Thoughts About the Social Media Rebranding Project

            When Dr. Kyburz first introduced this project to the class, I’ll admit I felt nervous and hesitant about my ability to handle the assignment. I wasn’t exactly sure what to look for, how to write the documents, or even how to follow the film on social media. However, I ended up enjoying this project much more than I thought I would. Since my group picked a popular film, we had a great selection of articles, interviews, memes, pictures, conversations, etc. to evaluate. Prior to this project, I never really paid much attention to new movie/TV show releases, the buzz and hype surrounding films, or even the way the media portrays/reacts to highly anticipated movies (unless it was something I really wanted to see). I noticed social media posts pertaining to such matters, but I never read other articles or “joined the conversation.” This project showed me how publicity and the portrayal of a film/actor can influence audiences, fans, social media platforms, and initial reactions to a new production.

With Extremely Wicked,  I think many individuals interpreted the film as “a Zac Efron movie” or “a glamorizing of serial killers” rather than Liz Kloepfer’s story. My group learned the perspective and main theme of the story as we read other articles and sources. Had the movie been promoted with Kloepfer, or her story, as the main focus, I am sure entirely different, articles, content, conversations, and debates would have arose.

The project also helped me recognize the various ways other people react to the same film. Articles discussing romanticizing serial killers are published on official websites like Vanity Fair, The Washington Post, and The Hollywood Reporter. Other people turned the movie’s topic and Zac Efron into meme content. While these memes are clever or witty, they nonetheless incorporate real, serious ideas or themes. 

It’s amazing how one trailer, one clip, one film can produce a multitude of conversations, debates, or backlash. People aren’t ignorant of modern day events, nor have they forgotten about similar circumstances that occurred in the past. In the present day, individuals have the ability to express their thoughts with essentially any way they choose (letters, podcasts, videos, Tweets, memes, articles…). To me, nowadays so many people are establishing the confidence to speak publicly about sensitive topics like serial killers, feminism, politics, laws, rights, mental health, and so much more. This notion really stands out to me when I talk to my parents. Both occasionally demonstrate their surprise at what exactly one can find on the internet compared to what people spoke freely about when they were growing up. Movies, music, television, literature, radio…these serve as catalysts for such important conversations about those subjects and more. I know from now on I will definitely be observing the way media portrays entertainment-related content much more closely. This awareness really introduces a broad range of perspectives and causes one to consider their own viewpoints.