Influencers, Content Creators, and Press Events: Why Everyone Online Has an Opinion About Who Should and Should Not Be Invited to Things
Gatekeeping is everywhere, but it’s especially prominent in the arts. There’s a reason why the nepo-baby discourse is so strong when it comes to the entertainment industry, after all, but another way this blight can take shape is in the guest list for events like CinemaCon.
Although CinemaCon has only been running since 2011, it has fast become the gathering for the motion picture theater industry. That doesn’t just mean studios and actors, but people and organizations most of us don’t consider when we think about making movies, like camera manufacturers, food and beverage producers, and audio equipment makers.
As with any key event in the film calendar, the convention has seen some serious butting heads about who should be included. Film influencers, from YouTube essayists to TikTok hot take merchants, are an increasingly large presence in the once opaque world of movies, and as such have been taking up more space at events like CinemCon. This hasn’t always been well received.
There is something to be said for influencers being in attendance at CinemaCon. While social content is often as highly edited as a Hollywood hit, there does feel like more of a connection between content creators and the public than the traditional groups we usually associate with the big screen. Additionally, there is lots of programming at the conference that deals with the sorts of topics that influencers like to talk about because content about them hits massive viewing numbers, like new releases, casting decisions, and general state of the industry talks.
However, the vast majority of what goes on at the industry fair is quite dull to the average film fan, as it does focus on the technical and business side of running a theatre. This, combined with the generally overinflated sense of importance many influencers have, does mean that often a space like CinemaCon isn’t really somewhere their value can be seen, especially if they are being disruptive for content as some inevitably are, having found success from gaining attention at any cost.
There is definitely a happy medium here, and many creators and influencers covering the conference have found it. It just goes to show: if you love film and know what your audience wants, there is a space for you both on and offline in the industry.
(featured image: Gamurs)
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