First, I'll flat out say I have never seen a BF - nor do I know anyone who has - so I'm not posing this as a "well a, ahem, 'friend' of mine has a problem". I'm posing the hypothetical because I'm curious what the posters here would do, and I've never seen the details of this discussed directly...
Let's suppose that someone had a sighting, and got many clear photos and a good length of video of a bigfoot in action. Let's assume that this person saw a bigfoot in the woods (or wherever), got this footage - then a large tree fell on the BF, killing / stunning it and allowing for a body part / entire body to be taken.
The details of this made-up story above are not relevant - my point here is that the observer has ample evidence, including photos, video, body parts / entire body / living BF / etc. (anything else I may have forgotten). Whatever the toughest threshold is for proof, the observer has it in hand in their possession, and has been able to keep a lid on it.
I would think that many / most people in this situation would be interested in publicizing this - and perhaps in a way that maximizes their potential for $ earnings at the same time. But would also be in a quandary in terms of perhaps not wanting the huge amount of personal publicity that would accompany this.
What would be the best way to publicize this while protecting one's privacy? What would be the best way to cash in due to this finding? Are the two mutually exclusive?
I'm sure many have wondered what steps they would follow if they (for example) accidently hit and killed one while driving on the road late at night. This kind of gets to that...
Starting off with the photo or video... I'd follow damndirtyape's advice:
And after following the instructions posted on the AIBR website from that brilliant scientist, Kathy Strain:
If you could remain anonymous or not... and still make money from it... no... not these days...
The poor schmuck that bought a bigfoot costume frozen in a block of ice (if that part of the story is even true) and tried to remain anonymous had people calling his home phone within a matter of days...
Change your name... shave your head... and enter a monastery...
Hope that helps...
QUOTE(damndirtyape @ May 6 2005, 10:44 AM) 
What to do if you find yourself in a situation where you film or video tape a Sasquatch:
(My operating precips)
1. Mark accurately the spot where you are taking the pictures from, including the height above the ground and angle you are shooting at. Note the shutter speed, iris setting and focal length of the lens. Place this information on paper and on a detailed map of the immediate area.
2. Record the time, date and weather conditions.
3. Try to get to the exact spot ASAP where the Sasquatch was seen and record/document track ways, distances traveled, distances to the camera position and the heights of objects seen in the video at relatively the same distance as the Sasquatch. Photo and cast tracks if any are present or find someone who can do it for you.
4. Employ someone to interview you on tape ASAP as to what you saw and did about it.
5. Make a digital lossless copy of the original tape or internegatives of films. Place the originals in a saftey deposit box at your bank of choice.
6. Contact a local newspaper to run a story of the event including a still image from the film or video. In the US as soon as you make an image you have copyright so there is no push to work that issue. People will tell you to sign up for copyright but what you are really doing is applying for a legal firm (with payment of course) to run legalities for you. Don't do this until you have done the stuff above .
7. Never say anything you think you might regret at a later date about the event or the content of your documentation.
8. All measurements should be double checked; second person, two measuring devices, at a later date when you're more clear headed.
9. Insure the film or video for loss or damage.
10. Have someone run interference for you concerning phone calls. Don't let yourself become star struck with household names wanting to talk with you personally.
11. Always remember that you are the one in control and that no one can attack that position unless you put them in the position to do so.
(My operating precips)
1. Mark accurately the spot where you are taking the pictures from, including the height above the ground and angle you are shooting at. Note the shutter speed, iris setting and focal length of the lens. Place this information on paper and on a detailed map of the immediate area.
2. Record the time, date and weather conditions.
3. Try to get to the exact spot ASAP where the Sasquatch was seen and record/document track ways, distances traveled, distances to the camera position and the heights of objects seen in the video at relatively the same distance as the Sasquatch. Photo and cast tracks if any are present or find someone who can do it for you.
4. Employ someone to interview you on tape ASAP as to what you saw and did about it.
5. Make a digital lossless copy of the original tape or internegatives of films. Place the originals in a saftey deposit box at your bank of choice.
6. Contact a local newspaper to run a story of the event including a still image from the film or video. In the US as soon as you make an image you have copyright so there is no push to work that issue. People will tell you to sign up for copyright but what you are really doing is applying for a legal firm (with payment of course) to run legalities for you. Don't do this until you have done the stuff above .
7. Never say anything you think you might regret at a later date about the event or the content of your documentation.
8. All measurements should be double checked; second person, two measuring devices, at a later date when you're more clear headed.
9. Insure the film or video for loss or damage.
10. Have someone run interference for you concerning phone calls. Don't let yourself become star struck with household names wanting to talk with you personally.
11. Always remember that you are the one in control and that no one can attack that position unless you put them in the position to do so.
And after following the instructions posted on the AIBR website from that brilliant scientist, Kathy Strain:
QUOTE
Tips for Collecting Physical Evidence
Kathy Strain
Note: Always keep careful track of the chain of custody of your sample (who have handled it and when).
Blood and Tissue: Since blood and tissue are very sensitive to contamination, always use sterile techniques when collecting samples. This includes latex or nitrile gloves, a hair net, and a mask (if possible). If you do not have gloves, use a ziploc to cover your hand. Avoid alcohol as preservative (both DNA and RNA are degraded by alcohols).
If the blood is wet, use a sterile cotton swab or gauze to "mop up" the blood. Hold the sample until it air dries and place into a paper bag. If the blood is dry and in a small quantity of blood, use sterile water to lightly wet and collect as above. Large quantities of dry blood can be collected by using a sterile razor blade and scraping a much as possible into a sterile envelope.
Place sample into a cool dry area (such as a freezer) as soon as possible. Collect tissue the same way.
When mailing sample for DNA testing, if possible, send the sample frozen in a small insulated cardboard box. Dry and cold is always best for preservation.
Hair: Hair is best collected using sterile tweezers and placing the sample into a plain paper envelope. If tissue or blood is noted at the end of the hair, the sample should be frozen immediately. This is essential and helps keep the bacterial count to a minimum.
Food Remains: There have been several occasions when people found half eaten apples or potatoes with conspicuous tooth marks. For all organic evidence, immediately place into a paper bag and freeze. When being shipped for scientific analysis, place it on dry ice.
Finger, palm or lip prints: Wearing gloves and using wide, clear tape (big enough to cover the print), carefully start at one edge of the print and lay the tape across the entire print, going slow enough to ensure no bubbles or wrinkles. Once the tape is applied, take your finger and rub it across the tape to ensure it is touching every part of the print. Carefully peel the tape up and immediately apply it to a piece of paper or cardstock. Prints on CDs can be placed in an envelope and mailed directly.
On the envelope/container please include the following information:
Collection Person: name, phone, email
Date:
Location: landmark, county, state
Habitat characteristics: terrain, vegetation, microclimate
Circumstances & Observations:
Custody Chain: persons involved, witnesses, handling techniques, and potential contamination
Contact the AIBR immediately for further instructions on where the sample should be shipped.
Kathy Strain
Note: Always keep careful track of the chain of custody of your sample (who have handled it and when).
Blood and Tissue: Since blood and tissue are very sensitive to contamination, always use sterile techniques when collecting samples. This includes latex or nitrile gloves, a hair net, and a mask (if possible). If you do not have gloves, use a ziploc to cover your hand. Avoid alcohol as preservative (both DNA and RNA are degraded by alcohols).
If the blood is wet, use a sterile cotton swab or gauze to "mop up" the blood. Hold the sample until it air dries and place into a paper bag. If the blood is dry and in a small quantity of blood, use sterile water to lightly wet and collect as above. Large quantities of dry blood can be collected by using a sterile razor blade and scraping a much as possible into a sterile envelope.
Place sample into a cool dry area (such as a freezer) as soon as possible. Collect tissue the same way.
When mailing sample for DNA testing, if possible, send the sample frozen in a small insulated cardboard box. Dry and cold is always best for preservation.
Hair: Hair is best collected using sterile tweezers and placing the sample into a plain paper envelope. If tissue or blood is noted at the end of the hair, the sample should be frozen immediately. This is essential and helps keep the bacterial count to a minimum.
Food Remains: There have been several occasions when people found half eaten apples or potatoes with conspicuous tooth marks. For all organic evidence, immediately place into a paper bag and freeze. When being shipped for scientific analysis, place it on dry ice.
Finger, palm or lip prints: Wearing gloves and using wide, clear tape (big enough to cover the print), carefully start at one edge of the print and lay the tape across the entire print, going slow enough to ensure no bubbles or wrinkles. Once the tape is applied, take your finger and rub it across the tape to ensure it is touching every part of the print. Carefully peel the tape up and immediately apply it to a piece of paper or cardstock. Prints on CDs can be placed in an envelope and mailed directly.
On the envelope/container please include the following information:
Collection Person: name, phone, email
Date:
Location: landmark, county, state
Habitat characteristics: terrain, vegetation, microclimate
Circumstances & Observations:
Custody Chain: persons involved, witnesses, handling techniques, and potential contamination
Contact the AIBR immediately for further instructions on where the sample should be shipped.
If you could remain anonymous or not... and still make money from it... no... not these days...
The poor schmuck that bought a bigfoot costume frozen in a block of ice (if that part of the story is even true) and tried to remain anonymous had people calling his home phone within a matter of days...
Change your name... shave your head... and enter a monastery...
Hope that helps...
Fascinating question. I couldn't possibly hazard a guess as to what you should do (the above post seems more than adequate).
What would be rumbling around in my mind, were I in possession of staggeringly conclusive evidence, is just how much I would want to me known--worldwide, and for the rest of my life--as "the guy who proved BF was real." Frankly, I would NOT!
I'd do most of the above suggested, I suppose, and then contact a good law firm to hammer out a contract with a party to whom I would entrust the documentation in order to keep my identity a legally-binding secret (and with severe financial penalties if violated).
Maybe that's a pipe dream on my part, but frankly, if I were not to become financially independent for the rest of my life from this evidence, I really wouldn't want to end up 78 years old with people still staring at me, going, "Look! It's the guy who discovered Bigfoot!"
Rather tedious, I would imagine.
What would be rumbling around in my mind, were I in possession of staggeringly conclusive evidence, is just how much I would want to me known--worldwide, and for the rest of my life--as "the guy who proved BF was real." Frankly, I would NOT!
I'd do most of the above suggested, I suppose, and then contact a good law firm to hammer out a contract with a party to whom I would entrust the documentation in order to keep my identity a legally-binding secret (and with severe financial penalties if violated).
Maybe that's a pipe dream on my part, but frankly, if I were not to become financially independent for the rest of my life from this evidence, I really wouldn't want to end up 78 years old with people still staring at me, going, "Look! It's the guy who discovered Bigfoot!"
Rather tedious, I would imagine.
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