Movie Marketing Gets Creative

Around 10 years ago, the movie industry cottoned on to using viral marketing to create buzz amongst cinemagoers.

Fake websites, videos, pictures, teaser snippets of information let loose in web space created instant chatter and pre-release buzz.

We bring you the best of this week's campaigns sweeping the net.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

A couple of months back, a viral campaign for the upcoming film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo launched in the form of a Tumblr and Twitter account. Every day, one or two behind the scenes images were loaded onto the site, allowing fans to get a taste of one of the most highly anticipated movies this year.

The campaign activity consisted of the MouthTapedShut viral which allowed fans to uncover clues to find limited edition pieces of art from the film signed by Fincher himself.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo marketing has spanned multiple websites, twitter accounts and various forms of media including a 9-minute hard copy report made to look like it was transferred from an old VHS recording which details the murder case at the center of the film.

Another viral campaign appeared in Wired magazine online on December 7 with a fake CIA memo about a missing Russian nuclear official that is a "vital clue" to some mysterious upcoming cultural event.

Speculation suggests it is part of Christopher Nolan's third Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises, or perhaps Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

The Darkest Hour

The Chris Gorak-directed The Darkest Hour has launched its own version of a viral campaign to generate interest over the next few weeks before it opens on Christmas weekend.

Summit has released a series of posters featuring warning signs related to the electric creatures in the film. You can check them out below:

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The Hunger Games

Finally, we have an update from The Capitol from The Hunger Games viral campaign. Previously, the site invited you to register with the Capitol and determine which district you belonged to. Then, in order to help spread the word about The Hunger Games, the Capitol asked its citizens to show some Panem pride and run for Mayor of your respective District (Facebook page). Recently, the elections wrapped up and now twelve Facebook users hold the fates of their citizens in their hands. Will they be corrupted by the taste of power or lead a rebellion against the Capitol alongside Katniss Everdeen?

The Hunger Games directed by Gary Ross stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz and Donald Sutherland. It opens on the 23rd March next year.

Puss In Boots 3D

Look at your cat. Now look at Puss In Boots. Does your cat have Golden Eggs? We didn't think so.

If you're a fan of the famous Old Spice advert 'The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" then check out this parody by DreamWorks.

[embed width=550]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JsbSolUF5c[/embed]