Winning an Academy Award can be a life changing experience — even if it is a fake one.
Prankster Mark David Christenson and the crew at New Media Rockstars took to the streets of Hollywood armed with a fake Oscar during the telecast in effort to see if people would treat him differently if they thought he had won the prestigious award. His hypothesis proved to be correct, because he was stopped by passers-by who wanted their picture taken with the “winner.”
But that was only the beginning.
Christenson used his fake Oscar to walk right past security at the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards were being held. After getting a few free drinks at the bar, he hit the streets again. At a few more bars, Christensen alternately told people that he had won the award for “Whiplash” and “The Imitation Game.”
His greatest achievement, however, was yet to come. Christensen and team approached a valet station and told the attendant he had lost his ticket. The attendant was hesitant, until a woman said, “He has an Oscar. Let him have it.”
Within minutes, a white BMW pulled up next to Christensen. He got in and drove away, only to return the car to the valet shortly thereafter.
Watch the video here.