Reflecting

        Over the course of the semester, I have learned about many new aspects of the social media world and what is has to offer us day to day.  We have gone over user generated content, social media and online relationships, crowdsourcing, social media and politics, business, learning, the digital divide, social media and the future and applied all of these topics to the field of entertainment.

        Social media has become a way of life for many people.  As entertainers, we become influenced by what others do within the walls of a social network.  With Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc, everyone is posting and sharing about what they are doing with themselves, what projects they are working on, what cause they are lending a helping hand to.  Sharing with followers and friends to promote what it is entertainers want their fans and the public to know about them. Advertising, advertising, advertising!  People in the entertainment industry want to be heard and seen by all.  Social media allows us to easily see the good, the bad and what it is we have to offer to others.

       Social media has a definite impact on the world of entertainment.  Without social media, entertainment, video production and film, photography, etc. would not be the same as it is today.  People in the entertainment industry, such as actresses, actors and those behind the scenes such as directors and producers have all become dependent with using social media to promote their "brand" and anything that has to do with their name. In the entertainment field, it is all about being heard, and what better and easier way to be heard by your fans than to communicate with social media.
       



      

The Future

       Social media is becoming more and more popular everyday.  People have added the use of social media as an everyday communication device.  In the world of entertainment, celebrities and those working with them have grown to depend on social media as an outlet to reach fans quickly and conveniently.  With social media growing day to day, and what it has become in the past few years, we can only wonder what the future holds for social media.

       Those working in the entertainment industry (Actors, Singers, Musicians, Directors, Editors, comedians), always have eyes on them.  They want to please the people looking up to them and make a good statement for themselves.  With social media use, such as Twitter, which has become a very popular way for entertainers to communicate with fans, celebrities can let the fans know what they are currently working on, what they did that day or at the moment, easily put their name out there for everyone to see.  I can only see this growing in the future.  It definitely helps those trying to make a name for themselves because it makes the fans feel more involved in their personal lives.  The fans want to know the people they idolize on a personal level.

      Social media can support individuals in the entertainment world because it is crucial for those in this line of business to be able to reach their fans, reach others in their community, and to let their voices be heard.  People obsess over celebrities, we all have our favorite movie stars and singers.  Fans want to know their opinion on everything.

      Social media can also harm those in the entertainment industry if they are not careful about what they post.  An example of this is when comedian, Gilbert Gottfried, used the earthquake in Japan as a way to tell jokes on Twitter.  He lost his job as the voice of the Aflac Duck over these jokes.  In the entertainment industry, nobody wants to work with someone that is publicly making a fool of themselves while negatively commenting on serious issues.

     In the future, social media can continue to help the name of celebrities and those that want their voices to be heard by those that look up to them.  Social media will only continue to grow in the world of entertainment with Instagram, Twitter and whatever else has yet to be created.  Celebrities love to be loved.  Social media is the easiest way of showing the world what you have to offer!




http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/tweets-gone-wrong-in-2011/2011/12/16/gIQAKPcb4O_gallery.html#photo=1

The Digital Divide

        There are definite access and equity issues in the entertainment world.  Those who do not have access to the internet and social networking sites, certain television channels, etc. are at a disadvantage to those that do have access.  In the entertainment business, it is crucial to be able to see what is going on with competitors, be able to look at the most popular videos on YouTube, what television shows are being talked about as the "hottest" shows at the moment via "tweet".  Being aware of what is going on and what the trends are is important today in society.  Those that go without the certain technologies we live with today are not fully informed in the world of entertainment and it is unfortunate that many people cannot afford to simply have access to the internet at home.

        An example of the digital divide in the entertainment industry is about creating diverse content, including television, twitter, blogs and movies. People of color are consuming these sources of media more than ever. With this rise in consumption of media, it has been shown that blacks in senior positions, minority ownership, black ownership and executive ranks are declining. It has also been said that black-themed shows are declining as well. 
       
       "The first digital divide was about access to the consumption of the Internet, the World Wide Web and multiple "cool" applications.  Today, the second digital divide is about access to the senior positions and financial capital that would make media content more relevant to more Americans" (Wilson III).

       Without access to certain tools of media, consumers of our work cannot fully view every aspect of what the entertainment business has to offer.  There are so many different technologies and ways to view media today, those that cannot financially afford the internet, or a computer, or a smartphone are not able to access sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and so on.  Without being able to view these sites, the advertisements will not be seen on Facebook, the videos cannot be viewed on YouTube, the tweet of the celebrity promoting their movie premier or concert will not be seen on Twitter, all impacting the entertainment business and those that create the pieces of work people view online everyday.  

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2013/02/blacks_in_top_media_jobs_why_diversity_is_needed_now.html       

Social Media and Learning

        Education has become very different than what it used to be.  Today, we have technology to help with teaching.  When it comes to learning and social media, I feel that there are both good and bad aspects.  Social media can definitely support as well as distract from learning.  Lets start with the supportive elements.  

        

        In all my years of college, I have taken many online classes and have enjoyed them.  With distance learning, school becomes less stressful and much more convenient.  With online classes, students can work during the day and do their schoolwork in the night.  Online learning is also very convenient when students do not live near campus.  For example, I live an hour and a half away from Chico States campus, online classes make learning so much less stressful.

        Social media is supportive in learning because it offers an additional way for communication between teacher and student as well as classmates.  Teachers and students can post videos on YouTube, view lectures via the internet, etc.  In my video production class, I am able to post my projects on YouTube for others to view.  This is all very supportive in learning.

        There are also distractive elements of social media and education.  It can be very distracting to students and teachers when there are students that text, Facebook, tweet, etc. while in class.

Especially to professor lecturing, while students are on their laptops, tablets, smartphone, etc. while the the professor is in the middle of a discussion, with half the class ignoring every word coming out of the professors mouth, this is a negative. 

        With social media and learning, there is the good and the bad.  I feel that the good out weighs the bad because social media is an outlet to communication.  With social media, learning has become more interesting for students and convenient for both student and teacher.  

Social Media and Business

       Social media plays a big role in business today.  Within the entertainment industry, social media is being used in different areas of business including radio, film, music, magazines, etc.  Social media is another source of communication from one person or group to the target audience of that group.  Reaching out to consumers is very important to any business.  The more ways possible in reaching a customer, the better possibilities for the business to succeed.

       Social media makes me feel much more connected as a consumer.  Social media allows businesses to easily focus on a certain product that is on discount or just being advertised at the moment.  An example of this that comes to mind is The Cheesecake Factory focusing on a particular menu item and advertising it through a social media network, such as Facebook.  A recent example of this is The Cheesecake Factory posting a photo of their seasonal Pumpkin Cheesecake with the caption "Trick or treat? We say: Treat. [Pumpkin Cheesecake]".  This shows consumers that the seasonal dessert is now available at the restaurant.


       Following the businesses I make purchases with on social media sites does make me more of a loyal customer.  Being informed and up to date on information about a business is important because it can lead to sales for that business.  If I am following a particular field of work that interests me, a place of business that I actually make purchases with, the fact that I am making an effort to stay informed with this company makes me a loyal customer.  I follow their tweets, status updates, etc.  I see they have a new product that they are advertising that I take interest in.  I take further action and investigate the item and this leads me to make the purchase.

       I recently came across a new social network that pertains to my interest in the entertainment industry. Connectshot, a social network strictly for people in the field of entertainment.  This means that for actors, musicians, screenwriters, directors, managers, publicists, etc. this social community is a quality way of getting information within the world of entertainment.  Just like any other business dying to advertise products, job opportunities or events, this social network has the same idea, just fully targeted for the entertainment industry.  To list casting calls, red carpet events, job listings in the field, advertise music videos and movie trailers, and to help actors, musicians and authors get started.  This form of social network could be very helpful to a young, up and coming talent.

       Social media is an important and useful aspect of business.  With out social media today in age, businesses would not be the same and they certainly would not be able to communicate with their loyal customers as easily.  Social media is definitely beneficial to businesses in targeting their consumers and spreading the word of the business in a fast and easy way.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/entertainmentnetwork/connectshot/prweb9663853.htm

http://connectshot.com

Social Media and Politics

        Social media is a perfect way to reach a younger audience to influence and inform about politics.  Without social media, many people that do not watch the news to get informed would know very little about elections.  Like myself, I do not know a great deal about politics but with social media, I am able to learn more about what campaigns are involved in the election and what each of those campaigns has to offer.  I may watch television enough to view commercials of different campaigns and possibly see a glimpse of the debates but am still not fully informed with every political view.  With social media, I am able to learn more about politics in a way that grasps my attention and can read other peoples perspective o political information.  

        Social media is an ideal way for Americans to get their political information because, for one, it is an easy way to be more selective with the information one wants to access.  Instead of turning on the television and watching every ad, every debate, every speech, the internet can allow one to choose just what they are wanting to view, instead of siting through every single minute of the entire election season.  

        "President Obama was the first candidate to announce his White House run via Web video and his vice presidential pick by text message."  This shows that things are certainly changing due to social media within politics.  This is something that never would have happened as recent as a few years ago.

       Within the entertainment world, most people recognize election time when there is a constant stream of political ads on television.  With social media rising in popularity with the public, politicians should be looking into integrating social media campaigning into their original campaign plans.  The candidates that use advertising in television, radio, mail, internet, etc. and add social media to this list will reach an even greater audience than before. Keep the original ways of communication advertising, but add social media.   
        
        With social media, staying connected with the public is much easier than before.  With the help of social media, campaigns can easily "tweet" or "update their status" regarding information about events and demonstrations.  This is much more convenient for political organizers than standing on a street corner to pass out fliers.

       There are now even political apps to make staying connected even more convenient.  These apps include, The White House which allows one to stay connected directly from the administration at the white house, Parity Politics which delivers real time polling updates without any bias toward a certain political party, and the Super PAC App allows one to find out information about political television advertisements just by holding up your iPhone while the commercial is being played. This will tell who is behind the ad, how much money was spent on the ad and more.

  
 With social media, staying connected and informed in the political world has never been so easy.  This is very good for America because the more Americans are informed and educated about politics and the United States, the better.   

http://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/969537/best-political-apps-for-the-iphone
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/02/04/5-ways-new-media-are-changing-politics?page=2
http://www.localvictory.com/communications/political-social-media.html

Crowdsourcing in Entertainment

     First I would like to define Crowdsourcing.  Crowdsourcing is defined as "the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community rather than from traditional employees or suppliers".  It is all about collaboration with viewers or fans. Crowdsourcing has both a good and bad impact within the entertainment industry.

     In the movie making world, a filmmakers community has become a very good resource. Films today are now using crowdsourcing to fund the making of their projects.  The film making process can now be collaborative between filmmaker and the fans.  One example of this is the Veronica Mars movie.  The creator, Rob Thomas, along with the cast, which includes Kristen Bell, started a crowd funding project on the website, kickstarter.com.  This project included a pledge from fans of $2m to help fund the movie.  "The kickstarter project page promises fans that the higher the funds raised, the bolder the movie will be."  Including the fans in the making of the film is a positive aspect of crowdsourcing and an easy way of making sure the filmmakers are giving the public what they want out of the project.

     Another example of crowdsourcing in the movie business comes from James Franco and how he used crowdsourcing to help young filmmakers raise money ($500,000) to adapt "Palo Alto", a collection of stories that focuses on teenagers from California that have troubled backgrounds.  

     Crowdsourcing is something that helps form what we want to view within our entertainment. Strike.tv, an internet television website that was created during the strike in 2007 and 2008 is helpful to filmmakers looking for assistance in distribution.  It is useful to people in the entertainment industry (directors, writers, actors) to keep producing work through the time of the strike.

     One problem that comes with crowdsourcing and the entertainment business is that with the final product, those that are contributing may not be representative of the viewers. "A lot of money goes into setting up an environment that is reactive enough to incorporate suggestions from the public and that data is further skewed by the fact that those providing the suggestions may not be representative of the viewing population as a whole."

     Crowdsourcing makes it possible for those who wish to produce a film and financially need help funding the project.  Greenlightcrowdfunding.com, a site for creative arts projects makes this a possibility.  Anyone can help make a creative project fundable.  Crowdsourcing has just recently begun and is something that can make someones dreams of starting a film career a possibility!

http://www.kpmg.com/UK/en/services/Advisory/management-consulting/Pages/crowd-connection-crowdsourcing-movies.aspx

http://blog.hootsuite.com/crowdsourcing-film-industry/

http://cultureandcommunication.org/f09/tdm/tag/crowdsourcing-and-entertainment/

http://www.strike.tv/home/

http://www.greenlightcrowdfunding.com

Social Media and Online Relationships

    Today more than ever, people are participating in online relationships.  Whether that be business relationships, romantic relationships, or friendships, relationships are being made with social media.  Connecting with others has become such an incredibly easy thing to do with so many social networking sites on the web.  In both my professional life involving school and work, and my everyday life involving friends and family, I find myself forming relationships with social media.  I communicate with professors, coworkers, friends and family with different social networking sites.  I communicate with professors and get information about school through Twitter and sometimes even Facebook.  Same goes with my family and friends.  I communicate and form relationships with my family and friends through social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  With Facebook, anyone can easily connect and build a relationship with friends and family, or in some cases, complete strangers.  Facebook even asks what users relationship status is. 
    
    With a professional network such as LinkedIn, users can connect and build relationships with others that have interest in the same field as themselves.  LinkedIn is a a social network that is business oriented so it can be a good tool to use when the time comes for one  to look for a new job.  There are also social networking sites used for meeting people on a romantic level, like eHarmony.  Dating sites have become a very popular way for meeting and seeking a significant other.  I recently came across a social networking site I had never heard of before in relation with music entertainment.  Musicdating.com is where people that have a love for music and at the same time, looking to be in a relationship, can go to meet people with the same interest in music genre. Interesting.

   One thing that helps build relationships online (and offline) is common interests.  One aspect of social media is the use of hashtags. Whether on twitter or an application like instagram where users become instant photographers and can share their creative work with followers, hashtags allow common pieces of work to categorize together.  We are now even seeing more use of hashtags on television.  For example, on the E! Network, during each program, a hashtag of the show that is airing is displayed in the bottom right corner of the screen.  This is meant for viewers to see and be able to go onto their social network of choice (twitter, instagram) and use the hashtag to let others know that they are watching or referencing to the program.  This can form relationships with users of the networking site that all have that common interest.  Just click on the hashtag and see every post from every user involved.

    Another area of communicating and forming a relationship in connection with the entertainment industry is a website like IMDb, the Internet Movie Database. Not necessarily a social network, still a source of communication between people with a common interest, therefore forming relationships. We are given just about all the information we would ever want about any film, television program, etc. all in one website.  This site allows people to discuss their opinions and feelings on each program with message boards and user reviews. This could be good as a source of information in educating people about the topic, or it could turn into a negative concept in causing conflict between those that disagree on the reviews regarding the films.  This aspect of social media relationships is important because people tend to have very strong opinions when discussing something like movies.  Everyone turns into a critic.  

   When it comes to movies, music, video games or anything entertainment, forming relationships is very important.  The more advertised, the more discussed and the more the product is put out to the public, the better chance it has of being successful. Participating in social media can strengthen relationships in the entertainment industry because it is an additional way of communicating.  Communication is key to any type of relationship. When communicating with social media, we are ultimately developing some type of relationship. Not many people go onto Facebook to post photos, write their opinion on something controversial, or even state that they are having a bad day and not anticipate a response from somebody else.  If you are taking part in social media, chances are you are forming many relationships.

User Generated Content and the Entertainment Industry

    This week I will be looking into user generated content and how it connects with the entertainment industry.  First of all, what exactly is user generated content? User generated content is our own work that we create for others to view.  Examples of this are blogs (just as I am creating now), user reviews on sites like Yelp and Amazon, and how anyone can upload and promote their very own work on YouTube.  

    User generated content seems to have both, a good and bad impact on media.  Lets start with the good.  With Amazon.com, they are launching a user generated content movie studio that would be perfect for those just getting started in the filmmaking industry. "Each entry automatically becomes optioned by Amazon Studios for 18 months, and should any entry get turned into a finished movie, the creator will get $200,000, with a further $400,000 bonus available should the movie make enough money at the box office" (techland.com).  This sounds like a really good idea for those interested in screenwriting or filmmaking to get a chance to start up their possible career.

Now the bad.  User generated content often gets thought of as bad quality or inferior to professional content in terms of art.  YouTube is a primary network of videos posted by users.  When a user posts a user generated music video that is primarily put together of original work aside from the music, that video may get flagged and taken down for copyright infringement.  This is also the case on other social networking sites like Facebook.  Post a video on the site and it will get taken down for copyright reasons concerning music.  This can be frustrating for those of us that wish to share our work with the world but cannot because of the song we chose to put in the video. This has happened to me on several occasions. 

    For the most part, user generated content is a positive thing.  It is ultimately a great way of communicating.  Allowing anyone to post what they wish (as long as there are no copyright issues) for the world to see, whether that be a review on amazon, a compliment to a friend on a Facebook photo, a video made by an aspiring filmmaker, makes for an easy way to help, inspire and share our talents. 

http://techland.time.com/2010/11/17/amazon-launches-movie-studio-wants-user-generated-content/

Intro

          Hello everyone! This is my first blog post and I am excited to see how blogging goes for me. I have created this blog to discuss the topic of social media and how it is applied to the entertainment industry.  This can consist of video production, movies, music, television, advertising, etc.  I am a communication design major with an option in media arts at Chico State so the topic of media interests me on a personal and professional level.  

I have been an avid user of social media sites since I was about 13 years old.  I started with email and instant messaging and then made my Myspace page.  Once Facebook took over, I joined Facebook along with Insagram, Pinterest, Vine, Twitter and I am sure there will be more to come in my future.

          With my field of interest being something along the lines of media, I am looking forward to looking into different ways social media and the entertainment industry go hand in hand.  Just about everyone uses some form of social media today in age.  From young kids to adults to businesses, social media is being used.  We see what others are interested in or what they are doing with social networking sites.  Log onto Facebook and see that one of your friends just went and saw the latest movie and loved it.  This can spark interest for another person to go see this film that they may not have had interest in before.  We see advertisements of the latest films, music videos, television series, etc. on these social networking sites as well. This is the primary way of making money for most forms of media entertainment. Social media is a good way to determine what is worth seeking further interest and time into.  If other people are "tweeting" about how horrible a movie is that will attract others away from the film, and if people are posting about what Miley Cyrus did during the VMA's, people are gonna go looking for that video.  

          I know that with my major in media arts and my personal love of social media, my future will be working with it in some form whether it be within my profession or on my own time. I am looking forward to seeing where social media takes us in the future.