
Editor's note: This article contains film spoilers.
Film viewers and critics are in love with "La La Land."
Justin Chang, contact reporter for
The Los Angeles Times
wrote:
"La La Land" is both a ravishing throwback to Old Hollywood and a
moderately jaded fairy-tale riff on contemporary Hollywood, a story about
two aspiring entertainers falling in love against the jazz clubs and studio
backlots of a charmingly retro Los Angeles. This all-sunshine-all-the-time
milieu is nothing if not inviting—more inviting, surely, than the mean
Miami streets of "Moonlight" or the frosty New England town that gives
"Manchester by the Sea" its title. But it also raises the question of
whether, in that small arena where art and awards shows occasionally
intersect, the most palatable and self-promotional choice is necessarily
the most deserving.
On Sunday, the film—featuring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling—swept the Golden
Globe Awards, winning the seven awards for which it was nominated
(including best actress, best actor, best director, best score and best
screenplay).
The sweep broke records: "La La Land's" seven wins beat out "One Flew Over
the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Midnight Express," which had shared the record
(six) for most Golden Globes.
[RELATED: The 2017 Social Media Conference for PR, Marketing and CorporateCommunicators at Disney World]
The buzz will probably continue as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences gears up for the Oscars presentation show next month. Here's what
PR pros can glean from the film:
1. Connect with your audience emotionally.
via GIPHY
"La La Land" captivates viewers from its opening number to the last
keystrokes of Gosling's heartbreaking rendition of "City of Stars." Jimmy
Fallon gave a nod to the popularity of the film with a star-filled parody
of "Another Day in the Sun":
PR pros don't have to pen a winning song or film to enchant their
audiences, however.
Instead, keep them (and their interests) in mind when creating content,
choosing campaign messages and interacting with consumers online.
Some of the best PR and marketing campaigns connect with viewers in a very
emotional way (a la
Dove's "Real Beauty"
and
Always' #LikeAGirl
campaigns).
2. Rejection doesn't always equal failure.
via GIPHY
Mia—played by Stone—experiences a series of crushing disappointments as she
auditions for TV shows and movies, only to have the casting directors
ignore her to take phone calls, answer mundane questions and stare into
space. Eventually, she's ready to throw in the towel, until
Sebastian—played by Gosling—persuades her not to give up on her dreams.
The PR industry is competitive, but the struggle for communicators doesn't
stop with securing a position. Once you land a gig, you'll have to fight to
prove the ROI of your efforts, gain a bigger slice of the budget and make
your client's messages heard above the din of marketers and PR pros across
social media channels.
Even outstanding PR pros can make bad calls or craft campaigns that fail to
reach audiences and boost organizations' bottom lines. Don't let missteps
or disappointments slow your progress. Instead, evaluate what went wrong,
fix it for the future, and keep your eyes on your goals.
3. Success often requires sacrifice.
via GIPHY
Mia and Sebastian have the kind of chemistry ideal for swoon-worthy love
stories, but their dreams of becoming a big film star and reviving the jazz
era by opening a successful club eventually proves that, for them,
something had to go.
In a similar manner, PR pros who want to land coveted client accounts and
win awards for their campaigns often have to make sacrifices-which might
translate into sleepless nights working under deadline or missing out on
family dinners.
Remember that determining success is different for everyone, and only you
can decide which sacrifices are appropriate for the career gains you can
attain. Though you can't get something for nothing, having a thriving PR
career doesn't mean you can't have a life and family.
(Image
via)