Sony Pictures' Killer Marketing Idea

Is it possible to have an immersive, interactive, and on-brand marketing experience without even visiting a Website?

I believe you can, based on my recent experience interacting with the proprietor of the Pinewood Motel.

Here's the scoop: I'm watching TV and see a commercial for Sony Pictures' new horror film, Vacancy. Other than the fact it has some A-level stars in it, the film (and the commercial for it) looks like a typical slasher flick. Until the end of the commercial, that is.

Instead of the now de-rigueur Website URL, the following is briefly flashed on screen during the last second of the commercial:

"For reservations please call 1-888-9-VACANCY"

Huh?

I take the bait, grab the phone, and punch in the numbers:

"Folks, you've reached the Pinewood Motel..." says the creepy guy at the front desk.

And I am hooked.

Check it out: 1-888-9-VACANCY. It's very clever, even if the film isn't.

Comments

[Bryan Person, Bryper.com]

Spooky good, huh? Hey, for any of you newlyweds out there, prices for the honeymoon suite have been "slashed" to just $69; just make your reservation by the end of the month.

Brilliant!

[Dennis Becker]

This was a fun project that was facilitated using CommerceTel's interactive phone technology :)

Another great campaign very similar to this was our work on NBC's Heroes: http://www.lostremote.com/2007/03/27/nbcu-rolls-out-digital2go-mobile-initiative/

Try it out at www.primatechpaper.com'

Cheers!