Netflix reveals which actors received the biggest boost in Instagram followers after appearing in a Netflix production.
Recently, casting directors and producers have revealed the number of followers an actor has is directly related to whether or not they will land an acting job. According to Made in Dagenham actor Gemma Arterton, casting directors have started to measure actors’ social media following when considering them for film roles. She told The Observer: ‘I have a friend who’s been told she has to put more “outfits of the days” and regular pictures of her food because a lot of the casting for films happens on social media’.
Related: What is an Influencer?
She added, “The money people go: Well, they’ve got 3m followers and that actor has only got 1,000 so…”
This should not come as a surprise. When you look at the social media following of some A-list actors, it is easy to see how they might be attractive to directors.
Related: Why Casting Directors Care About Social Media Followers (Explained)
Jason Newman, a manager, and producer at Untitled Entertainment said not everyone considers social media during the casting process. However, he says, it is becoming increasingly more important and can make the difference between choosing between to actors.
“When a director is making a movie — producers studio execs, everyone involved — they rely on the casting directors bringing in the best actors they rep for those roles; the social media part is an extension,” Newman told the audience at TheGrill.
“If I have two actors up for the same role and it’s between actor A and B, and actor B has 2 million followers across all social media platforms and actor A has 20 million, but they’re neck-in-neck in their acting ability or maybe actor B is even a little bit better, but man we know if we convert one and a half to two percent of their social media following to buyers, I’m hiring that person,” Newman said. “I want to have a bigger ROI on my investment so of course, I’m doing that, so yes, social media is playing a massive component in all of this.”
Netflix viewing data
Netflix rarely offers information on viewing data but, according to a new press release, The Kissing Booth is the streaming platform’s most re-watched original movie and On My Block is the platform’s “most binged” original show.
Measuring global viewing habits between January and November, Netflix came with some pretty insightful information about who is watching what on the platform. Netflix also revealed which actors got the biggest boost in Instagram followers after appearing on a Netflix production.
Actors with the Biggest Instagram Boost
Actors that received the biggest Instagram boost included Kiernan Shipka from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Jaime Lorente Lopez from the cast of La Casa de Papel and Elite.
Check out the full list of actors who received the biggest Instagram boost below.
- The Fab Five (Queer Eye)
- Lana Condor (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before)
- Joel Courtney (The Kissing Booth)
- Miguel Herrán (Elite / La Casa de Papel)
- Jaime Lorente Lopez (Elite / La Casa de Papel)
- Maria Pedraza (Elite / La Casa de Papel)
- Noah Centineo (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before)
- Joey King (The Kissing Booth)
- Hannah Gadsby (Nanette)
- Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)
Most Binged Shows on Netflix 2018:
The release said half of all viewers who watched Kissing Booth and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before re-watched the movie at least once. Another popular show, according to Netflix, is Roxanne Roxanne.
Kissing Booth became a key point of discussion for Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, who explains that many Netflix subscribers never heard of the romantic comedy. Serving audiences with niche TV shows and movies is extremely key to their Netflix content strategy.
Among the top binge list, the Golden Globe-nominated Bodyguard ranks at the top. Three of the top six most-binged shows are non-fiction.
Most Binged Shows
- On My Block
- Making a Murderer: Part 2
- 13 Reasons Why: Season 2
- Last Chance U: Indy
- Bodyguard
- Fastest Car
- The Haunting of Hill House
- Anne with an E: Season
- Insatiable
- Orange Is the New Black: Season 6
About Netflix:
This news comes after Netflix announced a plan to build a production facility in New Mexico. The streaming platform said it’s in final talks to purchase ABQ Studios, a facility with eight sound stages, production offices and a back lot in Albuquerque’s Mesa Del Sol. Netflix says they will use the new studio for several upcoming productions including an apocalypse drama Daybreak, supernatural drama Chambers, and epic, suspenseful drama Messiah.
“After years of hard work to cut taxes and make New Mexico business-friendly we’re seeing incredible results,” New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said in a statement.
Does acting talent matter?
Emma Thompson criticized the industry for choosing actors based on their followings. ‘The actors are becoming attached in the sort of business way to their social media profiles, and I think that’s a disaster,’ she told the Telegraph.
At the end of the day – does acting talent really matter?
