Koi Alien Photo 47 appears on quite a few UFO websites, usually accompanied by text that appeared on the Art Bell website by April 1999:
“From the Producers of Strange Universe: Two young men in Michigan who are wedding videographers said they had recieved an anonymous package in the mail with an out-of-town postmark. Inside the package was a videotape of what appears to be the dead body of an alien being. The two said since they received the package, they feel as though they've been followed and that there was a mysterious fire at their office.”When I first saw Koi Alien Photo 47 a few years ago, I thought I recognised the alien from the movie "Men in Black" (1997).
However, after comparing Koi Alien Photo 47 with stills from "Men in Black" I decided that it was not the same alien.
Looking into the image further, I found out that the Koi Alien Photo 47 is in fact a still from a video tape apparently showing the body of an alien that had been shown on the "Strange Universe" TV show in the late 1990s. Further stills from that video tape are shown below. The segment of the "Strange Universe" show on the video of this "alien corpse" gave the names of two individuals (Jeff Thomas and Robert Yensch) that had purportedly received the video tape in the mail. Those two individuals were described in that show as running a video company called Rainstorm Productions in Monroe (Michigan, USA) shooting weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. The narrator of that show commented that "They are not big time TV or movie producers and they are not in the drama business".
A special effects expert and alien abductee, Steve Neill, was interviewed for the "Strange Universe" segment on Koi Alien Photo 47 and commented that the alien was "obviously sculpted" and "not even finished off". He suggested that the hoaxers would have to work a lot harder to fool investigators.
UFO researcher and alien abductee Whitley Strieber was also interviewed for the "Strange Universe" segment on Koi Alien Photo 47 and commented that the video appeared to be intentionally badly made and it looked like a "complete fraud".
In short, both experts said the alien was an obvious fake.
It is unfortunate that such an image continues to circulate on many UFO websites without any hint of the views that have been expressed by such individuals or their reasons for concluding that an image is a hoax.
It is also unfortunate that the names of the individuals that purportedly received the video tape (i.e. Jeff Thomas and Robert Yensch) are also not associated with Koi Alien Photo 47 on any UFO website that I have seen to date. If those names were given, then anyone could do some basic research into them. You may be interested to learn that:
(a) in that last few years Jeff Thomas has directed and produced a low budget horror film (in addition to acting in that film) and he told one interviewer that he "was raised on horror and sci-fi films and it was from that love of the genre that guided me into filmmaking";
(b) Robert Yensch acted in the horror film produced by Jeff Thomas (i.e. 13 seconds).
Does anyone think these facts are entirely a coincidence?
Sections below:
2. Stories and claims relating to this image
3. The real background to this image
4. Relevant online forum discussions
5. Further references and resources
1. The relevant image
Koi Alien Photo 47 has appeared on various websites in various sizes and resolutions:
2. Stories and claims relating to this image
{text}
3. The real background to this image
When I first sawKoi Alien Photo 47 a few years ago, I thought I recognised the alien from the movie "Men in Black".
However, after comparing Koi Alien Photo 47 with stills from "Men in Black" I decided that it was not the same alien.
Below are some stills of the alien that I originally from "Men in Black" had in mind (labelled "koi_ap_47_d", "koi_ap_47_f" and "koi_ap_47_g").
After comparing these photos in some detail, I dismissed my original thoughts regarding the "Men in Black" movie and looked into the image further.
I found out that Koi Alien Photo 47 is in fact a still from a video tape apparently showing the body of an alien that had been shown on the "Strange Universe" TV show in the late 1990s.
Further stills of the "alien corpse" from that video tape are shown below.
The segment of the "Strange Universe" show on the video of this "alien corpse" gave the names of two individuals (Jeff Thomas and Robert Yensch, shown on the right and left respectively in the photo below labelled "koi_ap_47_m") that had purportedly received the video tape in the mail. Those two individuals were described in that show as running a video company called Rainstorm Productions in Monroe (Michigan, USA), shooting weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. The narrator of that show commented that "They are not big time TV or movie producers and they are not in the drama business".
The video tape was alleged received in the envelope shown below (labelled "koi_ap_47_j"):
The envelope allegedly enclosed a type-written letter (see photo below labelled "koi_ap_47_k") in addition to the video tape of the "alien corpse".
A special effects expert and alien abductee, Steve Neill, was interviewed for the "Strange Universe" segment on Koi Alien Photo 47 and commented that the alien was "obviously sculpted" and "not even finished off". He suggested that the hoaxers would have to work a lot harder to fool investigators.
During 2010, I emailed Steve Neill about this "alien" and he kindly replied that it had been "so long I barely remember that alien but it's fake for sure". He also mentioned that the nonsense within ufology was "so vast and wide that it was difficult for one to be taken seriously and be separated from those in the so called 'thin foil hats'" (email to Isaac Koi dated 22 December 2010).
UFO researcher and alien abductee Whitley Strieber was also interviewed for the "Strange Universe" segment on Koi Alien Photo 47 and commented that the video appeared to be intentionally badly made and it looked like a "complete fraud".
In short, both experts said on television years ago that the alien was an obvious fake and gave reasons for their views.
It is unfortunate that such an image continues to circulate on many UFO websites without any hint of the views that have been expressed by such individuals or their reasons for concluding that an image is a hoax.
It is also unfortunate that the names of the individuals that purportedly received the video tape (i.e. Jeff Thomas and Robert Yensch) are also not associated with Koi Alien Photo 47 on any UFO website that I have seen to date. If those names were given, then anyone could do some basic research into them. You may be interested to learn that:
(a) in that last few years Jeff Thomas has directed and produced a low budget horror film (in addition to acting in that film) and he told one interviewer that he "was raised on horror and sci-fi films and it was from that love of the genre that guided me into filmmaking". Jeff Thomas' website includes the following:
"Jeff Thomas is an award winning filmmaker and writer. As the writer and director of the feature films FALLEN ANGELS and 13 SECONDS, Jeff has strived to work past conventional thriller and horror genre trappings by subverting these cliches at every turn."
"Swift and intelligent, Jeff’s films and fiction charter new territory in exploring the basic components of fear, suspense, and tragedy. Whereas most narratives are content with just jolts and jumps, Jeff’s work takes us there and beyond, exposing us to a deeper psychological and spiritual darkness."
"Jeff’s work has been lauded by many critics and colleagues. Called “Creepy!” by Fangoria magazine, “Riveting” by best selling author of THE RELIC Douglas Preston, “Disturbing” by United Press International, and “Intelligent” by Bob Clark, director of the classics A Christmas Story and Black Christmas. His latest effort has been praised as a “startling cross between The X-Files and The Exorcist” by IGN."
"Jeff’s unique work also appeals to multiple demographics. By deftly combining elements of several genres, his work is always thrilling, poignant and able to entertain diverse groups of fans. FALLEN ANGELS succeeded in building upon its horror base to attract a much wider audience of CSI and mystery drama fans. Likewise, 13 SECONDS with its blend of action, intelligence, and creativity was able to cross several lines in establishing an eclectic following. It is this style that allows Jeff’s work to long linger in our minds and psyches."
(b) Robert Yensch acted in the horror film produced by Jeff Thomas (i.e. 13 seconds).
Does anyone think these facts are entirely a coincidence?
4. Relevant online forum discussions
5. Further references and resources
{text}
6. Other Material