Well it's been a long wait, but here it is our first experiment with viral adveritising.

If you like it -- pass the link on to your friends and I'll keep you informed at how it works out --

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2342158286847022310

I'd like to thank Ross from Company MOVE for giving this a go and Steve Sibley who is a super star film maker! In his own unique way.

By the way the really bad acting is done the Ken Mood -- known locally as "Blinky Ken" -- I think he's a cult in the making!

Clive, would this be a link to the site for people to watch or it will be enbeded into the email as a viral marketing?

This doens't seem to meet Viral criteria, especially with the advertisement at the end.
It's not something I would send around because it's not that funny or gaspingly surprising.
It looks more like a trailer or teaser than a viral to me.

This is the link to google video -- if you want to email the 1Mb QT version directly, instead of just passing on the URL, email me and I'll send it to you.

Clive

This doens't seem to meet Viral criteria, especially with the advertisement at the end.
It's not something I would send around because it's not that funny or gaspingly surprising.
It looks more like a trailer or teaser than a viral to me.

Fair comment, not the reaction I'm getting in the UK -- maybe it's a UK humour thing.

I got a kick out of it, but I don't think I'd send this around to my coworkers...it doesn't have the funny or amazing we generally look for. I personally liked the punchline though.

I got a kick out of it, but I don't think I'd send this around to my coworkers...it doesn't have the funny or amazing we generally look for. I personally liked the punchline though.

Thanks -- but key question is whether you'd send it to another indie film maker or not?

To another indiefilmmaker, yes I would... But my mom and sister and friends, no.

To another indiefilmmaker, yes I would... But my mom and sister and friends, no.

Cool, the product is scheduling software -- film makers seeing this one is all that matters.

I did look at the link, and that I would forward on if I knew someone was looking for that type of software, but not necessarily the video.

This really fascinating -- There really does seem to be a massive difference between how people in the US and people in the UK react to this.

In the UK it's working perfectly as a viral -- I've already had a phone call from someone who wants to screen the entire movie at an all night festival in London -- and another from someone who wants a Ken Mood T-Shirt.

If nothing else it proves that virals are self selecting in terms of how they spread and also extemely difficult to do perfectly.

I guess the next couple of days will tell with this one.

Clive, I finally watched it. I have to admit that it's not to my taste, but I would guess others out there would jump on it- mainly young guys. Best of luck on the viral. :)

Yes the geordies always have a great sense of humour and i liked the crazy laughter at the end!

To be quite honest i thought it looked rather like a trailer however i still emailed it over to a friend of mine.

Interesting. I was drawn in by the guy ranting and raving, but a bit confused when it switched to the war scenes. Admitedly, the sound on my computer was a bit garbled - my machine doesn't have great speakers - so I was not able to hear things very clearly. Probably missed some key stuff. Good luck with it!

Well, I loved it. Maybe I wouldn't like it if I didn't know it was a viral, but I think a lot of people will think it's funny as a parody of excess in filmmaking.

Poke

I saw it...and I get it...but it is just not funny at all to me. I usually love british humor - Monty Python, Ricky Gervais, Shawn of the Dead, etc. - but this was...I don't know. If it is doing well and your sponsor is happy, though, then that is all that really matters!

I tried to do the exact same thing last year with Brock Jackson (http://www.knowitallvideo.com/showvideopop.jsp?i=1126431391226) and Beercations.com (http://Beercations.com). The viral actually made it onto NationalLampoon.com (http://NationalLampoon.com), but it didn't really help Beercations.com (http://Beercations.com) get any more traffic. I may go back to doing viral product placement again one day, but for now I am sticking with doing regular commercials.

Thanks Guys

This feedback has been useful.

We do experiments in the hope that they suceed, but in the knowledge that we have to learn from our failures.

The truth about virals is that although they are a free form of advertising, they are the hardest thing in the world to get spot-on. As this proves.

I've obviously missed the mark with this first attempt, which is valuable in itself, if not a little disappointing.

Something to think about in the future:

A successful viral needs to contain either the "WTF Factor" or the "LMAO Factor."

This one is definitely both. (http://www.boardsmag.com/screeningroom/commercials/2794/)

I like the way you incorporated the product in your viral, but it doesn't have to be so clever. It could be a simple white on black screen at the end with the website on it.

Poke