A Christmas cracker: The biggest content lessons from festive films
This Christmas, we asked the Speak team to share the cracking content lessons they’ve gleaned from some of the most well-known festive films. Grab yourself a mince pie – yule want to read on…
Sophie Parrott, senior content writer
For me, the countdown to Christmas is on soon as I’ve watched Elf. Fresh from the North Pole, Buddy the elf arrives at the New York City department store Gimbels – where he is mistaken for a toy department employee thanks to his festive outfit.
On the surface, this film might seem poles apart (pun intended) from the world of content – but you can actually uncover some important comms lessons. When Buddy decorates the toy store, he demonstrates a passion for his work by going above and beyond. While no one asks him to spruce up the store, he creates a magical winter wonderland filled with twinkly lights and snow.
Arguably Buddy strays from his creative brief – not something we’d recommend. But for content creators, being passionate about telling the stories that matter is crucial. Two of the Speak values and traits that Buddy has in abundance are curiosity and enthusiasm. By putting these into practice and adopting a growth mindset, we can continuously improve our content to best meet the needs of clients and their audiences.
Sarah McGrath, junior content producer
My favourite Christmas film? It has to be The Holiday, which follows the story of Amanda and Iris – who swap lives over Christmas to escape their respective relationship dramas. Both characters are stuck in a rut, going about their daily routines without considering whether they’re happy with how their lives are going.
The lesson that comms professionals can take from this is – don’t become complacent. I’m not suggesting that content teams should pack up and go halfway across the world to consider their purpose (though if anyone wants to trade my London flatshare for their LA mansion over the holidays, I am available), but it’s important not to rest on your laurels.
Don’t get so stuck that you fail to consider new ways to approach content or question whether the material you’re producing aligns with your company’s values. As you head into the New Year, consider what could be done to better your content and improve your processes.
At Speak Media, regular strategy meetings, our annual values walks and monthly feedback sessions ensure that the team is continuously reflecting on our output and wider purpose, allowing us to adapt our approaches if needed.
Scarlett Sheriff, junior content producer
In the classic cinematic depiction of Dr Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the twisted green-haired protagonist starts out hating Christmas, embittered and lonely due to his past experiences.
After trying to destroy the festive celebrations of those living in the fictional town Whoville, the Grinch is eventually won over by the young Cindy-Lou, whose message about the true meaning of Christmas – specifically the importance of being together with loved ones – moves him to tears.
What is the biggest content lesson to be taken from The Grinch? For me, it’s that your brand’s messaging needs to be clear and consistent for it to reach the hearts and minds of your audience. Having a content strategy that effectively conveys meaningful messages will be key to your success.
Jiyoung Jung, creative project manager
My favourite festive film has got to be Frozen. The animated musical film charts the story of Anna and Elsa – royal sisters living in the kingdom of Arendelle. After Elsa’s icy powers see the kingdom fall into an eternal winter, Anna sets off to rescue her sister and the kingdom.
A key lesson that I have taken from this film – and one that is important for content teams to keep in mind – is the importance of determination. In Frozen, Anna remains determined to break the curse and protect her family and friends.
Having a can-do attitude and showing resilience can help all content teams to overcome challenges. At Speak, I’m proud to work with a team of purpose-led and hard-working colleagues who support each other to produce the best outcomes for our clients.
Grace Nolan, account manager
Home Alone is an absolute Christmas classic. After his family catch a flight to Paris for the holidays, young Kevin McCallister wakes up to find himself – you’ve guessed it – home alone. To start with, he is excited by this freedom and independence – jumping on the beds and eating lots of sweet treats, but eventually, Kevin misses his family and wants them to return.
Although it’s good to be able to work independently on content projects, it’s equally important to be around others – to be creative and bounce ideas off colleagues. Our processes and newsroom-style approach at Speak mean we can often work remotely and independently, which can be important when you need to progress tasks. But, as a company that is focused on finding and telling the stories that matter, collaboration is key to achieving this mission for our clients.
Want to find out how to implement a best-in-class editorial strategy that connects your organisation to your always-on audience?
Contact Gabrielle Bridle from our client services team at gabriellebridle@speakmedia.co.uk or on LinkedIn.