Spider-Man Homecoming: Behind This Door is a Journalist
Nearly 4 years ago I left the corporate world for full-time self-employment as a digital influencer and blogger—and never looked back. The fact that my journalism/English degrees and experience running my own company for nearly 20 years are both things that have helped me along the way. I’m dedicated to the nth degree, and owning my own business allows me flexibility I never had when I worked for the newspaper or corporate America.
“Behind this door is a room full of reporters. Real ones, not bloggers.” –Tony Stark
What the actual feck?
Tony Stark’s line in Spider-Man: Homecoming stings. Hard.
As a blogger who has a degree in journalism, it is a slap in the face. In a world where we as women and business owners we are continually fighting for respect and equality, it sets us back years.
Chuck Zlotnick/Sony Pictures
While I’m fully aware that this is a Sony Pictures production, Marvel Studios signs off on the collaboration, and I expected more from Marvel Studios, especially since I was quite literally in a room interviewing Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige a mere 6 weeks ago when he and James Gunn commented how we (the bloggers) were their favorite portion of the press junket because we were more real and less obnoxious than the Hollywood reporter types and how they could spend all day with us.
Did I misinterpret Tony Stark’s line? Was it not meant to be a dis? We all know Stark isn’t exactly the kindest man. Maybe I jumped to conclusions. I’d love to give him the benefit of the doubt. Was it instead meant as a slight on the reporters? A dig at the ambulance chasers and the TMZers and people digging for scoops to make a buck and throw people’s personal trials and tribulations under the bus for the benefit of their byline? It sure seems that everything else Marvel does is oh so calculated and connected.
I’d actually be less offended if Tony had said “journalists” instead of “reporters” because anyone can have training and be a reporter, but you can’t be a journalist without a degree in journalism. But this statement makes it sound like bloggers are less worthy than TMZ or Perez Hilton, than ambulance-chasing reporters? That’s a Marvel-sized slap, right there.
Behind This Door
I would love to think I simply interpreted it incorrectly.
Because behind THIS door is a blogger who works hard to provide for her family. Behind this door is a woman who has given up a position as a director of corporate communications to do what I love on my own terms. Behind this door is a woman with a journalism degree making a living at what I love to do, pursuing my passions and turning them into a career. Behind this door in an authentic, educated woman fighting to be taken seriously and running a business from my home.
Behind this door is a blogger who has worked with Marvel Studios on multiple occasions and interviewed Kevin Feige more than once for the experience of bringing that information to her readers, unpaid upfront, because sometimes that’s how this industry works. Behind this door is a blogger who has delivered millions of impressions on campaigns and influences hundreds of thousands of followers, impressions related to Marvel movies, no less.
Behind this door is a Marvel fan girl, blogger, journalist, business owner, and former newspaper editor who loves sharing comic book and geek love with her audience.
Please. I urge the entertainment industry to take bloggers seriously. We generate a lot of buzz for YOU, the entertainment industry. Free buzz. Buzz that helps to promote movies and sell tickets and merchandise, which equals revenue.
As a huge fan of the MCU and generally all things Marvel, Spider-Man: Homecoming is good. It’s the best Spider-Man movie we’ve seen yet, in my comic book nerd opinion, and I truly believe that’s due to the MCU influence. Overall, it’s a kick-ass movie.
So in the nicest way possible…what gives? Did we do something wrong? Are you not happy with our coverage and promotion of Marvel films? This line from Tony Stark is unacceptable. It’s demeaning. It’s condescending. It seems like an attack on our industry. The very same industry that Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios just asked us to participate in to promote their movie in which they take a cheap, unnecessary shot at us.
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Fantastic post! Thanks for speaking out about this! Those kinds of comments drive me insane.
So true. I’m so glad others are speaking up about this and I hope it raises awareness to all.
You are amazing. #BehindThisDoor I see a talented, brave, educated, determined friend. Thank you for sharing your voice.
Thank you for reading and inspiring me, friend!
Wow. Haven’t seen the movie yet (it’s not out until today/Friday here, I believe) but yeah, that’s a pretty mean line to bloggers :(.
I’d love to know what you think once you see it.
SO very true….. thank you for sharing!!
Thank you! I just seemed like an unnecessary line.
Thanks for standing up for all of us! This was just not cool. At all.
Thank for your support. Just unnecessary.
Thanks for being s voice to so many.
I have been blogging for 13 years. I have a BA in Journalism and have written professionally for years and I don’t understand why people are flipping out over a line in a movie.
If you want to be true to the story line than the reality is Tony Stark has always been a cocky SOB and you wouldn’t expect him to be worry about not tweaking people.
But from a different perspective a ton of bloggers are semi literate hacks who don’t about the AP style guide let alone fact checking or the difference between a news and op-ed piece.
There is a low barrier to entry here. All it takes is an internet connection and a willingness to set up a URL on WordPress.com or any of the other services that cater to those who are unwilling to go self hosted.
Hell, half the bloggers that are complaining won’t be around in a year.
Thanks for the comment, Jack. I haven’t seen anyone “flipping out” over it per se, but I have seen a handful of people frustrated with the fact that the line could be taken as a generalization and disrespectful and as much as Tony is known for being a jerk, it could have been eliminated and would have done nothing to the story line.
As someone who is educated and has a background in journalism, I’m sure you can understand the difference between those of us that write as a profession and hobby bloggers (as well as the fact that there are a multitude of different types of bloggers). I mean, I’d love to see more people use a style guide (I’m more of a Chicago girl than AP myself for my blog) but I’d happily take spellcheck as a start for some sites. That said, anytime an organization feels the need to dis a group of people, in any context, I take offense. Respect is a pretty minimal thing to ask for, especially from a studio that often uses us as a whole, and some of us personally, to help promote their films, including the one in question.
And no doubt there are plenty of bloggers who have no understanding of basic journalistic principles, I don’t think most people would even argue that. Those of us that do can take our own personal offense, but that’s a very small percentage. 🙂
A well done piece.
Thank you, Sue.