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Category: Inspiration

Dec42009

Cher, Professionalism & Interviews

Cher was on a talk show and she totally inspired me by her industry professionalism.

By comparison, the guest who came on before her was somewhat unprepared for the questions about to be asked, but he coasted along sufficiently, trying to answer as best he could and answer in an entertaining manner.

Then Cher came on. To every question that the host asked, Cher spun it quickly and smoothly from the direction the host wanted to go, instead to the message she needed to get across. The host tried again and again to control the direction of the conversation, but Cher had better skill crafting her words. It was like watching a fencing match, and Cher was definitely winning. The interplay was fun to watch and the messages she brought were interesting (seemingly more interesting than the direction the host wanted to go). She was a superbly professional and entertaining guest.

Thanks Cher, for reminding me to be prepared for interviews with my own messages; to  practise the interview ahead of time; to craft words to improve the entertainment factor (especially for this industry); and to expect the host to have a different agenda than me!

Cheers,
Deb

Nov202009

Edward Woodward: When We Crossed Paths…

When someone dies, with whom you have crossed paths, you can’t help but remember how they touched and helped to shape your life.

I was blessed to have worked with very talented Edward Woodward on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” early in my career… a time when I had much less individual responsibility on the crew than I did later in my career, and so I was gifted to learn a lot by observation.

We worked overtime for every episode of the series, save the one that he was in. You see, starring in nearly every scene of the script, he had the authority to set the maximum number of hours he would work on a shoot day. In so doing, he saved the entire cast and crew from working overtime – for one episode, anyway. Oddly enough, we still got our days and the scenes we needed to cut together a really great episode. It just took more planning to do so. And so early in my career I learned a very valuable lesson about the importance of preproduction. Thank you, Mr. Woodward.

We rarely find out how we touch the lives of others, which is kind of strange since this industry is all about communication of ideas and stories! So, let’s just live well & kind, and trust that we have a positive effect.

In thoughtful memory,
Deb

Nov62009

Inspiration at the Movies: The Emperor’s New Groove

“Well, pal, I was dragged all over those hills and I did not hear any singing”… “So I’ll be building my summer home on a more magical hill, thank you.”
– Emperor Kuzko (The Emperor’s New Groove, 2000)

I love this whole scene for reminding me about the concept of “saving face”. Kuzko has declared a plan of action to destroy an entire hilltop village to make way for his personal summer home. Though he eventually has a change of heart, he cannot revoke the declaration, so instead invents this “magical” excuse. Patcha’s village is saved, and the Emperor saves face. Kuzko and Patcha share and keep the actual truth about the change between them.

“Saving face” is an invaluable concept during industry negotiations. It builds good will and trust. You move beyond the what’s-in-it-for-me and beyond the project itself  to effectively consider the people. Everyone wins on some level.

I can’t help but grin every time Patcha smiles when he hears Kuzko’s words.

Cheers,
Deb

Oct162009

Lighting The Way For The Crew

Inspiration helps our minds to change track, and therefore our actions and outcomes. Negativity breeds on itself. Think negatively, and you’ll act negatively. Changing the mind’s track to a more optimistic way of thinking is tough… especially when it’s a whole crew – especially the key crew – trading negative thoughts.

You need a symbol of change.

The calendar itself has a numerous “new years” if you consider all religions, school starts, season starts and so on, but these dates may not be convenient to your situation. If they are, all the better. You can make a “new year” any day of the year… by using a symbol of change, like a candle, for example. What better way to “light the way”?

Gather the key crew for a meeting, discuss the power of thought, and design an informal type of ceremony around changing people’s thought patterns – basically choose a time and date that will be your “new year” and choose a symbol of change that will work for your crew. You could start with a black candle (of “negativity”), and from it, light a white candle (of “optimism”), and then together blow out the black candle. Then charge the key crew to spread the new optimism to the rest of the crew. You’ll be amazed how well it works.

Light the way!

Cheers,
Deb

Sep112009

Inspiration at the Movies: Romancing the Stone

[Her publisher declares Joan to be a world-class hopeless romantic…]
“No. Hopeful. Hopeful romantic.”
  – Joan Wilder (Romancing The Stone – 1984)

Yes, Joan shows us we need to hang on to hope in life, but she also shows us that we need to live our lives to the fullest and not just wait around for our dreams to come true. Life’s adventure has taught Joan to blossom out of the shy author she was and to become the best Joan she can be – even without the one man that she dreams of sharing life with. And while she’s living, it’s not an empty existance… she still has hope. May we all hang on to and never lose that hope.

Cheers,
Deb

Aug72009

Inspiration at the Movies: Mary Poppins

“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and… snap!… the job’s a game!”
  – Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins – 1964)

I find that if you look at each task (separately) of any job on a film production – be it above- or below-the-line, it is easy to trivialize the work. A director has to remind the actors which scene preceded and follows this scene; the actors have to walk in or out of a building… the list goes on and on.

Each small task, however, is critical to a larger whole, though we can easy become bogged down in the details and forget to see the bigger picture. When sometimes I cannot see the whole purpose for all those busy little details, I reach out to Mary Poppins to remind me to make a game out of any task that I do, and so start enjoying each step of the way again. I recommend you follow her lead and enjoy the fun!

Cheers,
Deb