The Actor and Social Media

Posted by JMV on Feb 23, 2011 in Acting, Actor's Blog: the MaJeliv Flow, Life | 0 comments

More than an Actor’s Branding tool…

Social Media has extended beyond the corporate world, the small business realm and into my home computer.

I suddenly find myself realizing that I must manage myself and my communication better than a small business aiming at impacting his clients authentically. I must represent a value that entertains and enlightens while preserving a sincere sense of self.  Social Media can link my humble story with various huge Hollywood icons.

Influenced mainly by Seth Godin, Jon Ochs and Darren Rowse, I have embraced the stage of social media as a place where I can create a space to share my story and to serve others with the knowledge I gain on my journey.

It’s never easy to decide to let down your walls and allow your audience to see beyond the performance, but we leave so much more for them if we let ourselves go.

Of course there is a limit.  Seeking the wisdom of those that know the path of a public life is vital. How do we share our struggles without making ourselves vulnerable to slander and scrutiny?

Well, the ideal is simple really. Live accordingly to a set of values that are consistent. But the act of maintaining consistency in who we are may be more difficult than most people would care to admit.

Adversary with “Self” in Hollywood

Our actions speak whether or not we tweet or update our status on Facebook.

Watching 20/20, on Feb 18th, they talk about Lindsay Lohan. It is evident she has not been consistent with that initial image of the promising little actress in Hollywood. She grew up but never ascended her person. Her life, or at least the worst parts of it have been exploited.  But she was not consistent and now her mother attempts to defend her efforts to raise a responsible artist/woman.

If you want, you can watch the video here under the Feb 18th video list:

http://abcnews.go.com/2020

However, other actors like Will Smith and Jada Picket Smith not only remain consistent, well trained, and poised actors/producers but they live by simple principles of sincerity and family values, or at least that’s what we perceive.

You get the sense they are continuously climbing a mountain. Even when they weren’t married.  They each had pitfalls but kept climbing. Are they better than Lindsay Lohan? I am not the one to judge that but I can observe that they were more consistent in their effort to not give up, to keep climbing. They aim to better themselves and those around them while they ascend.

 

 

 

I think of Robert Downey Jr. who also went too deep into the Rabbit Hole. At some point he decided he was sick and tired of being “sick and tired”. He obviously gave himself a fighting chance and got back on track. Thus far, it seems he stays consistent in his battle; that is, until we read a tweet or status that says otherwise right?

I for one am rooting for Lindsay to finally come to terms with what she really wants. Her mother claims she is finally realizing she can stand on solid ground and fight her addictions, but only time will tell.

Using Social Media as a Road Map

Why is it that somewhere in the journey to stabilize a name for ourselves we dare risk who we are?  Is it ambition? Is it insecurity?  Maybe we don’t really know who we are?

Perhaps, the answers to these questions are universal but for now I’ve found social media as a tool that enables me to keep track of who I am. While its not the only tool for self preservation it certainly supplements the other forms that I will discuss in a later post. For now I recognize it as a potential means for accountability and artistic responsibility.

I certainly hope this tool offers a bit more than just gossip and “the latest thing” to those that follow my story. What would happen if they get to see the human spirit behind the artist? How wonderful would it be if they dare find encouragement for their lives, their dreams? What if they allowed themselves a chance to reflect on their walk and aim for practical steps to better their outlook on life?

I don’t know that they will do any of these things but the least I can do is tell my tale and leave the rest to them.

Can Social Media do all this for an Actor? I guess it all depends on the Actor, right?

In words inspired by Seth Godin:

“you can build with intention and ship, share and inspire or you can rush and lash out mediocrity, only consuming, destroying connections and authenticity.”

I make a choice everyday. What is yours?

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