Big Social Media Event-The Film, The Social Network Out 1 October

The film 'The Social Network' opens this week, October 1; making it a big social media event. Already, there have been column inches, blogs, tweets and 'noise' devoted to before it is even released, but then this is no ordinary film...it is about one of the most powerful men in the world aged 26...the film is about Mark Zuckerberg, who launched Facebook in 2004, a website that would change the world; created from his dormitory while at Harvard; and about his subsequent legal battles with his classmates who wanted to share the profit, and the fame. Rolling Stone magazine has already heralded it 'the movie of the year' along with the LA Times. The film is directed by David Fincher whose credits includes Zodiac and Se7en; is adapted by Aaron Sorkin, screenwriter of the West Wing from Ben Mezrich's book, 'The Accidental Billionaires'. It stars Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg with Justin Timberlake, who has one of the best lines in the film, "A million dollars isn't cool. You know what's cool? A billion dollars."

The film is released in US cinemas during the period when studios release movies they hope will win awards and film critics already think it is a front-runner for a best-picture Oscar. Rolling Stone's critic Peter Travers tweeted about this social media event saying, "It's the movie of the year that also brilliantly defines the decade." So, how does Facebook/Zuckerberg feel about the movie? Facebook said, "The film might be a sign that the company has become meaningful to people even if the movie is fiction."  While, Zuckerberg has said, "I started Facebook to improve the world and make it a more transparent place. This movie portrays me as someone who built Facebook so I could meet girls." Facebook, is the world's largest social-networking site, with more than 7 percent of the world's population as members! It connects you with your real friends online, allowing users to exchange messages, post photos, share information, send pokes and play Farmville. Its headquarters is Palo Alto, California and is worth an estimated value of $33bn, making Zuckerberg a billionaire three times. Zuckerberg's legal battles continue as Paul Ceglia claims in a state court complaint that he owns 84 percent of the company under a contract he and Zuckerberg signed in 2003.

Facebook's 500 million users on average spend about six hours a month on the site, we now need to see how many will invest two hours at the cinema when 'The Social Network' opens. My bet is that it will be a winner. As David Kirkpatrick, author of The Facebook Effect says, "I think Zuckerberg arguably is the most influential person of his generation...the most impactful 26-year-old in human history. It is difficult to think of anyone else the same age who has had remotely the same global impact." This will be a film/social media event that will be continued to be talked about and to be part of the conversations we will need to watch it.

Photo Credit: deneyterrio