Meet a Former CIA Chief of Disguise | Object of Intrigue | Atlas Obscura

[@sambray9888]

Think how much better they must be now, considering they are comfortable sharing this information on the internet.

[@EdieRobinson-y2l]

Technology is always 40 plus years advanced than what they show us

[@joshuatheargonaut4412]

Well if they are showing us this now , one wonders what they use at present

[@Esotericbedtimestories]

Check out Tyler Perry guys look at his eyes 👀

[@johnsmalls2972]

The Gucci suit 🤣

[@amb927]

That's for sure!

[@Queenmebonnie]

Spooky

[@A_Better_Mindset]

Remember minority report where cruise sticks that device under his chin, and makes himself look like an old man 😮😂

[@AJ11OH-IO]

The fact she admits to being able to show this now makes it very scary to imagine what the CIA is currently doing. Sure doesn't seem so crazy to hear people saying Dave Chappelle isn't Dave Chappelle anymore 🙄

[@MonteD1]

Joe Biden

[@DMVbeby]

They’re called skinwalkkers. Hollywood uses it and so does the Cartel leaders.

[@mafrugal]

Agree..

[@murunbuchstanzangur]

Someone out there is looking at this, and saying that's frank! I fucking knew there was something off about him!

[@pulledpork_revolving_doors]

lmao

[@carsonpower5948]

i was waiting for her to peel her face off to reveal that she was wearing a mask the whole time lol

[@johnscanlon2598]

Wasted opportunity lol I was thinking the same thing lol

[@VanettaMosetta]

Haha that would've been good.

[@freedomfalcon]

I think I remember her saying she did this IRL with President Reagan.

[@AGAM1911]

@@freedomfalconit was George Bush senior and she turned into a black woman. There’s a video of it out there.

[@bloodknyte]

@@freedomfalcon it was George H.W. Bush

[@MrDREWASIDE]

Brilliant detail down to skin pores!

[@gigimarino3764]

So we really don;;t know who we are looking at anymore on tv

[@charporter6943]

Exactly and Even 'Face to Face'...😮🧏🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🙆🏾‍♀️

[@bowriverblog]

We never did !!!

[@benjaminnguyen554]

what could be faster than this 5 second mask thing and more realistic!? this gives me goosebumps

[@ndanother1]

Maybe nanotechnology?

[@Sabocat]

I wish I could hear Jonna Mendez over the music.

[@BreannaMae]

I could hear her just fine.

[@deedeeamerica3418]

@@wecanttrustanygovernmenttb3352 Relax. Some hearing loss causes ppl to hear higher pitches over everything else. Don't assume everyone is complaining like you're complaining everyone is complaining. This person made a statement and probably doesn't realize she is experiencing hearing loss. Most ppl don't don't realize the subtleties of the process of hearing loss.

[@caesar7734]

The subtitles for this video are not autogenerated.

[@Fanta....]

turn your hearing aid up, gramps

[@Iamsoul00]

The music is kinda loud in some parts. It’s at a weird level for an interview. It’s kinda distracting.

[@ZakWolf]

Joanna joined the CIA back in 1970. Before the 1960s, such masks used to only exist in comics and cartoons, for the most part (such as the Looney Tunes, or Batman's disguises.) Then Hollywood and the CGI managed to make them a reality. And today we have impressive silicone rubber masks that cover the head and neck that can be even more realistic and durable than latex. One maker of such masks even had a similar tagline: "Put on a five-hour makeup job in just five seconds!"

[@NeglectedField]

We've come leaps and bounds, but it's not as simple as that. You've still got the eye holes to deal with, for starters.

[@ZakWolf]

@@NeglectedField That's true. And yet in such cartoons the eyes are often molded right onto the mask and once worn they act like real eyes, complete with eyelids when blinking!

[@charlesludwig8672]

Mission Impossible

[@ZakWolf]

@@charlesludwig8672 Yes, that was one of the earliest instances of the Age-Old Mask Device appearing in live-action TV, effectively turning it into a cliche. It also began to appear in some live-action movies in the 1960s as well, such as James Bond's "From Russia With Love", or the Fantomas movies from France.

[@assezzen194]

@@ZakWolf As much as I like the Fantomas movies, Fantomas' mask was a bit stuffy.... =) Louis De Funès was a living mask in and of himself!

[@MrArtVein]

The larger issue is now as an operative they have your actual face mould. Imagine pissing someone off and now someone's committing crimes with your face as blackmail

[@albertrenshaw4252]

It would be relatively easy to scan someone's face 'mold' digitally from a distance in this day and age

[@thegodofmarch2218]

@@albertrenshaw4252 do it

[@HypeRatt]

@@albertrenshaw4252 yeah but you would have to either gather multiple photos of their face from different angles without any blur or colour changes, it needs to look perfect from every angle; or you can do a 3d scan of their face, although they have to stand still keeping the same expression looking one way while you do it, so unless they know what you're doing, then I highly doubt you can actually capture a good 3d scan of their face, and also once you get the 3d scan, you actually have to create the mask making it as detailed and as close to the original face as possible.

[@HypeRatt]

@@noartist2694 You mean me specifically or do you mean anyone in general? If it is the second option then you'd have to do what I explained up there 👆. Now with the rise of AI, I am sure this technology is only going to get better over time.

[@joaqimkhesser]

​@@HypeRattpreviously I thought that was the case until I saw how China monitor the public, they use AI to scan people it's relatively easy to scan someone's face and realize who is who even with mask.

[@joetheplummer8128]

Billy has been using this latex for the Paul McCartney role.

[@WillStephensArt]

Yes brother! Another wide awake American ✌️

[@namaste91]

Of course it's Joana Mendez. Legend.

[@sevillomatic]

I'm becoming obsessed with her.

[@tylerp5093]

She’s pretty cool but why tell everyone who you are and what you did? I’m sure this technology is outdated by now and there is probably some amazing technology but Cold War was harsh i always wonder about assassins and stuff still looking for people hahaha

[@Tunechi65]

@@tylerp5093 yeah this is very old if she's allowed to even mention it lol I work on classified aerospace tech and it won't even be used for another decade or so. Whatever you see more or whatever is reveled is outdated --but very cool to the outside world

[@wernervonhurtsaug]

@@Tunechi65 uhuh

[@speedy4205]

@@wernervonhurtsaug he's not lying im an African prince , i can tell you that there's moon bases on Mars, technology is way ahead of its time bud get with the times

[@Whisky_Tango_Foxtrot-jc5uq]

This job sounds like a hell of a lot of fun.

[@mortalclown3812]

Unless I was responsible for another person's safety in potentially deadly circumstances. Then, I'm not sure how much fun I'd be having.

[@youtert]

Til you get caught

[@peterdegraff1506]

Great rhythmic background "music" BUT WE CAN'T HEAR THE SPEAKER!!!!!

[@akairborne]

WHAT???? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!

[@jackmomma7481]

Speed it up... and you get something that sounds like Morse code

[@krustserver]

Wtf where is the demonstration? I was looking forward to it!

[@jackmomma7481]

At 0:05 ... they just spilled the beans that Ringo Starr... isn't. He's just a rubber Scooby-Doo mask

[@LovenArtiste]

I was hoping, at the end, she’d reveal she was wearing a mask the whole time.

[@madaug5101]

This is absolutely amazing. Thank you.

[@mandybellep230]

That are cloning now no worries 👍🏻

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

What are they doing now? Advanced holograms - possibly, although I think the fact they would have to be powered probably makes them a bit unsuitable for fieldwork. More advanced masks - very similar to the Mission Impossible ones is more feasible, and also with some sort of voice synthesiser to imitate a person's voice.

[@Mario_N64]

Cloaking devices.

[@mykelaird6691]

Like black widow in Avengers

[@oglowkey9532]

And this is what I mean by them celebrities are CLONED, other people are playing that character with a mask

[@Enochulate88]

Biden is the masked up one

[@armandobernardino1390]

👀 fashoo

[@armandobernardino1390]

Like Gucci mane and hospin 👀

[@nicolebenson4517]

Taylor Swift perhaps 🤔

[@leonadrian7257]

Are there any vids of anyone wearing one?? I’d love to see!

[@catounet58]

Incrédible ! Thats explain our President in France too ! The fourth one he seems to be. One thing you can't imitate : eye expression.

[@angellacanfora]

My kingdom for a video without loud background music behind the speaker! Ugh.

[@TheBoredFella]

hare u deaf?

[@anengineer8810]

This was a very insightful video! Loved it!

[@edwardcheves9106]

Funny how they never showed those masks in use...

[@clarencehoover6748]

The mask is now applied to the highest office. “The ByeDone” is NOT a dementia patient; I see through the choreography of a trained actor to feign such behavior for effect. It becomes obvious when you view each scene critically individually and then collectively look at the dissonant factors. You are watching a controlled show to shake people awake. Being told of the pain of allowing this bad turn in history is insufficient; society only learns from first-hand consequences of their decisions. Americans love the movie format, just as the Romans loved their circus and games. So let the masses watch a choreographed movie unfold in real life, to live and learn in that scripted experience in real time. Pain cannot be understood unless felt. “The ByeDone” is a mask-wearing doppelgänger puppet actor, not a dementia suffering old man. This is a demonstratable fact, not speculation. Actually multiple actors are employed. Perform detailed facial recognition comparative analysis with current and legacy photos. Scenes are staged to expose and cause a gradual attrition of their support base. “The ByeDone Show” is a ruse. We are living in times requiring finely tuned discernment. No longer can we accept what we are being told is true, nor for the reasons tendered. Technology has advanced to the point that we cannot even believe that what we are shown exists in base reality. Critical examination and discernment have become essential if you seek to see past the manipulations.

[@jestergnome4717]

I wonder what disguise capabilities they have now.

[@alextaylor8776]

Joe Biden?

[@girlbye4233]

Imagine the disguises aliens have.

[@eggpicker]

roger from american dad lol

[@Cru16saders]

More easier

[@phantom2k10]

It Is known amongst many,that these beings not just wear masks,but whole costumes to disguise their true self.

[@rosannechandler1496]

I think you mean the people disguised as aliens?

[@Jaclyn_Zen]

Demons*

[@Anonymiss_333]

Whatever they use now must be incredible, considering they're allowing us to see this.

[@kathleenmwasik1647]

This is incredible, and has a scary amount of potential to do harm to citizens, and of course the same potential to do good.

[@toby9754]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Could you imagine if they figured out a way to change their voice as well. WOW 🥸

[@Scrapla1]

Like how they control our social media and major new networks?

[@CHoskinsBurks]

Oh I know they have. This is not just so called foreign affairs it was used on us more so.

[@3luckydog]

What good comes from wearing a disguise?

[@chantestephens]

@@toby9754 they can alter their voices actually thousands have. None of who you’ve seen are real.

[@marywangen4696]

Cool info Annoyingly unnecessary music

[@JZ2001JC]

The eyes give it away if you look closely. You can't make eyelids in these masks because no way could you control them blinking.

[@Kizzabell]

That's why they wore sunglasses

[@ladietq26]

@@Kizzabell today I’d say “wear”. Never thought if this!!!

[@rickydiggler7950]

@@Kizzabell lol exactly

[@bjrock1235]

You could also use makeup to cover it up I think

[@greyc8589]

You probably could with a little sticky tape or something.

[@ethnicalbert]

I like their Ringo mask. Good choice

[@nomad_sofficial]

I remember seeing a post once saying that Obama was actually Osama Bin Laden... Somehow that now seems quite plausible

[@redmercury1159]

pretty scary if you think about it. if a person with nefarious intentions wanted to abuse this technology, the crimes they would be able to get away with would be staggering.

[@helenblake9811]

I think this is so interesting. What a cool job.

[@sheilabowers3091]

That's some crazy wicked shit !!!

[@NglNPC]

Joe Biden def had a double . Their replacement was much taller and more charismatic just like an actor. I had wondered before I knew how detailed the masks can get. But the 5in height increase in some late videos gives it away. Always wondered why he looked different so many time across a short time span. But nobody grows 5 inches at 80 yr old

[@catherinebourdon8258]

Mendez says, "So what are they doing now?" I cant help but wonder how many nefarious acts have been used with this technology. How many people illegally impersonated. And why? If it can be used for agents, whose to say it cannot or has not been used for govt officials?

[@tyronbrannon9429]

Thx for telling the public this and destroying my life

[@biglollol]

No doubt you could prolly put it on in less than a minute. But I'm sure it would require at least 15 minutes to have it sit properly. The holes have to be skintight in order to not make it obvious that it's a mask. The mouth has to be sticking on the lips as well.

[@ImGoingSupersonic]

WHEN & WHERE, were they used.

[@swedendiditbetter.837]

Explains the David Wheeler / "Bill Aldeberg" actors of Shadyhook

[@jubjub8028]

That explains Biden and Pelosi. And all the other wierd looking politicians and celebrities.

[@31emxof]

McConnell is a good example of what happens when you don't take care of your mask and do lazy things like leave it on the dashboard on a sunny day.

[@Princetokio]

@@31emxof loool. They are goofies

[@TheChadTI]

Abso-Lutely

[@jayduck15jayduck89]

Spot on 💯💯

[@deerwolfunlimited]

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[@BeeBeeRMusic]

I love this guy

[@getsmarty7603]

It would've been epic if she pulled a mask off at the end to reveal David Attenburrough and continued on in a monkey documentary.

[@diamondyolo9010]

Stunning!

[@ronferderer9088]

The Mission Impossible tv series used masks like these. E Howard Hunt claimed the series was accurate. That was nearly 60 years ago.

[@justrelax1539]

I'm only here because she fooled the panel TWICE on To Tell The Truth

[@1Nida]

Ok, this is super cool!

[@mr80smike]

That's answers a lot of questions

[@Stickystuck8]

She could be wearing a mask to cover up her real identity right now.

[@mikewood3309]

Can I get the music score to that piece? .... Mendez is a very intriguing woman.

[@matthewdavis3125]

Wait but like for real! What does the CIA use now?!!! Freakin nano tech or something?!!

[@TurboSpeed69]

When they share any sort of technology they’re working on to the public, it’s about 10-15 years behind what they are capable of. This is coming from a family member that worked for a 3 letter agency

[@HereToLearn236]

Where can I get one ?

[@LeroyJenkins-nn5go]

Just imagine how much masks have evolved since she was at the CIA

[@tehutirc42]

They showed you this in mission impossible with Tom Cruise on many occasions but we think it’s all just movies. not understanding what they were revealing to you.

[@snoodlegirl1794]

Is that mask ringo star?

[@laurenchatman714]

How do they attach to the lips effectively.

[@Witchy-Wonderland]

YOUR COVER IS BLOWN! 2:15 (honeycomb hair lips)

[@BInscrutable]

as if you didn't show the mask being worn by a person so the audience can see how good it looks as a disguise.

[@timapple6586]

It was a custom fit from many years ago, I think? Maybe the original wearer's identity is still secret, maybe his/her face has changed over the years, or maybe they're otherwise unavailable for, um, 'medical reasons'? (I was thinking death, not Covid)

[@pryingopenmythirdeye1830]

@@timapple6586 10 likes on your comment is an example of how ignorant the sheep are.

[@pryingopenmythirdeye1830]

@@timapple6586 your comment don't make sense and the sense that it does make don't makes sense

[@craigrussell3062]

@@pryingopenmythirdeye1830 If you watched the video, it says the only way the technology works is if the inside of the mask is made from a mould of the wearer's face. "Each mask only fits one person." Since these are specific masks used in old CIA operations, the only way to show how realistic they look would be to bring in the spy who originally used this mask on a mission; you couldn't just have a random volunteer from the museum do it, because the mask wouldn't conform exactly to their face.

[@mortalclown3812]

​@@craigrussell3062 The variations of Dunning-Kruger effect in comment sections is flabbergasting.

[@arklinmike]

It really doesn't matter what their disguise is - you can't keep them from screwing around with their smart phones, and they don't know how to act normal around real people.

[@Realeye122]

So what Pollititons are wearing them when the real ones are in the bunkers

[@nickyborrisino]

Hans Gruber. Nice to meet you.

[@NeglectedField]

Whilst this is impressive, not to spoil anyone's fun but to those thinking this is "like Mission Impossible", well...no. Nor will it ever be close to perfect, nothing this convenient that comes on and off in seconds, at least. This is the sort of thing that might work if the guy's wearing shades in the back of a taxi or needs to slip through a crowd unnoticed. Up close, there's still gonna be the issue of the eye holes (especially if the guy isn't wearing glasses and natural skin tone differs from the mask). And the extent to which facial expressions are possible without adhesive, which takes time to apply. Even the sort of Hollywood character full-face human disguise makeups that take hours to apply look a little Uncanny Valley or 'off' up close, mainly because building on an existing face with latex etc to make a totally different yet plausible human phenotype is nigh on impossible - and for example if your agent has a big nose, you gotta build an even bigger nose on top of that; you can't disguise him as having a small nose. All in all, I'd be surprised if the most astute of people wouldn't be able to clock this stuff up close. Then again, I don't know what the guy who this mask was made for looks like, nor am I in the CIA or a professional FX artist, so whaddo I know? *shrug*

[@NeglectedField]

@Nicholas Houston Okay, a good detail to include but still farfetched on many other grounds when it comes to traversing Uncanny Valley in real life, especially if we're talking disguising someone as an existing person. Anyone who's so much as met that other person before is gonna clock it pretty much instantly.

[@iAnasazi]

"It will never be perfect, I tell ya!" "whaddo I know?" Pick one.

[@lisaariottiart]

Nano technology and silicone combined with the general dumbing down of humanity may eventually enable us to cross the valley of doubt.

[@lisaariottiart]

Nano technology and silicone combined with the general dumbing down of humanity may eventually enable us to cross the valley of doubt.

[@mortalclown3812]

​@@iAnasazi Ix nay on tiny Karen

[@HorribleHomeVideo]

at the end of the video she should of pulled off that mask revealing she is someone else

[@tomverseUK]

Ringo Starr?

[@bitbouqet3302]

All I've got is a photograph.

[@jackmomma7481]

Holy fuck!!! I thought the same thing and left a comment before I saw this. Well... there's the truth... Ringo Starr is a rubber mask. And that makes me question John Lennon's "death" now

[@ronboerste1813]

And who says the CIA isn't creepy👽👌🍻

[@joeysustello]

The Creepy intelligence authority

[@Tonymontana_420]

She’s wearing a mask in this interview

[@PersonalViews444]

Scooby doo always showed that monsters were alwaya human

[@R-cv5tv]

If the reference in this video is a movie from 1963 can you believe what these masks look like right now… 😮

[@MTvounomayoraph9624]

This was used in mission: impossible

[@burntbeansoup]

Wish we saw it in action

[@Frontlineinvestigation71]

The music tho

[@toby9754]

Can you imagine waking up in a 5150 hospital with all your friends and family wearing these masks. WOW ,🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🕷️WOW

[@MyDigitalCult]

at that point, it’s You and The Most High. trust nobody. iykyk.

[@lesp315]

Very cool.

[@sneadh1]

Mission Impossible! What is under Mike Pence's mask?

[@Breeza-s5t]

The fact that they are showing her face. Oh wait...or is it?!!

[@daltonwallace226]

Oooooooh!🤔 I think she knows!!!!🤔🤔🤔

[@CryptoQuest1]

never would have seen a single strand of hair without the power of high resolution screens.

[@JOECorsoNova]

What’s the mesh at 2:16 , that clearly can’t be a “real” mask!

[@releasethealbum6190]

wooooosh

[@bulletsfordinner8307]

It's not to be seen so upclose. Just to disguise when you need to run save yourself. And BTW this are old masks

[@JOECorsoNova]

@@bulletsfordinner8307 thank god! 😂

[@buddahGump]

SCOOBY DOO TRIED TO WARN US!😂

[@patricksanders858]

Wait...I know that face! Damn!

[@ChandraNYC]

All that work... but, the lace under the moustache is glaringly obvious!?! 🤔

[@wizardking462]

yeah but the mask is probably like 30 years old

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

These masks weren't meant for face to face encounters but as a means of eluding capture or discovery in crowded places.

[@ReeseTVMusic]

Yeah, but do you have energico?

[@DDBAA24]

Huge fan ,,,,, eyelids though ? I've watched these videos over several times but I never noticed until now. What if you BLINK !?

[@JamesHeberer]

A Burn and A Glenda under that mask I could of told you that right away 🎸👹🔔🎇🌍🕠😁🍻👺🍻🍻🍻😁👽🍻🍻👽🎸🎸⛱️⛱️⛱️⛱️😄😄😄😄

[@nedtheproducer5777]

Talked about the mask for 4 minutes straight and didn’t even get to see her with it on

[@ozarkman1478]

She had one on. !

[@theveganismhotline9930]

I saw this mask in person

[@na-dm6jb]

The twist is she is wearing a mask 😊

[@thesaneparty4079]

Who is here after that United Healthcare CEO job?

[@monster0_0]

I wanted to see someone in the mask

[@pixelander]

Has anybody put on the mask?

[@NicoEl119]

If they are showing this now, means they have been doing it. And they most likely are doing it now, and even more.

[@SinnerSince1962]

You can also become the president of the United States, when the real president needs a nap instead of doing his duties.

[@marshutch3931]

I wonder how many masks were worn on Jan 6

[@steelhurricane4041]

So Mission Impossible with the masks isn't fantasy after all.

[@therapist-932]

Peace and Love