Even though I’m somewhat averse to the business world, I do appreciate a really clever marketing campaign. I suppose that’s why all that Cloverfield mayhem was so interesting to me…it’s rare that you see the movie industry break out of their normal routine and do something really unique.

Anyway, this casting call announcement arrived in our inbox recently (it was actually sent 15 days ago, but I just now noticed it), and it definitely caught my attention as a unique marketing tactic. Basically, they’re asking anyone who thinks they resemble the rapper Notorious B.I.G. (aka to Christopher Wallace) to send in an audition tape before September 15th, with the chance to play Biggy in a feature-length motion picture about his life. The official website can be found here (where you can actually watch all of the audition videos).

Granted, I’m pretty sure that FOX has no intention of casting a nobody to play this role (it’ll probably go to one of the four or five second-tier actors that Biggie’s description). However, this definitely qualifies as a clever marketing campaign (aka publicity stunt). You can just imagine all the overweight African American men around the country drooling at the idea that their physical appearance may actually work to their advantage for a change. Actually, HBO did something similar a few years back…they announced an open casting call for The Sopranos, and they succeeded in getting most of tri-state area’s middle aged Italian men to stand in a mile-long line in Jersey for a day. Of course, they didn’t cast a single one of them, but it definitely gave them some free publicity.

Anyways, I just wanted to share. I suppose I’m just helping to give these guys the free advertising that they’re looking for, but in this case they deserve it, cause it’s a clever idea. Plus, if you happen to be a 300 pound African American man, you may have a shot at becoming a movie star (well, probably not, but at least this gives you a reason to dream about it).