Silent Bob Strikes Back
Here’s an interesting story I spotted today at “My Boring Ass Life,” a blog by filmmaker Kevin Smith.
(Smith as Silent Bob)
Twice this week Kevin has hit back at critics, once after Joel Siegel walked out of a screening of Clerks 2, and once today when he was criticized for putting the names of 10, 000 MySpace fans at the end of the credits. As a marketing idea, this one was brilliant, and Smith credits that one to the Weinstein Company. It got people talking and it got press. And it happened on his MySpace, which we should all know by now is free.
The real interesting part of the story is that we’re seeing a real trend here: The critics of the mainstream media are no longer safe. You’re entitled to your opinion, Ms. Critic, but so is everybody else. And in the case of Nikki Finke, she’s being blasted by fans of Smith en masse for her close-minded evaluation of the tactic. Check out the comments on his duplicate post from Myspace.
As Smith notes, not a single industry honcho or guild member has complained, even for one second. (Finke claims that putting fans in the credits is an insult to the folks who work so hard to earn those credits day in and day out) Well guess what Finke? It’s a new world, where the audience is the marketer, and is just as deserving of being honored for posterity for their word of mouth efforts in the credits, which they can then freeze frame for their friends when they buy the DVD. (Because they will. All 10, 000 of them)
Just another example of how the gap between blogging and traditional media is closing. Soon, not only will journalists have to write for their audience and Google (a skill they’re slowly mastering) but now they’re inevitably going to have to accept the fact that they’ll have to open up comments, and leave their writings at the mercy of immediate response from their readers.
I hope Clay won’t mind that I pulled this from an email he sent me much earlier today:
Traditional media is so far behind the news cycle; they report business news two/three DAYS late. By that time, it’s been digested, blogged and commented about by bloggers everywhere. Faddishness? I think not. Of course, we’re not journalists. We’re not the first draft of history. Journalistic media will always hold this place in our society.
What we do is provide the commentary in the margins of the first draft. Once journalistic media can get out of its “Traditional” (mired in print) phase and begin reporting in truly real time… well, that’ll be a different day.
I agree almost entirely, except I want to add that when the mainstream media opens themselves up to instant feedback, the way the blogospere operates, then that “commentary in the margins” will be of as much or more value than what he refers to as the first draft, and writers will be cautious of that fact, to say the least.
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July 27th, 2006 at 9:14 am
hmmmm……
My friends are journalists, worked for traditional print media for years. They jumpted the paper-boats and created this daily news site http://www.westcoaster.ca
They are now having a hard time getting news readers in the community it serves to read it daily, or, to just ‘get it’. Tons of hits from Europe however! (seeking tourism info we suspect) People in these rural communities haven’t caught up with the web yet.
My friends need help getting the word out to community members who’ve been reading local weekly and daily papers for 50 some odd years, only recently had ‘high’ speed internet brought to their homes. Advertising the those local papers?, publishers refused to accept the ads saying westcoaster.ca is competition and they don’t let competition advertise in their publications. What would you do?
July 27th, 2006 at 11:10 am
“The critics of the mainstream media are no longer safe” … well said, Jordan. That means that everyone who wants to play in this new media sandbox has got to be willing to stand behind their statements and defend them when necessary, correct them as needed, and apologize when appropriate. There’ll certainly be those who are used to being on the attack and not being criticized, and for them it’ll be an adjustment, but overall this greater equalization will result in a better exchange of ideas and hopefully best practices as well (and not simply arguing for the sake of arguing).
July 27th, 2006 at 11:36 am
Susan, here’s what I’d do:
Invest that ad budget in design, and definitely install an RSS feed to the site.
Also, be aware that Port Alberni, Tofino etc. will never alone give you the readership that you’re seeking, so write pieces that are enaging for an international audience. (European tourists) If ad sales are your revenue model, sell ads to people who want to attract European tourists (realtors, tourism, etc.).
Lastly, and this is something you’re already doing: get out and comment on blogs, and leave your link behind. The right combination of great content and getting out there will slowly but inevitably build a readership for you.
That’s what I would do.
July 27th, 2006 at 11:43 am
Andrea, thanks for your comment. Now that I’m reading that quote though, I’ve got that bit wrong.
“The critics ’employed by’ the mainstream media are no longer safe” is how it should read. Judging by this, I’m a critic ‘of’ the mainstream, and I happen to feel quite safe.
I agree though, once “the conversation” is embedded into all forms of media, the dynamic will change for the better.
July 27th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
“My friends need help getting the word out to community members who’ve been reading local weekly and daily papers for 50 some odd years”
Jordan, Susan – The audience seems pretty entrenched/in love with the physicality of media. Some of the comments on this post of Buzzmachine.com explain why “real” hand-held media can be tough to pull away from people. Check the comments to see.
But it can be done… and I think that while design and RSS can help, the real key is content. After all, look at the successful websites that draw crowds: Craigslist, Myspace, Google, Wikipedia… none of these woo with design. It’s the content that’s King (or Queen). Without relevant content that beats “traditional” media to the punch, there’s no reason to switch.
Also, provide people a way to EASILY contribute to your site.
Here’s a particularly relevant quote from the aforementioned Buzzmachine link, by “Johnny”:
“The ergonomics and usability of media matters. There’s nothing like a crisp Wall Street Journal paper waiting to be read and rumpled up. I read the articles in deeper detail. The web is nice for scanning and short reading. Paper has its place, particularly if papers begin publishing more reader feedback.”
July 27th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
yummy! like a fat salmon on the barbeque!
Thanks for the info, stay tooned! RSS will happen asap!
we’ve been so entrenched in the ‘local’ reader, knowing the
European reader is visiting…ignoring them, shame on us!
That was a great observation! thankee muchee!
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Design, well, we need to stay where we are, money is an issue and
ease-of-use for all skill levels as well. (yes ad sales is the revenue model, and believe it or not, that IS working!)
We will conquer with content!
and links.
Did I say links?
Yes, links.
You are all super brill rockstars! Thanks!
July 28th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Ok you rockstars!
Do you know how many times you give out advise, advise that has been asked for
and it is not taken? not employed? not listened to? Isn’t that the most ungrateful soddy
thing?
Not us! Not Westcoaster.ca! We listened! We employed! We are GRATEFUL!
RSS has been added.
We are going to wind into the news one story each day in relation to
the intimate side of visiting and living in our communities.
That is for those Europeans who are coming to the site, who are looking at the West Coast as a place to vacation. You know, the insiders tips and tricks, places that
the magazines and travel agents don’t tell you about. West Coast the Insiders Guide.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
So, design question, we have to live with the system/site we have and
are somewhat limited.
Please please hit me back with design icks and wins that you see
and we will see what we can do to patch them up or scrap certain things etc.
LOVE YOU!
xoxox