Creative commentary plus crafty composition

Archive for May, 2015

TOP 10 Ways to Make an Introduction or First Impression

Note: see all TOP 10s to date on the new Archive list (hopefully, it will make a good impression)

  • Increase the fun of introducing people by randomly selecting the order of their names
  • If you’re meeting someone with impressive professional credentials, quickly make up some for yourself (more…)

Memorable Quotes: Tales of Screenwriters – Part Thirteen

Script Development – Rewrites R Us:

(a) “There’s no way to protect yourself from a studio if they decide that they want to completely rework your material.  They’re the ones writing you the checks…  But what if you argued, like a writer can, or if you spoke out compellingly – and forcefully, and persuasively – for your point of view in a way that influenced the studio? (more…)

TOP 10 Ways to Display Leadership

Just about any formal organization or informal group needs some degree of active leadership…

  • Celebrate member accomplishments by organizing a party and nominating the member as designated driver
  • At meetings walk softly, speak positively, and carry two heavy sticks (more…)

Clichés Upgraded – Part XXX

More daylight, more time to look into enlivened clichés (with the original in italics):

  • Our pronoun supply is a little shaky, as we have plenty of you and them, but we’re out of it
  • Given that he purchased pearls before swine you could say the farmer’s auction priorities were askew (more…)

TOP 10 Travel Insurance Concerns

As we move toward summer, travel planning and potential protections become more of an issue

  • Beware policies issued using lettering taken from cut up newspapers
  • Watch for policy disclaimers which exclude using any form of transportation (more…)

TOP 10 TV Late Night Transformations

In recognition of how much the after midnight TV landscape has transformed over the years

  • Fewer reruns of black-and-white movies or old network TV shows
  • Entertainment experience in depth not required of hosts
  • Less exposure to bizarre evangelical fund-raising (more…)

Memorable Quotes: Tales of Screenwriters – Part Twelve

Script Development – time for changes:

(a) “Used to be two people would come into a meeting and work on a script with you. Now eight people come into a meeting, and they’ve all got yellow pads, and they’ve all got their opinions, and most of their opinions are bad… they can’t judge anything that’s original or different. They can only relate to something they’ve seen before.  (more…)

Clichés Upgraded – Part XXIX

Holiday weekend time, with more enlivened clichés (with the original in italics):

  • Sitting on your toes is a good way to create compressed toenails
  • I’ll ask you to pencil it in, just so we have a complete box of your colouring
  • One good turn deserves another turn as a bonus, which ends when overturned (more…)

The Amorphous Call of Mentoring

The May issue of Toastmaster magazine includes a pair of articles concerning mentoring.  An endeavour with seemingly altruistic overtones (especially from the mentor’s perspective), in practice both the mentor and the mentee should benefit from the relationship. (more…)

TOP 10 Tips for Storytelling

Effective storytelling helps illustrate any theme which benefits from being relatable…  

  • Monochrome clothing is acceptable, monotone delivery is not
  • Make it easier to relate to people by not being hoisted on your own petard
  • It’s a good idea to practice speaking with different vocal inflections, so those voices in your head may prove useful (more…)