NCM and TNT Turn Moviegoers Into ‘Virtual Extras’ In Legends Promotion
Gail Chiasson, North American Editor
In a U.S. cinema advertising first, moviegoers in New York City this past weekend got to steal the scene in a big screen promo for TNT‘s new drama series Legends during National CineMedia‘s FirstLook pre-show program.
From Aug. 8-10, TNT and NCM set up a special Legends booth in the lobby of the Regal Union Square movie theater to capture video of moviegoers on their way in to see a film. Using green screen technology and ‘near real time’ editing, select moviegoers were then inserted into the new Legends trailer as virtual extras, creating one-of-a-kind, long-form content pieces unique to each movie and showtime throughout the weekend.
TNT and NCM noted which films the video participants were going to see, and those audience members were surprised and delighted to see themselves up on the big screen alongside Legends star Sean Bean in the new action-packed show promo.
The promotion ran in front of all PG-13 and R-rated movies over the weekend. Once their respective movies were over, participants were emailed a copy of their personal Legends promo to share across their own social networks.
A sneak peek at TNT’s Legends can be seen in NCM’s FirstLook nationwide in AMC, Cinemark, Regal Entertainment Group and other top movie theaters through the end of August, as well as across NCM’s online and mobile networks. Legends is slated to premiere on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on TNT.
“TNT has always had the uncanny ability to create unique interactions with moviegoers, which is why we’re thrilled that they are the first to showcase this new exciting cinema advertising technology,” says Cliff Marks, NCM’s president of sales and marketing. “The opportunity to bring the moviegoer into the Legends content provides an engagement experience like no other – one they will be talking about long after they leave the movie theater.”
“TNT’s Legends promotion with NCM uses the power of technology to bring consumers into the world of the series and give them a taste of what the lead character experiences when he begins to question his own identity,” says Tricia Melton, senior vice president of entertainment marketing and branding for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies. “It’s great to watch the reactions of people when they see themselves inserted into the Legends trailer. At first there’s a sense of surprise and disorientation, followed by disbelief and eventually that ‘boom’ moment when they realize what’s happening. We’re proud that TNT is once again taking the lead in finding new ways to connect with consumers on an emotional level.”
This is believed to be the first time that this technology has been used in a U.S. cinema advertising campaign.
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