Ever been super hyped to see a movie sequel?

Only to be sorely disappointed?

Today we’re breaking down why Kung Fu Panda 4 managed to totally let down their fans. psst—use their failures to learn what NOT to do in your own storytelling…

In today's newsletter:

• Northern Hemi, get ready for a total eclipse on 8 April (here’s how to create content around this rare event)

• Usher gets honoured at the NAACP Awards (and how you can make sure you always stay relevant, just like him)

• The Kung Fu Panda 4 debacle (the storytelling mishaps you don’t want to make in your content)

• Does TAS run ads? (you might be surprised at my answer!)

Have an amazing start to your week, y’all.

- Charlotte, Editor ♡

There's nothing I can do…total eclipse of the heart ...

Wait, did I say heart? I meant sun. On the 8th of April. Cutting across North America!

Of course, the world isn't actually ending, but there is much buzz around the event, especially in the conspiracy circles online. Whether you are there for the awe or for the conspiracies, it’s an event you don’t want to miss!

So how can you use this to your benefit?

- If you’re in North America, make a trip out of going to see the eclipse and vlog your adventure! Only a set amount of people will be able to see it, so why not be one of them?

- Lean into the conspiracies by sharing your thoughts in your content! Everyone loves a bit of drama, after all.

- Stream the eclipse and make a reaction of it! Just because you aren't there in person, doesn't mean you can't still see it.

Usher was honoured with the President's Award at the 2024 NAACP Awards.

The NAACP Awards celebrated Black excellence in music, television, and film last weekend. OG Usher was named 2024 Entertainer of the Year and received the prestigious President’s Award for distinguished public service in entertainment and social activism.

So what can we learn from the icon that is Usher? 

This is a lesson for artists and creators who are not only passionate about their art but also about making an impact. Usher isn’t new to this; he's made music since 1993. Yet in 2024 he’s more relevant than ever. That’s because he's made a lasting impact outside of his art form.

So think about how can you incorporate purposeful, impact-driven content into your strategy.

Finally, Ramadan Kareem to all of our Muslim readers!

We know you are well underway celebrating; we wish you happy fasting during this holy month.

- Don, Videographer & Laura, Social Media Coordinator

The Kung Fu Panda 4 Debacle

If you found Kung Fu Panda 4 underwhelming, you aren't alone. So why was there such a fall off in quality in the latest installment of the series?

Well, it seems there was some behind-the-scenes mishaps between the co-directors!

So what happened?

• Although co-director Stephanie Stein wanted to keep the heart and soul of the first few films, the rest of the film team brushed her off as a "nobody". This meant they didn't give much consideration to her input.

• Dreamworks execs seemingly limited the film to be under 90 minutes. This meant the directors had to condense the story to fit this constraint.

• The ICONIC "Furious Five" were brushed aside, only appearing in the credits. The only voice line from the group was a karate kiai from Seth Rogan as Mantis.

• The villains seemed like shells of their former selves. The exception being Tai Lung, voiced by Ian McShane, who did really well with his lines. ("The only thing I see is a broken promise" is a GREAT quote).

• The film's saving grace was the voice actors, who did their best with what they had to work with.

What can we learn from this movie release flop?

While constraints are good at times, having too many can be suffocating.

The story is what catches audience attention and praise. Just remember, a set-up always precedes the action. So make sure your script is up to par to get people to care!

- Don, Videographer

What’s Going Viral?

Check out what's going viral RIGHT NOW before you miss it 👇

Makeshift glambot

15 seconds or 15,000 words

Pov your lawyers are frat boys

tshwalabami challange

Tweets from The Intern

Ask the Editor

Q - Does TAS run paid ads or do you guys only do organic content? - Colleen

Hey Colleen,

We don't run any ads at this stage. Back in the day, we played around with a few ad campaigns. But none of them came remotely close to the inbound leads generated from our organic content.

We aren't really focused on the cost per lead. Our strategy is all about using organic content to build a brand people recognise.

And the content we create doesn't just go away. It stays out there and keeps on getting views and reaching more people.

So if you're selling consumer goods, it makes sense to look at paid ads. But for us, it's all about building our brand through our content.

- Charlotte, Editor ♡