A PR stunt at Liverpool Street station for a new UK film that follows an ex-con chasing £100,000 yesterday became even more like the plot than its organisers could have dreamed.
Marketers for ‘Dead Man Running’ had already prepared a scene reminiscent of London’s underworld by arranging a £5,000 drop-off at the station for people to pick up.
But unknowing to the organisers, and the awaiting punters, 50 undercover and armed police officers arrived at the station, effectively making the scene even more fitting to the film.
Not dissimilar to a crook off the big screen relaying a message of a foiled plot, the marketers reflected: “due to transport police intervention, we had to cancel the money drop.”
Crowds of people who gathered from very early yesterday morning to get a share of the cash were told the news over the station’s loud speakers.
One of those turned away, Rhiannon Argot, 26, of Clapham blasted: “I can’t believe so many people were there to STOP us from getting free money.
“It’s crazy that our tax money is spent on having an army of police invade a PR stunt rather than patrolling the streets”.
However, in keeping with the dogged persistence of the film’s protagonist Nick Kane, played by Tamer Hassan, who must raise £100,000 in 24 hours, the marketers said they wouldn’t give up.
“We are planning to re-schedule it”, they said of the money drop, “at a time and place that will be announced shortly.”
Details of the drop will be posted on a microsite for the film, which is produced by the English football players Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole, and is available on DVD from March 1st.
Feb 25, 2010
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