Matt Damon’s Re-branding Efforts

Posted by Rahna on March 17, 2008 under Personal Branding | Be the First to Comment

There is a risqué video skit which Matt Damon did, which I first saw on Jimmy Kimmel over one month ago, but is currently “abuzz” on the internet.  In an effort to keep this blog rated “G,” I am choosing not to write the title of the skit (you never know when your children may be reading your blog).  Needless to say, if you did a search on Jimmy Kimmel vs. Matt Damon, you can undoubtedly find it for yourself. It involves a running joke with late night host Jimmy Kimmel, who “disses” Matt constantly by “running out of time” before Matt can be brought on.  As revenge, Matt makes a video with Kimmel’s real life girlfriend.  Kimmel responds by making a video with Ben Afleck.   

What does this bit of humor have to do with marketing?  It has to do with branding and re-branding.  Oscar winner, Damon, has built acclaim and garnered praise for roles in The Departed, The Bourne Identity and Good Will Hunting, all very “serious” roles.  This radically different video can be seen as an attempt to break that mold, re-branding himself as someone with a sense of humor, someone willing to go to the outrageous in order to stretch his thespian skill set.   

The danger in Hollywood in building a brand is that you can also become “typecast”, seen as someone who can only play one type of part.  Actors who allow themselves to get into such a rut can quickly become bored, so efforts like this can keep one from being typecast.  When considering actors for a comedy, Damon, “a serious actor,” would still very much be considered. Now think about your own career.  Are you bored with the projects you are being given?  Would you like to stretch your wings and try something new?  Become known for more than you currently are?  All of this is possible.    Write down what qualities and abilities you would like to add to your portfolio, then set out a plan to acquire those skills and express those qualities to others.  I am not suggesting that you need to do something as radical or controversial as Matt Damon did, but you should always be thinking about your career from the context of what your current and future personal brand is.   

Do not be limited by what you are today.  Build a bridge from today to become what you would like to be, tomorrow.