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Category: Inspiration

Jan72011

Inspiration at the Movies: You’ve Got Mail

“Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.”
– Kathleen Kelly (You’ve Got Mail, 1998)

It hurts that Kathleen is losing her business at this point in the film. She has such an important message to say. I believe her. Whatever we do – in whatever facet of our life – it ought to begin by being personal. We are people journeying life together. We are not numbers. We are not statistics. We are individuals. Find the people in our careers. Connect with them. We are a community. We are all people. We are all personal. Right-on, Kathleen. Good reminder!

Who did you connect with today?

Cheers & festive greetings to you,
Deb

Dec32010

Inspiration at the Movies: The Polar Express

“The thing about trains… it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.”
– The Conductor (The Polar Express, 2004)

These words make me think about making decisions. Getting on – the choosing to act – is certainly a decision… an active decision. And yet not getting on – the choosing not to act – is also a decision… a more passive decision. How many passive decisions do we make in our career, really? The Conductor sagely reminds us that it’s all about getting onboard. Though you may not know exactly where you are going, or end up wher you originally planned to go, you’re bound to have an adventure and really live life if you make the choice actively.

Festive cheer to you & active production decisions,
Deb

Nov122010

Memorable Movie Moment: Harold & Maude Zoom Shot

Remembrance Day made me think of this shot (again): during a montage there’s an amazing shot in a military graveyard:

Frame of Harold & Maude picnicking amid a few gravestones – the gravestones making a pattern around them… then zoom out… and zoom out… and zoom out… and zoom out… to an extreme wide shot of the same picnic – now minute in the frame and the gravestones now make a new pattern around them.

Wow! What an expensive zoom lens that must have been! Boy did they know where to spend the production money to maximize the budgeting “getting to the screen.”

And it was so much more than “just a nice shot.” It added another unique layer of meaning to the story. You need to see the reveal from cosy (?) picnic to Harold & Maude being dwarfed by the sheer number of gravestones around them… and living the picnic there in perfect harmony with their surroundings. How do they each feel about death? Can we feel them finding life as they look at and for death? A powerful shot indeed. I’m chilled at how this shot reaches me. The true magic of this storytelling medium.

Cheers & a good shoot to you!
Deb

Oct12010

Inspiration at the Movies: The Karate Kid (1984)

“Someone always know more.”
– Miyagi (The Karate Kid, 1985)

Miyagi gives us a good perspective… especially in this digital age where technology keeps changing – as soon as we learn a new system, the upgrade or new technology comes along. How can we keep up? Someone else is always bound to know more.

The hope here is that “someone” is not one person. There is no one person who knows “more” about everything. So let us relax and each of us learn the best we can, realizing our own potential. Then we can come together in a diverse and dynamic team to create something that’s bigger than all of us put together.

That would be pretty amazing, don’t you think?

Cheers,
Deb

– – – – – – – – – –

“Film Production Management 101:
Management & Coordination in a Digital Age”
** SECOND EDITION IN BOOKSTORES AUGUST 2010 **

UPCOMING EVENTS: (more details at www.debpatz.com ):
* Booksigning/USA launch at the Writers Store in Burbank – 11am Sat.Oct.23

Jul162010

Inspiration at the Movies: Shanghai Noon

“Alright, we’re just going to wing it.”
– Roy O’Bannon (Shanghai Noon, 2000)

Do you ever feel like this when it comes to using new technologies and social medias? I know I do.

The cool thing about “winging it,” though, is that although there is no full plan in place, reviewed and rehearsed, you act anyway. You don’t sit idly by. The other cool thing about “winging it” is that it conjures up images of flying… and you have to do something in order to soar. Oh yes!

So, in honour of winging it, I’ve recently created and posted my first YouTube video (ok, ok, call me a late starter) talking to you about the new edition of my book “Film Production Management 101” from a director’s chair “on set”. Wing it! Have a look…

Cheers & a good shoot to you!
Deb

– – – – – – – – – – – –

“Film Production Management 101:
Management & Coordination in a Digital Age”
** SECOND EDITION IN BOOKSTORES AUGUST 2010 **

Jul92010

Memorable Movie Moment: Prince of Persia

Not all memorable movie moments are dialogue-based, and some are outright unexpected.

During the chase scene in the holy city, one of the henchmen was busy keeping track of the fast moving hero (who was leaping from building to building), when the henchman pretty much knocked himself out running into a low doorway.

I love this movie moment. If you have experienced such a moment – a hit or near miss on a low doorway – while exploring ancient cities and ruins then you’ll laugh along with me. It’s the laughter of “That’s so true; I’ve been there!” This lovely bit of detail amid wall-to-wall action connects fiction to reality… our reality. It further extends our suspension of disbelief and instantly brings us into the movie itself.

Just goes to show… you can have memorable movie moments at unexpected places. And we love it.

What unexpected memorable movie moment comes to mind for you?

Cheers,
Deb