So what happens when this guy:
Mark Ramsey is president of Mark Ramsey Media LLC and Radio Intelligence U.S.
He's the creator of the leading radio-centric strategy blog hear2.0. And a noted
"authority on trends shaping radio’s future and the future of digital audio entertainment and information." He also wrote Fresh Air: Marketing Gurus on Radio and Making Waves: Radio on the Verge.
...talks to this guy....
Richard Laermer is the CEO of RLM PR, and is an often quoted source to media and other influential types who appears on CNN, CBS News, FOX News, and in all media on media, trends, and the marketing fields and contributor to Huffington Post. He's the author of the new book 2011: Trendspotting as well as the book Punk Marketing, and the "perennial PR handbook".
about this guy?
Well they "dish on the gender preferences of Jake". And "do women repel him? Does he look straight or not? Is he or is he not with Reese 'Motherspoon'? And why IS he 'growing his beard'?"
Listen to it here at Movie Juice - Conversation about Jake comes in at 12:57.
Might not be so surprising to this crowd, but when two names in the media game talk so open and frank about Jake it should make others pause and think.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Straight talking
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If only we could get the cast of #twilight and the #worldcup soccer players to mate. Ahhh the babies they would make
12 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
Now why would Austin want an all guys soccer team to mate with a male dominated cast of Twilight? Hmmmmm
That's like talking about foursomes where the guys out number the lady 3:1
Actually there are a ton of women in the Twilight cast, you just hear a lot more about the men. The Eclipse cast includes Dakota Fanning, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ashley Greene and Anna Kendrick for starters.
Might not be so surprising to this crowd, but when two names in the media game talk so open and frank about Jake it should make others pause and think.
Interesting, and just proves what the regulars have been saying here all along to the trolls, that it's not just Ted and a few people at OMG and WFT who think Jake is gay.
Actually there are a ton of women in the Twilight cast, you just hear a lot more about the men.
But don't think that was what Austin was meaning. He know the buzz is about the guys. And mate? Did he use the word mate? It sounds like Marlon Perkin's on Wild Kingdom. "as the werewolf comes from the woods, he approaches the striker from Spain...they join...and there the moment is complete"
Just listened to the podcast.
We talk about Jake being gay here all the time and it's pretty much a given all over the internet.
And yet, hearing someone who is not only such an authority but also a big deal in PR (who knows all the things stars don't want us to know firsthand) say it. And on a public podcast that he knows everybody can listen to.
And it's not just that he said it, it's also how nonchalantly he did it. It makes it pretty clear that it's not just pretty much a given fact for people all over the internet, it's the same for HW and the whole PR machine.
And on a somewhat different note, I did have to laugh when he answered the question "Are you implying Jake Gyllenhaal doesn't look Persian?" with a very dry "I'm suggesting he doesn't look straight."
Quelle surprise a gay publicist finds thinks Jake is gay. Color me shocked!!!11!!!
You better hope none of Jakes publicists are straight then...
Or else we'd be forced to conclude the following:
"Quelle surprise his straight publicists think Jake is straight. Color me shocked!!!11!!!"
Did he use the word mate? It sounds like Marlon Perkin's on Wild Kingdom. "as the werewolf comes from the woods, he approaches the striker from Spain...they join...and there the moment is complete"
*swoon* ;)
"And it's not just that he said it, it's also how nonchalantly he did it. It makes it pretty clear that it's not just pretty much a given fact for people all over the internet, it's the same for HW and the whole PR machine. "
I understand what you say, but while listening the conversation I feelt the guys simply mocked jake on his Prince of persia look which really fit the image "of porn gay fantasm" I agree lol and so doesn't help the rumours.
The rumours and what is said all over internet are well know by industry. They watch everything and use it sometimes ( often I would say).
If they were just mocking Jake, don't think they would have talked about his relationship with Reese and about growing a beard.
The podcast was pretty tongue-in-cheek all the way through, I thought. They mocked all kinds of stars and their films, Ariana Huffington and the Huffington Post, American filmmaking, the Gulf, Crazy Heart, Colin Farrell, etc. I don't know how serious it all was, there was some bite to Richard Laermer's Gulf remarks and Jake remarks, to be sure. The makes the point of interrupting him, saying "it was for the movie", BBM, I thought? I suppose there must be some CYA. I don't come away any more convinced than before.
"If they were just mocking Jake, don't think they would have talked about his relationship with Reese and about growing a beard."
well you know it's depend how you take their "nonchalence" to copy stubborn TB. The guys didn't speak in a serious way and as publicist is perfeclty aware of what are said about jake in gossip world ( reese,beards...) it's their job after all. I maybe wrong but I had the impression of two bad boys titillating the poor jake on what "hurt" the most: the frenzy gays rumours.
These two guys know the power of the media and know that it is public and still do this - one thing to chat off the record like that, but this is posted and these two no better than just to throw something up there tongue-in cheek. These are guys to help design the images the celebrities like those they banter about
aren't they paid by PR if they work for celebriries image?
May be that meant more than tongue-in cheek but the way they said it, laughing their ass after each word, was a bit "pueril" to be taken seriously.Just my humble opinion.
I should say I don't come away any more convinced than I was before. I still can't say for sure. The guys are industry insiders, and I did think it was cavalier to be discussing it so offhandedly as Richard did, he came off as a little sneering IMO. Maybe he's of the mind that those in the gay community should be out. IDK.
You still don't get the point. These guys don't play the game, they create it. They wouldn't do something just for shits and giggles. They're wouldn't be the success at their jobs if they were tossing stuff off like this.
Sorry my comments were for HW eyes.
They were definitely having some shits and giggles for this podcast, sorry. If that's your idea of career building, I'm glad Jake isn't one of their clients.
***glowing***
I didn't mean to sound harsh, but there was a lot of goofing around I thought, between the two of them, prior to the Jake remarks, and sarcasm re the Gulf situation almost to the point of not taking it seriously - the not caring about the South or anything out of their own sphere, etc., Jake, and some other things, some self-directed too, to be fair. Still, Richard said it.
Shit. Another earthquake in Southern California. 5.9 in desert near Palm Springs. Everyone felt it from San Diego to LA. Wasn't too bad but the shaking lasted a long time, at least 10 seconds (a long time during a quake!)
No, I'm hearing something a little different as I have this podcast on.
Yes, they're doing some joking around but they are carrying on a very earnest interview. And they did make a comment about there being "oil everywhere" in the south. But then Laermer is speaking seriously about being caught up for the past two weeks in the coverage about the oil tragedy in the south. He speaks about what it is doing to that part of the country, how he very much likes it.
You can have goofing around but you can also have earnest comments interspersed. I say this because I used to listen to radio every day of my life and I've listened to more dee-jay/celebrity interviews than you can shake a stick at. I don't know if they still do those because I don't listen to radio anymore but "back in my day", morning radio was alllll about that.
Here's hoping all the OMG'ers in Cali are ok and not too shaken up.
Wow. That was incredible. I can't believe this guy said what he did.
I'm sorry, but this guy sounds like he's kidding around yet he is not kidding around. He sure slams PoP, doesn't he? He slams Jake's impression and he slams his acting. He may sound like he's joking? But he's not joking, hmmmm.
How hilarious that he calls Reese "Reese Motherspoon". LOL. That is excellent. I wish I had thought of that one, that's how good that one is. I think he's saying a couple of things with that moniker, not just the obvious.
I do wish people would stop slamming PoP. It was not the worst movie ever made, for crying out loud.
Thanks Special. Hope ypu're doing ok with the heat wave. What's funny/ironic is if a quake is bad you won't hear from us because electricity, landline phones and cell towers would be down and/or we'd all be under rubble. Sorry but lol to think about.
Thanks Special. Hope ypu're doing ok with the heat wave. What's funny/ironic is if a quake is bad you won't hear from us because electricity, landline phones and cell towers would be down and/or we'd all be under rubble. Sorry but lol to think about.
I was watching Wake Up With Al (without Al this week) this morning and they were talking about the East heatwave. I didn't realize NYC was having it so bad. We are stuck in non-stop rainshowers but at least it's not hot. Too bad you don't have water sprinklers, Special. I tell you what, last week when we had lows in the high 70's-low 80's, at 4+ in the morning, I was walking through the sprinklers on purpose and that felt awesome!
Last thing before I go to my story. Back to this Laermer guy. I had to google him to see if he was a legit, well-respected in his biz. Not that I doubted you, Special, but I always have to see things for myself, lol.
Anyway, this guy is pretty brilliant. I found this on the Huffington Post. Excellent.
10 Mistakes Businesses Make Daily...and 10 Quick-Fix Solutions
During the last mercurial cycle, I asked several super-successful types what killed businesses. If we can somehow work on eradicating a few simple mistakes, the next few years will rock.
1. Stagnation. Evolve or die. Just sitting there will sure help your butt grow, but not much else. Change with the times only if you want to stay ahead of your competition. Imagine you're okay, and you are surely asleep.
2. Lack of planning. Find your niche, craft a plan, and then stick with it each day. It's easy for businesses to not stay focused on what they do best. If your plan isn't working, tweak the mother quickly.
3. Turning off loyal customers. Too many businesses focus on bringing in new and ignore their old. Since 20 percent of customers are responsible for 80 percent of business, it's a lot easier to keep loyal customers happy than to find new ones. I call that "horizontal growth." If your clients think you treat them amazingly, they'll sell you to others better than you ever can. For sure.
4. Thinking you know it all. If you're not staying informed about the world, you'll be left behind. That means forcing yourself to go out and find out about topics you "could care less about." The stuff you love--don't chase it, it'll come in through your pores.
5. Not keeping up with your customers' interests. Follow trends in the media, pay attention to what businesses down the street are doing, and be a spotter of trends so that you don't become obsolete--or worse, stale. Ask customers what's working, what's not, and why. Do it without cynicism or thin-skinned defensiveness!
6. Staying quiet. Get the word out about who you are and what you offer--and don't worry about giving away the "company secrets." People should know what you're doing. Don't be self-important. I always hear "Someone will steal this." So what? You were first. Also, leverage aggressive marketing techniques, our old pal the Internet, and even freaking 411.com. Do stunts--but only if they match the mission of what you are proffering. And yeah, PR. There are actual influential big mouths who can make your product or service a big deal. That isn't a myth, Virginia.
7. Having a tepid message. Think about how you want customers to feel and what you want them to do. Then craft memorable messages that are bent on surprising them and that make them go "woo, woo!"
8. Being inconsistent. If you act like an ass in public, it's probably best to give the paying customers what they seem to want. If you're a sweetheart, show that side of you all the time. Businesses are about people--but only the ones who pay to see the fake you. Don't try to be someone new. It's fake.
9. Neglecting the art of "What The Fuck!" Sometimes you have to throw away old wisdom. Go with your gut. My friend tells me The Dalai Lama said that at Radio City last month!
10. Worrying about what people think. That won't get you anywhere. No one is paying attention to things like you are absolutely positive they are as you fall asleep at night. But if folks are mocking you--good. The biggest successes are those who enjoy being laughed at all the time. I know I do.
Aristotle said "There is nothing common about common sense." I leave you with that.
What he says about stagnation, inconsistency, Staying Quiet, so true. And numbers 4 & 10, I love, too, if only I could take them to heart and actually do them. LOL. Man, I wish I could be like that. But I love what he says. I think he is so right on.
These 10 points are brief but they're to the point and he gets his message across. I'm really impressed.
You could apply every one of those rules to explain what went wrong with Reeke and Jake's image the past three years.
Haven't had time to listen to the podcast yet.
It really is interesting, Destiny. I was telling Tom about it as well as he was not where he could see the post or listen to the podcast where he was at. It's not real long (although mine cut out several times and I had to jump back and relisten at a few spots) and the bit about Jake comes pretty much at the end. But I wanted to listen to how they talked about the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster for myself.
They also talk some about Maggie.
Hey, and Maggie Gyllenhaal is on the cover of Good Housekeeping!! How about that? That's great. She's with Emma Thompson. Now that's quite a cover.
LOL - Curley & I spent some time out on the deck. It was so nice out and the sun was still setting. They have a really pretty pond in the back with lilypads and fish in it and boy, last night, the frogs in there were making so much racket, it was almost disturbing. But anyway, I had my laptop, my no sugar added tapioca pudding and Cool Whip Lite and talked Curley into going out with me. All he was interested in was getting a taste of Cool whip. Then he wanted to go inside!! For crying out loud. I asked him if he was spoiled. He didn't answer. lol
So, our outside time was curtailed. He likes to play inside but only for about 3 minutes. 2 or 3 minutes, about two tosses of a ball or squeaky toy and then he's done. lol. Man. What an indoor dog.
Right now, he's laying at my feet, licking. He licks & licks & licks his feet to death. They're not even white anymore, they're sort of a discolored brown/pink/red. Otherwise, the rest of him is just this pristine, flawless white. And he has alot of pink. Pink tummy, pink inner ears, pink around his eyes and pink above his real black nose.
**sigh** Only two more nights to sleep with my boy.
Okay, back to my story!
Blogger is really being stupid tonight. First it tells me my comment was too long so I edited it. Then when I hit preview, it shows that it did take my comment and I was about to do a double post.
BuzzSugar.com has someone blogging about seeing October Sky and there's a great picture from the movie of Jake and Laura Dern. The author calls him Sweet Baby Jake.
Gotta say it really makes you wonder ...
Just almost had a wreck with a delorean. I think marty and the doc were. Drunk.
1 minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
AUS10NICHOLS
That podcast was interesting. I will point out that this Laeremer guy is not involved in HW pr and does not appear to represent any stars, so I don't know how much of this is just his opinion, or picking up on stuff that is out there, be it in the pr world, gay circles, etc.
Gotta say it really makes you wonder ...
Just almost had a wreck with a delorean. I think marty and the doc were. Drunk.
Totally! You put the pic of Marty and Doc up with the Delorean. He saw it.
Oh my! I had no idea what Special was getting at.
Sorry I was so vague, just wanted to see if someone else saw what I saw when I read that tweet.
Another late night for me so I will not listen to the podcast till tomorrow. Sounds very interesting though. Those business guidelines are right on target. I skimmed the comments so I can keep my objectivity while I listen. And I will listen to the entire broadcast.
I'm in Northern CA, so no earthquake tremors for me. Thank god. After living through a few doozies, I welcomed the chance to to move a bit north of SF.
Well I’ve read several of Richard Laermer’s works and whereas he may not be directly involved in PR "handling" as it relates to Hollywood business practices, he is known for his vast knowledge of media public relations in general, including what sells and how to remain relevant in a hyper-exposed world. Laermer also has an outrageous and perceptive rapid fire communication style, which is on full display in this podcast; a savvy and provocative observer of media trends and the art and craftiness of the hype/spin. Since his overarching mantra is to always be connected, and also being openly gay himself, I have little doubt that he is “in the know” about the whole Hollywood closet debates and various information related to the entertainment industry in terms of trends/fads/current events.
He is involved in public relations and while I didn't see anything about involvement with stars in particular, that guy knows what he's talking about as far as what works. Those 10 business guidelines are so true.
I see my own company following some of those and while I gripe alot about some of the things we do like constantly changing our packaging and their constant pushing of evolving and "change", it's what keeps your company alive. And it doesn't have to be a company. The "company" can easily be a single, lone celebrity.
Because a celebrity is in the business of selling his or herself, basically. They may just like to sing or act, but if no one buys their product, they're not going to be able to earn their living and they're not going to get the pleasure that they want out of making people happy.
I'm still trying to figure out how our TPM fits in with his top ten, though. lol. Man, I hate TPM.
Laermer was a quick-wit too. And I thought I heard him say he was gay. I hadn't run across that in my google search.
Nice pick up on the tweet, Special. It would have gone right over my head.
And while it didn't have his ever increasing plethora of bad language, it had to have a mention of booze.
I'm just not a fan of his twitter style. This constant mentioning of weed, joint, drinking, being drunk, liquor, and the use of the mf word is really turning me off.
And he's supposed to be a father??? Are his kids hearing this mf word coming out of his mouth all the time at home? I'm just trying to figure out what's so impressive about talking like this all the time. Is this really a Texas man thing? My cousin lives in Austin and he doesn't talk like that. Well, not in family company, anyway. lol.
It reminds me of being at a red traffic light next to a 19-22 year old and when the light turns green, the guy has to take off in a big gravel-kicking spin of over-processed testosterone. Can't tell you how many times that's happened along with the ol' pass the guy on the highway because he's in senior citizen mode but once you pass him and he gets a look at you, suddenly he finds his gas pedal and has to pass you in a big burst of speed.
lol. What is up with that. Now, I just shake my head and laugh.
For a short week, it's being kind of a long week. Here's to Friday on the horizon.
He is involved in public relations and while I didn't see anything about involvement with stars in particular, that guy knows what he's talking about as far as what works. Those 10 business guidelines are so true.
I see my own company following some of those and while I gripe alot about some of the things we do like constantly changing our packaging and their constant pushing of evolving and "change", it's what keeps your company alive. And it doesn't have to be a company. The "company" can easily be a single, lone celebrity.
Because a celebrity is in the business of selling his or herself, basically. They may just like to sing or act, but if no one buys their product, they're not going to be able to earn their living and they're not going to get the pleasure that they want out of making people happy.
I'm still trying to figure out how our TPM fits in with his top ten, though. lol. Man, I hate TPM.
Laermer was a quick-wit too. And I thought I heard him say he was gay. I hadn't run across that in my google search.
Nice pick up on the tweet, Special. It would have gone right over my head.
And while it didn't have his ever increasing plethora of bad language, it had to have a mention of booze.
I'm just not a fan of his twitter style. This constant mentioning of weed, joint, drinking, liquor, and the use of the mf word is really turning me off.
And he's supposed to be a father??? Are his kids hearing this mf word coming out of his mouth all the time at home? I'm just trying to figure out what's so impressive about talking like this all the time.
It reminds me of being at a red traffic light next to a 19-22 year old and when the light turns green, the guy has to take off in a big gravel-kicking spin of over-processed testosterone. Can't tell you how many times that's happened along with the ol' pass the guy on the highway because he's in senior citizen mode but once you pass him and he gets a look at you, suddenly he finds his gas pedal and has to pass you in a big burst of speed.
lol. What is up with that. Now, I just shake my head and laugh.
Well, here's to a good day for everyone! It's Thursday and that means.....Friday is not far off. It will be good to be back at the ol' homestead. My own bed. My own server, lol.
Here's hoping for some of our cooler weather to hit you guys in the northeast.
Good points M and M and PG about Laermer.
Yeah, the tweet went right over my head because I had no idea who Marty and Doc were--it has been too many years to remember.
Listening to the podcast again, I have to admit that the pregnant pause after Mark Ramsey introduced the topic of The Prince of Persia was more than a little suggestive. Laermer is an expert at personal branding so I don’t think he would take lightly the idea of misrepresenting someone just for kicks. When Laermer responded with, “Oh my god! That gay guy, right?....That nice gay fellow” and Ramsey tried to give him “an out” by saying, “That’s a movie [unspoken reference to Brokeback Mountain] you’re thinking of,” Laermer didn’t let up one bit or backtrack/revise his proclamation. Even more telling was that Laermer continues to speak openly about how there was no way PoP would ever be a franchise. Why? Well not because there was no substance to the film, or the dialogue, or a lack of 3-D imagery. But, rather because, “look at him,” he's “gayer than Troy.” The audience could see on the screen that women “repelled” him. “Can’t have an action hero that “doesn’t play ball.” Then, of course, there's the beard reference with Reese Motherspoon. What a wicked tongue!
Basically, I don’t detect a tongue a cheek quality to these observations at all. More a *wink, wink* essence. A rather biting commentary on what happens when one tries to project a phony product/image. And, I definitely don’t think it was a slip of the tongue when they then started talking about Jake’s sister, Maggie. Once again, Laermer goes in for the kill. Instead of saying that she can’t be Jake’s sister because she’s a real “actor” (which is the generic occupational term most well-informed media folks use nowadays to describe a male or female performer), he says that she is a “real actress. She can’t possibly be his sister.” Being familiar with Laermer’s double meaning banter I think he was humorously implying that Jake was not a real “actress” and not in an absurdist kind of way. More like an ironically paradoxical jab. Snap!
Just almost had a wreck with a delorean. I think marty and the doc were. Drunk.
Is somebody reading OMG? ;)
I just felt the guy was being a little snide. There wasn't a need for that, unless he feels that people of the gay community should be out.
I just felt the guy was being a little snide. There wasn't a need for that, unless he feels that people of the gay community should be out.
Laermer is definitely not a gentle soul. He's what I might call a guerilla style marketer. And, yes, he can be sarcastic and insinuating, just like when he was disparaging Sex In the City. By mentioning Reeke, however, I think he is communicating that he is more repulsed by the phoniness of the brand known as Jake Gyllenhaal (i.e. bearding) than about whether he is out or not.
The audience could see on the screen that women “repelled” him
This is a ridiculous statement and an insulting one. I believe Jake is gay, but he certainly doesn't come across as being "repelled" by women in movies or in real life. Laermer sounds as ignorant as that Newsweek writer who proclaimed that gay men can't play straight roles. Gay actors certainly can play leading men, action heroes, etc. and making statements such as that one just plays into the homophobia of a good portion of the public that is keeping gay actors in the closet. I'm sure Jake and Anne will light up the screen in LAOD.
Yes, definitely the Reese connection was not appreciated by him. I did hear the part about SATC2 as well. Interesting.
I would have to say that Laermer is hardly ignorant. I agree that his style maybe off putting to some, and understandably so because he is an "in your face" social/cultural observer. But, I don't believe he was stating that gay actors cannot play "leading man" heterosexual roles, etc. His point is much more specific and directed toward the fake image Jake and his handlers are trying to ship to the public.
I did feel that Jake's performance in PoP was awkward. Can't quite put my finger on it, but something wasn't quite right. I believe he's at his best when he trusts himself and selects parts that challenge him emotionally and intellectually. That's when his performances have a touching clarity and effortlessness. I know he kept saying he was having fun with PoP, but I sure wasn't feeling it. LaOD's sounds like a great role for him. I'm definitely looking forward to it too.
IHJ added some new/old TDAT stills.
Oh, I don't know that I got that feeling that Jake didn't have fun. Unless he's lying and really doesn't like doing all the physical jumping/fighting/leaping/riding horses/etc etc that PoP called for. And I don't think he would have put in the time that he did to get in shape if he didn't want to do it well and give it his all.
Nobody goes through a diet like that and puts in that kind of discipline as far as working out unless they really, really want to. Alot of people would throw in the towel after a week or two and say "You can have it!"
But hey, maybe it still just wasn't quite the right kind of role for him, you know? But he tried. And I hand it to him for that. Part of being a versatile actor is finding out if you can do different kinds of roles. Not everyone can, no. But some can. And you don't know unless you try.
This guy Laermer is sharp. One probably isn't going to like every opinion or joke he has but there's no denying he's on it. And yeah, the two guys were having some yuks but he was also serious with alot of what he said in that podcast. He just has a different kind of delivery.
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