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Romantic Times Convention

April 29th, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Romantic Times Convention)

Good Afternoon!

I’m off to the Romantic Times convention tomorrow.  It should be great fun and I’ll meet some of my favorite authors.  I’ll post pictures.

I’m speaking Wednesday afternoon about common mistakes authors make when dealing with the media.

I am making products available on my web site starting in June.  For anyone who attended the convention, there is a 10 percent discount.

Email me and we will chat: sara@lienpublicrelations.com.

Have fun!

 

Sara

Most Beautiful Woman

April 25th, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

It’s that time of year again.  On Tuesday, People Magazine released their Most Beautiful Woman issue.  The choice for most beautiful is Gwyenth Paltrow.   Paltrow is an Oscar winner, wife and mother.  She has been open about her struggle with weight, her famous marriage,  as well as her journey to motherhood. She just released her second cook book.  Paltrow also just turned 40.  Congrats!
However, this news was met with high criticism. Even my mother did not agree.  She said, “How horrible. She is so plain Jane!”  Now, I do think she is very pretty but I think our idea of what is pretty has changed over the years.  The days of glamour queens like Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor are over.   So I decided to list some women in Hollywood who I consider beautiful.  Tell me some of your choices.
Here is my list of Hollywood’s most beautiful:
1.    Debbie Reynolds-stunning in her later seventies.
2.    Jennifer Lopez-she is exotic and a true beauty.
3.    Jane Fonda-she is confident and it shows.
4.    Halle Berry-gorgeous!
5.    Charlize Theron
6.    Reese Witherspoon
7.    Julia Roberts
8.    Blythe Danner
9.    Sandra Bullock
10.    Mila Kunis

The Witherspoon P.R. Mistake

April 23rd, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Friday night Reese Witherspoon committed the ultimate celebrity crime: She used the phrase, “Don’t You Know Who I Am?”

When I read the news of Witherspoon’s arrest on Sunday night, I was shocked.  Reese Witherspoon is the Doris Day of Hollywood.  Her reputation has been solid since she appeared in her first movie,  “A Man in the Moon.”

She won an Oscar for “Walk the Line” and has three kids who are adjusted.   They live a quiet life and seem to operate as a traditional family.

Being arrested for disorderly conduct is a 180-degree departure from her reputation.

However, this is a study in PR.   Her reputation has been damaged but she can revive her career.
Below are my suggestions for Witherspoon’s recovery.

The Good Girl image is gone.  It will not come back because journalists will continue to bring this up until she addresses the arrest.

I suggest she embrace it.

1.    Tell your story.  What happened?  Was she confused about their alcohol level?  Why didn’t she call a taxi?  Educated others about her mistakes.

2.    This makes her edgier.  Take advantage of this to get more radical roles.  Become a superhero.  Make dramas.  Embrace the change.

3.    Admit to the “Don’t You Know who I Am” remark.  How does fame change a person and how can someone deal with it.

In the end, she is just a person and we all make mistakes.  However, this is something that will not go away and Reese needs to address these issues.

Good Morning!

I’m excited to be blogging and talking about all things pop culture.
I realized my comment section was turned off.  It’s now on, so feel free to comment.
Now on to the fun stuff!

For months I have been confused about something that everyone seems to understand.
Why do we care about celebrity pregnancies?

Every day there is a new celebrity baby bump alert.  This month it has been Halle Berry,  Fergie, and Kim Kardashian.

My opinion is simple.  It’s a pregnancy!  Women get pregnant every day.  It don’t understand why when a celebrity gets pregnant, it’s news.

In the past, Hollywood tried to hide it.  Movie stars were not supposed to let the public know they were human.  Studios did everything possible to avoid it. They placed props in front of the stomach and hid it under layers of clothing.

Now celebrities make the bump more prominent.

I don’t have an issue with that but a pregnancy should make news for one day and then be done with it.
Why do you think we are fascinated?

Next, why do we care about celebrity babies?

This is an issue that makes me very angry.  Once celebrities have their babies, they profit based on selling images of the child to gossip magazines like People and US Weekly.  The purpose is supposed to be a tactic to deflect the media.   However, in my opinion, celebrity babies like Shiloh Pitt-Jolie, Brooklyn Beckham, and Suri Cruise become instantly famous when on covers of these magazines.   Magazines like Us Weekly even have sections for “Who Wore it Best” for celebrity babies.

Although celebrities wish to shield their children from paparazzi, they seem to want their children to be encouraging them to become famous by developing fashion lines, photo layouts and musical careers.
There are some celebrities who keep their children out of the public eye.  For example, Christian Bale never released the name of his daughter to the public.

I’m not saying nepotism is not valid.  Children of celebrities have talent: Mia Farrow, Drew Barrymore, and Jamie Lee Curtis are positive examples of nepotism.   However, each earned their fame without their parents’ involvement.

Let’s put down the stories about celebrity nonsense and consider what is important in our everyday lives.
Give me your Pop Op!

Sara

Saddness

April 16th, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Saddness)

Good morning!
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.
I’ll be posting a new blog on Thursday.
Thank you.
Sara’s Pop Op

Introduction to “Pop Op” Blog

April 11th, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

According to Wikipedia, popular culture is the entirety of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes,[1] images, and other phenomena that are within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the late 20th and early 21st century.

In short, pop culture is the study of popular ideas and culture.  It may be influenced by media, opinion, and even family and friends.  Our pop culture is constantly changing.  We swing from being bobbysoxers screaming at Sinatra because of a harmonious singing voice to being obsessed with the Kardashians for no reason.

Today I’m introducing “Sara’s Pop Op.”  My name is Sara Lien and I am the owner of Lien Public Relations.

I work with the media to tell stories.  I have a history in journalism and law.  However, since childhood I have loved film, books, celebrity, and media in general.  I confess.  I wake up in the morning, grab my iPhone and check TMZ and USA Today.   I enjoy stories about Halle Berry’s pregnancy and the latest movie reviews.

With my new blog I want to not just report these stories, but discuss these stories.   I am a journalist at heart and love to talk about people.  What makes them fascinating and why are we interested in some stories and not others.

For example, I want to talk about the latest baby bump but also why we are obsessed with pregnant celebrities.   I want to start a conversation about popular culture.

I plan to write two times per week about what is hot, what is not, and my opinions about those stories. I could be about beauty, fashion, media, film, books or even hidden great date ideas and restaurant reviews.

Feel free to write to me and tell me your stories, ideas, and why you think everyone is obsessed with Pop Culture.

I’ll share my Pop Op, if you share yours!

Let’s get started.

Sara Lien
April 11, 2013