This is something I have been debating over the last three years. After joining numerous groups, participating in endless discussions, building a friends list of over 3,000 (all business contacts) and yet the only thing that ever seems to change are the different game requests people send me. Do you feel Facebook is a valuable tool for networking? I myself have come to see Facebook as only one thing: a distraction from my work. Let me hear your thoughts...or chime in with anything fun and interesting. As writers we should be able to keep it interesting. :)
WARNING: SARCASM AHEAD! I will admit that I do miss hearing how everyone is feeling at that exact moment, the endless memes of the same picture, or seeing pictures of their pets or what they ate for lunch. Actually I do miss the pet pics, because pets are hilarious.
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Excellent point, Ace. I agree and disagree. Social media yes, but Facebook, at least in my experience, has proven to be more of a place to share and brag than to sell. Sites like Stage32, LinkedIn, Withoutabox, and probably many more I'm forgetting about, are a great place to find network contacts. Facebook friends and groups are madly posting one thing after another until your promotion is buried. This is just my experience of course. My first year on Facebook was as an author and these last two years have been as a screenwriter/author. I would love to hear some stories. Please share folks! Plus if I wanted nothing but SPAM I'd watch some Monty Python. :)
Oh Fiona, those poor cats. :)
John you forgot cowboy/astronaut. So very true.
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I've hired a friend for free to pretend to be me on my Facebook page. That way it is not a distraction, although I have no idea what they are thinking about me or my latest work.
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I agree with Kevin. I whore my wares and accomplishments on FB; and that's about it. Stage 32 is about the best social networking site to find writers that you can exchange work with and offer support. However, I've never gotten any writing gigs from social networking.
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to be completely honest I myself have been debating this same issue! after having several stalkers and too many third world country scammers trying to find a way to get some money out of me if not my email i now use it to try influence the world rather than benefit myself... this has made many people unfollow me but in saying that I was never on there to have 5,000 "Friends" I dont even know! though in saying that by talking to some people I have also been offered a writing job in Washington which I have put on hold until filming has begun
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I can't even count how many messages I received on FB from people I didn't know asking me to send them money overseas. Congratulations on your writing job, Benjamin! That is fantastic news. The only real contacts I've ever stayed in contact with have been from film festivals or sites like this. I think FB has grown so large that the individual has become overshadowed. Millions of people posting continuously to try and be heard, but their message is lost within minutes, pushed down the page by forty new messages. Plus with thousands of 'friends' how could you possibly keep up with all of those updates. FB is an excellent way to share info and pictures with friends and family, but I'm not sold just yet. Keep the comments coming.
I have actually missed out on real friends birthdays, dinners etc because their event invitiation has been overshadowed by 50 other requests that week, they now know to send me a text instead... I often get asked "didn't you see my photo yesterday?" but there is simply no way of seeing all posts on any given day! hate is an extremely strong word so let's just say I "Dislike" what social media has done to the human race and i think I may have just talked myself into deleting Facebook!
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Benjamin: I love those Nigerian scam letters and I've been getting and answering them for years. Here is an original letter I received, as well as my response. Mister Phillip E. Hardy 1234 Main Street Any Town, USA 90101 GREETINGS Mister Phillip Hardy My name is Jurgen Fitzjenner Head of Regional management worldwide at Deutsche Bank. This letter is in regards to Mister Moser Hardy and his investments placed under our banks management 9 years ago. I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this letter confidential as I contact you out of my official position from the United Kingdom on a 4 day official visit to the United States for Deutsche Bank AG the German financial conglomerate. I would like to bring to your attention a proposal I believe may be of interest to you in regards to the increased prospective opportunities and returns it could provide for us. In 2001, a fellow by the name of Moser Hardy, a long-term client of our bank came to our London office at 1 Great Winchester St, for discussion on a financial portfolio of about $7,000,000 Seven million dollars, which he wished to have us turn over (invest). I was assigned as his portfolio manager and worked on strategies in line with the volume of funds at my disposal divulging in various growth funds with prime ratings strategically investing in equity and equity related securities including venture capital, private equity, growth financing hedge funds and leverage buyouts. We spun the money around various diversified medium term note programs and commercial paper attracting margins in profits and dividends of over 8.37 million United States Dollars mostly in share-market options, bonds and mutual funds. In mid 2002, Moser asked that part of the options be liquidated as suggested by my then assistant Mister Pierre de Weck for a capital investment opportunity in Antwerp. He directed that the funds be deposited in Prime Asset Management a holding company in Brussels, Belgium. Moser was also informed by Deutsche Bank Securities that there would be a 2.5% deductible from the funds to cater for banking and statutory charges as required by the European central bank on fast cash transfer transactions. He complained about the high charges but later came around when I explained to him the complexities of the task he was asking of us, he was more worried about the heavy taxation the E.C.B. might impose on the funds, on his arrival from Oslo, Norway later that week after all necessary documents were signed. On the passing of Moser in August 2003, I contacted Prime Asset Management Company last December informing them of the inactivity of this particular portfolio. Deutsche Bank had investigated for years and had found no next of kin as Moser was intestate in his belief in line with his philosophy as a patron of the stonewall society I have the deposit details of the US$ 8,370,000.00 in Brussels and prepared to place you in a benefactor's position to instruct Prime Asset Management Company to release the funds to you as the rightful next of kin of Moser estate. 30% of the funds will go to family (beneficiary) while the rest will be remitted. The deposit hopefully should be released to you within a few days but no later than 10 business days under the inheritance act law of & years no claims rule. My Office at Deutsche Bank at this juncture should then be informed by Prime Asset Management of the official closure of the file relating to Moser after all documents have been processed. With these two things, all is done. If you are interested in proceeding with this proposal, we can fine-tune this base on good interaction and knowledgeable input. You can reach me by Email at Jfitzjenner@sbcglobal.net or my private line +44 203 060 2255. I look forward to hearing from you Jurgen Fitzjenner Here, is my response to Jurgen's kind offer. Dear Mister Fitzjenner: At last, you have found me; and what a coincidence that out of all the Hardy's in the world, you have made the correct selection. Moser Hardy was my second cousin, twice removed; but he was much more than that. He was ten years older than me and like a big brother; but again I say, he was much more than that. During my adolescence, we had a torrid connection; or to quote the great Oscar Wilde, we partook of “the love that dare not speak its name.” Its taboo character was compounded because of its incestuous nature. But our affections for one another went far too deep, and it could not be avoided. As I was not of the age of consent, my cousin Moe had to flee the country to avoid prosecution; so he ran off to join the French Foreign Legion in 1975. That was the last I heard of him, as he was posted to a remote Algerian outpost called Fort Zinderneuf. All I could do was weep while listening to my mother's scratchy long playing record of Edith Piaf singing “Mon Legionnaire.” One of the last things Moser said to me as we embraced was that when he met his end, he wanted me to have his money. Furthermore, as I wish to honor his memory and his final wishes, I would be happy to take the $8,370,000 you have referenced in your letter. For your troubles in locating me, and administering to those tiresome financial details, I would be happy to give you a finder's fee, let's say thirty percent. I can see by your detailed description of your work as “Portfolio Manager” that you are great with money; and my pretty little head has never been good with figures. I am writing you this letter to authorize you to act on my behalf, as my representative with Prime Asset Management and the Deutsche Bank. After all, Uncle Moser would have wanted it that way. If I calculate it correctly, the transaction should go as follows: $8,370,000 less your 30% commission should net me $5,859,000 before taxes. However, we won't worry about that right now. Since you already have my address, you can send me my rightful inheritance upon completing your business on my behalf. My Sincerest Thanks Phillip E. Hardy
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Fiona: much love coming your way too:) ps, that's me, always thinking of the other guy's feelings. Even scumbags.
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Good point, CJ. That is great news about the studio owner! Congratulations and best of luck.
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I have two Facebook accounts. One for the silly stuff and teenage friends. One 'professional' account.... No cats! Both are new, so I'll see how it goes.
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Kevin, I made exactly the same experiences and deleted my account 3 years ago.
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I have two accounts and one is a business page that I use solely for work, business pages are set up differently from personal pages and I don't get all the nonsrnce.
People trying to scam you guys for money on Facebook? lol. I've been on Facebook for maybe 7 or 8 years and I have never gotten such a message. I frequently check what my director, screenwriting, and creative friends are doing so Facebook recognizes who I care about and that's the only kind of posts that I see. So my feeds are filled with film related posts. If you look for cats, and occasionally click on cats, then you're going to get cats...
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I didn't do FB because I thought it was a complete time waster. Then I started reviewing other profiles on S32 and noticed links for FB Fan pages. So I tried it for promoting my rap shows, and I gotta say, it's a solid way for social networkers, friends, or fans to connect with you. I now use FB to drive my people to my main hub here at S32…. As Joel Osteen would say, "my point is this: " I don't hate FB anymore. Happy Sunday! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008450175469
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It's difficult to promote yourself on Facebook as personal or business account. From my experience, and most successful FB marketers experience, you are much better off to create a FB PAGE and do your marketing there. You can create targeted lists and such with ease to find the people you're trying to connect with. I don't do that personally, but I'm not a filmmaker, so it's a little different. The thing is, with anything, when you are doing Social Media Marketing, you have to run a complete campaign and integrate all of your services and applications into one in order for it to be successful.
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This is a really good thread… just sayin'…
Stuart is absolutely right. It's important to note, that picking a social media platform and haphazardly add users and creating posts is not really effective promotion. It requires a complete campaign, and takes a lot of work. The main thing is, have a plan before you begin. Think it out completely and associate all of your platforms together. Your FB, Youtube, Twitter, whatever you decide to use. And social media is not a substitute for a webpage as well. The main thing is, created trusted relationships whenever you can. Just like here on Stage32. Do you comment and try to be engaging, helpful, and exchange ideas? Or do you constantly flood the feed with your latest greatest creation. Sorry for rambling, I spend 3 long days at ICON15 and I was inundated with this stuff. HA HA
I should note that through Facebook I have found several clients. One such client recommended me to his literary agent who is now representing my unpublished works. I have been asked by a couple directors to do re-writes which did pan out well, but I'm still not a fan of FB. I have found just as many clients through LinkedIn. I guess I should have mentioned this earlier. :) I think most of my annoyance comes from my author side and not as a screenwriter. The one thing that rings true is that it's all subjective. It's great for some and it's annoying for others, but from your posts I have concluded that Facebook is a necessary tool for anyone looking to network, promote, or just discuss the craft. The key word of course is moderation. You have made some excellent points. Thank you all! Keep the great posts coming!
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You have FB for family and friends and stupid stuff, you have LinkedIn for business and you have stage32 for business and networking.
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Hey guys, I haven't read the entire thread, so pardon me if I'm repeating previous comments. There's an aspiring writer in LA who Facebook Friended me. I've never met him. He Friended me months before he pitched me once on Virtual Pitch Fest. I just checked Facebook, and he has over 2550 Facebook Friends! We share hundreds of entertainment industry FB Friends in common, and that's the only reason I accepted his Friend Request because I don't often accept Friend people I've never spoken to. And I'm delighted we're "Friends." He has one of my favorite Facebook feeds. He posts a ton of funny "shares" much like George Takei, and he posts beautiful dishes that he and his wife cook everyday or meaningful family photos. He never solicits, imposes, or asks any favors. He simply wants to give his Facebook Friends some fun posts to enjoy. Because of this Facebook relationship, his delightful feed and even better etiquette, the next time he pitches me, I'll be highly inclined to say yes! I certainly respect him and have lots of goodwill toward him. All that said, if you're not naturally inclined to Facebook, should you devote your finite, valuable time to Facebook? Well, I'm not sure the cost-benefit is worth it for non-social media types, but if you have the inclination, Facebook can't hurt. This guy is just a natural Facebook treat!
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I always thought of FB for communicating with people I really know, LinkedIn for "linking" with business people from all realms, and Stage32 for communicating with "my tribe". Twitter, being primarily for spontaneously venting, is at the bottom of my list, as I prefer texting or emailing if something really needs being said. All and all, as a screenwriter, I dread knowing I have to check on and update all these things on a regular basis. PS I started getting scams when I started blogging thru FB and on my website. Seems they can get in the backdoor following a blog - so I don't do that anymore.
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Can't stand facebook.
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I use FB mainly to stay in touch with family and friends throughout the world, it's a cheap way to stay in touch, without the intrusion of a phone call ... And to connect with Industry pages for promos and biz individuals - it's all about the networking. FB allows you to get more into a conversation, personal or otherwise with someone you desire to connect with... but please, these game invites! Stop! I don't have time for games!! ;) While Twitter is mainly one giant electronic, digital billboard... It's all about branding and marketing - in 140 characters or less! But that's where you can expand your brand quickly, with the right connection.
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My thoughts exactly, Patrick. A site like Stage32 cuts through all the bull of Facebook and leaves only our craft and professional goals to discuss. I think this site is an excellent place to network.
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I'd advise to try to use multiple platforms if you enjoy social media. Not everyone will be connected to you on Stage 32, on Facebook, or Twitter, so hit multiple platforms and cover a broader base. Many studio execs are on Facebook, but not on Twitter, for example. If you're going to develop a friendly relationship with a "Hollywood" pro, it won't be because of LinkedIn. Most working "Hollywood" pros avoid LinkedIn because it results in soooo many unsolicited submissions. (To this end, I have a submissions policy posted on my LinkedIn page as well as my S32 bio to try to prevent them. I wish I didn't have to do that, but I do. Point is, that's the reason you won't find a fair number of pros on LinkedIn.)
When I dropped FB in 2008, I had 2,200+ friends. Were there benefits from FB? Yes. But it became diminishing returns. Bye-bye. If I have a vital announcement, my prof society posts it for me on their FB page.
I also tried LinkedIn and made the same experiences as Regina describes it. Hence, I cancelled both FB and LinkedIn - and must say G+ is too impersonal and unprofessional for my taste so I also avoid this. I think FB works only if you're completely private or have a professional fan page where you then regularly post your trailers and show photos from film festivals you attend and interesting people you meet etc. - Would really like to know what works best besides Stage32. I like twitter because it's fast so I use it like a news channel.
how the hell do you create over 2000 fb friends? I have fifty and that's where it'll stay. I'd never go over 100. i like having conversations with people and reading the newsfeed. like all things use in moderation and be smart about it.
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They send friend requests, usually because they're friends of a mutual friend. I always add them if we have mutual connections and have similar interests. I'm happy to talk to anyone and everyone, especially since you never know who your next contact may know. Plus a wide variety of different people gives you an unlimited variety of unique conversations and topics.
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Reply to Cherie Grant: here in NYC I organize literary events; I used to review books; and I am a busy theatre critic ---- one explanation for 2,238 FB friends. NYC is full of theatre folks. But I pulled the plug. I still host my events tho.
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@Anthony - not to forget all these photos of what they eat and the tedious selfies in underwear in front of a mirror. :)
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Anthony it's all about who you befriend. I have had many vigorous and deep conversations about everything from politics to social issues. Be selective in who you friend. It takes just one person that has loads of intellectual friends to open up a world of discourse. I have had better and more intense conversations on FB than I have on any forum.
I have a fb page and a model page on fb as well. As far as using fb as a tool to show what you can do when it comes to networking, I think fb is a waste of time. I love the idea of getting feedback from people on my scripts but I don't think fb is the place to do it
Kevin - you answered your own question in the asking: "a distraction" from your work. Look, writers should all be stamped with the middle name of "procrastinator" because many of us look for any and all avenues to explore short of actually getting any writing done. I am as guilty of it as anyone. When asked "what have you written this week", my standby quip is "a really good grocery list" or an "e-mail to my kid at camp". Facebook is a time suck. It is Twitter without the 140 limit. It is quicksand for the imagination - where you can scroll around and dart in and out and leave some clever "comment" and be on your way. Only the comments are endless, along with the "likes" - and it accomplishes nothing - with a capital N if you're trying to write. Stay away. I am amazed at my friends who post dozens of pix or quotes (often from writers!! about writing!!) daily and wonder when they ever find the time to do actual writing of their own. Facebook has become ubiquitous for everything - where one is - what one's doing and with whom - who died - funny stories about the old hometown etc. - and if you leave one quick aside anywhere - your mailbox is quickly inundated with the replies and bon mots of others - most of them friends of friends and total strangers to you - so I try to avoid saying a word in most cases. My point being - to hang out on FB is to put procrastination into hyperdrive - and be distracted from ones work. So Kevin, IMO, "NO", Facebook is not a good idea for a writer.
I think best you just open a 'fan' page. By this you don't have to add anyone and just post your news. This is how it would be 'professional' from my point of view.
But Elizabeth - when you have an industry driven website as good as Stage 32 - why waste time trying to be "professional" on Facebook?
@Michael - I totally agree and I don't have a Facebook account and also find it wasted time if not even a time killer because you have to search for great contacts over hours. My advice was only because they discuss it here. Hence I think best to keep the FB stuff on a distance is to open such a fan page where other people have to click 'like' and you don't have to check everybody who sent you a "friendship request".