As a creative in media and entertainment, it doesn’t matter whether you’re an actor, producer, or director – you’ve got to find a way to set yourself apart.
Major production roles and distribution contacts are like gold dust. Most of the time, success depends on your network and online footprint, regardless of your experience and skill level.
But while finding your way can be tough, becoming a thought leader in media and entertainment can make a difference.
Well, it doesn’t mean you’ll become Scorsese overnight—that’s admittedly unrealistic.
But it will improve your credibility. This is all about using your voice to showcase your industry expertise to become more visible among your peers and target audiences.
You might comment on the impact of AI, shifting content platforms, or the financing and distribution of major projects, among other topics.
Your thoughts might be sent to journalists who could write about you, leveraged to create high-quality multimedia, or posted on social media to raise awareness among your industry peers.
Ultimately, what you say is up to you. But you’ll always want to make a powerful statement that is both timely and new, moving the conversation on a pressing issue forward.
The goal is to become an industry expert. Once you are, your work is likely to be better recognised, and your footing and career prospects in the industry will improve.
Whatever you do, though, to become a thought leader in media and entertainment, you need a strategy.
As soon as anyone hears about anyone nowadays, they Google their name. Make sure your online profile is in a good place.
If your online profile isn’t up to date, or worse still, there’s nothing to see about you, to your industry peers you’re a novice, but to the media, you're a nobody.
Book a professional photographer. Natural photos are great, but you’ll also want professional headshots for any media coverage and to use on social media.
Take some time to update all your online profiles. Your IMDb account is essential, as is your LinkedIn account. Include all recent projects and activities you have worked on.
Build a professional website. Here you can include more detail on projects you have worked on, a more expansive video and photo library, and a blog for news about you.
These first steps are imperative to build your personal brand, especially if you’re still relatively unknown in the industry.
For most, thought leadership in media and entertainment can seem unnatural, especially considering how siloed the sector is compared to others that engage with media more freely.
That said, it gives you a huge advantage over your peers since there’s such great demand for more industry voices. Therefore, you want to make sure whatever you say has a tangible impact.
Think about how your experience gives you a right to comment on certain issues.
For instance, a Western filmmaker might have experience casting native Indian actors and portraying them more ethically in their films, an issue that has long existed in cinema.
This would pave the way to campaign for more diversity and fair representation in the industry, driving a fresh debate and piquing the interest of journalists.
The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are the crown jewels of coverage, no doubt. But initially, your main priority is to explore avenues with less established outlets.
You need to to lay the foundations for your profile. Then, as your Google search populates with coverage, you can begin to target the bigger hitters, or better still, they’ll come to you.
The best way to get the wheels in motion is to find that hot topic all journalists are writing about, which you can piggyback on. To media professionals, this is called newsjacking.
Whether it’s Cannes or writers’ strikes, your PR team will present you with timely opportunities you can sink your teeth into before sending your thoughts to various publications.
This may lead to an interview, a guest column, or straight-bat coverage.
When you start to generate media opportunities, you need to make sure that you make the most of them.
Otherwise, you’ll never secure high-quality coverage.
Make sure to prepare for any questions the journalist might ask and know what you’re going to say.
But don’t speak too much, and ensure you give the journalist opportunities to tease out further detail. Though it’s an interview, you should treat it as a conversation.
Most importantly, be nice, so the journalist wants to work with you again.
Make sure each point fleshes out your central argument, and never steer too far away from it.
Use evidence to show the journalist that you’ve done your research and reduce any reason for the reader to question your argument.
Take up a conversational tone and use simple language. Avoid being overly poetic, and get your point across clearly.
Your social footprint should be held in as high regard as any engagement with the media.
A couple of times a week, on Twitter and LinkedIn, upload posts touching on an industry issue, giving your hot take, or even debunking a myth.
By maintaining a steady stream of activity you can ensure that you appear as a credible thought leader.
You can even share your recent coverage with your audiences to boost coverage readership — the journalist you've worked with may even thank you for it.
The goal is to not only increase your following but also ensure your current followers stay engaged with what you are doing. Include a photo, graphic, or video to enhance your posts.
Now that you’ve become a much more active thought leader in media and entertainment, you can expect the following outcomes:
A more credible online profile, positioning you as an expert in media and entertainment.
Greater recognition of your work among industry peers.
More high-quality opportunities to network, attend, and speak at events, or collaborate with peers on new projects.
Greater influence in enacting positive change on various industry issues you’ve campaigned for.