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Writer's picture Annie Ianko

Top Tips Taught by ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ on Outsourcing Content Creation

Updated: Jan 31, 2021

With Terminator: Dark Fate heading into theaters, all eyes are on the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton to the sci-fi big screen. Such phrases as “Hasta la vista, baby” and “Come with me if you want to live!” may reemerge within the minds of longtime Terminator fans. Whether you are excited about Terminator: Dark Fate or not, you must admit that the involvement of legendary director James Cameron speaks volumes about outsourcing content marketing and creation overall.


Trust in the Vision, Help with the Execution

One of the best ways that you can identify potential outsourcing opportunities is to pay close attention to the vision. Cameron was persuaded to pick up the baton of the Terminator franchise again based on the vision of SkyDance executive David Ellison. According to Cameron, Ellison felt that they should “go back to basics” and use time travel to basically erase the last 3 movies of the franchise. As a result, they would essentially pick up where Terminator 2: Judgment Day left off – reuniting Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong along the way. Cameron claims that the idea of starting with a blank slate was “intriguing” to him – which led to his decision to get involved. What is your vision for your overall online presence? How about the vision of your potential content marketers and creators? Do your visions meet in the middle or clash? These are pertinent questions that you should consider carefully and closely.


Research the Track Record Before Making a Final Decision

Before you dive into an arrangement or make any official decision, take the time to research their portfolio and resume. It is easy to become swept away and misled by a contractor’s initial proposal – especially if you do not research their references and investigate further. When it comes to content marketing and creation, you are essentially trusting your brand reputation and online presence in the hands of a stranger. You must dig as deep as possible to make sure you find someone worthy of this partnership opportunity.


For instance, James Cameron worked hard to raise the bar of expectation in this regard. Before trusting this new chapter of his prized franchise with Miller, he must have checked his resume first. Keep in mind that Miller’s filmography as a director is a mere drop in the bucket when compared to Cameron’s resume. However, the potential was always there – especially when you consider the fact that Miller’s directorial debut was the 2016 box-office hit Deadpool.

Allow the Outsourced Workers to Work

Once you have outsourced part of your content marketing or overall creation process, the last thing you want to do is micromanage it. James Cameron set a good example with Terminator: Dark Fate when it came to this cinematic outsourcing. Keep in mind that the first 2 (and arguably the best two) movies of the Terminator franchise were directed and co-written by him. However, with Terminator: Dark Fate, he was determined to allow director Miller to grab the reins without the weight of micromanagement. During an interview with Deadline, Cameron stated that “if you get a director who…knows what to do, you turn them loose.” He further explained that it was “Tim’s film when it reached the floor” even though Cameron was involved with the pre-production and preparation stages of the script.


The same principle applies to content marketing. Once you have taken the steps necessary to find a high-quality expert or team to handle your outsourced work, remove yourself from the equation and allow them to handle it. Once you are comfortable with trusting the outsourcing process, you will be able to move on to other aspects of building your brand. Essentially, you will be able to lighten your content marketing load without jeopardizing the success of your hard work.


Lay Ground for Future Collaborations

If everything works out behind the scenes, then you should make plans to collaborate in the future. This means that you should lay the groundwork for expanding on the content that was already created. James Cameron admits that they spent “several weeks breaking story” and figuring out the content that they wanted to share overall. This led to making plans for content development in follow-up films – not just Terminator: Dark Fate.

Image via HN Entertainment

This type of brainstorming led to the team knowing exactly where they could go within a trilogy instead of keeping all the eggs in just one basket. He even mentioned that they built a foundation for a “three-film arc so there is a greater story there to be told.” The last thing you want to do is strike oil with an outsourcing relationship or networking opportunity and just walk away from it. Laying the groundwork for quality content and follow-up posts will help you to maximize the value of your brand partnerships.

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