Film Friday: Will Smith Brings Us Back to Bel Air With The Help of His Friends
Last Friday, a video circulated of Will and Jaden Smith appearing on The Graham Norton Show, bringing back some nostalgic memories for us here at EDPR. Smith, along with the help of son Jaden, Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton) and a DJ sang the infamous Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song and ended with the even more famous Hustle dance.
Last year Smith, while promoting a different movie on The Graham Norton Show, pulled a similar stunt – causing a viral video of Smith singing the Fresh Prince of Bel Air to hit Youtube. However, this time around, Smith pleased the crowd even more by pulling ‘Carlton’ (Alfonso Ribeiro) on stage with him.
This is a great PR move for Smith’s new movie. There are over 100,000 views on YouTube in the first week it was posted. No doubt, countless more will see it before the movie finishes in theatres. Now this is how to make a viral video!
Client News: Canadian Lesbian And Gay Archives Explores Radical Roots In Gay Premises Exhibit
TORONTO, ON (May 30, 2013) – On June 14th, 2013, The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (CLGA) will open its doors for Gay Premises: Radical Voices In The Archives, 1973‐1983, an exhibit exploring the ways in which Toronto‐based gay newspaper The Body Politic became a dominant voice in early lesbian and gay movements across Canada and internationally.
The exhibition’s focus begins during the year of the CLGA’s formation (1973) and ends with the application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1983). The curated display features original submissions, photographs, posters and news items from activists who contributed to The Body Politic and to other radical gay publications that formed the core of the early collection of the CLGA. In tandem with the exhibit, several local artists will interact with the display to conjure different perspectives and interpretations.
In addition to the archival items on display, many photographs featured in the upcoming exhibit will be styled to invite engagement from viewers. The CLGA will encourage visitors to post their comments and memories on a corkboard ‘wall of photographs,’ which will mimic a 1970s photo editor’s wall. These contributions will be used in a forthcoming virtual exhibit, and will remain on display until Gay Premises closes in September.
“The CLGA’s goal is to discover more of the untold stories from this particular time period,” says exhibition curator and CLGA board member Karen Stanworth. “We are asking the public to help share their histories and shed light on archival pieces containing narratives still left untold.”
Gay Premises: Radical Voices In The Archives, 1973‐1983 opens on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. with a public wine and cheese reception. The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives is located at 34 Isabella Street in Toronto.
About Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives:
Currently celebrating its 40th year, The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives aids in the recovery and preservation of LGBT histories. Its mission: to acquire, preserve, organize, and give public access to information and materials in any medium, by and about LGBT people, primarily produced in or concerning Canada. To support this function, the Archives also maintain significant non-archival collections, which include a research library, international subject files, and an international collection of queer periodicals. It is the CLGA’s mandate to make this information available to the public for education and research. Over the years, the CLGA has helped hundreds of people – students, artists, journalists, lawyers, filmmakers complete numerous projects inside and outside of the LGBT community.
Website: http://www.clga.ca
Twitter: @CLGArchives
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CLGArchives
For interview requests or additional information, please contact:
Cory Stewart, Founder
Embrace Disruption PR
416.963.9857
cory@embracedisruption.com
#WeeklyDisruptor: Chocola Chocola’s Stella Zhamkochian
Each week at Embrace Disruption we introduce you to an influential person in the digital, blogger, arts, culture, film, or media world! Every Thursday, you can check back at EDPR to find out who we think is particularly amazing at ‘embracing disruption’ within their respective industries. This week, we’d like to introduce you to Chocola Chocola’s Stella Zhamkochian!
What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?
As an entrepreneur, my official job title would have to be “whatever and whoever I need to be at that moment.” I attended Georges Vanier High School and that concluded my education!
Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).
(I’d like to describe myself in a nut shell {macadamia nut, preferably} , if that’s ok since that’s what we coat in chocolate) I love all things that glitter, love shoes, but mostly, love my job!
Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?
After having my first child, I decided to give up life in the corporate world and stay home to raise my baby and after a while (about 6 years and a second baby later), the inner entrepreneur just wouldn’t go away. Since I love to bake, I started experimenting with chocolate (something I knew NOTHING about), looked at store shelves for inspiration and found that, at the time, chocolate was pretty boring and so it began! Started playing around with different flavours, colours and textures and decided to share these ideas with the world.
What is the best part of your day-to-day?
I work with chocolate, does it get better?
What’s the most challenging?
The business end, not too creative and actually, pretty boring.
If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?
Super tempted to post Sandra Bullock’s speech from “Miss Congeniality.”
How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?
I eat chocolate, of course!
What is the most memorable moment in your career?
The first time I saw my chocolates on a store shelf. Hard to describe all the different thoughts and emotions at that moment.
Do you support any initiatives or charities?
We have supported many different charities throughout the years but most recently we were delighted to have been a part of the Starlight Foundation, The Youth Code (www.theyouthcode.com) and Hellenic Hope Centre (www.hellenichope.org).
Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.
More of what I’m doing now, I honestly have the best job on the planet, although, I wouldn’t mind travelling all around the world.
Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?
Is there a “Back to the Future” app? Yes, that one!
A Day In The Life Of Public Relations [INFOGRAPHIC]
Cision recently released a fun and statistic-filled INFOGRAPHIC outlining some interesting facts about public relations, and public relations professionals. We’ve pulled out some of the most fascinating tidbits below:
- 68.5% of PR pros are female.
- 31.8% have 20+ years experience under their belt.
- 54.4% say they are in PR because they love the work.
- Top three news sources include print, twitter and blogs.
- 67.2% prefer coffee over other energy boosters.
- 54% bring a bagged lunch to work
- 56% prefer chocolate
- 46% use iPhones with 42% (still) using Blackberry.
Check out all these and more by clicking on the image below!
Client News: Canadian Supermodel Stacey McKenzie Empowers Inner City Youth With All-Star Summer Camp
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, ON (May 28, 2013) – On July 8, 2013, Canadian Supermodel Stacey McKenzie will open the first annual Walk This Way Workshops Camp where she will inspire, empower and educate twenty inner city girls – with help from her celebrity friends. McKenzie will select applicants that exemplify the most enthusiasm, drive and uniqueness from several inner city Toronto public schools for this free of cost program.
McKenzie, having grown up in an impoverished environment, recognizes the need for young girls to receive esteem-centered workshops. “It’s extremely important that these girls have all the tools necessary to develop self-esteem and gain confidence through self acceptance,” says McKenzie. “We’re preparing them for the challenges they will face as they pursue their dreams and goals in the arts, fashion, entertainment industries.”
Over a two week period, the camp participants will have the opportunity to engage in a number of workshops including “Owning You”, a focus on personal style and public speaking; “Owning Your Health and Wellness”, a focus on nutrition and fitness; “Owning Your Craft”, an interactive look into the fashion, design, music and media industries; and “Rule Your Runway”, a chance to put all the information absorbed to use.
The workshops will be lead by a team of V.I.P. and celebrity mentors including Dina Pugliese (CityTV’s Breakfast Television), Gabrielle Miller (Actress, Corner Gas), Chelsea Chute (Lise Watier), Shawn Hewson (TV Personality and Creative Director of Bustle Clothing), VAWK (Fashion Designer), Emily Scarlett (H&M Canada), Andrea Bolley (Artist), and Rita Tesolin (Jewelry Designer).
Walk This Way Workshops Camp is welcoming several sponsors to support this initiative including official beauty sponsor, Lise Watier along with Movado Group, Diesel, H&M, and Purdy’s Chocolate.
Youth interested in participating in the Walk This Way Workshops Camp can email info@walkthiswayworkshops.com to request an application form. For additional information, please visit http://www.walkthiswayworkshops.com.
About Walk This Way Workshops:
Founded in 2005 by Supermodel Stacey McKenzie, Walk This Way Workshops has made a significant impact across North America and The Caribbean on those aspiring to work in the fashion, arts and entertainment industries. Walk This Way Workshops focuses on inspiring, empowering and educating young women through a series of confidence builder workshops fashioned to help develop self-esteem and gain confidence through self-acceptance. Walk This Way Workshops has been featured in Teen Vogue Fashion University, Canadian Mental Health Association, Kent State University and Queens School of Business.
Website: http://www.walkthiswayworkshops.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WalkThisWayWorkshops
About Stacey McKenzie:
Stacey McKenzie has channeled her passion for fashion into a successful career. A model, motivational speaker, TV personality and actress, Stacey is a proven entity in the industry. Self trained as a model, Stacey has and continues to work with some of the world’s fashion elites. She has graced numerous pages and covers of magazines and landed major campaigns including, Vogue (U.S, Italian, British, Korean and Spanish), Harpers Bazaar, Interview, Verve-girl, Flare, Vibe, Calvin Klein, Jean Paul Gaultier and MAC Cosmetics. Stacey was recently presented with the 2012 Success, Engagement & Empowerment Award from the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa for her outstanding support of youth through her work with Walk This Way Workshops.
About Lise Watier:
Founded in 1972, Lise Watier celebrates 40 years of beauty, innovation and passion in providing women with makeup, skin care products and fragrances. Lise Watier is each woman’s beauty partner.
Website: http://www.lisewatier.com
About Movado:
Leader in the $500 to $2500 price category of the North American watch market, Movado is the Swiss brand of distinctive timepieces that provided culture, status and sophistication. Since 1881, Movado has earned more than 100 patents and 200 international awards for artistry and innovation in watch design and time technology. The long, rich heritage of design innovation and a close, enduring association with the arts continue to define the Movado brand identity.
Website: http://www.movado.com
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Cory Stewart, Founder
Embrace Disruption PR
416.963.9857
cory@embracedisruption.com
Internet Sensation Reminds Us To Start Living For Today
Internet sensation and writer of the viral hit song, ‘Clouds’, Zach Sobiech, passed away while surrounded by friends and family in his home last Monday morning.
“I want to be remembered as a kid who went down fighting, and didn’t really lose.” These were the last words Zach, 18, left us with at the end of a documentary that chronicled his last days of battling terminal bone cancer. At 14, he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer usually developing in teenagers. After completing his chemotherapy, a CT scan revealed additional tumours in his pelvis and both of his lungs. The cancer had spread and in May 2012, Zach was given six months to a year to live.
With his promising life abruptly cut short, Zach turned to music to leave his print and to give his friends and family something to hold onto when he couldn’t be with them anymore. ‘Clouds’ was written and uploaded onto Youtube last December. In five months, Zach’s song has touched more than 4, 000, 000 people worldwide. He said, “My closure is to get my feelings into these songs so they can have something to remember me by or lean on when I’m gone.”
On his birthday earlier this month, a documentary, entitled ‘My Last Days: Meet Zach Sobiech’, was released on Youtube as part of an online series by Soul Pancake. It features Zach, interviews with his friends, family and himself, and how he spent his remaining days. In the 20-minute film, Zach shared his passion for music, his lust for the Nissan GT-R, and his love for those around him. He was also surprised with the cobalt-blue Nissan on his driveway and a collaboration video by celebrities like Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, Anna Faris, who joined for a cover of ‘Clouds’. He spent the last remainder of his days finding peace, reassuring his family he would be okay and dreaming of marrying his girlfriend, Amy, who he said he will “love to death” because he would “literally,” do that.
In the past year, Zach worked to raise awareness for Osteosarcoma and fundraise money for research. A Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund has been set up to give hope to those still battling the cancer. Proceeds from ‘Clouds’ and his other works will continue the fund the same cause. Let’s take a moment to remember Zach Sobiech’s lively spirit and desire to live when faced with an inescapable end.
“I want everyone to know you don’t have to find out you’re dying to start living.” – Zach Sobiech (1995-2013)
SOURCES
http://globalnews.ca/news/579913/tributes-to-zach-sobiech/
http://www.freep.com/article/20130522/NEWS07/305220035/Zach-Sobiech-Clouds
http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/05/21/zach-sobiech-song-clouds-cancer-death/
Film Friday: Kanye West Projects “New Slaves” on 66 Buildings World Wide
Last Friday, Kanye West captured the attention of millions by projecting his new video “New Slaves” onto 66 buildings across the globe. Four buildings in Toronto were featured including the Royal Ontario Museum, The Bay and Marriot, TIFF Bell Lightbox and the Much Music studios.
After deleting his Twitter wall, West left a single tweet announcing his video premiere and a link to his official website. This is a great example of how one can effectively use social media as a PR tool when promoting an event, or in this case, a new album. West is rumored to drop his sixth studio album on June 18.
#WeeklyDisruptor: Online Reputation Strategist, Tom Liacas
Each week at Embrace Disruption we introduce you to an influential person in the digital, blogger, arts, culture, film, or media world! Every Thursday, you can check back at EDPR to find out who we think is particularly amazing at ‘embracing disruption’ within their respective industries. This week, we’d like to introduce you to Online Reputation Strategist, Tom Liacas!
What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?
You can call me an Online Reputation Strategist. I’m a freelancer now, though previously I was Co-Founder and Chief Strategist at #engagementlabs.
I’m an M.A. graduate in Media Studies from Concordia University.
Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).
I’m a senior social media strategist who first cut his teeth as a digital activist.
Innovating in the trenches with groups such as Indymedia and Adbusters in the 90s, I gained a deep understanding of what makes corporations and governments vulnerable to social media crisis and, conversely, how to adapt their communications to create productive exchanges with their stakeholders.
In my career so far, I have overseen the sale, design and management of millions of dollars’ worth of social media projects for clients in the Fortune 500, the resource and energy sectors.
I have also just published the #Social Survival Manifesto, an eBook that warns corporations about the risks of doing social media poorly or not at all. It is available for free download here:
http://socialdisruptions.com/socialsurvivalmanifesto/
Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?
I have always been passionate about social innovation and social change. For a long time, I worked with green and fair labour projects for little to no money. I definitely put in my time earning good karma. As corporate social media communications started to go mainstream, I saw an opportunity to work with larger clients without selling all my values down the river.
I sincerely believe that social media has hard-coded certain expectations and values into its culture that force corporations and institutions to behave more responsibly. I am more than happy to be the bridge between citizen and activist demands and corporations that need to maintain their reputation and a constructive dialogue with their stakeholders. This is essentially my sweet spot.
What is the best part of your day-to-day?
I love teaching and storytelling. When I get some time to myself to draft a strategy for a client or do a training session with a group, I’m at my best.
What’s the most challenging?
The most challenging part of my job is when strategies go ‘live’ and when I have to reaffirm the right way to do social and fend off backseat drivers. This kind of education is tricky because tensions run high when real interactions start to happen.
If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?
For the next while, I have a lot of skills-transferring to do. This means training and capacity building with new teams that want to build big budget Online Reputation campaigns. There is early talk of a book deal arising from my Manifesto and I am flirting with several agencies to see where I might fit best as a partner. Maybe I will feel like starting up my own social media outfit later but not for now.
How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?
My area of expertise, social media as applied to corporate reputation management, is disruptive in itself for most of my clients and event the PR firms I work with. I guess I am at ease being a disruption facilitator though I try to smooth the edges of these transitions for the uninitiated.
At home, my kids are pretty disruptive too and I continuously learn how to live with more and more chaos in my surroundings.
What is the most memorable moment in your career?
Convincing Canada’s oil and gas lobby to open up to questions and answers with the public through social media. Pioneering project, good budget and very hot topic. It was a colossal learning experience for me and my team!
Do you support any initiatives or charities?
I love crowdfunding and microcredit initiatives like Kiva.org. Everyone should give it a try. It’s easy to participate and you can keep tabs on your community investment and reinvest in others. It’s the best mix of gamification and global development and does not feel anything like a typical charity.
Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.
Writing from the woods somewhere, teaching some courses at a distance. Doing manual work, mountain biking, skiing and keeping fit. Spending time with grand kids. Doing work, but only for good causes.
Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?
Evernote! Can’t imagine how I lived without it. My daily planning is there, my random ideas and my grocery lists, all travelling neatly from device to device. Priceless.
A PR Crisis? Johnson & Johnson Removes Harmful Chemicals From Products
With the tag line, “No More Tears” on your products, consumers tend to foster a certain level of customer trust that your products are safe to use on the whole family. Unfortunately for Johnson & Johnson, one of the leading family care brands in the world, this hasn’t always been the case.
In 2009, the coalition group, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, conducted a study on a wide array of personal care products and the results were quite shocking; a number of Johnson & Johnson products contained now identified carcinogens such as formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane. The ‘trick’ of sorts is that these (and other) harmful chemicals weren’t listed on the ingredient labels! Why? Because ‘technically’ they weren’t ingredients, just by-products of the preservatives breaking down as the products aged.
After the discovery, the real work and PR balancing act began for Johnson & Johnson as they strived to reformulate their products while assuring their millions of users that while they’re doing this, their current products are still safe. Susan Nettesheim, VP of product stewardship & toxicology for Johnson & Johonson commented on the situation by saying, “Even though as a scientist I will sit here and tell you these things are perfectly safe,” consumers are worried about reports that call these conclusions into question, “I understand that and we can’t ignore that.”
So the company set to work reformulating their beloved products, some of which have been on the market for 50 years. The first wave of reformulation included all of their baby products and was promised for completion in 2013. The company delivered on their promise and earlier this month were presented with a collection of 30,000 names from consumers giving thanks to the corporation for their efforts in product safety. Johnson & Johnson also launched a new website outlining their commitment to safety.
The next step for Johnson & Johnson is their adult personal care brands including Neutrogena, Aveeno and Clean & Clear. They are striving to remove all triclosan and phthalates from these products by 2015 but will continue using 3 parabens and in exceptional cases, Formaldehyde where there is no other preservative option. From now on though the company has agreed to complete transparency when it comes to product ingredients. Company spokesperson Samantha Lucas stated, “We’re committed to absolute transparency about what’s in the product, and what’s on the label. We’re very involved in the complete supply chain, including holding our suppliers and our raw materials providers to our high standards.”
The efforts of Johnson & Johnson aren’t passing unnoticed by environmental/consumer groups either, Kenneth A. Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group praises the company, “We’ve never really seen a major personal care product company take the kind of move that they’re taking with this… Not really even anything in the ballpark.”
What do you think? Is this a PR win for Johnson & Johnson, or is it too little too late?
Sources:
How To Get More Retweets [INFOGRAPHIC]
Retweets are incredibly valuable to those looking to build and enhance their following on twitter. One “RT” has the capability of exposing you, your brand, or your product to a slew of people who otherwise would not have been exposed to your cause. The team at Quick Sprout has put together a comprehensive INFOGRAPHIC outlining some of the tips to receiving RTs of your content. Here’s a few highlights:
- Be sure to tweet links to interesting content
- Ask! “Please Retweet” has a 51% success rate.
- Stop talking about YOU. Only 1.5% of tweets contain self-reference
- Instructional and entertainment based content get the most attention
All these and more in the image below:
