This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Chris Bess, a former Disney employee. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I worked in theatrical publicity and home entertainment publicity for 31 years at The Walt Disney Company. I started at the very beginning as an assistant in theatrical publicity and was most recently the head of our home entertainment publicity team.
We worked with journalists to do press and experiential events, as well as influencer engagement for all our film releases. That meant every Disney film that went into a theater: Disney animation, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, 20th Century Films, and Searchlight. Any way you could consume a movie outside the theater, we also handled, such as DVD, Blu-Ray, and streaming.
I loved what I was doing.
I was laid off and turned to social media
My whole team of three and I were laid off last month. I know it was a business decision, but it still surprised me. We were a small team managing a lot of activity, managing agencies and vendors. Last summer, there was a round of layoffs, and we had already lost someone. It made me feel like we wouldn’t be impacted this time. Maybe that was a bit naive.
Courtesy of Chris Bess
Friends told me to make a video on Instagram to tell people how I felt, that it would make me feel better, and it would get the word out that I was available. It took me a bit to process the idea. I got up the courage about a week and a half later. My daughter shot the video. It was hard to get in front of her and say, “OK, roll.” I’m a publicist; I’m always behind the camera directing talent and spokespeople. I’m never in front.
Almost 2 million people have seen the video in just a few weeks
I’ve been blown away by the response. So many people have been so kind and gracious with feedback and support. It’s been overwhelming. I did a similar post on LinkedIn, and that also received positive responses.
So many colleagues I hadn’t spoken to in a while reached out. In publicity terms, this was really like a press release saying I’m looking for employment. It reached so many people I hadn’t spoken to in a while or hadn’t thought of.
A lot of people have reached out and asked to grab coffee, saying they have an idea or venture, or that they’ll keep me in mind. I can’t say it’s led to anything yet, but it’s only been a few weeks. I’m looking and applying to positions, taking lunches and meetings, and networking. Hopefully, I can make a smooth transition to the next thing soon.
It was a risk, but I’m glad I took it
I’d encourage anyone who does this to be authentic and to also remember that when you put yourself out there, you’re inviting feedback from everyone. For the most part, it’s been incredibly kind, encouraging, and gracious, but there have been some negative comments. That just goes along with social media.
I strongly believe the next thing will come through networking, whether it’s someone to champion me at a company or make an introduction. Networking is key, and I think social media is a great way to facilitate that.
I have yet to meet a single person who says that getting let go didn’t lead to better things. Everyone says, “When I look back, it’s only gotten better.” So my fingers are crossed, and I’m staying positive.
