I’ve loved Enders Game since I read it in 7th grade, so when I heard they were finally making a movie version, part of me was excited to see it on the big screen, while another part was worried Hollywood would destroy one of my favorite stories. When it finally came out, I walked into the theater with cautious optimism, and I have to say I was happy with the result.
Of course there are parts of the book I wish there had been time to include, but when you’re limited to a couple of hours, cuts need to be made. This is true of public relations, too. There’s always more you can be doing, but as a small business owner you just don’t have time. So, like the Enders Game script writers had to focus the story, how do you focus your marketing plan? Here are 3 tips.
3 Public Relations & Marketing Plan Lessons from Enders Game
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Here are 3 public relations & marketing plan lessons from Enders Game.
Focus on your main message. One criticism I heard of the movie is that it didn’t develop some of the secondary characters as well as the novel did. But as the scriptwriters knew, when you’re limited on time, you need to stick to the main character: Ender. Similarly, you need to stick to your company’s main message. As you create your marketing plan and follow through with your public relations strategy, make sure you keep your primary focus front and center.
- Get creative, but stay true to the brand. Enders Game the book takes place over a period of years. But having multiple actors at various ages play numerous characters (some as young as 6) is hard to pull off well. Instead, the scriptwriters used creative license and adapted the story to take place over a period of months. They stayed true to the story (for the most part) so it worked. In the same way, don’t be afraid of trying something new! Get creative with your marketing plan and public relations strategy – just stay true to your brand.
- Choose your words wisely. In the book version of Enders Game, the aliens they’re fighting against are referred to as “buggers” because they look like bugs. But for the most part the characters in the movie refer to them as “formics.” I don’t know why for sure, but would guess that they decided audiences would respond to the term “formics” better than “buggers.” As you write or speak about your company, remember that the words you use are representing your business, so choose them carefully!
Have you read and/or seen Enders Game? What additional public relations and marketing plan lessons would you take away from the adaptation? Share them in the comments below!
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Photo Credit: Emily Sidley