- Must Watch: Destructive Trailer for Roland Emmerich's 2012 (169 Comments)
- First Grueling Trailer for The Twilight Saga: New Moon (150 Comments)
- Does This Final New G.I. Joe Trailer Convince You to See It? (109 Comments)
- Profile on Marvel Studios with Big Updates from Kevin Feige (80 Comments)
- Must Watch: First Trailer for Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island (79 Comments)
- Visual Effects Supervisor Charles Gibson Directing The Goblin (Jun 21, 2009)
- Sony Dumps Steven Soderbergh's Moneyball Movie Last Minute! (Jun 21, 2009)
- Producer Joe Gatta Updates Rodriguez' Red Sonja Movie (Jun 20, 2009)
- Latest Updates from David S. Goyer on The Invisible Man (Jun 19, 2009)
- Sly Stallone's The Expendables Could End Up Being PG-13? (Jun 19, 2009)
| Inglourious Basterds | 8.5/10 |
| Star Trek | 9/10 |
| Monsters vs Aliens | 5/10 |
| Sin Nombre | 8.5/10 |
| Duplicity | 7.5/10 |
Level 5 Alert - Non-Humans Have Escaped District 9!
Level 5 Alert! Stay in your homes and secure all doors and windows! District 9 residents are violent and unpredictable! An intense new viral video for District 9 has popped up on YouTube today. It sounds like things are going crazy in Johannesburg, because these alerts are showing up all over. As far as I can tell, this video is from the website D-9.com and plays instead of the normal introductory video when you visit. I'm only going to tell you that you definitely get a glimpse at some more new footage. Beyond that, it's up to you to explore more, as I think this viral for District 9 is definitely starting to ramp up. Check this out!
New District 9 Viral Updates: Memos, Videos, and LA Times
Sadly I was told that the new District 9 trailer that was supposed to hit this week was delayed. It'll be out sometime in July, or so I hear, but until then, we've got some minor updates on the viral that should keep a few of you occupied. Everyone who has been closely following this viral already knows of D-9.com. If you've seen any of the bus stop ads or posters, you've also seen that URL. That site actually launched last year at Comic-Con and hasn't changed, however, there are finally a few updates. First, there's a memo, and second, there is a new video. Exciting right?! But that's not all. There are a few more cool D9 viral updates.
Check This Out: Viral Game Launched for Shane Acker's 9
If you're a fan of viral marketing or ARGs, you'll definitely want to check this out. You've probably heard about Shane Acker's 9, but if not, watch the latest trailer. It's an animated movie about rag doll characters that take on "evil machines." It's set in the distant future and looks like one of the most visually unique movies this year. As part of their marketing, Focus Features has launched a viral site at 9experiment.com as a way of introducing a bigger part of the backstory. We've seen a lot of lackluster virals recently, but this looks like it could be pretty cool and should at least keep fans active until it comes out in September.
Check This Out: Transformers 2 Augmented Reality Promo
With Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen arriving in theaters in only 8 more days, Paramount is launching the last of their interactive marketing. The latest website they've launched involves augmented reality, which is becoming an increasingly popular little marketing tool in Hollywood. You may not know what augmented reality is, but you've probably seen it and you'll get a little demo with this. Basically, using your own webcam, augmented reality adds interaction to "your world" by digitally projecting an Autobot onto the video from your camera's feed. If you have a webcam, it's a fun little promo worth checking out.
Michael Moore Plays a Trick on Movie Theater Audiences?
What the heck is going on? I was told that there was a trailer for the new Michael Moore documentary that would be attached to showings of Taking of Pelham 123 this weekend. It'll be online in a few hours, but not all audiences will see it. SlashFilm has a report of a showing in Washington DC that had a message from Moore. Apparently signs saying that they were being recorded were plastered all over. Instead of a trailer with footage, Moore appeared on the screen and asked the audience to give their money to "needy banks and corporations." Ushers then entered the theater with buckets literally asking for money from the audience.
Sony Launches the 'You're So Year One' Mini-Viral Website
Sony has launched a mini-viral site for Year One where, in the spirit of "Your Momma" jokes, users can submit various "You're So Year One" phrases. It really has no end result - none of the phrases will show up anywhere besides that site, there is no contest involved or prizes, or anything like that. It's simply just a fun activity to get people in the Year One mindset and spread the word. They've also launched a Twitter that randomly tweets out some of the most popular phrases. I'm not featuring this because I'm fond of it, but just as a chance to point it out and criticize it, as I don't think this will really help or hurt Year One anyway.
District 9 Viral Begins to Spread, But No Major Updates
Earlier today I noticed a post on ComingSoon mentioning that an ad for the District 9 viral had started appearing on bus stop benches, but I didn't think much about. Wen I was out driving today, I passed a few of them, so I decided to stop by one and take a few shots of it (while getting some odd looks). The ad, as you can see below, plays on the non-human segregation idea again, stating that the bus stop is for humans only. And there's the quirky line beneath it that says: "Beware non-human secretions may corrode metal!" The phone number actually connects with the corporation Multi-National United and it links to D-9.com.
Funny People Has a Viral? First Yo Teach Videos Appear
Huh? Apparently there's somewhat of a viral floating around for Judd Apatow's Funny People. Though it's not really a viral, but rather some footage made for the movie that has ended up on YouTube. In the movie, Jason Schwartzman plays a character named Mark, a self-obsessed TV actor who stars on an NBC sitcom called "Yo Teach." He described the show as fitting in between "Dangerous Minds and The Cable Guy" where he plays a teacher who teaches kids who "have been written off by society, but my heart is too big to let that happen." Apparently some early videos from "Yo Teach" have popped up online (via The Playlist).
Transformers 2 Viral Kicks Off - The Real Effing Deal!
Ah yes, finally some good viral updates! If there is one franchise ripe for good viral marketing (besides Terminator), it's Transformers. Lucky for us, Paramount is putting a small bit of effort into launching what could be a cool viral game for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Those who followed the viral for the first Transformers know that it all began when Michael Bay hid a password in the trailer. And it's no different here. Hidden in the latest full trailer for Transformers 2 was a website on the back of Sam's shirt (see below). That website has now officially launched and there seems to be a lot more going on as well.
Final Skynet Research Viral Update - Password Discovered!
In just a few days, Terminator Salvation will arrive in theaters. And that should mean that all the viral games related to the movie should be coming to an end, right? There's the one on twitter which seems to be wrapping up, but what about Skynet Research? That one has been running for a while and we haven't had any updates on it for a while - until today. Some of you may remember (or have discovered on your own) that on the Products page, if you mouse over the "P", a password box pops up. Don't know the password? We do! Although all credit goes to MovieViral.com for first figuring it out. You'll find the password below.
Check This Out: Early Viral Teaser Poster for Surrogates
We haven't really seen much from Surrogates yet, Disney's new sci-fi film starring Bruce Willis, due out in September. Either that's because they're very worried (the footage I've seen looked terrible) or because they have a plan for it that doesn't start until the summer. Back in February we did a brief write-up on the rather lackluster viral that they've put together that involves users creating surrogate robots (e.g. avatars) of themselves. Found on that viral website (via MovieViral.com) comes a new teaser poster, featuring nothing but two naked bodies embracing, but it's a fairly enticing tease for those unaware of the film or the plot.
Sony Launches Terminator Salvation Twitter Viral Game
Sony is trying to take twitter to the next level. The studio has launched a viral game for Terminator Salvation called Resistance 2018 that involves users on twitter joining various resistance squadrons in order to fight the machines. I don't think I need to remind anyone that Terminator Salvation is about John Connor and the resistance he leads against SkyNet. So far we've seen a little bit of viral marketing for Terminator, but oddly this has nothing to do with that SkyNet Research stuff. Sony is distributing this internationally, and this is a Sony viral campaign, and that SkyNet Research is a Warner Brothers thing.
Gentlemen Broncos Widget Starring Dr. Ronald Chevalier
It seems like the only worthwhile updates this week have been about viral marketing, but maybe it's just the calm before the storm. One film we haven't heard from in a while is Gentlemen Broncos, the latest comedy from Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess. However, thanks to an update on Wired, we may have something that will hold us over until we get to see a trailer. Found on the official website for the film's main character Dr. Ronald Chevalier, played by "Flight of the Conchords" star Jemaine Clement, is an Aphoristic Fruit of the Day Widget, where the "Oracle" gives an ounce of wisdom every day.
Check This Out: J.J. Abrams' Slusho Enterprise Revealed!
One of the many off-the-wall marketing ideas that Paramount came up with for the new Star Trek was to have various artists paint models of the USS Enterprise in whatever quirky style they wanted. I've seen these models in movie theaters in Los Angeles, on display at ShoWest, and everywhere else Star Trek has been marketing, but Paramount has only now launched a full gallery of all of the models online right here. One of the ships hidden in the gallery is painted with the Slusho logo (listed as Enterprise #12 in the gallery), as done by Amy Vatanakul, an "artist and animator working at Bad Robot Productions." Check it out!
Skynet's Distributed Computing Platform - Download This!
The on-going Skynet Research viral for Terminator Salvation has been expanding every day, but so far nothing big has happened. Sure, a few weeks ago a Resist Or Be Terminated website was discovered, and they've been trying to take down everything Skynet-related since, including the security cameras. But when is Skynet going to take over the world and bring about Judgment Day? Well, a reader named "Deck Films" sent me an e-mail today with a link to a website with a download for Skynet's Distributed Computing Platform - a downloadable application that links in with every other DCP computer around the world.
Wait a Minute, There's a Big Viral Game for Star Trek, Too?
I'm a big viral nut, and I usually stay on top of every last viral, even weird YouTube videos like this one. However, for J.J. Abrams' upcoming Star Trek, the only viral marketing I've seen has been in relation to the wild hipster dance parties that Paramount has been putting on (go here for more details). I didn't think much about them, they sounded super cheesy, and hipsters suck, so I forgot about it. But apparently someone noticed something interesting in a few photos - there are URLs hidden in the background. After an extensive amount of research on TrekMovie, it looks like they may have figured it all out a bit early.
Futuristic New Terminator Salvation Viral Video Discovered
As everyone knows, the Terminator Salvation viral game is in full effect. The last update we wrote was in regards to the website ResistorBeTerminated.com being discovered, which is the central location for all major viral updates from now on. They just added a new viral video today, which can be seen below, featuring a few resistance forces from the future. All they say is that it's another broadcast from the future that appeared out of nowhere in their media folder. It looks pretty damn cool and of course it's only the start of what we're going to be seeing over the next month or so leading up to Terminator Salvation.
Fun Monsters vs Aliens vs Cloverfield Viral Video
We may be featuring this a bit too late in the game, but on the site TopSecretConspiracy.com (found via io9), they've posted a fun little video mocking Cloverfield featuring the Monsters vs Aliens characters. I know this is super cheesy and not that exciting, but I'm a viral nut, and I thought it was cool enough to share with all of you. I saw Monsters vs Aliens over the weekend and it was okay, not that great, but worth seeing for the characters and the 3-D (dare I say it). Anyway, I think this entire TopSecretConspiracy.com is a mini-viral site dedicated to all things Monsters vs Aliens and conspiracies, so check it out and enjoy!
Resist Or Be Terminated - Skynet Research Viral Updates
No, it's not Judgment Day just yet (that's not until May), but some viral marketing updates have started to hit on the Terminator Salvation front. So far we've covered the Skynet Research website quite extensively, but since it appeared in February, there haven't been any major updates to the site besides all the basics. As we all know, Skynet (or Cyberdyne) is the company that gains control over the machines and starts the war against the humans. So they're not on our side. And someone inside the company has started to alert us of who they are and what exactly they're trying to do - Resist Or Be Terminated.
Watch This Now: Crazy What's in the Box? Short Film!
Soon the world will find out… Holy f**k! My good friend Pete of SlashFilm called me up this morning and told me about an awesome video he had found called What's in the Box?. He pointed me to its YouTube page where I watched the full 8 minute short film and it's pretty badass. However, we're not exactly sure what this is yet - another viral marketing game, an animation demo reel, or just a short film? Either way, before we get into any deeper discussion, you need to watch this. I've added the high quality YouTube embed below, though the info says it "will be deleted soon." So hurry up and watch this before it gets deleted!