Super 8 Viral Update: “They got to him” Dan Koelsch, April 24, 2011 When we last left the Super 8 viral campaign, we knew that fish enthusiast Josh Minker’s dad worked on a secret government research project involving something extraterrestrial, and that the man Josh has been communicating with lately (dubbed “Mysterio” by ARG players) was a coworker who is trying to help Josh find something called a “vitas relic” that is very powerful and others are after as well. Now we know that something has happened to Mysterio. Sarah is a friend of Josh’s, at least until Josh found out that she ran a conspiracy site called Revalistic after he told her about all the vitas relic stuff. She explained to him that she and the company she works for are after the vitas relic as well (the website’s name, an anagram for “vitas relic”, should have been a tip off), but that she can be trusted. We found their chat about this at Revalistic.com/explanation, using the password BXTSLWK729. Now that same page has been updated.They got to him. This just came in the mail. I know you don’t want me to but I’m going after the next piece. It’s in West Virginia, gonna take the car. I’ll call you from the road. Please don’t worry.The note is on a back of a picture of Josh’s parents, and it it looks to be from Mysterio, explaining that he has been found, and that he would have killed himself (presumably to prevent himself from talking). We also finally get his name, Alexander Kaslov. Take a look at both side of the note below. It’s interesting that the story has taken such a drastic turn. The movie is less than two months away, so we know that the viral needs to ramp up, and this is a good way to show that the stakes are high. What this means for the STIES website is unclear, since that was the primary way that Kaslov and Minker communicated. It’s still unclear whose computer it was emulating, but my guess would by Kaslov.Now we’ll probably follow Sarah down the rabbit hole as we try to find the vitas relic and figure out what it is. I originally thought it might be the film reel that is slowly coming together on S8 Editing Room, but there’s a good chance it’s the object in the film itself. This makes sense when you realize how much heat is on this mysterious object.What do you all think about this latest development? Get up to speed on the Super 8 ARG by checking out our Super 8 Viral Page. ARGs & Campaigns Viral Marketing Josh MinkerRevalisticS8 Editing RoomSuper 8
The Boondock Saints: Viral Made Simple February 9, 2010February 9, 2010Back in December, I wrote an article discussing the old school word of mouth viral for the film The Boondock Saints, and how it was relying strictly on how bad it’s fans wanted to see the first film in the theaters. No flashy gimmicks. No websites with secret passwords (although… Read More
Exclusive In-Depth Interview With The Creator of “The Sleepy Skunk” August 30, 2011August 30, 2011Have you ever wanted to tell Hollywood that their ideas stink? Or maybe you even have a better idea for a movie than the trash that gets greenlit? What if there was a website that could let you express all of that? Louis Plamondon and programmer Tim Ginn created just… Read More
Explore Joe’s Desk In The “Super 8” International “Gonna Be Mint” Campaign August 4, 2011J.J. Abrams’ Super 8 may be almost out of theaters here in the United States, but tomorrow is the date that the film will finally be released in all countries. To promote the occasion, Paramount has a new internet campaign dubbed “Gonna Be Mint” after what has become a catchphrase… Read More