Some of you might be thinking, “What exactly is a Digital Brand Journalist”? This is a new position here at Olney Theatre, and I am honored to be the person to get this role started. In the digital age, digital marketing could not be more important. It’s an amazing way to reach our audiences directly, and provide fascinating information in a brand new way.
The position was created to respond to the challenge of reaching a broader, more diverse audience. One way to do this is with the shows we choose to produce. Artistic Director Jason Loweth has carefully selected a mix of classics and new shows to accomplish this goal, as seen in the 2019-2020 season. We had classics such as Cabaret and Singin’ in the Rain, and also newer shows that handle issues of diversity such as The Royale and Miss You Like Hell.
The other goal is to find a way to connect with newer, younger audiences that really represent our community here in the DMV. That's where I come in. You may or may not have noticed that we have been putting up more videos lately; videos that dive deep into the behind-the-scenes of each show. Why this show? What is it about? What does it mean? As a filmmaker, these are the questions that interest me. My goal is to find fascinating stories all around Olney Theatre and share them with you, our audience. Whether it be about a cast member’s connection to a show, a really cool lighting effect, or anything in between, I’m here to give you an insight into the vast amount of things that go into making a play come to life.
So to sum up, a Digital brand Journalist works with the marketing department to make videos and focus on the ever important question: Who are we and what do we care about? I also will have a heavy hand in running our social media platforms (follow @olneytheatre (shameless pug)) to ensure that our online persona matches our core values.
I studied filmmaking at Boston University and have always loved the nonfiction form. In school I enjoyed making movies about artists. It's the ultimate form of artistic expression in video, getting to make art about people who are so creative and passionate.
If you’d like to see more about what Olney Theatre Center is all about, I encourage you to follow us on Instagram, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop about all the fun, challenging, artistic, and creative things that happen here at OTC everyday.
Thank you for making me a new member of this awesome community!
Sincerely,
Emily Jerison
