Unless I’m mistaken, the original article has his name as Leo Burnett. Using a dummy, however, means you’ve got to have someone there reloading his one hand, and repositioning the arm. It also wouldn’t have quite the effect on people as does having a real person do it.
Leo Burnett is not the name of the actor, it’s the name of the ad agency which organized the stunt.
How can a dummy hand out flyers?
I don’t speak the language, I don’t know what that page says. However, Leo Burnett seems to be the name of the ad agency responsible, not the person. (the real Leo died in 1971)
[noparse]http://www.leoburnett.com [/noparse]
( **Beware **- loud music will play when you open page )
I think its definitely a person… His facial features change between the shot… And who’s going to keep restocking his hand with pamphlets?
I think that the fellow shows great fortitude, continuing to hand out flyers even after he melted.
That would explain the melting.
Wait… what?
I think the lighter-coloured flagstones next to him are part of a false top step - the true edge of the top step beginning where the light stones end.
Tim Conway would be proud.
I don’t think so. Look at the concrete riser, the yellow part and the part below that. I’d expect that to be unnatural looking, and too “clean”. As it is, it fits in too well. Also, what does that get you? About two inches of height for him to squeeze his legs into?
I agree with Mesquite-oh that they could have easily pulled out a couple of the existing pavers and dug a hole. This would be trivial to do.
The clearance underneath would be small if the top surface is indeed concrete slabs - but it would be possible to construct something like that using composite materials and leave just about enough room below for a slim person’s legs to fit beneath.
Speculation based on photographs is going to be inconclusive in this era of Photoshop. We’re an international message board, don’t we have anyone from Argentina who can wander by at night and get us a photo of the site? If that’s a real person, I guarantee you he’s not there 24/7.
This seems a stretch. And it gets you, what, four inches? I’m not particularly muscular, and my thighs are at least six inches high. The step just isn’t high enough.
Another problem with this being a false step is that in the bottom picture, there is a third step visible. That step is equally spaced relative to the top two. If the “true” last step isn’t where it is in the picture, it’s spaced incorrectly relative to the two preceding it.
Meh. We can just as discuss how this could really be done. (In excruciating detail… :))
You may be right - although the steps may not originally have been of even width across all the treads.
There probably wouldn’t be enough clearance under there with a false top, however, that the top steps contrast noticeably with the rest of the path still seems suspect to me.
We can speculate all we want, but as an practicing Architect I can say with virtual certainty that this is NOT a concrete slab that he is sitting in. It is either pavers on pedestal pavers as I initially indicated OR pavers set in sand. Either allow someone to sit underneath the pavers–although the sand requires some digging.
I have never seen pavers used in anything but pedestals or sand. I would stake my architectural reputation that this is not a concrete slab—the cost to create the various finishes indicated in that photo would be astronomical. You have alternating 18" square slabs of smooth concrete alternated with 18" square slabs of exposed aggregate. Very expensive and frankly almost impossible to pull off.
That coupled with the image of the yellow concrete band (which typically indicates a curb) that holds the pavers in place would make me strongly suspect that the person in this photo is either sitting in the cavity under the pavers or sitting in sand. YMMV, but I believe I am correct.
Well, after looking through all 392 pictures I could find of Plaza Francia on Flickr, I found exactly one that seems to be of this exact location. I have no comment, really, on the matter of how it was done, but here it is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42695379@N00/118783586/sizes/o/
That looks like the location, alright. Look at the top step, just beyond the yellow painted edge. It looks much different than the picture in the OP; much darker, and the cup looks looks like it is sitting a little lower in the dark area. I think it is a grate, like a drain, to prevent rainwater from flowing down the stairs. I think they removed the grate, and replaced it with the very light colored pavers in the OP picture, leaving a hole at one end for the actor, with his legs stretched out in the drain.
Nice work! I think you’re right.
This photo also addresses the issue of the disappearing hedge - it’s on the other wall.
I certainly never said it was a concrete slab. In fact, look at my post #30.
On preview: Excellent waterj2!
ETA: I think Fear Itself is exactly right.
yea sorry about that 
I tried to edit it but didn’t get back in time
I think Fear Itself is right too!