Chad, Matt & Rob

{{Short description|American comedy troupe}} {{Infobox comedian | name = Chad, Matt & Rob | image = | caption = | imagesize = | active = 2007–2011 | genre = {{Flatlist| * Comedy * [[Horror film|horror]] * adventure * [[sci-fi]]}} | website = [http://hiradiosilence.com/chadmattandrob Official Website] | module = {{Infobox youtuber | child = yes | youtube_handle = chadmattandrob | youtube_display_name = | youtube_years_active = 2007–present | youtube_genre = Entertainment | youtube_subscribers = 129 thousand | youtube_views = 69.3 million | stats_update = October 14, 2024{{nu|date=October 2025}} }} |past_members=[[Matt Bettinelli-Olpin]] [[Tyler Gillett]] Jonah Goldstein [[Justin Martinez]] Rob Polonsky [[Chad Villella]]}}

'''Chad, Matt & Rob''' was an American group of [[Film director|filmmaker]]s based in [[Los Angeles]] known for their [[Short subject|short films]] that blend comedy with [[Horror fiction|horror]], [[adventure]], and [[sci-fi]].

Their most notable works include a series of ''Prank Gone Wrong'' [[found footage (pseudo-documentary)|found footage]] videos and a collection of ''[[Choose Your Own Adventure]]''-style films known as ''Chad, Matt & Rob's Interactive Adventures''.<ref name="Barone">{{Cite web |title=Scare-A-Thon: The Stories Behind "V/H/S," The Best, Most Unique Horror Anthology Movie In Years |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/10/vhs-horror-movie-anthology-interviews-backstory/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Complex |language=en}}</ref>

==History== Chad, Matt & Rob formed in early 2007 by [[Chad Villella]], [[Matt Bettinelli-Olpin]] and Rob Polonsky.<ref name="Attack of the Show"/>

Their breakout short, the [[found footage (pseudo-documentary)|found footage]] style ''Alien Roommate Prank Goes Bad'', was released in February 2008 and has been viewed over 30,000,000 times.<ref name="mashable.com">{{Cite web |last=Wasserman |first=Todd |date=2011-01-26 |title=YouTube Stars Chad, Matt & Rob Return with "Treasure Hunt" [VIDEO] |url=https://mashable.com/archive/chad-matt-rob-return |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Mashable |language=en}}</ref>

In November 2008, the group began making a series of ''[[Choose Your Own Adventure]]''-style films (they coined the term "Interactive Adventures" to describe the series).<ref name="thebitterscriptreader.blogspot.com">''The Bitter Script Reader'' (February 1, 2011) {{cite web|url=https://thebitterscriptreader.blogspot.com/2011/02/chad-matt-rob-interview-part-ii.html/ |title=The Bitter Script Reader: The Chad, Matt & Rob Interview: Part II - the Interactive Adventures |accessdate=2011-03-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222090205/http://thebitterscriptreader.blogspot.com/2011/02/chad-matt-rob-interview-part-ii.html |archivedate=2013-12-22 }}</ref> ''The Time Machine: An Interactive Adventure'' was the first interactive movie on [[YouTube]] and featured in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' and on [[G4 (American TV network)|G4]]'s "[[Attack of the Show!|Attack of the Show]]."<ref name="Attack of the Show">G4 ''Attack of the Show'' http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/videos/35848/Chad-Matt-and-Rob.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812141129/http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/videos/35848/Chad-Matt-and-Rob.html |date=2017-08-12 }}</ref><ref name="Lawton">{{Cite news |last=Lawton |first=Christopher |title=Video Sites Entice Users To Stay and Play |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123370933597245913 |access-date=2023-01-25 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=5 February 2009 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Justin Martinez and [[Tyler Gillett]] joined in 2010 and, in 2011, Polonsky left the group. The remaining four changed their collective name to [[Radio Silence Productions|Radio Silence]].<ref name="Miska">{{Cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=2011-12-02 |title=[OMFG] Our Film 'V/H/S' Will Premiere at Sundance 2012, First Look! |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/27429/omfg-our-film-vhs-will-premiere-at-sundance-2012-first-look/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Members == * '''Chad Villella''' is originally from [[Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania]], and a graduate of [[Mercyhurst College]] and an original member of the Center for Information Research Analysis And Training ([[CIRAT]]). * '''[[Matt Bettinelli-Olpin]]''' is originally from [[Oakland, California]], and founding member of the punk band [[Link 80]]. He is a graduate of the [[University of California, Santa Cruz]]. * '''Rob Polonsky''' is originally from [[Buffalo Grove, Illinois]], and a graduate of [[Columbia College Chicago]]. * '''[[Tyler Gillett]]''' is originally from [[Flagstaff, Arizona]], and a graduate of the [[University of Arizona]]. * '''Justin Martinez''' is originally from [[Tucson, Arizona]], and a graduate of the [[University of Arizona]]. * '''Jonah Goldstein''' is originally from New Jersey and currently runs the "Chattin' w/ Joni" blog on [[the Lonely Island]] website.<ref name="Attack of the Show"/>

Recurring cast members include Tyler Tuione, Chester Tam and [[Kal Penn]].<ref name="The Bitter Script Reader 2011">''The Bitter Script Reader'' (January 31, 2011) {{cite web|url=https://thebitterscriptreader.blogspot.com/2011/01/chad-matt-rob-interview-part-i-breaking.html/ |title=The Bitter Script Reader: The Chad, Matt & Rob Interview: Part I - Breaking out on the web |accessdate=2011-03-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218162531/http://thebitterscriptreader.blogspot.com/2011/01/chad-matt-rob-interview-part-i-breaking.html |archivedate=2013-12-18 }}</ref>

==''Pranks Gone Wrong''== The group are known for their popular [[found footage (pseudo-documentary)|found footage]]-style "Pranks Gone Wrong" series.

* '''Chad Hates Aliens''' (also known as ''Roommate Alien Prank Goes Bad'') was released February 25, 2008 and was the group's first [[viral video]]. As of September 2021, it has over 34 million views, was featured on [[Attack of the Show]]<ref>G4 ''Attack of the Show'' ("Around the Net") http://revver.com/video/919676/cmr-on-g4-tvs-attack-of-the-show/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108015026/http://revver.com/video/919676/cmr-on-g4-tvs-attack-of-the-show/ |date=2019-11-08 }}</ref> and was accepted into the 2008 [[Comic-Con International]] Film Festival. * '''Let's Go Meet Some Animals! (Prank Fails Horribly)''' was released September 9, 2008. The group goes to the [[Los Angeles Zoo]] and discovers a monster. * '''Mountain Devil Prank Fails Horribly''' was released April 22, 2010. The short revolves around the Lone Pine Mountain Devil, a creature the group created for the film.

==''Interactive Adventures''==

''Chad, Matt & Rob'' coined the term "Interactive Adventure"<ref name="thebitterscriptreader.blogspot.com"/> to describe their 2008 film ''The Time Machine: An Interactive Adventure;'' the project was the first interactive movie of its kind.<ref name="mashable.com"/> As of March 2012, ''Chad, Matt & Rob'' have produced five Interactive Adventures.

* '''The Time Machine''' (November 11, 2008) is the first narrative ''[[Choose Your Own Adventure]]''-style film on the Internet.<ref name=TubFilter>''TubeFilter News'' Crowley, Alex (2009-04-27), "Chad, Matt, and Rob's 'Time Machine'." {{cite web |url=http://news.tubefilter.tv/2008/12/04/chad-matt-and-robs-time-machine/ |title=Chad, Matt, and Rob's 'Time Machine' |accessdate=2009-12-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113110804/http://news.tubefilter.tv/2008/12/04/chad-matt-and-robs-time-machine/ |archivedate=2010-01-13 }}</ref> When deciding on a title for the finished film, they coined the term "Interactive Adventure."<ref name="thebitterscriptreader.blogspot.com"/> The series contains nine segments and follows the boys as they travel through the centuries in a time machine disguised as a trash can, all while running from government agents seeking to get the time machine back. At the end of each segment, the viewer is able to choose which video to go to next using YouTube's "annotation" feature. The series received over 1,000,000 views during its first week, was featured on ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s ''The Must List'' <ref>''Entertainment Weekly'' (November 23, 2008) [https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20209564_20209587_20241716,00.html "The Must List"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004133854/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20209564_20209587_20241716,00.html |date=2012-10-04 }}.</ref> and won the Best Multimedia Fiction Award at the 2009 [[Cinéma Tout Ecran]] International Film Festival in [[Geneva]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cinema-tous-ecrans.ch/2009/index.php?lan=en&rubID=140 |title=Cinéma tous écrans -Awards 2009, Festival international de cinéma et de télévision à Genève |access-date=2009-12-19 |archive-date=2011-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706223233/http://www.cinema-tous-ecrans.ch/2009/index.php?lan=en&rubID=140 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * '''The Murder''' (March 14, 2009) is the group's second Interactive Adventure. In ''The Murder,'' Chad, Matt & Rob witness a murder while they are filming a short and must decide how to proceed. The narrative expands on the single-story thread used for "The Time Machine" and allows the viewer to follow three unique story-lines. In all, the project contains over 30 separate segments.<ref name=Crowley>Crowley, Alex (2009-04-27), "Lead Heroes out of Harm's Way in Interactive 'Murder'." ''TubeFilter News'' {{cite web |url=http://news.tubefilter.tv/2009/04/27/lead-heroes-out-of-harms-way-in-interactive-murder/ |title=Lead Heroes out of Harm's Way in Interactive 'Murder' |accessdate=2009-12-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113110849/http://news.tubefilter.tv/2009/04/27/lead-heroes-out-of-harms-way-in-interactive-murder/ |archivedate=2010-01-13 }}</ref> * '''The Birthday Party''' (January 15, 2010) is the group's third Interactive Adventure. In ''The Birthday Party,'' the trio must run from a gang, battle zombies in a haunted hospital and save a kidnapped heiress from an urban militia, all while attempting to reach their boss's birthday party alive. The group shot the project around Los Angeles in four days, including the [[Linda Vista Community Hospital]].<ref>''The Bitter Script Reader'' (February 2, 2011) https://thebitterscriptreader.blogspot.com/2011/02/chad-matt-rob-interview-part-iii.html.html/{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * '''The Teleporter''' (November 22, 2010) is the group's fourth Interactive Adventure. The project, in which Chad, Matt & Rob are on the run from an angry UFO that wants its teleporter back, represents the group's first foray into [[branded content]]; it was made in conjunction with [[Unilever]] to promote a line of [[Axe (grooming product)|AXE]] shampoo products.<ref name="news.tubefilter.tv">''TubeFilter'' Hustvedt, Marc (2010-12-1), "'Chad, Matt & Rob' Score AXE For Latest YouTube Interactive." {{cite web |url=http://news.tubefilter.tv/2008/12/04/chad-matt-and-robs-time-machine/ |title=Chad, Matt, and Rob's 'Time Machine' |accessdate=2009-12-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113110804/http://news.tubefilter.tv/2008/12/04/chad-matt-and-robs-time-machine/ |archivedate=2010-01-13 }}</ref> According to a [[Tubefilter]] interview, the group was wary of selling out their audience; "We've always been really wary on doing any sort of brand integration," said [Rob] Polonsky. "Viewers are always super sensitive when there's any sort of product placement involved. The last thing we wanted to do was to insult our audience. So we wrote something that we would want to make." As of March 2011, the film's 10 segments have a combined 1,000,000 views.<ref name="news.tubefilter.tv"/> * '''The Treasure Hunt''' (January 26, 2011) is the group's fifth Interactive Adventure. The story follows the trio as they battle a menacing treasure hunter searching for a long lost treasure and co-stars [[Alfonso Arau]] (known for ''[[The Wild Bunch]]'', ''[[Three Amigos]]'' and as the director of ''[[Like Water for Chocolate (film)|Like Water for Chocolate]]''). A rough cut of the film screened at the 2010 Anaheim International Film Festival<ref>''TubeFilter'' Hustvedt, Marc (2010-12-1), "'The Treasure Hunt' – Why We Can't Get Enough YouTube Interactives." {{cite web |url=http://news.tubefilter.tv/2011/01/31/the-treasure-hunt-why-we-cant-get-enough-youtube-interactives/ |title='The Treasure Hunt' - Why We Can't Get Enough YouTube Interactives |accessdate=2011-03-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224003044/http://news.tubefilter.tv/2011/01/31/the-treasure-hunt-why-we-cant-get-enough-youtube-interactives/ |archivedate=2011-02-24 }}</ref> and the finish product premiered at the Prescott Film Festival in February 2011, where audience applause was used to choose which path the narrative would take.<ref>The Daily Courier (2-14-2011), "Making a big splash on the web: Filmmakers bring online shorts to middle school." {{cite web|url=http://www.prescottaz.com/main.asp?SectionID%3D1%26SubsectionID%3D1%26ArticleID%3D90674 |title=Making a big splash on the web: Filmmakers bring online shorts to middle school - the Prescott Daily Courier - Prescott, Arizona |accessdate=2011-03-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715112328/http://www.prescottaz.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubsectionID=1&ArticleID=90674 |archivedate=2011-07-15 }}</ref>

==Filmography== * '''''READY OR NOT Redband Trailer!''''' - released August 19, 2019. * '''''SOUTHBOUND Trailer!''''' - released February 10, 2016. * '''''A Big Thank You, A Quick Update & The V/H/S Trailer!''''' - released August 2, 2012. * '''''The Treasure Hunt: An Interactive Adventure''''' - released January 26, 2011. (9 segments & 2 Easter eggs) * '''''The Teleporter: An Interactive Adventure''''' - released November 22, 2010. (10 segments total) * '''''The Teleporter: An Interactive Adventure (Trailer)''''' - released November 12, 2010. * '''''The Treasure Hunt: An Interactive Adventure (Trailer)''''' - released August 5, 2010. * '''''Mountain Devil Prank Fails Horribly''''' - released April 22, 2010. * '''''How To Make An Interactive Adventure''''' - released February 17, 2010. * '''''The Birthday Party: An Interactive Adventure''''' - released January 15, 2010. (10 segments & 3 Easter eggs) * '''''The Birthday Party: Trailer #2''''' - released December 11, 2009. * '''''The Birthday Party: Trailer #1''''' - released December 9, 2009. * '''''Magic!''''' - released August 20, 2009. * '''''The Murder: An Interactive Adventure''''' - released March 14, 2009. (26 segments total) * '''''The Time Machine: An Interactive Adventure''''' - released November 11, 2008. (9 segments total) * '''''Let's Go Meet Some Animals!''''' - released September 9, 2008. * '''''The Alibuys: The Cheater''''' - released August 9, 2008. * '''''The Alibuys: The Kidnapping''''' - released August 1, 2008. * '''''The Alibuys: Drug Dealers Have Parents, Too''''' - released August 1, 2008. * '''''"We're The Alibuys!" ([[public-access television]] [[cable TV]] Commercial)''''' - released July 9, 2008. * '''''The Alibuys: Trailer #1''''' - released May 19, 2008. * '''''No Spoofs For Old Men''''' - released May 9, 2008. * '''''Happy Birthday''''' - released April 15, 2008. * '''''Chad Hates Aliens''''' (also known as ''Roommate Alien Prank Goes Bad'') - released February 25, 2008. * '''''The Danger Zone''''' - released February 18, 2008. * '''''Prison Break''''' - released January 10, 2008. * '''''Happy Halloween''''' - released October 23, 2007. * '''''Cops & Robbers!''''' - released September 22, 2007. * '''''Smoke Break''''' - released September 3, 2007. * '''''Television Man''''' - released September 3, 2007. * '''''I Believe I Can Fly''''' - released July 21, 2007. * '''''Good Roommates''''' - released July 16, 2007. * '''''A Terrible Place''''' - released July 2007 (subsequently removed).<ref name="The Bitter Script Reader 2011"/>

== References ==

==External links== * [http://www.hiradiosilence.com/chadmattandrob Official Chad, Matt & Rob Website] * [https://www.youtube.com/chadmattandrob Chad, Matt & Rob's YouTube Page] * [http://www.facebook.com/chadmattandrob Chad, Matt & Rob's Facebook page]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chad, Matt and Rob}} [[Category:American comedy troupes]] [[Category:YouTube channels launched in 2007]] [[Category:Entertainment-related YouTube channels]] [[Category:American YouTubers]] [[Category:2010s interactive fiction]]