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Archive for the ‘Arts commentary’ Category

Memorable Quotes: Tales of Screenwriters – Part Twenty-Nine

 

Taking Charge – anonymously:

(a) “…screenwriting is kind of invisible.  If screenwriting is done really well, it seems like the actors made up their lines, and that the director knew to put the camera there, and that the movie sort of came together all by itself.  So a lot of times it feels like the screenwriter is anonymous. (more…)

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Arts commentary, Personal Development, Uncategorized

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TOP 10 Lost Episodes of ‘The X-Files’

 

After a hiatus of more than a dozen years (except for a forgettable theatrical release), the iconic TV series ‘The X-Files’ will reappear this coming Sunday for the launch of an updated mini-series.  However, rumour has it that a number of controversial episodes have been shelved over time – perhaps loyal aficionados should be made aware, if the truth is really out there… 

  • Mulder and Scully attempt to discover why their social media connections are suddenly unfriending them in droves
  • At a remote scientific station, Mulder and Scully help researchers battle a creature which changes its form whenever there’s a variation in the eerie music playing on the intercom (more…)

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Arts commentary, Humour, Uncategorized

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Revisiting ‘The Peter Principle’

 

In the early 1970s a book written by Dr. Lawrence Peter and Raymond Hull became a much reprinted international bestseller, The Peter Principle, its subtitle ‘Why things always go wrong’.  The principle itself: “In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.”

Have things changed for the better in the forty plus years since this intonation on human inefficiency was first issued?  Sadly, it appears not much with the historically styled organization, although technology has certainly provided a healthy self-directed option. (more…)

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Arts commentary, Financial commentary, Personal Development, Social & political commentary, Uncategorized

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Finding a Positive Ending

 

How many experiences have we had over the years which have been lessened, if not spoiled, by a disappointing ending?

You go to the grocery store, find what you want at prices which are tolerable, and then leave the store discouraged because of an intolerable delay or problem at the cash.

You go on a trip, and find out that your luggage has been damaged or lost, or if driving you’re involved in an accident on the way home. (more…)

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Arts commentary, Personal Development, Social & political commentary, Uncategorized

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Memorable Quotes: Tales of Screenwriters – Part Twenty-Eight

 

Minefields – the (Writers Guild) arbitrator’s view:

“One of the things I do, which I think always surprises the studios, is I demand to go back and redo the primary research.  I don’t want to write based on someone else’s research…  unless I experience something, I’d be writing it based on someone else’s experiences.  I think redoing the primary research is key to making something your own. (more…)

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Memorable Quotes: Tales of Screenwriters – Part Twenty-Seven

 

Minefields – the obstacle course:

(a) “There is a compartmentalized rejection, and it has to do with gender, and it has to do with age, and it has to do with ethnicity.  It’s very subtle, and it’s very unintended. Well-meaning people have a bias that they often aren’t aware of, because they won’t permit themselves to be aware of the bias. No one’s ever gonna fess up to it, and I wouldn’t expect them to.” (more…)

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Arts commentary, Uncategorized

This Has Been Edited

 

Try writing a piece of any length more than a few words, and see if it doesn’t benefit from editing.   Whether it’s improving the wording of an image, or trimming excess description in a paragraph, the net effect can improve the picture while moving the narrative along. (more…)

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Arts commentary, Personal Development, Uncategorized

Culturally Aware Gift Giving  

 

When looking to give gifts in an international context, cultural sensitivity can make the difference between an appreciative reception and a strained one, as well as creating a positive memory enduring afterword.

Here are some examples, based on an internationalHRForum.com article worked into the December issue of Toastmaster magazine: (more…)

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Arts commentary, Social & political commentary, Uncategorized

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Ticker Speed Headlines (revisited)

It seems not that long ago that the only time you saw a ticker list of information across the bottom, or side, of a TV screen was when relaying stock market or related activity.  Stocks and other commodities current value was flashed in a continuous loop, in real time when available.  The loop would run perceptibly, if multiple loops speeds would vary.  The general implication was that only this type of activity merited a tape feed.

(more…)

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Memorable Quotes: Tales of Screenwriters – Part Twenty-Six

 

Minefields – what’s in a name?

(a) “Sometimes when there are multiple writers on a project, you go through a process called arbitration. That’s to figure out who gets the ‘Written by’ credit on a movie. It’s all handled by the Writers Guild, and it’s an incredibly screwed-up system that’s probably the best system that we can manage given all the variables involved.   (more…)

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