Warner Bros. Grows Bacteria Billboard For “Contagion”

Usually when we talk about “viral”, we don’t mean it in the literal sense. This time the multiple meanings for the word collide for the action-thriller Contagion, which is about the rapid spread of a deadly disease. Warner Bros. recently built and displayed a special Billboard in Toronto, Canada that actually grew bacteria and mold to spell out the word “Contagion”. Watch it in action in the video after the break.

Below is the description for the video:

Building on its reputation for always being ahead of the curve, Warner Bros. Pictures Canada created a unique outdoor installation merging science and advertising that is guaranteed to leave movie lovers, science buffs and art enthusiasts in ‘awe’ or ‘eww’.

In support of Academy Award ® winner Steven Soderbergh’s latest film “Contagion” — in theatres September 9th, Warner Bros. Pictures Canada teamed up with microbiologists and immunologists from around the world to create a one-of-a-kind bacteria message board located at 409 Queen Street West in an abandoned store-front window. On August 28th, two large Petri dishes were inoculated with live bacteria including penicillin, mold and pigmented bacteria and almost overnight have revealed the true Contagion — an artistic interpretation of the spread of a virus as depicted in the film.

The public was invited to witness first-hand the remarkable growing power of natural bacteria on Wednesday August 31st from 11:00 AM — 2:00 PM. The first 50 people who arrived received passes to see “Contagion” in theatres and other themed prizes.

Contagion opens in theaters today, so be sure to catch it!