The Dark Knight, the upcoming sequel to Batman Begins has begun with an very interesting viral campaign. The campaign started off with websites for The Gotham Times, The Gotham Rail and the The Gotham Police Department. Then to add to the fun, The Joker joined the act with The Ha Ha Ha Times. But that was just the tip of the campaign, they upped the ante after that. Things just got a bit weird and chilling as the campaign blurred the line between reality and the reel world. If you want to know how, keep reading.
While all this was happening online the Joker went on a recruitment drive online.Here is what I read at FirstShowing.net:
On December 3rd a new page appeared at whysoserious.com with a hammer game and some teddy bear toys. Each toy had an address on it located in a number of cities around the US. The note on the game told people to go to that address and say their name was “Robin Banks” (get it, “Robbing Banks”) and they’d get something there. It was first come, first serve, and each location was a bakery. What they were given was a cake with a phone number written on it. Inside the cake was an evidence bag (complete with Gotham City Police printing) that contained a cell phone, a charger, a Joker playing card and a note with instructions.
The note read the following:
Wow. You really took the cake! Now put the icing on it. Call [number] immediately from this phone and this phone only. Do not give this phone number to anyone else.
Let’s hope your fellow goons come through as well as you. Once all the layers are in place, you’ll all get your just desserts. I’m a man of my word.
When the person called the number, a lady answered from Rent-a-Clown to thank the caller. Apparently she said she knew who the caller was and then after hanging up, they received a text message. It read:
Good work, clown! Keep this phone charged and with you at all times. Don’t call me. I will call you … eventually.
Just imagine, if the Joker was real, he now has a real gang of people waiting his orders. Now imagine if you were one of the people who went to the cake shop, got the cake and picked up the phone… and it started ringing…and you picked up the phone and the on the other end was that familiar manic voice of The Joker…it’s like something right out of the movies. A bit creepy ain’t it ?
The Warner Brothers media machine has just turned out an true Ace. It’s a bit unfortunate that it’s only restricted to the US, would have loved to participate in a campaign like this. Maybe someday a Bollywood movie might just take the viral route for publicity…
Technorati Tags: Movies, Batman, The Dark Knight, Viral, Marketing, Viral Marketing, Why so Serious
