The Truth Behind YouTube’s Bizarre Acting Videos: Five or Six Stores Explained

-Big thanks to Sandy & Harold for their contributions to this video-

Many familiar with the weird side of YouTube likely know about "Five or Six Stores" and its various counterparts. Bizarre acting videos spread around the site, that appear to be some sort of leaked audition recorded sometime in the 80s or 90s. The videos have established something of a cult following over the years, with some of the acting tapes receiving multi-million view counts and many of them being remixed for comedic effect. What is the story behind these mysterious acting tapes? Where did they come from, when were they filmed, and of course, who was responsible for their creation? This is the story behind Five or Six Stores.

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

"John I want a divorce"
*Laughing intensifies*

I don't think I'll ever get over how perfect that clip was

[JankyJerr]

I got a chance to meet Ted Serantos back in 2015 while I was still in film school. He helped me find actors for my student film and didnt expect anything in return. He genuinely wanted everyone who took his classes to succeed. Also I've worked with Harold and Sandy before! Both fantastic and highly professional!!!

[calebporter]

I was expecting something stupid, but some low-budget acting school in Chicago that also helps everyday people get over social anxiety is unironically one of the most wholesome things I've ever heard of.

EDIT: I don't get the replies that are like you spoiled Maybe if you were watching the video instead of going through the comments that wouldn't be a problem.

[YACHI]

"I don't need friends. They disappoint me, " will always be in my head lmao. It's just so random yet such a mood.

[nickwashum]

My senior quote from ‘17 was literally “you could stop at five or six stores or just one”

[NudlArm]

The old guy in the class doing the Protein Plus energy bar take is wholesome af

[DandyGuy]

I always thought it was a shame that my stupid edit got so popular, while the original source was all but ignored. Great video about a small, strange part of Youtube culture!

[hungrymoose]

Man, thats terrible to hear that Ted isn't doing so good, I actually would have flown out to Chicago just for fun of taking a class and getting a tape filmed by him, it kinda sounds like a drama class for adults but with altruistic undertones.

[Dan-B]

Each one of those clips is a “The Room” level masterpiece.
So finding out the backstory about them honestly just makes them even better.

[PeterGriffin]

I never heard anyone describe that video creepy I just thought it was awkward and funny sense the people in them seemed uncomfortable.

[EckhartsLadder]

"Yes, they sent me a machete in the mail!"

Lmao. All around amazing and well done video bro.

[missumbrella]

None of these look like they're from the 80s. This is 90s/early 2000's gold.

[Gingermnster]

To this day, I quote “Honey, you’ve got a big storm coming” on a weekly basis

[rarsn]

This story is so much more interesting than I was expecting. I hope Ted is doing okay.

Harold Dennis' IMDB is full of a lot of stuff that I've never heard of, presumably low-budget things, but DAMN that dude gets a lot of work! Good for him.

[ghoulishtoad]

Ted is actually a really good dude, its sad hes not doing so well, its good to see his legacy preserved on the internet and his story told. im autistic and it feels like its actually death when doing public speaking, so id kill for a class like that, and a teacher like that that cares about his students. teachers like him are what make society function and prosper

[kyriacarica]

I think Ted helped a lot of people who had anxiety feel more comfortable about themselves. They were just going with it, having fun knowing they weren’t going to be judged at all. Hope he recovers. 🧡

[emilymuckler]

that old man going from reading the script to commercial ready in like 3 minutes was impressive as hell!

[StrykerMagnum]

I'm so glad to hear that these people were not in fact held in a warehouse at gunpoint and forced to dance like puppets, but instead were being helped to become more confident, or even better actors!

[phoenixv]

I swear
Nothing beats seeing a new upload from your favorite content creator after a long hard day at school or work

[jamie]

I honestly thought the internet would have figured out these were acting exercises. But I'm an ex-actor. I'm the idiot who has done stuff like this. Thank you for the video. It brings back memories of me being healthy enough to do this stuff. We never filmed it but we always had a nice laugh over how silly we looked and then how great our scenes came out after. Always interesting how doing lines for diction and enunciation would make stuff work, no matter how silly lines like "you can visit five or six stores" can help you.

I mean we also shouted stuff like lines from Singin' in the Rain. Moses supposes his toeses are roses is really great for the jitters on opening night if nobody hears you primal screaming it.