Social media sites like Twitter and Tumblr give birth to some half-baked ideas, but at least one of those apparently silly throwaway jokes is being taken seriously, as director Ava DuVernay and writer Issa Rae are expected to write a film starring Rihanna and Lupita Nyong'o. The concept for the film comes from a series of jokes referencing an image of the two celebrities from a fashion show called Miu Miu in 2014.
The meme began on Tumblr, where a user named elizabitchtaylor posted the photo of Rihanna and Lupita Nyong'o with a caption reading "They look like they're in a heist movie with Rihanna as the tough-as-nails leader/master and Lupita as the genius computer hacker." The post caught fire, with further jokes erupting on Twitter, and eventually it made its way to the celebrities as well as the director and writer. Production on a film centering around that concept is expected to begin in 2018.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Social Media Movie Concepts
- The success of the concept movie means that social media users are being taken more seriously and have the potential to influence future film and television content.
- Meme-based Marketing
- Memes can be powerful marketing tools, and brands can look to leverage viral social media content into film and television projects.
- Celebrity Fan Campaigns
- Fans have more power than ever thanks to social media and can use hashtags and trending topics to influence the kinds of content that gets made in Hollywood.
Where This Applies
- Film Production
- Hollywood can harness the power of social media memes by working with influencers and viral content creators to develop new film projects.
- Social Media Marketing
- Brands and agencies can increase engagement on social media platforms by creating memes and other viral content that resonates with users and generates buzz.
- Celebrity Endorsements
- Celebrities can use their influence on social media to drive fan campaigns and generate buzz for film and television projects they are passionate about.
