Sign of the times

I read this on the Web - it was too good not to share:

Employee: "Excuse me sir, may I talk to you?"

Boss: "Sure, come on in. What can I do for you?"

Employee: "Well sir, as you know, I have been an employee of this firm for over ten years."

Boss: "Yes."

Employee: "I won't beat around the bush. Sir, I would like a raise. I currently have four companies after me and so I decided to talk to you first."

Boss: "A raise? I would love to give you a raise, but this is just not the right time."

Employee: "I understand your position, and I know that the current economic down turn has had a negative impact on sales, but you must also take into consideration my hard work, pro-activeness and loyalty to this company for over a decade."

Boss: "Taking into account these factors, and considering I don't want to start a brain drain, I'm willing to offer you a ten percent raise and an extra five days of vacation time. How does that sound?"

Employee: "Great! It's a deal! Thank you, sir!"

Boss: "Before you go, just out of curiosity, what companies were after you?

Employee: "Oh, the electric company, gas company, water company and the mortgage company!"

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Show business

The "Material" movie making is almost coming to an end - we have just over a month to go. But the film journey is just beginning.

In the past two months we have been testing the film with various business leaders, looking for support in helping to get the word out there. The response to the film has been overwhelming. In fact, we can't believe it ourselves how magical the film has turned out. I have seen the movie the most out of the Material team. I go with to each screening and I am always keen to hear feedback (good and bad).

Why do I go with and sit in on every screening, I have been asked? Because I am also selling me, not just the movie. You invest in people - not in things, like movies. I am asking them to invest in me; to take a chance on me, not just the movie. Of course, when they see the movie, they are inspired, and want to learn more about me and the team, and that is why I am there. You can't outsource sincerity.

I am asking them to help me, not the film. Of course, if they help me, they are helping the film, but it is important to understand the difference. That old saying "the product should speak for itself" is only true to a point - you need to be there, in every sense of the word. And yes, the product speaks volumes - we are seeing people's faces light up when they watch the film, which is wonderful, but does the film really speak for itself? Does the product write the proposal, and follow up? Does the product chase and nag and beg?

And that is why it is called show business. The movie is one thing, but the show around the movie is a whole other story.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Irony of life

A friend sent me this - it was too good not to share:

Men:
1. All men are extremely busy.
2. Although they are so busy, they still have time for women.
3. Although they have time for women, they don't really care for them.
4. Although they don't really care for them, they always have one around.
5. Although they always have one around them, they always try their luck with others.


Women:
1. The most important thing for a woman is financial security.
2. Although this is so important, they still go out and buy expensive clothes and stuff.
3. Although they always buy expensive clothes, they never have something to wear.
4. Although they never have something to wear, they always dress beautifully.
5. Although they always dress beautifully, their clothes are always just "an old rag".
6. Although their clothes are always "just an old rag", they still expect you to compliment them.
7. Although they expect you to compliment them, when you do, they don't believe you.

Wisdom:
When I was married 25 years ago, I took a look at my wife one day and said, "honey, 25 years ago we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on sofa bed and watched a 10-inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a hot 25-year-old blond."

"Now we have a $500,000.00 home, a $45,000.00 car, nice big bed and plasma screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 50-year-old woman. It seems to me that you are not holding up your side of things."

My wife is a very reasonable woman.

She told me to go out and find a hot 25-year-old blonde, and she would make sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa bed and watching a 10-inch black and white TV.

Aren't older women great? They really know how to solve your mid-life crisis.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Sleeper's Wake

I went to visit the film shoot of Sleeper's Wake this weekend. This is Barry Berk's first feature film production that Ken Kaplan is running. Barry sent me the script earlier this year and I was proper inspired. It is a real page turner. It is not the kind of story I would like to tell, but it is the kind of movie that will make for nail biting watching. Barry has adapted this compelling book and has turned it into a world-class screenplay. I am confident that a strong movie will be the result. I am not that into dark stories, but I do watch them occasionally, and I am excited to see what they are going to pull together. I have made a small investment in Barry and Ken and I am keen to try build a bridge here.

And, on other movie matters, the musical score on Material is almost complete. Craig and I went to spend Saturday morning with Lizzie, the film's composer, and we were both delighted by the end of the morning. The music has turned out as magical as the film. I still can't believe what has been produced here! In the coming weeks Lizzie will be working with a group of session musicians to record the music (it is currently only on Lizzie's system and was created on a synthesizer). Then, at the start of October the music gets laid down as we enter into the sound mix. Soon we will be complete ... phew!

Last night we showed the latest working cut of Material to a team from FNB and I think it is safe to say they were all at a loss for words. The bank did an incredible campaign for the Jock film and I hope they will help us too. The seeds have been planted... now let's see what blossoms.

Here's to another crazy week ahead ... bring it on!

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

The rules

A friend sent this to me – it had to be shared.

IMPORTANT RULES TO REMEMBER IN LIFE:

1. Money cannot buy happiness but it’s more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than on a bicycle.
2. Forgive your enemy but remember the bastard’s name.
3. Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.
4. Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them.
5. Alcohol does not solve any problems, but then neither does milk.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Magic !

I love trying to make people laugh. But humour is language oriented. Magic, on the other hand, crosses borders.

Talk about capturing imaginations - this is a must see :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fumsXEuiLyk

Posted by Ronnie Apteker