Prija Phaphouampheng, the Sneaky Bastard over at Cash for Comments came up with a guerrilla marketing idea that is so crazy, it just might work. Prija wants to make a movie call Blogging The Movie. The feature documentary will follow ten bloggers as they go about their daily lives for three to seven days. In order to get the project off the ground, Prija needs to generate some buzz and raise some money. There’s no better way to get that than by ordering a ReviewMe review to get the John Chow Effect.
Raise $50,000 By Giving Away Two Cars
Prija has came up a very aggressive promotion to raise the $50,000 needed to bring Blogging The Movie to life. He plans to give away two cars. Who is paying for these cars? Hopefully, you will. Advertisers may sponsor the cars for $100. In exchange for the cash you will get the following benefits.
- Two 200 word reviews
- Your domain name on two Scion tC’s
- Permanent link on BloggingtheMovie.com/Car
- Be part of the 1st free car giveaway in blogging history
- Publicity from the media hype that the movie will generate
Only 500 sponsorship spots are available. I can only picture what a Scion tC with 500 URLs on it will look like. One of the cars will be given to Prija’s little sister in a “big brother gives little sister a car” tear jerking TV moment. The other car will be given away to one lucky winner. You do not have to purchase a sponsorship spot to win the car. The winner will also be part of the movie.
Two Scion tC Cost $35,600. Where Is The Rest of The $50,000 Going?
- Product of stickers ads= $1,000-1,500
- Blog World Expo booth = $2,500-$10,000
- Initial Filming = $2,000-$10,000
Prija is going all in with this promotion. If all 500 sponsorship spots are not bought you will receive a full refund on 09/01/2008. However you will still get your permanent link and the two free reviews. So sponsoring the Blogging The Movie should be a no risk proposition.
Has This Guy Ever Filmed a Movie Before?
My first question upon hearing this idea was what kind of filming experience, if any, does Prija have? From his Cash for Comment blog, I can tell that he is good at marketing but I do not know if he can produce a movie. So I emailed him and asked. This was his reply.
I have Paperplane Productions to do the filming and editing. They are a small independent film company in Orange County that specializes in documentaries. They have done some behind the scenes documentary work for The Rebel – the most expensive Vietnamese blockbuster movie that is soon to be released in Vietnam. The film crew flew over to Vietnam and filmed in the jungles in extreme conditions. So I believe filming 10 bloggers all over the world will be a nice vacation.
Pulling it off? To answer this question is it not just going to be a one man project. I currently have a PR rep who will be handling the press releases and he will be contacting media outlets. I have a film crew. I have a music producer for the movie. I have a photographer for photo ops. The media needs newsworthy information that’s why I’m planning on giving away the free car. I’m also giving one away to my little sister, because it will be a more heart felt story.
Why should this work? I’m not trying to aim to get 1 million dollars with 10,000 ads. I’m only want to reach 50k with 500 ads. It has never been done before, and I will be the first.
World Wide Casting Call for Bloggers
If you would like to be one of the ten bloggers to be featured in Blogging The Movie, then copy and paste the fields below and put it on your blog with the answers to the questions.
- Real Name:
- Blog URL:
- Niche Market:
- Something interesting about yourself:
- Why is your blog different from the everyone else?:
- What are you most afraid of?:
Try to keep the entry to less than 500 words. Once posted on your blog, send the URL to BloggingTheMovie@gmail.com. If you are selected, Blogging The Movie will film your blogging life for three to seven days. Prija is hoping to film in the summer of 2008. This casting call is open to bloggers world wide.
497 Sponsorship Spots Left
After reading through the Blogging The Movie and Cash for Comments blog, I decided to pony up the $100 for a sponsorship spot. Just like the Million Dollar Wiki, the advertisers who get in early will reap the most benefits if Prija is able to pull this project off. If he doesn’t sell out the sponsorship spots, we’ll get our money back. If he doesn’t give us our money back, I know where he lives and he’ll be paid a visit from Ricky and the boys. Believe me, you don’t want a visit from Ricky and the boys.
Like the Million Dollar Wiki, Blogging The Movie will make heavy use of viral marketing. This review is just the start of the campaign. Once word of the project starts spreading across the Internet, Prija shouldn’t have much problems selling all 500 sponsorship spots. I wish Prija the best of luck and hope to see Blogging The Movie at a future film festival.
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{ 96 comments }
I participated in this too! i hope i win soon
u have be choosen as one of the 10 featured bloggers to win the car
No you don’t. The car will be given away randomly.
If the bloggers are in 10 different countries, this guy is going to have to move his film crew to 10 different countries and stay there for a week?
And he’s got $2000-$10000 budgeted for initial filming???
Did I miss something? I’d call Ricky and see what his plans are next year.
Read the blog to get the full business plan. The $2,000 to $10,000 is for Initial filming.
Yeah, so I’m wondering where the rest of the money is coming from? I can’t find it on the blog. $10,000 could possibly get a film crew to the first country for a week, but what about the other 9 countries?
Even if he raises the $50k, I don’t see how he’ll have enough funds left after the car purchase to actually make the movie.
However, his sister will have a car…..
Quite easily. Get media press, from there get real investors involved. That will fork loads of cash as an investment. I have friends in the documentary business. Its a process. You need to pitch them an idea and gain media exposure. That is what the trailer is for.
Easily??? Hmmm….may I ask if you’ve ever tried to get investors for a movie before? And if you’re going to move a film crew around the world, you’re going to need a LOT of investment.
I checked out the website of your film crew. Am I correct that it’s a default myspace site with 49 friends?
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=88368538
This will attract investors?
Am I correct in that if this fundraiser is a success but it doesn’t attract investment and the movie never gets made, your sister will still have a free car?
You’ll be getting 2 reviews, a permanent link, publicity from the free car giveaway.
I have friends in the film industry to push this movie. They just need to know that it has publicity and that there is a strong community. Blogging is the fast growing community out there with a user based of 12 million.
As described my sister will only get the car if all 500 sponsorships are sold. If only 499 are sold everyone will get a refund on 09/01/08.
If my sister gets her car, then everyone else will get what they were entitled to. I hope this answers your questions.
Yeah, I’m not questioning that people won’t get what they paid for.
I’m just not convinced that this movie is going to get made – and if the movie isn’t going to get made, the $100 for two reviews and a link may not be so great.
I’ve just signed up but being somebody who uses paypal for buiness a lot I forgot one thing, what about Paypal’s cut? For 500 payments they’re going to be getting a fair whack of your $50000?
Nice, Cash Quests!
If he knew what he was doing, he could make the movie for a lot less money using good digital video equipment and an Apple computer with film editing software.
Personally, I would never watch something called Blogging The Movie, and I really could not care less about the goings on in almost anyone’s daily life (the subject matter simply lends it self to cheap films, like reality shows — YAWN). And I never work for points or for the chance to win a prize: keeping working that way and you end up working for about 1.5 cents per day.
Oh and I already started seeing the spots filling up.
Prija, good mate – you rock with your rocking marketing ideas!
I can see there is like 20 places taken already since this review was made so I belive he could increase it to 1000 and make even more.
Hey John,
. This idea sounds pretty crazy. I’d be really interested in seeing one of the cars plastered with domains.
Been keeping up with your blog for a while, finally decided to post a comment
Yeah it would be really interesting to see 500 domain names printed on the body of a car, and I think I read somewhere the winner of the car has to keep those names on the car body for a certain period of time.
I was also impressed with Prija’s marketing ideas which inspired me to take part in his latest Jet Train which won me a book and a spot to his ‘book that traveled the world’ idea (which from what I understand will earn me a small feature in the movie)
I hope Prija goes all the way with his aggressive marketing ideas and achieves the hype he seems destined to get.
Susan, aren’t you getting some John Chow effect on your blog
I would hope so.
That was very kind of you Susan. Thank you.
Yes and the only way to get something done is to try it. If you try it and fail then you learn. If you don’t try it then you miss out all around. More power to you Prija!
Wow, you sure are getting a whole lot of comments from this review Prija!
You bought a spot eh? Looks like this review me only cost him $300!
And John only got $100!
John gets more than 50% cut
I’m am really interested in seeing this movie.. i think it would be really interesting
Surely I missed something? My first thought about a movie about blogging is “how boring.” No sex, no violence, no car crashes? Will the public go for that?
Maybe you could incorporate some of those things into the movie just so they’d watch it??!! It could be a blog about rating porn movies on your laptop, all while having sex in one of those fancy cars John loves so much, while driving 100 miles an hour and just barely avoiding other vehicles. That movie could really end with a bang!
I like my movies with hot hot chicks and guns (in that order), I think I’ll be giving this one a miss.
I know it’s not, but I imagine this movie as two hours of watching people type.
I think it may be interesting as well. I like creativity and this is wide open for that.
Hmm…. good idea. Sponsoring a car. Are you sure it will bring traffic ?
At least it will bring a car if you win heh.
I heard about this contest from a contest blog…hope it works for him tho.
Anyway John, in case he doesn’t refund you and Ricky and the boys can’t do the job. Just let me know, i will send him Moose and Rocko to sodomize his dog until he refunds you.
This should sell out pretty quickly. With your 8000+ readership it should be an interesting experiment. A car??
Well the car is the frosting on the CAKE. I plan to get real news media involved. Why aim low? When you can go balls out? hahah
JohnChow’s 8000+ readership might bring some sells for you! Congrats!
Documentary…won’t work in the mainstream.
Stranger things end up in the mainstream. Just watch a little MTV…
Pam Hoffman
http://seminarlist.blogspot.com
Murderball, Rize, Blogging the Movie. Its not about main stream. It about making headlines.
Some of the most popular movies in the past few years have been documentaries…
I think it is not about documentary… it is only the think around… main think is popularity and the car giveaway.
It sounds great! Good jog! Prija!
Good. Now buy a sponsorship! ahha
Currently, I don’t have enough budget to buy one but when I win some blog contest I for sure will buy one
I’m a sponsor and proud of it!
Hey John,
How do you come up with all these ideas? They are great.
Wait a minute.. it’s my sneaky bastard idea!!!
And you pretty much fart them out continuously!
You should apply to be in it John!
Yeah John you, Darren, Copyblogger, Yaro Starak and Schoemaker should be the top 5 documented
That would be a pretty good mix
Cool, just bought the 6th sponsorship
I wanted to be one of the first 10, let’s hope it pays off.
Sounds like buzz for the sake of buzz, i’d take a maid for a month before I wanted a scion but thats just me. I’m more curious about who really wrote this post, the spelling would drive the real john chow mad I tell you!
Funny… I have just launched a web page (www.getmeamini.com) where I’m selling ad space on my car and web page to interested (publicity hungry) buyers
It’s not the same, but it sure is similar 
Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys?
Whens a new series coming out?
As always it will be interesting to see how many people sign up because of your review
I’m definitely considering sponsoring, this seems like a cool idea and the movie should be cool.
Oh and the cars too
I love this project
Looking forward to watching it’s progress.. Unfortunately I don’t have anything to invest but am excited for the people taking part. Good luck with it. Ingenious!!
It’s a amazing project !
–blog for dream–
Great prizes, hopefully I don’t need a car. I just bought mine 1 month ago
Hey Ill always take a new free car.
I am extremely interested in how he is going to make watching someone blogging visually interesting.
You definitely should get a good variety of bloggers though. Full time, Part time, Male, Female, all different subjects and such.
Oh definitely. I agreed on all counts. I hope to make a textual community come to life.
I just signed up as a sponsor so I really hope that with the traffic JohnChow is pumping in I’ll still get a spot in the top 20. Only time will tell!
I’m quick. You are in!
Yes, I think it’s a good idea. It will be an interesting movie. Despite what we could think, not everybody knows what a blog is and what it implies.
You are right. I can’t believe how many of my friends and family do not know what a blog is. Even just a month ago I was pretty clueless (not much better now though LOL).
Interesting point. If people don’t know what it is, will they be inclined to see it?
I wonder if John Chow would invest in this movie?
well that what documentaries are used for. It’s an information piece that can shed light to an unknown discourse community.
5 spots taken so far… he ha his money back!
And another one with me. I like a gamble and $100 doesn’t get you much these days anyway.
The part of sponsoring a car is a pretty copycat of my http://www.myporschecayman.com project where I also sell ad spots on the car in exchange for advertising on the car. Maybe I should also start selling reviews.
YOU WANT A PIECE OF THIS? COME GET SOME!
A BUMPER? 100 bucks! What, you want pink writing on my tires? 100 bucks! You wan’t me to say you’re a cool dood in a movie? 100 bucks! 100 bucks baby and I’ll make you a movie star, right after I pay my sister a car first!
/sarcasm off, /reality on.
I just have to abuse this idea (a little, mad respect to John anyway)because it’s not legal and not moral… which is why it will work!
I’m also giving mad props to John’s honesty in changing the tag of this blog to be real. By now John has checked my IP and is considering deleting this post but he won’t! (Actually knowing John he checked my IP long ago, and if I say he won’t he actually will, He’s good at being evil).
Let’s turn up the heat a little ok John? I want to know why the new “$20.00 bidvertiser coupon” ad up top has MORE TYPOS! Will the real John Chow please come back! Killing birds with stones is illegal too…
/rant off… I hate that you’re making me curious about things I hate to be curious about John. very evil!
who is this guy that is always posting without a name and URL? aren’t you man enough to post your URL instead of hiding. if you hate JC so much, just don’t read his blog… simple and sweet. geez.. this guy is really starting to tick me off. i’ve seen him in several places on commenting anonymously already.
back to this review … the idea is crazy but brilliant! good luck Prija
Thanks.
It’s just a test. People love John Chow enough to defend him. Move along.
Love is an understatement. How about ‘Cult like Fetish’?
Is the production cost only going to be $35,600. Seems a bit low. Not sure if it’s going to make a good movie with entertainment value.
I’m not sure. Who would have predicted the success of Supersize Me, which was basically a man on a ridculous diet of eating McDonalds for an entire month. There are a lot if niche and independent movies being produced now and in the UK the number of independent cinemas are increasing and becoming more popular. Speaking of the UK, we have the National lottery which funds art projects and movies. Are there not any equivalent bodies in the US that would subsidise the movie? I really hope that it takes off. It is a very exciting project. Good luck
good luck Prija
I was one of the first to sign up for the movie, Now I’m trying to buy a sponsorship spot.
my blog worthy to be in the movie?
http://www.jamaipanese.com
I admire this guys ambition, and will be watching the progress.
Thanks for the support
I wanna see the list of bloggers that will star in the movie!
Wow, this looks like it will be awesome. It would be cool to see it in a theater.
will there be any chicks in the movie
haha kidding sounds good i look forward to watch it.Good Luck!
There doesn’t seem to be any concept for the film beyond following 10 bloggers for a few days to see what life is like…
And the reason he says it should work is that he ISN’T asking for 1 million dollars, just 50k? How is that a compelling reason at all??
Why not pull a concept that will attract investors (ie – film some of the major innovators/mentors/idols in the blog world) and actually have something with a built in audience?
You’d be more likely to interest non-bloggers more by having people who have hit some mainstream media and/or have produced products/etc that they have heard of.
Or maybe just have a great concept that will be something that people want to tell other people about?
Not saying mediocre ideas don’t ever fly…but…
…I can guarantee it’s not the BEST viral idea ever!
That title might belong to Youtube, Hotmail, Myspace…etc.
You guys are really serious about making a movie about blogging? And a good percentage of you are really going to follow. What SHEEPS. I agree with Joshua, it has no selling points and what if he never makes all the required money, you guys just shelled out $100 to thin air. Not only that, you pay for a car for his little sister and you give your money to someone who calls himself “Sneaky Bastard”. There is no clause of being paid back if he doesn’t make it. Is there? Also, this is not the first ever blog movie. Just do a search on google for “blogumentary” or “weblogging”. I wonder if I took a picture of my ass and allowed people to slap ads on it, would you pay $100 for each ad slapped on my barenaked ass. Now thats entertainment, original and it reaches low. You guys have no real talent. Just sheep. Followers. Get original and get out of the John Chow, Shoemoney bubble. Cookie Cutters.
By the way there is another contest from Amazon for $100,000. You can read details on my blog. However, regarding the contest above how would the cars be sent if the winner is from outside Canada or US??
The winner would have to pick the car up.
I just want to say that I like how John always is one of the first to help people out, not only does he blog about things he also buys into helping them out
nice work
To the anonymous doubting commenter above, not only do we get our $100 back if the movie isn’t made, we still get a permanent link back and 2 reviews – essentially for free. If the movie *is* made, then we also get the ad on the car and the chance to win a car.
The first 20 sponsors get a link on the sidebar under “Featured Sites” on the Blogging Movie homepage, which is being visited by a lot of people. I’ve already received traffic from it and I just bought the sponsorship yesterday.
You underestimate the value of viral marketing. There are risks, but with this, I’ll get my money back if he doesn’t get all the money he needs for the movie.
Early adopters for this benefit the most. You doubt this, but have you ever tried anything like this?
There is a reason people jump all over these opportunities, and it’s not because we’re “sheep.” It’s because it’s worth every penny.
So true.. UPDATE we are GOING TO vegas!!!!! for the Blog World Expo. We will have red T-shirts to give away and PLUS I will put all domains on the back of the shirt!!!! The deadline will be 10/20
All said and done. I hope the efforts pay off in the way of the movie actually doing good business. Though its fun to read these great blogs, I wonder how entertaining would watching bloggers go about their daily lives be. It need to be really made.
Well if they are making lots of money or extremely popular in the blogging world it would shed light on how we can get there.
Im thinkin’ so the winner has to driver around with all the URL’s on his car….
Yes, for 4 years. It’s a free car. My sister will have to drive her car for 4 years with all the ads.
Where people just come to these ideas.
That’s the effect of reading the 4 Hour Workweek. Thanks Tim