"Demand" a Screening for "Paranormal Activity" and "TweetYourScream"

If you want to see why the low-budget horror film "Paranormal Activity" is being called the next "Blair Witch" phenomena, you may have to "Demand" it.

Showing in Select Cities

"Paranormal Activity" will be shown in select theaters in Austin, TX; Durham, NC; Boulder, CO; Lincoln, NB; Orlando, FL; Seattle, WA; Ann Arbor, MI; Baton Rouge, LA; Columbus, OH; Madison, WI; Santa Cruz, CA; State College, PA; and Tucson, AZ. on September 25, 2009. On September 24, 2009, special midnight screenings of "Paranormal Activity" will be held in NY, LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Seattle.

Demand a screening of "Paranormal Activity"

If you are not in the areas listed above, you have to "Demand" a screening. The film is hailed as the "First Ever Major Film Release Decided By You," so if you want to see it, visit Eventful.com/ParanormalActivity. If enough people Demand to see the film, it will be shown in the requested area.

Tweet Your Scream
Part of the viral marketing ploy is "Tweet Your Scream," viewers are encouraged to use Twitter to "tweet" their reactions after the screenings. A week before the films September 25th screening, most of the posts on TweetYourScream are from "TweetYourScream" and not viewers. There are some reactions to the trailer and @MTV tweeted "if there's any movie that stirs up that psychological fear when you're home alone in your bed, this is it!" It's early yet, so I'm curious to see the 'real' reactions of people who have seen it.

Audience Reaction
In September 2009, there was a midnight screening for "Paranormal Activity" at the Telluride Film Festival. The following day, the Internet was abuzz with positive reviews of the film. To drum up excitement for the film, a trailer showing the reactions of the audience at the screening was posted online. Paramount is using viral marketing to promote the film and hopes that "word-of-mouth" reviews on the Internet will encourage viewers to request screenings in their areas.

About "Paranormal Activity"
"Paranormal Activity," written and directed by former video game creator Oren Peli, was taped in just a week with a budget of less that $15,000 and recorded on a single hand-held video camera in 2006. The story revolves around a couple, Katie and Micah, who recently moved into a new house. The couple, played by Micah Sloat and Katie Featherstone, are plagued by a demonic spirit that appears while they are sleeping.