Jason Unmasked: An Iconic Horror Character That Doesn't Even Talk Finds His Secret Sauce and Becomes Relatable
Happy Friday the 13th! And Happy Halloween!
Jason, the iconic killer that emerges from Crystal Lake, might seem like an unusual character to discuss in the context of being relatable. However, in today's digital world, the key to becoming relatable is in finding your secret sauce - your authenticity that makes you, you.
So Let's dive into Jason's origin story and find out how Jason found his secret sauce and became the iconic character he is today.
The Humble Beginningsā¦
His full name, Jason Voorhees, was created by Victor Miller. Miller is an American screenwriter best known for his work on the original "Friday the 13th" film, which was released in 1980. Miller was born on June 11, 1940, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He studied at Yale University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1962.
Miller wrote the screenplay for the original Friday the 13th film, which was directed by Sean S. Cunningham. The film introduced audiences to Camp Crystal Lake, a place of horror and terror, as well as the vengeful character Pamela Voorhees, who seeks retribution for her son's death.
In the first "Friday the 13th" film released in 1980, Jason is not the primary iconic character. Instead, it's his mother, Pamela, who seeks revenge for the drowning of her son at Camp Crystal Lake due to the negligence of camp counselors. Jason only makes a brief appearance in a dream sequence and is not the iconic hockey mask-wearing killer we've come to associate with the character in later films.
That makes Jason about 55 now which means he can't qualify for Medicare yet but he did join AARP - so he gets member discounts on travel, dining, and insurance. It's always good to have to have those benefits when you're out by Crystal Lake running around after camp counselors.
So when did Jason become a more relatable horror character and start wearing his iconic hockey mask? For that, let's look into his movie history.
Jason started wearing the famous hockey mask in the third movie of the franchise, "Friday the 13th Part III," released in 1982. Before "Part III," Jason wore a burlap sack over his head with one eye-hole, hiding his deformed face.
Enter Shelly Finkelstein. Shelly was portrayed as an overweight and somewhat socially awkward character who often used pranks and practical jokes to get attention from his friends. It was his desire for attention and his efforts to fit in that led to him carrying the hockey mask as a prop. Jason killed the character Shelly and took the hockey mask and adopted it as his own iconic look.
The filmmakers believed that the hockey mask would work well as Friday the 13th Part III would be a 3D movie and it would look better than a burlap bag over his head. They also felt the hockey mask was instantly recognizable and created a more intimidating and menacing look for Jason.
Plus whenever Jason needs to go back to the depths of Crystal Lake to rest, the hockey mask holds up a whole lot better at the bottom of the lake than an old burlap sack.
The decision to give Jason a hockey mask was a pivotal moment in the character's history, contributing to his enduring popularity and cultural significance in the horror genre.
That hockey mask not only made Jason more iconic, it made him more relatable.
In our world of becoming relatable, Jason found his secret sauce by switching from burlap bag to hockey mask.
What's even more impressive is Jason never speaks in any of the 12 Friday the 13th movies made, yet he is an icon in the horror movie genre and on each Friday the 13th, we think about Jason and many of you curl up with a bowl of popcorn to watch one of these iconic horror movies - especially around this time of year near Halloween.
There's a lesson to be learned here from Jason and his hockey mask for all the business owners and entrepreneurs reading this - to be iconic and even more relatable to your audiences, you need to find your secret sauce.
Your secret sauce is your authentic self, the genuine core of your identity. It's the essence of what makes you, you. Embracing and showcasing this authenticity is pivotal in a world of digital relationship building, where audiences are seeking real, relatable individuals rather than polished personas.
When you find your secret sauce and share it openly, you create a bridge of connection with your audience. It's the key to building trust, forging emotional bonds, and fostering genuine relationships.
This elusive quality is what defines you, captures your essence, and makes you stand out in a sea of voices and faces - and all that social media noise. Finding your secret sauce is a journey of self-discovery, understanding your strengths, values, and passions, and translating them into a relatable persona for your audience.
This authenticity not only captivates your audience but also makes you memorable. In the quest to be more relatable, authentic storytelling and a firm grasp of your secret sauce become your allies. When you understand and celebrate what makes you unique, you're not only more relatable, but you become a beacon of authenticity in a digital landscape that craves genuine connections.
Tips to Finding Your Secret Sauce
Here's 3 quick tips to finding your own secret sauce:
1. Self-Reflection: Take the time to reflect on your values, beliefs, passions, and experiences. Your unique voice often emerges from your personal story and the things that truly matter to you. Consider what sets you apart from others and what makes your perspective distinct.
2. Authenticity: Be true to yourself. Don't try to mimic others or adopt a persona that isn't genuine. Your secret sauce is authenticity. People are drawn to individuals who are real and unapologetically themselves. Share your quirks, your vulnerabilities, and your passions.
3. Consistency: Once you've found your unique voice, be consistent in your messaging. Whether you're building a personal brand or a business, ensure that your voice remains constant across all your interactions, from social media posts to customer interactions. Consistency helps build trust and recognition.
At Relatable, we're about helping you to be both relatable and then amplfy your relatability with our software app called Relatable to build relationships at scale with interactive video relationships.
Building strong relationships with your online audience is the linchpin of converting them into loyal customers and driving revenue growth in your business.
When you consistently share your secret sauce, you invest in fostering genuine connections with your audience on a personal level. That gains their trust and loyalty. These relationships go beyond transactional interactions.
This, in turn, leads to increased customer retention, higher lifetime value, and enthusiastic word-of-mouth referrals. When your audience feels a strong connection with you instead of your company or brand, they are more likely to convert, purchase, and become long-term fans, ultimately fueling the growth of your business.
The Moral of the Story
The moral of this origin story on Friday the 13th is to be like Jason. Not in a way where you rise out of Crystal Lake and run around after a bunch of teenagers and counselors with a machete, but in a way where you rediscover your secret sauce and express that to the world.
The Relatable app is your tool to help you do that through interactive videos so you can share your secret sauce with the world to build relationships and revenue at scale.
Jason wishes you all happy Friday the 13th standing amidst the dark, eerie woods surrounding Crystal Lake, the haunting setting of his gruesome legend. In his menacingly silent manner, he'd reach out to the camera, holding his smartphone, the portal to Relatable's world of interactive video.
With an ominous and deep voice, Jason would express the need for more "intimate" connections, much like his bond with his machete. He'd argue that his world has had its share of isolation, and it's time to bridge the gap ā not with a machete but with Relatable's interactive video platform. He'd suggest that even infamous killers need a way to connect with their audience, and what better way than through interactive videos?
He'd emphasize the importance of reaching out and connecting on a more personal level, showing his audience a different side of him ā the side that's not covered in blood.
Jason hopes you found this article both humorous and educational. You won't see another Friday the 13th on your calendar until next year - September 13th, 2024, so savor this one today.
Here's his final parting thoughts...
"Silence can be deadly, but connections can be electrifying. With Relatable, even I can find a way to reach out, engage, and turn chilling tales into warming bonds. It's not just about building relationships; it's about scaling them to a whole new level. After all, beneath the mask, we all crave connection. So, why not do it at scale?"
To find out more about find your secret sauce, being relatable, and the Relatable app, tap or click on the button below.