3. Weyland Industries
In the film, the main idea behind how they are going to
the mysterious planet is because they crew of
archaeologists are backed back a scientific industry
called Weyland industries; who funded the creation of
the ship and other parts of the expedition. The
marketing team on Prometheus took this idea of this
major organisation from the film and ,in a sense, made it
real. They made a website that is called ‘Weyland
industries’ which is set up like a proper business website
and looks more realistic than some actual websites on
the internet. The website comes with ‘project
Prometheus’ along with other aspects like the ‘David8’-a
cybernetic robot that look just like a human. The top
screenshot is of part of the ‘David8’ promotional page
and in those paragraphs is detailed writing that link with
the idea of robotetnics. “An advanced polyurethane
coating replicates the biological properties of human
skin to exact texture, pliability and tensile strength.”.
The bottom screenshot is of the main page of the
website showing the dropdown menu presenting
‘careers’ and ‘project genesis’.
4. Take a look at the website
yourself:
http://www.weylandindustries.com/
5. Promotional videos
Before the film came out in the cinema, the film company
created short promotional videos which gave a more detailed
backstory on the universe and who one of the characters is. The
first is a speech given by ‘Sir Peter Weyland’ which tells us the
year that the film takes place and why the ship is called
Prometheus. It is done expertly and looks as realistic to normal
speeches given and broadcasted, but at the same time is
futuristic and more interesting. The second video, my
favourite, is an advertisement for the ‘David8’ cybernetic
humanoid model. It works very well in acting like a TV
advertisement with the calm music, slogan, and industry logos.
Weyland talks promo video: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2390728985/
Happy birthday David promo video: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2433000217/
6. I am a great fan of the
‘Alien’ and ‘Predator’
franchise and was really
looking forward to this
film. I heard about these
promotional videos
through my friend who
also enjoys the Sci-fi
genre. So the
Prometheus viral
marketing campaign
worked very well in
getting people interested
at an early date.
7. Posters
The posters for Prometheus are quite basic but work well considering the genre, where
you will already get strange objects or creatures in the photos or film stills. In my opinion
my favourites go from left to right, as I believe that both the left and middle ones show
what it is about (exploration) without revealing any of the plot while the one to the right
shows more of the plot and is not and mysterious.
8. In stark contrast to the
three posters the
represent the
setting, the
discovery, and the
action, this poster is
much like the
promotional video that
advertises the ‘David8’
robot model. I rally like
this poster and I think
that it is very thought
stimulating if you saw it
on a bus shelter for
example and would
leave you questioning
the ideas behind it. It is
a very simple poster
with very clean and pale
colours like the
turquoise and the white
which help convey the
‘perfect’ cybernetic
humanoid.
9. Billboards
Prometheus also
created billboard
posters to advertise the
film and this is one of
those posters. After
seeing the film I find
this poster rather
misleading at the
strange head-like
object is in fact inside
and temple like
structure in the
film, but here it is
shown on the face of
the planet.
10. Trailers
The creators of Prometheus have made about five
different trailers for the film in total. Three came out
after the release of the film but the two main ones are
the international launch trailer and the teaser trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU
The teaser trailer works very well and grasp the
audience in by showing a lot of different sections of
the storyline, where normally trailer only
conventionally show the characters and the idea and
beginning of the film with the other best bits coming in
too. I think one thing that really sells the two
trailers(especially this one) is the eyrie alarm/calling
sound that is in the background. It is one thing that has
stayed in my mind since watching it the first time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1byZkbNB3Jw
I find the international launch trailer is more tense and
exciting then the teaser trailer and shows the
unknowing audience the this film is going to be jam
packed with thrilling action and adventure. Whereas on
the teaser trailer, it is more ‘Alien’(the previous
quadrilogy) with the horror feel to it.
