Customer: “Excuse me, I was just wondering…I see some signs out there on the front door that say ‘Theaters For Humans Only.’ Can you tell me what those are?”
Me: “Oh, those are some promotional signs for an upcoming movie, District 9. They’re designed to look like real warning signs as part of a viral marketing campaign.”
Customer: “Oh, cool! So what’s the movie going to be about?
(I explain the overall plot to the customer. Halfway through, her boyfriend returns from the restroom and listens quietly while I finish explaining.)
Me: “…so the aliens land in South Africa, and they end up becoming like refugees.”
Customer’s boyfriend: *completely serious* “Wait, hang on a second…so are the aliens real?!”
Me: “Oh, no. It’s the plot to this movie called District 9.”
Customer’s boyfriend: “Oh, good! I thought there’d been some news report and I’d missed it or something. Wouldn’t want to feel silly!”
