0

Category: Inspiration

Sep72012

Movies To See Again: The Boy Who Walked Backwards

Not all films have wide release. There are some truly special, unique treasures found at film festivals that you may never have the chance to see again. You’ve shared the moment with a relatively few number of people in various screening rooms around the world. A shared, temporal experience… and some of those films will have long lasting, penetrating memories.

I wish I could see The Boy Who Walked Backwards again. In such a short duration, the film effectively and memorably addresses the hurt that people can’t visually see when missing someone who has died, and the unplanned leadership position that can be thrust onto anyone at any time due to life events. A tough subject approached with such charm and compassion that I still remember images in my mind today, many years later… for how the boy learns to face his loss is something we need to do in life over and over again for the many losses and changes in our own lives.

If you ever get the chance, watch the film and you’ll understand too.

In the meantime, have a great festival season!

Cheers & memorable movies to you,
Deb

Jun292012

Inspiration at the Movies: The Count of Monte Cristo

“You call it 50 degrees… I say two points more north by north east.”
– Edmond Dantes (The Count of Monte Cristo, 1975)

Perspectives! How true that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently depending from where each of us have journeyed in life. Our personal histories and experiences colour the lenses through which we see the world. They affect how we interpret movies, art, stories, conversations, relationships… and on and on. No one perspective is right. No one perspective is wrong. Just different.

In a communication medium such a film, we cannot therefore presume that the message we send out will be received exactly as intended… there are so many perspectives at play on the receiving end! Acknowledging alternative points of view can raise our awareness of the richness of other possibilities and augment our ability to communicate. ‘Tis a valuable skill in this communication art.

So… recognize and enjoy that we are each on a unique journey through this life, and… vive la difference!

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

May52012

Tail Credits for VE Day: Blackadder Goes Forth

World War anniversaries have me thinking about Blackadder screen credit.

It’s impressive when tail credits stretch beyond the fast-flashing cards or speedy roll to take on the thematic tone of the movie – even for a portion of list. Blackadder Season IV, however, really goes to town (or to war, in this case) with matching theme of the screen credits to the content of the show. Season IV is the WW1 season, and the tail credits are in cards over scratchy “newsreel” footage:

BLACKADDER GOES FORTH
Captain Edmund Blackadder
ROWAN ATKINSON
Private S. Baldrick
TONY ROBINSON
General Sir Anthony Cecil
Hogmany Melchett
STEPHEN FRY
Lieutenant The Honourable
George Colthurst St. Barleigh
HUGH LAURIE
Captain Kevin Darling
TIM McINNERNY
Title Music
Composed and Arranged by
HOWARD GOODALL
Played by
The Band of the 3rd Battalion
The Royal Anglian Regiment
(The Pompadours)
Bandmaster
WOI TIM PARKINSON
P/Br. 647989 Libotte, J
Vis/E. 110143 Turner, R
Tech/Co. 289346 Massen, D
V/M 420372 Abbott, C
VTE. 614981 Wadsworth, C
Cm/S. 841842 Hoare, J
S/Svr. 733731 Deane, M
Dep/Svr. 713429 Way, N
L/Dr. 991243 Bristow, R
P/Mgr. 323476 Cooper, D
P.Att. 114209 Sharples, V
AFM 529614 Kennedy, J
C/Dgr. 368807 Hardinge, A
M/U Dgr. 862641 Noble, C
Dgr. 404371 Hull, C
Dir. 232418 Boden, R
Prd. 597602 Lloyd, J
(c) BBC tv MCMLXXXIX

Often with contracts specifying exactly how one’s name should be spelled in on screen, it’s doubly-impressive to see these particular credits. They become an integral part of the show and you want to watch and puzzle-out the whole list. Who decides what everyone’s number is?

So… are you inspired? What can you do to really integrate the screen credits to your film?

Cheers & creative credits to you,
P/Mgr. 970210 Patz, D

Apr222012

Inspiration at the Movies: The Wizard of Oz

Scarecrow wonders if the Wizard of Oz will give him a brain; should he go on the journey to Oz?

Dorothy: “I couldn’t say, but even if he didn’t, then you’d be no worse off then you are now.” (The Wizard of Oz, 1939)

Dorothy totally inspires us into action, but in a realistic way. Making a change in your life doesn’t guarantee you a better situation, but not making a change keeps the doors of possibility closed. Inaction is status quo; action is potential.

Sure, with action comes risk. But with action also comes the possibility of change and growth. Five years from now, yes, we’ll all be 5 years older. But where else could we be if we apply for that job? Or take that course? Or reach out to meet that person we want to meet? Hmmm… the possibilities are endless if we dare to journey down that yellow brick road.

Thanks, Dorothy.

Cheers & exciting opportunities to you,
Deb

Feb242012

Inspirational Celebrities: Charlie Chaplin & Rainbows

“You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down.”
– Charlie Chaplin

Not only that, but it’s after a storm that rainbows come. Sure, your head may be down from “stormy” circumstances… but keep that chin up! A rainbow – and all its magic – is coming your way. It may not be where you expect it to be (look away from the sun), but it’ll be there.

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

Jan192012

3… uh, 10 (& more) Reasons It’s A Great Time to be a Filmmaker

Does the new year have you needing inspiration from multiple sources (to help you with direction in the industry)? My publisher charged about 50 MWP authors to come up with 10 reasons it’s a great time to be a filmmaker and assembled them into an eBook.

Rather than pages and pages of lists, the eBook is like a living room full of about 50 diverse authors who all take the idea “10 reasons…” and speak from their POV on the subject. Some of the many interpretations are bound to reach you at whatever stage you are in your career. Check it out on the MWP website (where I believe it’s free when you sign up for the MWP newsletter). You can also find it on Kindle. A nice, inspiring new year’s gift to yourself.

Rather than a list myself, here are 3 of my most favourite nuggets from the eBook… Why it’s a great time to be a filmmaker:

1. “To transform our characters, our audience and ourselves” (from Stuart Voytilla, author of Myth and the Movies)

2. “You are a storyteller” (from Rona Edwards, co-author of The Complete Filmmakers’s Guide to Film Festivals)

3. And from MWP’s own VP, Ken Lee: “…push yourself in your areas of weakness rather than relying on your strengths and what you know you can do. You’ll learn more about yourself when you challenge yourself.”

What speaks to you in the eBook?

Cheers & an inspiring new year to you,
Deb

G9XMHDBZG6M3