Bret Easton Ellis is currently in London, and his new novel "Imperial Bedrooms" is out now in hardback. Picador and digital creative agency Ralph have created a unique online experience inspired by the book, to test the world’s moral aptitude: www.thedevilinyou.com.
Last week, a video trailer was released showing a shaky video casting session with a morally dubious outcome. Viewers were directed to take up the cause against Hollywood exploitation and sent to a holding page. Following that release, Bret Easton Ellis fans can now visit www.thedevilinyou.com and step into the shoes of Clay, a Hollywood producer, as he runs a seedy casting session somewhere in LA. You direct the actress; you tell her what to do. You can encourage her, fill her with booze and drugs, make her dance for you or take things to a whole new level. Players can then share their devil-in-you rating by posting their score to Facebook and Twitter.
The experience is for over 18s only and contains coarse language, drug and sexual references.
“We wanted to create an immersive experience for Bret Easton Ellis fans,” said Lee Dibble, Senior Marketing Manager at Pan Macmillan. “The lines between reality and fantasy are blurred, allowing players to become the central character of the book. Ralph were a perfect partner in producing such a standout piece of work.”
Twenty-five years on from "Less Than Zero," "Imperial Bedrooms" picks up again with Clay and his friends. Released by Picador in hardback this week, the book is priced 16 pounds Sterling.
Bret Easton Ellis will be reading and discussing “Imperial Bedrooms”:
17 July: Headlining the Literary Arena at Latitude Festival in Suffolk
18 July: Broadway Cinema, Nottingham
And will be discussing “American Psycho” as part of the Guardian Book club series at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 on Wednesday 14 July.
Bret Easton Ellis inspired events:
14 July: A Bret Easton Ellis LITERARY DEATH MATCH special at Concrete, Shoreditch High Street: www.literarydeathmatch.com
18 July: DISCO BLOODBATH and BAD PASSION will be spinning the decks in a BRET homage at Question Mark bar in Dalston.
About Ralph
Lean, nimble, proven and oddly named, Ralph is a new breed of digital creative agency. Since launching in London in 2006, we’ve created some of the world’s most innovative and engaging digital content. For example, our 2007 viral campaign for the first season of "Dexter" earned BIMA’s Best Use of Viral Award, AdFreak’s Freakiest Advertising Moment of 2007 Award, many complaints from the public and several police interviews. After landing a BAFTA Craft Award in 2009 for our creative contributions to E4’s "Dead Set," we opened new studios in New York and Los Angeles. And in 2010, we were named among the 49 companies in Facebook’s Preferred Developer Consultant Program… although to be quite honest, we’re still just getting started. For more information, please visit www.ralphandco.com.
