Behind the ‘Byte’: Who is Chip Torres?
Chip Torres lures customers into his electronic gadgets stall with his dance moves while munching on egg sandwiches. (Photo: Facebook.com/ChipTorres)
By ESTEBAN ILLADES
Channel: Media, Entertainment
If your memory serves you right on this Martin Luther King Jr Day, a weird catchy viral video titled “Te voy a dar un byte” came to our attention last week. In it, a man with frosted hair who sported a white tank-top appeared dancing and trying to lure shoppers into his small stall at Plaza de la Tecnología in Mexico City, sort of like a Mexican “Flea Market Montgomery.”
Intrigued, we decided to find out more about Chip Torres, the man behind this hilarious video. One of his acquaintances, Marcos Bucay, told us his story: “He’s a salesman at Plaza de la Tecnología. His two hobbies are selling gadgets and hooking up with girls. He figured that in times of crisis, making a viral video would be a good way to boost sales.”
In reality, though, Chip Torres is a fictional character created by Bucay, 27, and his partner Moisés Aisemberg, who is 24. They’re co-founders of the on-line comedy troupe known as La Gran Royal. The pair started out putting out sketches for fun, but La Gran Royal is now a full-time endeavor making profits from its parodies: “Te voy a dar un byte” received some money from store owners at La Plaza for the production of the fake commercial that nonetheless advertised the market with great success.
Even though Chip is not an actor and someone who actually works at La Plaza, La Gran Royal won’t reveal his real name. Last August, Chip even had an autograph signing session with fans signing - what else? - tortas de huevo.
La Gran Royal made headlines in 2009, when their video “Quiero ir al antro” (loosely translated as “I want to go to the club”) went viral in Mexico. A parody on the lifestyle of young and rich Mexicans nicknamed “fresas” (the top 1%), the video has more than 3 million views on Youtube and its characters were interviewed by TV channels and magazines.
Since then, La Gran Royal has produced nine other videos, and they’re diversifying this year: they are working on a television series and a movie, which they hope to release in 2013.
Chip Torres’ fans don’t need to worry, though. It’s not in his plans to become a one-hit wonder. “If everything goes right, he’ll put out another video by mid-March,” says Bucay.
We can’t wait!
