1-18-08 - Social Media + Product = Speculation, Theorization and Pontification

Posted July 30th, 2007 by Kevin

Will JK Rowling kill Harry Potter? Will the iPhone levitate? Are the cast members of “Lost” in purgatory? If you want an answer, you can find plenty of them in the appropriate community. Today, anyone can be a Super Sleuth and find facts and data to support a desired theory to the questions above. The most recent example of this phenomenon is 1-18-08.

If you’ve seen the movie trailer, your first reaction was probably “WTF?!?!?!” Followed quickly by, “What was that called? I didn’t see a title.” Paramount Pictures released the trailer prior to Transformers and the blogosphere has been buzzing ever since (you can see the trailer here). There was no story mentioned. It looked like an earthquake, until something roared. There was no title. Just 1-18-08.

Now, just three weeks later, you can find countless theories and a huge foothold online. Have a theory about the movie, visit the wiki. Want to get some additional clues, visit blogs like this. Want to follow the breadcrumbs that Paramount is leaving you, then check out the official site at www.1-18-08.com where you can view four still images they’ve released to date and check back often as there are more to come.

So…what is the community saying about a movie with no title, characters and confirmed plot line?

“I just watched the trailer to 1-18-08 and it looks like its going to be one hell of a movie. I have no clue what it’s about.”

“…Along with the date (1-18-08), we see a time of 12:36 A.M on one of the pictures. I did a google search for 12:36 (with the idea of a biblical verse) and here’s what it came up with. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak…” Matthew 12:36

“Supposedly he told Ain’t It Cool News that it’s about a giant worm that falls to Earth. Sigh…Viral Marketing works I guess.”

Entry Filed under: Entertainment, Viral Marketing