NT News wins mannequin challenge

IF you only watch one mannequin challenge video, make it this one. It’s got everything from crocs, aliens, and a flying object that can’t be unseen. VIDEO

CROCS, aliens and even “flying dildos”.

The Northern Territory News, owned by News Corp Australia, is known for the characters (and objects) that frequent its irreverent, wacky front pages.

It’s something the newspaper’s staff, from the top down, have always taken in their stride.

That’s why editorial employees “couldn’t contain themselves” when NT News picture editor Michael Franchi and marketing manager Amy Hegedus pitched their idea for the team to act out scenes from the newspaper’s infamous front pages in a mannequin challenge video.

The mannequin challenge is the latest viral phenomenon sweeping the internet that consists of a group of people who suddenly freeze mid-task.

The challenge has seen police departments, dance groups and sports stars worldwide suddenly put themselves on pause as someone films them in position.

But the NT News today gave them all a run for their money with the release of its own mannequin challenge video, filmed in the their newsroom, in Darwin.

The NT News take on the mannequin challenge.

Mr Franchi, who filmed the newspaper’s mannequin challenge, said staff wanted to “put a spin” on the craze to celebrate everything — “crocs, aliens, dildos included — that makes our paper the greatest in the world”.

The video shows staff members - mostly journalists and photographers - dressed as everything from Batman to Elvis. Some journalists can be seen clinking glasses of beer and wine, as one man sits on a toilet at his desk and another wrangles a blow-up crocodile. Just a few feet away, the newspaper’s defence reporter holds a real one. One of the final scenes shows a reporter fending off a “flying dildo”.

“(For inspiration) we had to think back to some of our previous front pages that included crocs, aliens and flying dildos and incorporated those into the video,” Mr Franchi told news.com.au.

“The story of the flying dildo dates back a couple of years to a front page about a bucks party where a best man was having a bit of fun and got injured by one.

“Our young reporter Tamara Howie volunteered to take on the role of attacking the dildo for the video.”

Even NT News Editor Matt Williams makes an appearance — in a headlock by an alien.

“Everyone was in place and performed extremely well,” Mr Franchi told news.com.au.

“We did a practice run to get the framing and see where we were going to go and that was it ... we filmed it in one take.

“It’s what makes the NT News unique — our ability to have fun with some of our most outrageous news stories that only happen in the Territory.”

‘Best man left bleeding after being hit in head by flying dildo’, a front-page story by the NT News.

’Yes, its real’. Many couldn’t believe a croc the size of Brutus was real. The NT News put all the rumours to rest with this front page.

‘Catnappers shaved my pussy’, one of the more controversial front pages from the NT News.

‘UFO cut off my car’, one of the NT News’ memorable front pages.

Mr Franchi said the video was released on the newspaper’s Facebook page to mark 300,000 likes.

Digital Editor Julian Ricci said the NT News’ following on social media was astonishing for the newspaper’s size.

“We’re pretty amazed and pretty proud of the growth we’ve achieved, despite only joining Facebook in 2010,” Mr Ricci said.

“And we like to keep our readers entertained and informed through our Twitter account too so to see that growth is awesome as well.

“Although I should tell our followers that by continuing to support us, you’re just encouraging us, you know? So don’t say we didn’t warn you!”

The NT News is a subsidiary of News Corp Australia, which owns News.com.au.