Not only is this funny, effective prank with some great payoff, but the video below is also a big endorsement of practical effects!
To help spread the word about Carrie (October 18th, y’all), the studio contracted marketing group Thinkmodo, Inc. to implement this prank, which had customers of a NYC coffee shop bear witness to a little bit of real-life telekinesis. Check it out below. I like the packaging of this as well- it’s good we’re past the “look guys, it’s real!” stage of this stuff.
Imagine if other films pulled similar tricks to gain attention. Maybe Captain Phillips can have a company stage some real-life Syrian pirates to take over a corporate meeting on Wall Street or something. Stage one of the guys getting shot out of the window. I’ll take other suggestions in the comments…