Celebrities and their Cell Phones

Although we are aware that our personal relationships are being affected by technology, do you ever stop to think if celebrities lives are affected as well? We always think of being interrupted by a text, or a reminder, but have the boundaries of technology and day to day life for celebrities changed as well? From Miley Cyrus to President Obama, priorities have changed.
One of the biggest changes that has been made in the White House with this Presidency is the fact that President Obama has managed to keep hold of his Blackberry device. There was much fuss made over the security measures that will have to be taken if President Obama insists on keeping his Blackberry, one security measure being an encryption software installed as to keep the "bad guys" out of private conversations. (LATimes.com)
President Obama has always been "virtually connected" to supporters, which has been made clear through his Facebook page, online fundraising, and YouTube videos. The thought of not being able to keep his Blacknberry which he has used to make all of these things assessable to him, would be hard to swallow. Imagine if someone told you that you could not use your phone anymore, and that it was being taken away from you for security measures- How would you react?
President Obama does get to keep his phone after much ado, and I have to admit that it is nice to know that our President knows how to use his Blackberry and relies on it as much as I rely on mine.
Miley Cyrus, being a typical teen with their phone attached to their hand, was caught texting during a live interview on the radio. Being a little caught off guard, the host asked, "Who are you texting?" which led into a terrible interview consisting of awkward silences. Isn't that crossing the line just a little bit? To me, texting while having a conversation is considered rude and flat out annoying, but while a celebrity is being interviewed? Give me a break.
I am studying to become a journalist, and I have no idea what I would do if I was interviewing Hannah Montana and she picked up her phone and started texting in the middle of it! I mean, I guess she can do whatever she wants being number 12 on the Holloywood's Top 20 Young, Famous, and Rich list, but don't they teach some sort of manners in the Disney family?
Along with well known celebrities increasing their phone time, designer Jason Wu, who is responsible for Michelle Obama's Inaugural Ball Gown (the gorgeous one-shoulder white one) said that he received hundreds of text messages in the following week with clients begging for designs. He said the night of the Ball, he had to turn off his phone because the ringing was too much to handle, and just take in the surprise that Michelle was wearing his dress on his own.
Who would have text the newest, hottest designer five years ago to ask for an appointment or a design? No one. Times have changed and so have relationships between celebrities and their phones, and celebrities and their fans.
Along with cell phones, celebrities have found a new found love for Twittering. Ashton Kutcher has made headlines by declaring that he will get more followers than CNN (which he did) and Shaq has daily followers that meet him random places he designates on his Twitter for free basketball tickets. Celebrities have found an easy, safe way to access their fans on a one-on-one level, without it being one-on-one.
Having a way to contact your favorite celebrity, whether it be by text or Twitter, makes a fan feel connected, which inevitably creates a sense of loyalty and comrodery. Twitter accounts are being used from college professors to Sean Puffy Combs, which shows the versatility of the site and the potential for outreach.
Along with relating to fans, celebrities have been introduced more and more to the power of product placement. No longer do celebrities have to talk to us on the TV screen and build a reputation so that we trust their opinion, all they have to do is hold a particular water bottle or telephone in a scene now and sales sky rocket.
The trend started in the early 2000, beginning to increase, where marketers shelled out 71% more — $941 million — to integrate brands into TV shows in 2005 vs. 2004 (PQ Media, USAToday.com).
The growing trend of product placement is everywhere from late night talk shows, to full feature films, from reality TV, to soap operas. And it doesn't stop there. A Finnish author, Steig Larsson, has received slashing on discussion boards for his product placements within his books. Readers complain about how every computer piece and mobile phone in all three books are described in detail, and how the brand is always mentioned. Why should this matter to the reader? What purpose does this information serve if not merely for product placement?
America's Next Top Model is, in my opinion, the worst product placement program. Everything they use, from make up to toilet paper, they fully endorse and use a catch phrase for. They incorporate activities solely for the purpose to advertise a specific product, and you feel like you are watching an hour long advertisement on the home shopping network, with a few dramatic scenes added for entertainment value.
I have worked as a spokes model for the majority of the past four years, and recently I have noticed the trend of product placement as well. Instead of product information about the bottled water or pricey watch company I was representing, I have been given the movies that the product made an appearance in and what actors are wearing it these days. For example, one of the main points I was supposed to get across to the Las Vegas Convention in 2008, was that a Tutima watch was used in the Robert Deniro and Al Pacino film, Righteous Kill. It was the watch that they use to time each other the whole movie. When I worked Sundance Film Festival this year, I was working for Icelandic Glacial bottled water. One of our main points to the public was the appearances the water has made on the TV series Scrubs and the future films that are considering it.
Does a celebrity opinion mean less to us now? Do we only need to see the product to want to buy it? Is there no trusting relationship built between client and spokes model anymore? Does this mean less endorsement deals in the future for celebrities? Only time will tell...