recollection or knowledge of the alleged incident that you are referring to. I may or may not have been employed by the government at that or any other time.
Great! When can we expect to see this video?
So this is what goes on behind the scenes with VLDL! 😲
This is actually how people think. Any bad interaction at any business people say:
"I'm going to upload a video about your business and post it all over the internet! Its going to go viral you better watch out!"
Thank you VLDL so much for keeping things fresh, and also continuing the other series we all love! You are great stroytellers :)
And somehow, ironically. If this entire video was a fertiliser ad it would've worked
As just about the only person who know anything about digital photography working in a real estate company, i too find this exchange quite familiar.
Damn never thought about it. This "viral" thing sounds like the perfect move to get more viewers.
“Click the Viral button” could make a cool shirt imo
All right, that was super creative! Good thinking! Very interesting!
Your channel saved me from my depression , love you guys always ❤❤ my whole family loves you ,never stop vldl , you are doing good work. P.S why hasn't Adam's hair gone viral 😜 🙃
This reminds me of "the expert" where they ask him to draw several perpendicular red lines
"Hey, I have this really great idea for our new project!"
"Great! What is it?"
"It's like facebook, but better. We need you to do ALL the things, but better! We need it done in six months. Our budget is a little short, but you like hot pockets, right? Oh, and also, it's not like you need to live outside the office either..."
I have legit seen a request for someone to make an operating system like windows. Requiring a serial key.. Hacker proof. Able to run windows programs but not windows.
@@kriss3d i guess you could take a Linux distro and do so. I don't see the point. I really don't. But you could.
As a software developer, this raises my anxiety levels.
@@diegorenaud loosely.... But like no.
@@ChaoticNeutralMatt I don't remember the name, but a distro existed back in the days with Wine integrated in a way you could install .exe files with a double click. It was not working very well, as you could imagine. People have weird ideas some time.
I feel like this video costed more than that "marketing campaign"
Love the new office space stuff.
Boss: Yeah if you could just do it how I said, also with the details I thought but didn't actually say.
Employee: That's not how this works, that's not how anything works.
Now I need to see a commercial about fertilizer, for 1000$ or less.
Petition to make this their next video?
2 girls 1 cup. That's the virtual video that got made from this 1k budget to make a viral video about shit
Me too!
Lol this one just hit so many buttons on my work lol!!! But now we NEED to see this viral video about fertilizers !!! I never thought I would say that but we NEED this video lol
Circle back? It's flattering that you're taking inspiration from well-known US figures!