If only this had existed in Andy Stitzer‘s day. To drum up publicity for its Sept. 10th comedy, The Virginity Hit, Sony Pictures has plastered the nation with provocative billboards that read “Still a Virgin? For Help Call 888-743-4335 toll free” (pictured, at left). According to Deadline, the guerrilla campaign has ticked off some “local politicians” in Louisiana, Miami, San Diego, and Arizona, who are now demanding the studio remove the ads. If this is indeed true, I suppose I can understand how the cheeky billboards might catch some people off guard. If you’re driving along, you most likely don’t have time to see the Columbia Pictures logo in the bottom right hand corner and R-rating box in the bottom left, and therefore wouldn’t realize that it was a big ole ad for an upcoming movie about teenagers trying to get their friend laid. (The Virginity Hit, by the way, is produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Chris Henchy, partners in Gary Sanchez Productions.) Then again, maybe you’d spot “thevirginityhit.com” and get an inkling that this wasn’t some prurient lure for folks who’ve yet to get it on. (The url is obscured by the lights in the picture here, but it’s pretty prominent in other photos out there.)
In case you’re wondering, the advertised number is a working one. If you call it, you’ll be greeted by “Zack,” or Zack Pearlman, one of The Virginity Hit‘s stars. What does he say? “Press 1 if you’re a virgin, press 2 if you’re friends with a virgin and want to help, press 3 if you don’t know if you’re a virgin or not,” etc. It’s pretty innocuous and silly.
What do you think of Sony Picture’s “controversial” ad campaign? Is this much ado about nothing? Have you personally spotted the billboards? How many of you have called the “virgin hotline”? Tell the truth. We won’t judge.
Since the movie doesn’t really have anyone anybody’s ever heard of, the studio HAS to do stuff like this to get attention.
I like when movie marketing departments think outside the box.
agreed.
Huuuuuhh…outside “the box”…huuuuhhhh
Looks like they’re thinking inside “the box”…huuuuhhuhhhuh
funny! certainly would catch your eye. not offensive in the least!
Reminds me of the Mooninites thing Adult Swim did.
I don’t think Homeland Security & Bomb squad cares about virgin
I saw the ad on a bus stop bench on the way home, and had to look twice to see if what I saw was right.
I had no idea that it was for a movie because it was right next to an HIV testing ad and thought they were somehow related.
I was really curious to call the number but never got around to it.
already spotted it on nyc subway yesterday and snapped a pic for fb. didn’t know what it was for, didn’t read the fine print, didn’t care, just thought it was funny
i called and went through all the options. its pretty funny!
The billboards are in bad taste. Not funny at all.
Agreed.
Agreed. Billboards are not the right place for this kind of ad. Parents have no opportunity to filter this for their kids (e.g., their five-year old just learning to read).
Oh boo hoo hoo, a parent has to actually explain something to their child, how awful!
No it is awful because our society is so perverted that virginity is now shameful instead of honorable.
I’m boo hooing for you Jean. Get some taste.
That’s ridiculous. I have a kid learning to read and i have no problem with him knowing the word virgin. Geez. Honestly. Words are only as positive or negative as you make them. Being a virgin is not shameful in the society I live in – and I live in Miami Beach (!). Maybe you need to move to a more virgin positive community – or just hang with a classier crowd.
So that’s what that was! I think it would be fine if they made it more obvious that it was for a movie. I couldn’t believe it when I saw because I thought it was for real, but this makes me feel better.
Virgin is not a dirty word. I see no problem and I always love a good marketing campaign. Hey, your kids learn about the Virgin Mary in Sunday School don’t they? I did and honestly really didn’t think twice about it.
No virgin is not a dirty word. However, for many teen and pre-teens who are all ready under pressure to lose theirs, this billboard just reinforces the concept that being a virgin is a bad thing. There is nothing wrong with being a virgin and this type of advertising, even if it is tongue-in-cheek for an R-rated movie, is in incredible bad taste and completely inappropriate.
You think being a virgin in a religious country would be a good thing?
the billboards aren’t making it sound like a good thing, that’s the problem people are having.
Agreed. It’s really about peer pressure. When a kid gets to high school, it seems that losing their virginty is more important than getting good grades so that they can get into a good college. Parents need to work on that problem.
who knows! the show hasn’t come out yet.
Not the best marketing. Columbia should get their money back.
I’ve seen these ads (which I thought were brilliant), but thought for sure they were for the upcoming movie “Easy A.” Shocked it’s not!
I thought the same thing, and was also surprised to find out it was for another movie. Too bad ‘Easy A’ didn’t think of it first – great campaign.
Not great marketing. Risky.
This only works if the press majorly picks up on it.
If you are like most, sheep-ish products of our pathetic public school system, and you dont go to the effort of researching it on the net, you will never figure out that this is a movie promo.
Therefore, there is a high probability that a greater number of people will be offended by the campaign than will be introduced to the movie.
That’s science.
so it’s for a movie? darn, i’m so bummed out
Best marketing idea ever…
If you were offended, I suggest you should move to Alaska.