The Great News/Social Media Collapse

Mitt Romney, Domestic Violence, Michele Obama and the Olympics.  There is no longer a division between Social Media and Mass Media or as we used to call it, THE NEWS.

If you an informed person of any kind (which will always make you a more powerful and believable actor), the consuming of information about world events and pop culture is essential.  How you consume it has changed, and very quickly. Being aware of the information YOU put out as “news” via social media should be looked at immediately.  Then later, what your publicist puts out will also shape the direction of your career.

On the same day, I received in my email in box, via Facebook, and on Television, some of the very same information.  What does that mean and why should you care as an actor?  Your use of social media in your life/career will heavily influence the perception of your already and future audiences, thus you’d better be very careful with what you put “out” there.  And if you’re not using social media to put out news about what you’re up to, you are already behind the curve in a HUGE way.  In one way that’s good news, so read on to make sure you don’t “hurt” yourself from the get go.

Why it’s important.

Joe Biden is reaching out to raise money for the Obama re-election, not only with TV and radio ads but also via email and Twitter, so it’s “collapsed” together…any way to reach the public, right?

The Bourne Legacy movie (saw it and loved it) that premiered this past weekend was slated to bring in around 45 Million dollars but fell short of expectations due to the largest audience watching the Olympics closing ceremonies in history.  Attention, eyes, visibility…it’s all a competition.  News, entertainment…all translated to audience share which translates to money.

The race to get eyes on an event, a person, or make NEWS first is very material in a world full of cluttered messages.  What do people pay attention to?  The announcement of Mitt Romney’s running mate and which outlet would get the first interview with Paul Ryan was a Hollywood Reporter Headline that came to me in an email…the spoils went to CBS’s 60 minutes, who won out over 20 other media outlets all vying for the interview.

A new reality show, half in the can and ready to debut in the Fall, is canceled because it’s star, NFL All-Pro Chad Johnson is accused of domestic violence against his wife (unsubstantiated). The network, not wanting the risk, would rather lose the money upfront than take a ratings chance and fail.  Another example of the collapse of NEWS, Social Media and what we do in “real life” and how it all makes a difference.

Michele Obama’s hosting of a political fundraiser at Gwen Stefani’s house and enrolling the use of celebrities in film and music to draw a “regular” person’s attention to the Democratic cause is another example.  What is NEWS, real life, social media?  What is perception and how does all of this affect you?

Why you should care as an actor is that what you post on Facebook, what you Tweet, and how you act in everyday life DIRECTLY impacts your ability to have the acting career you want.  Eyes and ears on what you do OFF stage/screen as a “person” are completely related to your paycheck for work as an actor on stage/screen.  This is new…it wasn’t like this even a few years ago.

The easiest way to describe what there IS to do (gosh knows there’s not enough space in this newsletter to describe what you shouldn’t do!) is to just go with the following thought process:  What would make my mother proud if she were reading it on the front page of the local paper?

This doesn’t mean you can’t BE yourself…it just means to always be your BEST self.  The time to be “edgy, controversial, and stand out” is AFTER you have a million people in your corner liking you in your “real life” and on your Facebook page!  If you’re not there yet, then getting there will be tough if you’re snarky, rude, or behaving badly.

‘Nuff said…before I say too much!

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To Your Success, Lisa Gold

Success Stories

A HUGE Congratulations to these 24 Act Outside the Box actors who were cast in “Saved by the Pole” and indie short film headed for Sundance: 

Joe Scanio, Joanna Bonaro, Danny Pollack, Nefe Nicole, Larissa Laurel, Ashleigh Awusie, Amanda Charles, Shannon Thornton, Gabrielle RyaLucy, Dolly Caires , Alexandra Bailey, Mahasiah Blaise Stephanie Riccin , Erin Wheelock, Joannie Lit, Jill Anne, Lori E. Cunningham, Tom Shewchuk , Timothy Hatcher , Joe Kramer, Leo Goodman, Rich Meinman, Tony Naumovski, and Andrew Kaen.

Show Business Tips – by Tracy Costa

In my never ending search for more time management tricks so that I can accomplish all that I want to do and still have a balanced life, my amazing associate and Goddess, Tracy Costa, handed me this one just the other day.  It revolves around the POWER of FIVE.  Tracy says “Lisa, do this and you’ll be a lot happier, and when you’re happier, I’m ecstatic!”  HERE’S the TIP:  You’re daily “To Do” list can only be 5 things. That’s it, just 5. If you complete everything on the list of 5, then you can look at your longer list and pick 5 more things. Only 5 more. You cannot add things to that list while you are working on the other items. Only when all 5 things are done can you add to the list. Oh yes, and breathe in between!