Disney Makes Theater Stop Unofficial Viral Marketing For Tron Legacy Dan Koelsch, August 30, 2010 Well, you have to give them credit for trying. Yesterday we reported that a movie theater in Ohio (and possibly others) seemed to be part of Disney’s viral marketing campaign for Tron Legacy. However, it turns out that Marcus Crosswoods Cinema had taken it upon themselves to set up their Encom-branded website and the QR Code display that lead people to it. Since it is unofficial, Disney has asked them to take it down. Read the statement on the now defunct site after the break. At the request of Disney, we have had to halt our online marketing for the Tron Legacy motion picture. We will continue to promote the feature in-house in exciting and unique ways. For more information about the Marcus Crosswoods Cinema, please visit www.marcustheatres.com. Although misguided and not even accurate to the ARG, I’m impressed that the theater did this themselves. Management is obviously excited about the film and looking for new ways to draw customers. At a time in which ticket prices are sky high and theaters are getting hit hard by the recovering economy, these drastic measures are almost necessary. What do you think? Thanks to CalebH2010 at Unfiction for the heads up. Viral Marketing DisneyTheaterTron Legacy
Viral Video: Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones 88 Minute Review April 3, 2010April 4, 2010A few months ago, a 70 minute video review of Star Wars Episode I:The Phantom Menace made the rounds on the blogosphere. It was harsh, hilarious, truthful, and sometimes disturbing to watch. This was part of a series of similar styled reviews from YouTuber RedLetterMedia (real name Mike). Fortunately, Mike… Read More
Breaking News: D-9 memo and new video found! June 17, 2009June 17, 2009There is a new pdf memo available at D-9.com including two versions of this document. A non human version and a human version. Which ever side you choose, you get a blue icon that pops up with a warning sign. It says “Urgent Message. Click Here To View” You get… Read More
NBC Viral Round Up: Chuck and The Office December 12, 2009December 12, 2009We’ve yet to talk about Chuck here at MovieViral, and for good reason. There’s not been much to talk about. Well, now as the 3rd season is just about to premiere, there is something for us to report. The site Chuck Me Out was created by NBC for fans to… Read More
kudos to the theater for being that excited by the movie to start their own mini ARG. I thought/wished it was the start of the next phase of the ARG that would lead to sneak previews around the country.
I agree, they deserve a little credit for being innovative. It’s too bad it is not part of the ARG to be honest.
They should have, however, realized that they were using someone else’s property… did they they’d completely get away with that? … *shrug*
They just didn’t think it through. I don’t think they realized it’d hit the web and people like us would pick up on it.
They were excited to market something with the trendy idea of a transmedia/viral/ARG type promotion. Too excited, and thus made some huge mistakes – used someone else’s IP, failed to understand and follow the canon of a franchise, and stepped all over another promotion’s territory.
Couldn’t Disney have been a little forward-thinking & maybe picked up the promo & run with it? Stupid Big Media, always afraid to jump onto something new until it’s too late.