To herald the arrival of Dracula on BBC screens, the creative minds at BBC Creative have been hard at work crafting specially designed posters infused with the same haunting wit as the eagerly anticipated TV series.
Crafted by the brilliant minds behind the acclaimed Sherlock series, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, Dracula promised to offer a unique and unconventional interpretation of Bram Stoker’s gothic novel.
To capitalize on the mounting excitement, the BBC has installed two billboards in both London and Birmingham. These billboards don’t overtly depict the count himself; instead, through a clever interplay of shadows and stakes, Dracula materializes as a ghostly figure.
In the daytime, onlookers will notice stakes piercing through the billboards, alluding to the actions of vampire hunters. However, as night falls, a light on the side illuminates, revealing that the stakes have been meticulously arranged to cast shadows forming the face of the blood-thirsty villain from the TV series.
Enhancing the eerie atmosphere, a ‘break in case of vampires’ box stands beneath the billboard, containing a pointed wooden stake ready for action.
Discussing the billboards, Olly Harnett, creative head at BBC Creative said: “Our campaign for Dracula leaves the audience in no doubt they can expect something fresh and unexpected from this extraordinary adaptation of the vampire classic.
“Our unique campaign is one of the most ambitious special builds we’ve ever undertaken – by day, a random assortment of stakes hammered into a billboard but by night, transformed, as the Count springs to life in the form of a looming shadow.”
Adding to this, Chris Hooper, head of marketing at BBC One said: “Coming from the makers of Sherlock, this version of Dracula is laced with dark humour and rock star swagger. We wanted our campaign to reflect Steven and Mark’s fresh take on a classic character, so each element has been designed to surprise – from the cheeky campaign line, ‘Bloody Legend’, to the use of Lust For Life on the trailers, and this special build, which takes a playful, tongue-in-cheek approach to the legend.”
Credits: TheDrum.com