Comments on: Bruce Willis in conversation http://www.nevillehobson.com/2007/05/30/bruce-willis-in-conversation/ Business, Communication, Technology Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:57:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Alex M http://www.nevillehobson.com/2007/05/30/bruce-willis-in-conversation/#comment-47393 Alex M Thu, 31 May 2007 08:59:32 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2007/05/30/bruce-willis-in-conversation/#comment-47393 I think we will hear more from Bruce this time, the site suggests they have a few Q&As planned as and when Willis can answer them (not too easy given the mass of publicity he's probably got to do at the moment). However, I'd doubt this would become a regular thing, but who's to say given its success so far. It may become an ingrained Hollywood publicity tactic! Agreed on Lutz being similar. He answers all sorts of difficult questions on the Fast Lane blog and from everything that's been written about him it appears he has done so since the blog's inception. Will be interesting to hear what FIR listeners think on this. I think we will hear more from Bruce this time, the site suggests they have a few Q&As planned as and when Willis can answer them (not too easy given the mass of publicity he’s probably got to do at the moment). However, I’d doubt this would become a regular thing, but who’s to say given its success so far. It may become an ingrained Hollywood publicity tactic!

Agreed on Lutz being similar. He answers all sorts of difficult questions on the Fast Lane blog and from everything that’s been written about him it appears he has done so since the blog’s inception.

Will be interesting to hear what FIR listeners think on this.

]]> By: neville http://www.nevillehobson.com/2007/05/30/bruce-willis-in-conversation/#comment-47384 neville Thu, 31 May 2007 07:29:02 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2007/05/30/bruce-willis-in-conversation/#comment-47384 That's a very good question, Alex. I think it illustrates how direct and unfiltered communication can create real connections between people that have the potential to build long-term value. It needs to be sustained, though, not purely a parachute-drop type of interaction which is what Bruce Willis has done so far. Look at the example of Bob Lutz, the vice-chairman of GM, and GM's <a href="http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/" rel="nofollow">FastLane Blog</a>. There are risks, though, as illustrated by a bit of a mini-kerfuffle over some of Willis' comments as well as those by some of the other commenters in the discussion. Still, that's what plain speaking gets you. I'm going to pose your question to FIR listeners, see what others may think. That’s a very good question, Alex.

I think it illustrates how direct and unfiltered communication can create real connections between people that have the potential to build long-term value. It needs to be sustained, though, not purely a parachute-drop type of interaction which is what Bruce Willis has done so far.

Look at the example of Bob Lutz, the vice-chairman of GM, and GM’s FastLane Blog.

There are risks, though, as illustrated by a bit of a mini-kerfuffle over some of Willis’ comments as well as those by some of the other commenters in the discussion. Still, that’s what plain speaking gets you.

I’m going to pose your question to FIR listeners, see what others may think.

]]> By: Alex M http://www.nevillehobson.com/2007/05/30/bruce-willis-in-conversation/#comment-47349 Alex M Wed, 30 May 2007 23:46:36 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2007/05/30/bruce-willis-in-conversation/#comment-47349 Hi Neville, I was watching this unfold on AICN a couple of weeks ago and it was extraordinary. The first talkback grew slowly but when people figured it out news quickly spread around the web. What was more incredible, was that Willis actually verified it was him via an iChat video call with one of the talkbackers. Eventually of course, Willis couldn't answer anything like all the questions thrown at him in the talkback, although he did an amazing job up to the overload point, so the AICN admins took to sending him a distilled list of questions which he then answered s time permitted, on his Blackberry. Remarkable stuff. Sylvester Stallone actually did something similar on AICN a few months back before the release of Rocky 6 but Willis was definitely a lot more popular. There's no question this has had a quite epic effect on the new film, which was facing serious problems because of a fan-revolt about its PG-13 rating. Subsequently Neville, I have a question for you; 1. If a person such as Bruce Willis (a-list hollywood, worth millions, never needs to work again etc) can communicate with the masses and prove it works, is this is a worthy example of the power of communication in general that could be transposed to business, or does the difference between pop-culture and business make it completely irrelevant to the latter? Alex Hi Neville,

I was watching this unfold on AICN a couple of weeks ago and it was extraordinary. The first talkback grew slowly but when people figured it out news quickly spread around the web. What was more incredible, was that Willis actually verified it was him via an iChat video call with one of the talkbackers.

Eventually of course, Willis couldn’t answer anything like all the questions thrown at him in the talkback, although he did an amazing job up to the overload point, so the AICN admins took to sending him a distilled list of questions which he then answered s time permitted, on his Blackberry. Remarkable stuff. Sylvester Stallone actually did something similar on AICN a few months back before the release of Rocky 6 but Willis was definitely a lot more popular.

There’s no question this has had a quite epic effect on the new film, which was facing serious problems because of a fan-revolt about its PG-13 rating.

Subsequently Neville, I have a question for you;

1. If a person such as Bruce Willis (a-list hollywood, worth millions, never needs to work again etc) can communicate with the masses and prove it works, is this is a worthy example of the power of communication in general that could be transposed to business, or does the difference between pop-culture and business make it completely irrelevant to the latter?

Alex

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