1-18-08.com

Do u have any idea what this is?? Its the viral for J.J. Abrams, co-creator of ‘Lost’, new viral campaign promoting an untitled movie to come out January 18th, 2008. A preview clip being shown before screenings of the new “Transformers” movie, begins with the Bad Robot logo (Abrams’ production company), and shows a bunch of raucous 20-somethings at a going-away party in New York City. Abruptly, the lights go out and fiery explosions and a monstrous roar go off in the distance. The partygoers run to a rooftop and then a chaotic Manhattan street amid the fireballs and chaos when -- right before the trailer ends -- the head of the Statue of Liberty crashes into the pavement.

Now i'm not trying to promote the movie or anything like that, but what u see here is an awesome viral concept. Within hours of the "Transformers" premiere July 3, camera-phone movies of the clip started appearing on YouTube, which naturally gave Paramount Pictures (which has a production deal with Bad Robot) the publicity coup of having the clips removed.

The seed has been planted, and now Bad Robot will see if this project can ‘go viral.’ When it works, you can have a ‘Blair Witch Project’, when it doesn’t, you can end up with “Snakes on a Plane’. As production companies shy away from traditional movie commercials, outlining the entire plot and every joke, and move toward more engaging (and hopefully more lucrative) campaigns, online marketing efforts are sure to be at the forefront.