auto-play a .wmv attachment in an email?

[mikejaz2]

I've just finished editing a short video which my producer's client is going to email to a mailing list he bought.

(NOTE: we're not talking spam here...this is a legitimate use of a purchased targeted mailing list to advertise his pest-control business.)

Anyway, the producer told said client that he'd be able to "embed" the video in the email, such that it would begin to play as soon as someone opened the email.

I've never seen this, never received an email which began playing when I opened it up (either using a client like Entourage, or webmail), and have no idea how he would do this. In fact, I told the producer that this was beyond my purview as an editor and DVD author, but I promised I'd ask around and see.

So, I'm asking...any idears?

[lordsmurf]

The producer is a moron. Never promise something to a client when you're not even sure it can be done.

Maybe in a HTML e-mail, but I've never seen it either.

Doubtful. This could be used for spam.

[mohnitor]

Maybe 3 people out of 1000 will see it...

Nowadays even pictures got blocked. And most companies have a mail limit - sometimes just 100 kb or less. To ensure that no PPT jokes, britney nude fotos etc. come in.

And as blue smurf already said: Every filter will detect this as Spam.

Stupid idea !
Better to send a link to a webpage. Cockroaches 4ever !

[aedipuss]

it really doesn't matter if it's a "purchased" address list. it is still spam to the receiver and may be reported as such if they didn't opt in to get mail from the pest control business. buying someone else's list doesn't make it legit email.

as for an autoplaying a video the closest you're likely to get is if you turn it into a gif, mng or apng file. and make it small. no one wants megabyte sized spam in their inbox.