The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, France, 2001)
The Station Agent (Tom McCarthy, USA, 2003)
The Lives of Others (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Germany, 2006)
Sin City (Frank Marshall & Robert Rodriguez, USA, 2005)
A Simple Life (Ann Hui, Hong Kong, 2011)
Moonrise Kingdom (Wes Anderson, USA, 2012)
What We do in the Shadows (Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi, NZ, 2014)
Train to Busan (Yeon Sang-Ho, South Korea, 2016)
The Death of Stalin (Armando Iannucci, UK, 2017)
Leave No Trace (Debra Granik, USA, 2018)
The Open Door (Florenc Papas, Albania, 2019)
Intolerance (DW Griffith)
Blow Up (Michelangelo Antonioni) Ashes and Diamonds (Andrezj Wajda)
Listen to Britain (Humphrey Jennings)
Sullivan’s Travels (Preston Sturgess)
Amarcord (Federico Fellini)
The 39 Steps (Alfred Hitchcock)
The Last Laugh (FW Murnau)
Eating Raoul (Paul Bartels)
The Wicker Man (Robin Hardy)
The Lives of Others (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck)
The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain (Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
Sullivan’s Travels (Preston Sturgss)
Blue Velvet (David Lynch)
A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick)
Born in 1953 in South Bend, Indiana. Moved to Santa Barbara, CA at the age of six. Survived an extremely rare form of colon cancer as a teenager. By the age of eighteen, he had committed himself to three life objectives: self-employment, frequent international travel and a career in the screen content business.
Attended Santa Barbara Community College for a year before transfering to UCLA–majoring in Motion Picture / Television, with a minor in Russian. Started his career with legendary American International Pictures in 1977. After a few years in domestic tv syndication, he moved to Embassy Pictures and became a specialist in the international distribution of American-made screen content. He frequently attended international film festivals and screen content market events (including 29 Cannes Film Festivals).
In 1985, he founded MTG MEDIA, originally as a tv program distributor and producer representative. In 1988, the principal emphasis became a database driven marketing business, while continuing to provide consultation services to buyers, sellers and creators of screen content. Moved to Hong Kong full-time in 2006, to Taipei in 2016 and mostly alternated between northern California, Montevideo (Uruguay) and Penang (Malaysia) thereafter.
To the end, his private passions included baseball, cooking, movies, classical music, travel and correspondence with good friends throughout the world. He is survived by his sister Katherine of Indianapolis and first cousin Richard Davis of North Star, Ohio.
La Republica Oriental de Uruguay has a population under four million and is approximately the size of Missouri and Oklahoma. It has the highest cost of living (25% less than that of the USA per costofliving.org) and is the least corrupt in Latin America (and is in the 89th percentile in the world per Transparency International). It has a moderate climate with mild winters and moderate summers.
The character is distinctly European, with most Uruguayans being able to trace their ancestries to Spanish and Italian immigrants. The native Guarnari culture that has significantly impacted its neighbors (and near-neighbor, Paraguay) to the north and west has nominal impact in Uruguay, as native populations had mostly disappeared by the mid-1800s.
There are two indexes that I may refer to in this communication:
www.costofliving.org or www.coli.org Wherever in the world I have an extended stay, the cost of living is a factor. The USA, Australia and New Zealand are the more expensive. Rents in Hong Kong are high, but the COL is otherwise relatively low. (Just stay away from the Mid Levels and other tourist areas.)
Malaysia, Thailand and Paraguay are among the least expensive. Uruguay and Chile are the most expensive countries in all of Latin America, but have redeeming factors that make them my two favorite countries in the region.
www.transparency,org The issue of corruption may mean more to me than most people. So be it. Transparency International has a Corruption Perception Index that has credibility with me. The less corrupt countries tend to have high qualities of life. Uruguay (“The Switzerland of South America”) is the least corrupt country in Latin America–with Chile being a distant second. Almost all countries in the top 15 have populations under 15 million. (Australia is the one exception.) Denmark and New Zealand usually top the annual rankings.
www.xe.com Exchange rates mean less to me than most. What I can buy with the money once it has been converted is the mcguffin. How far will my US dollars go where I am visiting? I have been in Australia when an Aussie dollar cost US$1.19. I have been there when the cost was US$0.68. In the former situation, my expenses were covered by a client. If not, I probably woud have either gone elsewhere or stayed in Hong Kong, where I lived 2006-2015.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita. Per capita Purchasing Power Parity.
Uruguay
Despite its relatively high cost of living, this country of 3.5 million is an immensely appealing country by every standard.
Is very European. Probably the least ethnicly diverse country in the Western Hemisphere, its population is largely a mix of people tracing their heritage to Spain and Italy. Was one of the later countries to be colonized, as it had neither the gold nor the silver that attracted dthe Conquistadors to other countries in South America.
The developed world is generally held responsible for changes in the atmosphere. However, consider the following:
Summer temperatures in Paraguay hover interminably around 40 degrees celsius. Native Guaranis and those of mixed Guarani and European stock represent well over 80% of the population. 500 kilometers south is Utuguay, which has almost no indigenous people and summer temperatures that rarely surpass 25 degrees.
In Australia, Aborigines have their highest population densities in the Northern Territories, which have insuferable heat and humidity during the summer. In contrast, the coolest summer weather in Australia occurs on the island of Tasmania, whose last native Aborigine passed over 100 years ago.
Comparable examples can be found throughout the world. Is it a coincidence that native populations tend to frequent warmer places? Is there a cause and effect present that isn’t being reported in the left wing, pinko fake news organs that spew their propaganda relentlessly?
Soy Michael T. George. Durante 45 años he trabajado como profesional en desarrollo financiero, marketing y distribución de contenido de pantalla en el mercado internacional, los últimos 38 años con MTG Media, la empresa que fundé en 1985.
Soy originario de California, pero he vivido principalmente en Hong Kong y Malasia durante los últimos 20 años. Estoy en Asunción hasta el 30 de noviembre, cuando regreso a Montevideo por tres meses más.
Ahora, semi-retirado, vine a Paraguay para obtener nuevas perspectivas sobre la vida y en los medios de entretenimiento y educación. Esto es lo que he observado hasta ahora.
Parece que aquí se produce muy poco entretenimiento de larga duración (largometrajes, telenovelas). Comparo y contraste Paraguay con Austria y Bélgica. Austria podría satisfacer todas sus necesidades de contenido de entretenimiento desde Alemania. Bélgica podría satisfacer sus necesidades a través de tarifas en francés desde la vecina Francia y programas en holandés desde los Países Bajos hacia el norte. Y ambos importan muchos programas extranjeros.
No sé si Paraguay está haciendo algo para emular a Austria y Bélgica. Lo vi como un extraño, un observador: Paraguay tiene una cultura única y especial. Ningún otro país del mundo fue conquistado por una potencia colonial y, sin embargo, mantuvo la primacía o co-primacía de su idioma nativo. A diferencia de sus vecinos, cuyas influencias culturales son principalmente europeas, la influencia cultural dominante es nativa (Guarnari) y mestiza. Paraguay tiene una voz única, algo especial para contribuir a la conversación cultural mundial. Tiene historias que contar.
¿Estas historias se mostrarán al público paraguayo y se compartirán con el mundo? Sólo si existe la voluntad de hacerlo. Los defensores deben formar alianzas entre sus filas y ofrecer una voz coordinada para solicitar apoyo público y recursos gubernamentales.
A primera vista, parece una gran inversión, pero ¿no es tanto como uno podría pensar? La difusión del Nuevo Cine Paraguayo se puede generar a través de las redes sociales. El énfasis en obtener contenido paraguayo en los festivales de cine se organiza simplemente a través de organizaciones como Film Freeway. Pero, ante todo, debe estar la voluntad de que la voz paraguaya se promueva en Paraguay y se abandere en tierras extranjeras.
No tengo conocimiento de la política paraguaya. Tal vez, me estoy perdiendo factores importantes en cómo se hacen las cosas. Sin embargo, veo posibilidades prometedoras para el contenido paraguayo a nivel internacional. Tengo más pensamientos sobre esto. ¿Quieres escucharlos? Si es así, envíeme un correo electrónico a mtgeorge53@gmail.com
I’m Michael T George. For 45 years I have worked as a professional in financial development, marketing and distribution of screen content in the international market–the last 38 years with MTG Media, the company I founded in 1985.
Am from California orginially, but have mostly lived in Hong Kong and Malaysia for the most recent 20 years. I am in Asuncion until November 30, when I return to Montevideo for three more months.
Now, semi-retired I came to Paraguay to get new perspectives on life and in both entertainment and educational media. Here is what I have observed thus far.
Very little long-form entertainment (feature films, telenovelas) seem to be produced here. I compare and contrast Paraguay with Austria and Belgium. Austria could meet all of its entertainment content needs from Germany. Belgium could meets its needs via French-language fare from neighboring France and Dutch-language programs from The Netherlands to the north. And, both do import a lot of foreign programs.
However, both Austrians and Belgians have made it clear that they want to the unique qualities and accents of their countries portrayed on screen–and are willing to allocate substantial tax dollars to achieving this cultural benefit. Their governments have provided investment and susidies to producers, but have also helped their producers develop their filmmaking bona fides, participate in international co-productions that advanced the international visibility of their national cultures and have had a positive impact on tourism and commerce.
I do not know if Paraguay is doing anything to emulate Austria and Belgium. I saw this as an outsider, an observer: Paraguay has a unique and special culture. No other country in the world was overtaken by a colonial power, and yet maintained the primacy or co-primacy of its native language. Unlike its neighbors–whose cultural influences are principally European–the dominant cultural influence is native (Guarnari) and Mestizo. Paraguay has a unique voice–something special to contribute to the world’s cultural conversation. It has stories to tell.
Will these stories be shown to Paraguayan audiences, and shared with the world? Only if there is the will to do so. The advocates must form alliances among their ranks and offer a coordinated voice in soliciting both public support and governmental resources.
At face value, it seems like a major investment, but it is not as much as one might think? Creating awareness of the New Paraguayan Cinema can be created through social media. An emphasis on getting Paraguayan content in film festivals is simply arranged via organizations such as Film Freeway. But, first and foremost, must be the will to have the Paraguayan voice promoted in Paraguay and championed in foreign lands.
I have no insight into Paraguayan politics. Maybe, I am missing major factors in how things are done. However, I see promising possibilities for Paraguayan content internationally. I have further thoughts on this. Do you want to hear them? If so, email me at mtgeorge53@gmail.com
For hundreds of years, scientists have sought chemical remedies for it, probers of the mind have pursued its psychological components, and psychaitrists have made fortunes from it. But, no one has found a definitive cure for it.
It is entirely possible that one person’s experience with it can be significantly different than that of another’s, and the treatments that work for one may be entirely different than what might work for another.
In my experience, I believe that it is largely a matter of heredity. I believe that there is a genetic predisposition for
it is plausible to Putin as being something other than calculating, but examples of these are few. As an operative of the KGB, he had much time to patiently observe the apparatus of a police state, and take measured steps to restore the Soviet state after it had failed. Does Mr Putin risks alienating the Russian population? Most of his moves have met with the approval of the public–a population that has preferences and priorities far different from those of most nations.
Russia has little experience with representative democracy. For a short time after the fall of Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of the Bolsheviks under Lenin, the Duma (parliament) became something more than an advisory group for but a fleeting spate of time. Russians have always operated under autocrats of varying severity. Corruption among officials at every level was a part of daily life. For the general public, personal freedoms do not rank high as priorities. Not starving does.
Few Russians are alive that lived during WWII, but the war is steeped in every aspect of Russian life. Russia suffered more casualties during WWII than the rest of the world combined. Russians have an assumption that the outside world is hostile and not to be trusted. Strong leaders are respected. Even well-meaning leaders like Alexander II (who ended serfdom, and ushered in changes to Russian society during the mid-19th century) who was perceived to be weak was murdered by a group whose interests he had well served, and was replaced by his son–who was a severe autocrat that reversed most socio-political progress.
For centuries, Russians have believed in and maintained buffer zones. The Baltic States and Finland (which was part of the Russian Empire) were buffer zones with northern Europe. The Ukraine and the satellite states of East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia were the buffer zone with the West and Kazakhstan, (along with Afghanistan and the Islamic Soviet states) were the buffer to the south. To the Russian people, the cultural ties with Ukraine are deep. A Ukraine with NATO troops and nuclear weapons on Russia’s doorstep is intolerable. A total war would be preferable to the Russians over having the Ukraine as a NATO member on its doorstep. (Russia waged a total war against Chechny…one of its own states. It wasn’t pretty.)
Slavic spiritualism. I think that Roman Catholics still be believe in Tansubstantiation…the belief that the sanctified wine and communion wafer are the actual blood and body of Christ. Science has disproved many, many things that were once considered to be miracles (e.g. eclipses, rainbows, etc.) But, some people believe that miracles (divine intervention) can exist alongside the scientific method.
To Russians, the contradictions between science and and religion are immaterial. One can be scientist and champion of empiracal reasoning while at the same time believing everything in the Old and New Testament to be the literal truth. For many centuries, the Eastern Slavic peoples have believed in a special, devinely designated plan that providence has created and the Slavs must fulfill. (The Slavic version of God’s chosen people?)
Slavophilism has a few parallels with American Exceptionalism. Practioners of AE believe that the USA is imperfect and has a spotty history when it comes to the overthrow of democratically elected governments in Iran in 1953 and in Latin America throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Yet, believers of AE believe…on balance…that the USA will side on the cause of Democracy out of an inherent appreciation of and inclination toward freedom for all that is not common to other cultures. It is a part of the cultural DNA.
For Russians, Slavophilism is god-given in a big way. AE is more secular, but religious fundamentalism seems to be a part of it. So, both the Russian and American inclination to dominate and intrinsically promote their own systems has a religious or at least quasi-religious basis. But, the Russians have no sense of mission when it came to Tsarism or Communism. Rather, it has been a spiritual connection with being Slavs that has bound the loyalties of the Russians.
I think back to the news coverage on Soviet TV of America during the Cold War. American ṕolice would shown evicting poor people from their homes, but instead of inducing a sense of outrage on the parts of the viewers, audiences tended to remark: ‘Wow, Americans have great clothes, great cars and have single family apartments. I want what they have!’ Russians are among the most politically indifferent people on earth, and mostly want material success.
So, due to their political indiffernce to their autocratic government, do they long for a government steeped in Western humanitarian ideals? Not for a second, and with good reason. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989, the West started pouring consumer goods into Russia and the former Soviet states, along with loans and credits to fund these goods. Soviet manufacturers could not compete–and sundered. The positive trade balance that Russia had when it was dealing with the 14 former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact (Eastern European countries) collapsed.
As for American imports of vodka, mineral and technology exports? Ummmm. The door was closed to them. Uhhhhh, we are really sorry, the American trade officials said, but we have this law that says that we can’t give Russia favored nation status because it does allow Jews to emmigrate to Israel fast enough. Uh, sorry about that.
Quickly enough, the Russians saw the trap of high consumer debt and the collapse of its homegrown economy. Meanwhile, Boris Yeltsin (the successor to Mikael Gorbachev) through his daughter, took millions in foreign bribes from Western business interests. If this was what Western consumer culture was about, the Russians wanted little part of it.
A personal note. In 2006, I consulted for a film market event in Moscow and was given a booth to promote my wares and offer for license the screen content of several of my clients. On the first day, I was visited by mostly younger, well educated Russians who were impeccably dressed, near perfect speakers of English and who…in a no nonsense way…informed me that in order to do business in Russia, I would need them as partners, and told me how much they wanted for my company. It was a bit heavy handed, and I shut down the booth late that first afternoon. I felt threatened by these attempts at extortion, which were just normal business to them.
Corruption is a part of day to day life in Russia, where it is a demonstration of power and influence. In the Ukraine, it has been more pervasive due to a weaker power base. In Russia, everyone knows that Putin and his team are off limits when it comes to challenging him and his oligarchs…who are uniformly loyal. In the Ukraine, whether they are pro-Russian or pro-West (like recent pro-Western Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko (now doing time for taking very large bribes) make hay while the sunshine, but the Ukrainians…unlike the Russians…challenge the corruption. In their last election in 2019, their disgust ran so deep that they elected an actor with clean hands from a tiny political party that shares the name of a tv series (Servant of the People) where he played the president of the Ukraine.
I like Vlodomyr Zelensky. If somehow Russia does not place a puppet of its own choosing to be autocrat, I hope Mr Zelensky can continue as the leader.
It is important that issues be viewed with a sense of proportion, but there is one beef that the Russians have that clearly angered Russians at all levels and should have been given more press. One might think that pro-Western governments would have been the norm in the Ukraine since its independence in 1991, but this is not so. In 2004, Victor Yuschenko was the pro-Western president of the Ukraine. His administration was viewed as corrupt, and while the voting population was pro-West, he was voted out of office, replaced by Victor Yanukovich who also claimed to be pro-West, but took a pro-Russian position once he was in office.
Later that year, the Verkhovna Rada (parliament)–without legal authority to do so and with the support of the military–removed Mr Yanukovich from office. I remember very clearly at the time that protesters attended massive demonstrations and that a sniper (who was never identified) shot protesters from a government building.
However, was this a legitimate pretext to remove from office a legally elected president–certified as honest by a team of Western overseers? I would see the equivalent as being if a GOP majority House and Senate were to overturn the election results where a Democratic president was elected. Is this a fair parallel?
Again, a sense of proportion must be maintained. This action was egregious, but no where near as unacceptable as a full scale invasion of the Ukraine. Let me be perfectly clear on this! However, if one is looking for reasons why the Russians would question the legitimacy of a Ukrainian coup supported by the West, one can point to this coup.
Will the rest of Europe might divvy up the Ukraine in order to neutralize Ukraine as a competing power (the way that Germany and Russia divided Poland between the world wars.). Yes, large segments of the Ukraine were once parts of other countries. The West waWs part of Poland and Lithuania; parts of the east were once Russian territories. 21% of the whole country is ethnically Russian. However, the ethnic majority group in all 24 oblasts (states) is Ukrainian. Even in the oblasts that Russian claims to be inhabited by an oppressed majority of ethnic Russians, Ukrainians are in the majority.
I do not see Russia being satisfied with a Ukrainian statelet surrounded by hostile Ukrainian expats in the likes of Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Moldava seeking reunification with their Ukrainian motherland. Russia wants the whole country under its dictation–while having the option of hiving off parts for itself–as it did with Crimea.
Speaking of Crimea, it is hard to use them as an example of anything. It only became a part of the Ukraine during the Khruschev reign during the 1950s. It was the one part of the Ukraine that was not an oblat (state) but a special administrative region. It was the only state or SAR that did not have a Ukrainian majority, and when it was turned over to the Ukraine it became a minority that was given little consideration in its own affairs. After the takeover by Russia–in retailiation for the coup in the Ukraine in 2014–a referendum that may or may not have been fair–endorsed the takeover by the Russians.
So how much do the Crimeans love the Russians? During the Stalin era, hundreds of thousands of Crimean Tartars (the ethnic Crimean population) were sent to their deaths in Siberia so that the Russians could repopulate this militarily strategic area with ethnic Russians. Crimea may have preferred Russian rule to Ukrainian hegemony, but…
Did not anticipate that Russia would launch the attacks as they did without first clearly defining its terms. However, their foreign policy moves have been clear in recent months. Russia has been busy. China and Russia are now on more cooperative terms than they have been for decades. Russia has supported and restabilized wobby autocracies in neighboring Kazakhstan and Belarus. Oil-rich Azerbaijan has steered a mostly independent course since separation from the USSR in 1991, but in recent years, it used military aid to recapture the Nagorno-Karabash region from neighboring Armenia. A conquest of the Ukraine would accomplish most of its remaining objectives.
I think that member states of NATO have less to fear than former Soviet fiefdomslike Moldava have. However, am hesitant to take anything for granted. My track record for predicting the moves of Mr Putin have been far from sagacious.
What are the prospects for nuclear warfare? I am not hearing much about limited nuclear war that does not involve the dispersal of radiation via explosion of some sort–a bomb, delivered by missile or aircraft.
What now seems more likely is the placement of small “dirty bombs” containing plutonium (the component used against Russian journalists and defectors in England, and against two politicians in the Ukraine a decade ago. The same amounts of plutonium (via a more effective delivery mechanism) could kill tens of thousands of people.
That is scary, particularly because a very compact and surreptitiously delivered dirty bomb has a deniability that a major nation cannot have with ICBMs or bomber aircraft.
I am generally impressed by just about all of the key people in key capacities. Zalensky is the president and leader of the small political party Servant of the People. He was immensely popular before these troubles began, largely (mostly?) because he was not beholden to a corrupt power base that exacted a heavy toll on whoever was in power.
Biden has been brilliant. His administration publicly revealed the Russian plan for attack, including Russia’s use of red flag operations (agents provocateurs) and their strategy for blaming the Ukraine for the invasion. He undercut Putin’s attempt to gain friends in the non-aligned world, and forced Russia’s ally China into commenting on issues they would have preferred to avoid.
He gets further kudos for refusing to give the Ukrainians fighter aircraft. What for? So they could be destroyed on the ground, as the airstrips of the Ukrainian airforce have largely been disabled? Or, that they could be taken by the Russians after successful takeovers of Ukrainian airbases? No, give them Stinger surface to air missiles (which can be launched from portable devices about the size of bazookas) like the USA gave to Afghanistan during their war with Russia in the 1970s. And, send them plenty of those portable anti-tank missiles as well.
If Putin is getting a clear picture of how the West is responding, he must be scratching his head. Where did this sudden unity of purpose and solidarity come from?
The EU has actually taken decisive action, unusual as any single member country can veto most measures–and many have sacred cows they are normally fastidious in serving. (Germany wants Russian oil and trade; Belgium wants Russian diamonds; UK wants to provide financial services and refuge to Russian oligarchs; etc.) Yet, each country has subsumed their individual interests to some degree.
Neither Putin nor his inner circle is likely to have anticipated that Russia would be kicked out of SWIFT. (It certainly caught me by surprise.) Is likely that access to Western markets, technology and arms exports will be diminished for some time. China has reentered the picture as an ideological, trade and defense partner–particularly as a source of investment capital. But, Putin has always been careful about who he gets in bed with, and this bromance with Xi Jin-Ping looks to be a rocky one.
Perhaps, Donald Trump is the one figure that has come out of this the worst. However, I gotta give the man credit, at a conference attended by major GOP donors this weekend, he made light of his past words about Russia, casting a “humorous” light (as in he was only joking when he spoke in flattering terms of Putin).
Nonetheless, DT looks pretty bad in all of this. People largely believe what they want to believe. His large and loyal following have been willing to overlook his attempts to rescind Obamacare and his personal picadillos. Out of force of will, they have believed him. But, if and when they turn the corner and believe him to have betrayed the USA for financial gain…wow. Just a slight wavering of their pro-Trump fervor can turn them from being voters to fence sitters, and less likely to advocate reforms that abrogate the public good.
So, what is likely to happen in the Ukraine in the near future? Look at Finland. During much of the last thousand years it alternated between being a vassal state of its larger neighbors Sweden and Russia. When it became independent of Russia after WWI, it didn’t become a Soviet state like the Baltic States to the south, it retained its independence while bound to a military alliance with the newly founded Soviet Union.
In a system commonly called Finlandization, it made policy decisions in almost all areas with an eye as to how the USSR would respond. So, it joined no economic alliances or military alliances with the West (such as joining NATO or the EU) and enacted few laws that were well outside Communist policy norms.
I see a similar process taking place in the Ukraine, with a few notable exceptions. Russia will install a parliament of its own choosing (including pro-Russian incumbents willing to take a loyalty oath). That parliament will select a pro-Russian prime minister. Relations with the West will be conducted by Ukrainian puppets with Russians pulling the strings.
I do not see a long term military occupation of the Ukraine by the Russians. But, without substantial Western aid (which would likely be managed by the Russians) I see a slow rebuilding process.
Russia will present the subsumation of the Donets and Lukhanse regions of the Ukraine into Russia–proof of its mission of liberation–as PR gambol. Ukraine will likely become the new Finland, part of the new USSR.
The late Mr Cumberland was a close friend during my decade living in Hong Kong and, later, in visits to Australia. For over twenty years, he was the principal tympanist at the London Symphony Orchestra, and later taught at the Brisbane Conservatorium and the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. At the LSO, he performed on the scores of more than 500 productions for film and television. Particularly in Hong Kong, we got together regularly. Topics of conversation varied, but we shared a special interest in word and phrase origins. For example, after a concert one evening at the HKAPA that Mr Cumberland conducted, he introduced me to a young student of his and asked me if I was a friend of Dorothy. I told him that no, we had just met. He nudged me and told me he would explain later. Later, he told me that asking someone if they were a friend of Dorothy was the way that homosexuals–in mixed company–inquired as to whether someone else was gay. It derived from the commonly held belief that homosexuals had a special attachment to Judy Garland, who, of course, played Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”.
On another occasion, I cited the rarity of the subject of our discussion by saying that it was as rare as an unemployed piccolo player on the Fourth of July. He said nothing in response, but it was clear that the gears were turning in his brilliant mind.
Years later, I was in Brisbane on my then annual visits thereto. Mr Cumberland had recently retired from the HKAPA and moved to the outer suburb of North Lakes. I arranged to visit him. On a bright Sunday morning, I started my long trip from Highgate Hill (near Southbank) which would entail three buses and a 20 minute walk. As prescribed, I called him when I reached the appointed intersection. I asked him to confirm the street address, but he said that the address was not important, and to just start walking up the street. As I did so, I could see his wife Teri looking my way and could hear him playing “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa on a piano in the distance. When he got to the solo part scored for four piccolos in the band version, he gave it a special flourish. As we neared the house, I could see that the living room doors and windows opening out onto a terrace were wide open and he was pounding it out. She told me that he had been practicing all week. It was a magical moment on an unforgetable day. (The solo for four piccolos begins at 3:02 on a brilliant version of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” arranged for concert band at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-7XWhyvIpE.)
Ten years ago, a hot topic for conversation was the prospect of screen content distribution evolving as a B2C (business to consumer) proposition. Content producers would put their content on either AVOD (advertiser supported) or TVOD (pay-per-view) platforms, and drive traffic to them–most often via social media.
This goes against norms that have been in place for over a hundred years. Traditionally, and with few exceptions, producers created screen content, distributors licensed the content to exhibitors (cinemas, tv stations, etc) and the public consumed it as ticket buyers or as viewers of commercials. The B2C model disrupts the B2B monopoly hold on reaching out to potential consumers.
My experience with the new model has not been successful. And, while my research has not been exhaustive, I have yet to find an example that has produced meaningful results.
Nonetheless, I see no fatal flaw to the B2C model. Here are the preconditions:
First, the content must feature a product, personality or idea (“hook”) that has a strong following that is not adequately served by current social and commercial media, but can be reached via social media and be pursuaded to visit a webpage where they can watch the content.
Second, the producer must upload the content onto a TVOD platform, such as YouTube or Vimeo, and set up the mechanism for payment. If the numbers rise to over fifty thousand, the availability of the content on AVOD would become more attractive to advertisers.
Third, the inclusion on the team of a social media specialist that can use the hook to attract potential viewers to the site is indispensable. This is all about B2C.
A few years ago, I conducted an experiment with an Australian client in Hong Kong. I was aware that there were over 220,000 domestic workers from the Philippines that were living in the city-state. The producer had a completed feature film that told the story of a Filipina domestic in Hong Kong who faces a number of daunting challenges. We broke it down into eight ten minute segments, uploaded it on to a YouTube channel and tried to drive traffic to it by handing out flyers where Filipina domestics congregate on Sundays and via social media. We had decent traffic, but were unable to attract advertisers. It was an education, but fruitless as a commercial enterprise.
Today, we would likely go the TVOD route.
In the commercial marketplace, enterprises will usually emerge to fill a need. In mid-2021, I have yet to see an entity that will pay a competitive CPM (cost per thousand) on ad placements. Anybody out there know anyone who does?
Major content buyers (tv program services like HBO, VOD platforms like Netflix, etc) mostly create their own content or obtain it from major studios or the biggest independent producers. However, they want to be sure that content from lesser producers and distributors do not elude their consideration. (They could vet the candidate content inhouse, but instead they engage specialists to collect content and present it to them.) These specialists are aggregators.
There are a number of additional reasons that they outsource their acquisitions activity:
First, the aggregator turns down content that are not a good fit for the content buyers that they work with, saving both parties time and effort;
Second, the content buyers are spared the effort of educating the distributors as to the material requirements, contract fine points and general procedures of doing business with the content buyer. This is left to the aggregator.
Major content buyers attend market events in substantial numbers. For promising projects in development, they will usually deal directly with the program producer, pursuant to negotiating a pre-sale or co-production. But, for content from a lesser distributor they will usually refer the distributor to contact them via aggregator.
So, to which aggregator do they refer the distributor? They can be cagey here, and generally leave the distributor to find their own. And, with good reason. They don’t want to alienate aggregators that are not chosen, and by not recommending candidates they do not run this risk.
The Distributor/Aggregator Agreement.
A Distribution Fee of twenty-five percent of the total revenues received by the aggregator (“gross”), with expenses of up to five percent of the gross collections deducted from the remaining sum (“off the bottom”). This translates to the distributor receiving not less than seventy percent of the gross.
Expenses: Assuming that the delivery materials are of an acceptable standard, the Aggregator has relatively few expenses. Expenses come in two forms: Direct Expenses and Indirect Expenses.
Direct Expenses are all expenses directly related to the content in the distributor/aggregator agreement, including shipping, advertising and creation of delivery materials.
Indirect Expenses are costs such as participation at market events and the travel expenses related to same. If indirect expenses cannot be included in the distribution fee, they should be limited to a percentage (perhaps five percent) of the gross revenues received by the aggregator.
Length of the Agreement. A two year assignment of distribution rights in specific media (e.g. satellite, cable and VOD) in the specified territory is the norm. Usually, the aggregator will be able to get a yes or no within a few months as to whether the buyer is interested or not, with negotiations and contract execution rather soon thereafter. (More appealing content will always be fast-tracked.) If two years pass without the aggregator making a deal, they know they are unlikely to make one and will have no use for the content. So, the short term of the rights assignment is normal. The aggregator will have the right to service any agreement that they make with a buyer for the duration of the aggregator/buyer agreement.
The Territory is usually the United States only, but the aggregator can always come back to the supplier if the buyer has interest in additional territories. Both, Netflix and HBO have increasingly bought international rights. Both companies will-under most circumstances–exclude specific territories from a worldwide agreement.
Keep in mind that aggregators are specialists in placing content with a limited number of buyers that are off limits to most suppliers. Sales agents and distributors deal with everyone else. So, when aggregators inquire about rights beyond the United States, they are usually talking about an expansion of rights on a license covering the United States.
Some aggregators charge a fee in addition to the commission, but the commission gives the aggregator an incentive to get the highest license fees and non-refundable advances against royalties (“minimum guarantees”). Nonetheless, the distributor may wish to have the minimum amounts allowable specified in the agreement.
Delivery Materials to be provided to the aggregaror are rarely negotiable, but the provision of same can often be conditional upoon actual licenses being effected. For example, the aggregator can be provided with a lab access agreement which will allow it to order and pay for videomasters that will be provided to the buyer at their expense. The full or partial cost of errors & omissions insurance can be delayed until it is actually required as a delivery item on a aggregator/buyer license.
Wherever possible, the distributor should supply the materials specified in the agreement, rather than allow the aggregator to arrange for same and charge the costs to the distributor.
In austral winter of 2008, I was renting a room for a few months in the Highgate Hill section of Brisbane. The house was an old Queenslander, not far from the river and was less than fifty years younger than the city itself.
One evening, I returned from a work assignment and prepared a one pot meal composed of diced chicken, a half can of chickpeas, onion, celery, tomato sauce and spices–cooked at high heat, served in large soup bowl. a delivered to the mouth with a large spoon.
While spooning away, I encountered that dreadful thud when one meets the resistance of a stone that found its way into one’s granola. I spat a molar into my hand and awaited an onslaught of pain and blood that was sure to follow.
No pain. No blood. I ran a fingertip along my teeth. All present and accounted for. It was only at that moment that I looked at the tooth once more. It wasn’t my tooth. It was significantly decayed, had almost no root and a cheap metal crown that was unlikely available anywhere but a third world country.
My housemates encouraged me to sue the cannery. But, I was simply pleased to be spared the expense and discomfort of a replacement tooth.
I was much inspired by the acceptance speech of Frances McDormand at the Oscars in 2018 for her performance in “Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri”. She introduced the Inclusion Rider, which seeks to make the participation of racial and sexual minorities, women and the disabled a pre-condition for the participation of noteworthy creative talents in key positions. (Commendably, it does not limit Jews to two percent of such positions, which would be commensurate with their proportion of the United States population.)
However, it is both shocking and unacceptable that the Inclusion Rider does not address the overrepresentation of white pigs in entertainment media. Almost all famous pigs are white: Babe (“Babe’), Wilbur (“Charlotte’s Web”) and Arnold Ziffle (“Green Acres”) among them. And, worse, most are Yorkshires–especially known for their insensitivity to minority breeds.
Where are the pigs of color? Even when they are colored in the source material (e.g. The Empress of Blandings is a black, Berkshire sow in the Blandings novels of PG Wodehouse, but she mysteriously becomes a white pig in the BBC series “Blandings” (2013 – 2014). Only in “Heavy Weather” (1995) co-starring Peter O’Toole does a pig of color play a prominent role. But, with all due respect, I attribute this to nothing more than tokenism, to white pig guilt.
What will we do to end this plague of bigotry?
1) Until leading roles performed by pigs of color match or exceed those played by purebred white breeds such as Chester Whites, Yorkshires and Landraces, white swine should be excluded from consideration unless it can be proven that they are homosexual. (Exposure to and arousal resulting from exposure to pig porn would determine eligibility.)
2) Plot lines should be modified to promote interbreeding and same sex pig couples as preferred lifestyle choices.
3) Television series (ie. “Green Acres”, “Blandings”, etc.), books (“Charlotte’s Web”, “Animal Farm”, etc.) and movies (“Babe”, “Babe in the City”, etc) that promote white pig supremacy should be permanently withdrawn from public circulation.
4) Western Classical Music should be banned be banned from sale and public performance, as at least one movie (“Babe”) features an arrangement of a Western Classical Music piece (Symphony #3 by Camile Saint-Saens) that proves the undeniable elitist and racist connection between Western Classical Music and White Pig Supremacy.
It may take centuries for past wrongs to be righted, but the time to start is now.
A few years ago, I passed through the lobby of the Loews Hotel in Santa Monica, during American Film Market. Fred “The Hammer” Williamson was standing a bar table, next to a nebbish young man. I had never met him, but admired him–particularly as a producer.
I introduced myself, and asked him if he played his entire career with the Oakland Raiders. He replied that he played his final year with the Kansas City Chiefs. I then asked him if he knew why there are so many Black people in Oakland and so many Armenians in Fresno.
He paused a moment, then held up his large hand on which two Super Bowl championship rings were on his middle and pinkie fingers. He said “Because we’re champions, baby”. I rejoined “Nah, Oakland got to choose first”. I nodded and started to walk away. But, he asked me to stick around, which I did, and we had a nice chat.
A few years later, I encountered him one evening at the Loews, again during the AFM. He told me was there to see some old friends and–politely acknowledging my date–said he was there to “meet pretty ladies”. I told him to let me know if he met any. She immediately burst into laughter, while Mr Williamson abjured for the moment before recognizing that I was joking and my date clearly took no insult.
His reflexive kindness spoke volumes. He had gone from playing a violent sport to performing in violent movies, but bore a kindness that transcended both. What a gentleman.
Preface. If you are impatient, skip ahead to the paragraph that begins: For anyone but the most established and well-backed producers…
Years ago, an Esquire magazine article featured the picture of a monkey at a typewriter and asked: “Is there anyone out there not writing a screenplay?” Good question then. Equally good question today. Hundreds of thousands of original screenplays (“original” meaning not based on a previously produced play or published work) get written every year. Less than a thousand get made, even as low-budget features. Only a handful of original screenplays get made into feature films costing $10 million or more.
Most feature films are based upon source material that was commercially successful in other media. Why? Because $10 million plus is a lot of money. Not only do the investors want a higher probability on a financial return, but everyone in the production and distribution food chains wants reliable deniability if the project ails. (“Who would have thought that a hit novel like Two Nuns and a Vicar in a Taxi could be such a colossal failure?”)
So, what does it take to get an original screenplay produced?
First, be realistic. The odds are particularly long if the creative talent (screenwriter, producer or director) has never had a film produced that was either
a) a low-budget film that made a significant profit; or
b) an independent feature in the $2 million plus range that was a significant, critical success (and I don’t mean an almost positive review in the Minot Daily News.)
Lacking these, the best route is to either
a) find an angel (probably a relative) to finance the whole thing, Or
b) get off their butts and raise the development capital that will allow them to assemble the team necessary to put together a package that will attract actual production finance.
Uh, you ask ‘what about shopping the screenplay to big production companies and distributors? You’ve just disproved the notion that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Go back and read the third paragraph above. When you return to here, keep in mind the following.
You will be sending your screenplay to development executives. Keep in mind the following:
a) Most will return it unread, rather than risk a lawsuit for plagiarism should the screenplay be similar to something they might already have in development.
b) The objective of a development executive is neither there to help you nurture your creative potential nor to fast track your opus to fame and fortune
Their real objective of a development executive is threefold:
a) to keep having three square meals a day and roof over their head
b) to either retain that nice job of theirs until they can get a promotion (with more money and further opportunities for advancement) or a better job somewhere else.
They know that their company:
a) already has producers with projects of their own that will take precedence over anything you’ve got, and with whom they don’t want to make enemies (am reminded of Voltaire, who when asked while on his deathbed if he renounced Satan replied “Now isn’t the time to be making enemies.”) ; and
b) few people get fired for saying no or pushing the project upstairs with a maybe. the yes word would be verboten even if it were allowed to them–the only fear being that they might pass on some project that would be a big hit elsewhere, and they might be called on the carpet for it.
So, you are back to either self-producing or building a package that can attract the participation of credible co-production entity, such as a big production company or top twenty distributor that will invest a chunk of capital.
For anyone but the most established and well-backed producers, availability of development capital is the single greatest determinant in whether or not a film gets made.
I support this claim with the following contentions:
a) creative talents (will use the term producers heretofore) have to pay the bills while they try to bring their projects to fruition; thus, the part-time producers are competing with full time producers; and,
b) re-writes, casting directors, “name” screen talent and potential collaborators cost money.
The idea that a novice producer can send a screenplay to a top 500 screen talent and that they will allow you to attach their name to your project is fanciful at best and induces thoughts of clientcide on the part of agents at worse.
Actually–and this should be obvious–a commitment on the part of screen talent that have been consequential to films that have made money in the past is worth money, and can only be secured by even a credible casting agent if a paid up front option is secured.
Development capital is the source from which such options can be secured.
So, let us consider the key issues:
a) What are the expenses for which development capital will be used?
b) How much capital will be required?
c) How would the capital be compensated?
d) Would all of the development capital be paid up front?
e) What are the sources of development capital?
f) What are the necessary elements to attract development capital?
What are the expenses for which development capital will be used? Here is a checklist:
a) A salary for the producer(s) sufficient to allow their full time efforts to be devoted to bringing the project to fruition. Such must be low enough to suggest that the producer is willing to share risk with the investor, but high enough for the project not to be dismissed as a labor of love for which a ROI is immaterial.
b) Office rent, expenses and salaries in a commercial facility–preferably a production office in a building mostly containing other production offices.
c) Nominal travel and hospitality expenses.
d) Professional services, including accounting, legal and the retainer for a bona fide casting director.
e) Money to secure options on screen talent.
How much capital will be required? Depends upon the budget of the film. Wiggle room on each item up 20%
a) $5 million feature
screen talent costs of $3 million
development window of five months
advanced draft of screenplay
$500,000
b) $2 million feature
screen talent costs of $1.5 million
development window of three months
camera ready draft of screenplay
$250,000
Salary for the producer(s)
12%
Office rent, expenses and salaries
4%
Nominal travel and entertainment expenses.
2%
Professional services, including casting director.
10%
Money for talent options. (More on negotiating these later. Be patient.)
62%
How would the capital be compensated? For the sake of simplicity, we will go with the following assumptions:
a) The development capital is 10% of the total budget.
b) The producer will negotiate a distribution agreement in which 60% of the total revenues accrued by the distributor (“Distributor Gross”) with no further deductions whatsoever are paid to the producer (“Producer Gross”).
c) The investors of development capital would receive 100% of the Producer Gross between the moment that has received its “Initial Compensation” (defined hereafter) and the occasion in which they have been paid 120% of their investment. Thereafter, the producer and the investor of production capital shall equally share the profits.
The provider of development capital would receive:
a) 100% of the revenues Producer gross until 120% of the development capital has been repaid.
b) 20% of the Producer Gross thereafter.
c) 10% of the producer share of the profits
d) An exclusive first option to invest production capital for the project
e) Co-Executive Producer credit
Sounds generous, does it? By the above formula, if the $5 million feature had a Distributor Gross of only $500,000
a) $200,000 would go to the distributor.
b) $240,000 would go to the investor of development capital.
c) $60,000 would go to the investors of production capital. (an 87% loss!)
d) $0 would go to the producer.
How can this be justified? The investors of development capital are running a double risk:
a) That the feature will not be made at all
b) That it may commercially fail so miserably–or be defrauded–so as to not get any ROI.
Since development capital would likely be the difference between the feature getting made and not getting made it is worth such generous terms, which would unlikely deter investors in production capital from participating.
Would all of the development capital be paid up front? Kinda. If 500,000 in development capital was provided, of which 70% was to go to talent options:
a) $150,000 would be payable to the producer upon execution of the development capital agreement.
b) $350,000 would be in the form of an irrevocable letter of credit very clearly specifying that if the producer was able to secure an option with any of the talent listed on the L/C for a role specified in the screenplay (and the same for the other lead roles) in accordance with very clearly specified terms.
For those unfamiliar with letters of credit, I will summarize here. Those familiar with same can skip ahead to: “The options would constitute 10% to 20%…”
A letter of credit is a banking instrument between an issuer (e.g. investor) and a payee (e.g. producer) in which a variety of objective criteria are articulated. The issuer uses an issuing bank into which the amount of the L/C is irrevocably placed. (Once the L/C has been issued, there is no backing out on the part of the investor.) This is the good part.
If the payee meets the exact specifications of the criteria before the expiration date of the L/C the bank must pay the amount in full to the payee. (That’s the irrevocable part.). This is another good part.
So, if the L/C states that if– prior to a specified date–producer Stanley Schlub provides fully executed WGA or DGA documents demonstrating that he has for his the feature film project “Hey, Hey in the Hayloft”acquired a fully executed option on the services of:
a) Stanley Schlub or Morrie Magillah or Deborah Dweeb to serve as director; and
b) Seymour Schtup or Thomas Twineweed or Peter Pinhead to participate in the role of Phineas Thoroughgood: and,
c) Brenda Shiska or Michelle Mishugunah or Tara Temple for the role of Porcina Thoroughgood.
Upon presentation of the attendant documents described herein to the bank in advance of the expiration date of the L/C the bank will pay you the full value of the L/C. And, if it will be a comfort to the investor and/or the agents for the talent, the pay-out made directly to various parties (just in case the investor was fearful that you might use the funds for other purposes). This is also good.
There are a few downsides.
a) Bank fees and review procedures can be time-consuming and expensive.
b) To get the money, one has to follow the exact procedures. There is no flexibility. All names must be spelled exactly correctly. They are not fool-proof. I offer an example.
Some years ago, I was representing an American seller of a film package of six titles to a company in Spain. The buyer had wanted delivery in advance of payment (something no credible seller will never do to anyone but the likes of the BBC). In anger, the buyer claimed he didn’t trust me and wanted to do it by L/C. When all of the materials were assembled and placed with the freight forwarder, the buyer contacted the seller and asked that the materials be sent to a different office in Spain–and send the materials through Madrid instead of Barcelona.
The seller agreed and contacted the freight forwarder who, suspecting a rat, gave me a call. I made sure that the port of entry be as specified in the L/C. If not, when the seller provided shipping documents to the bank for payment: his payment claim would be rejected, the buyer would have the materials and his money back from the bank. The seller would probably have to take legal action to get his money. It was a close call.
The options would constitute 10% to 20% deposit on the total up-front compensation for the talent, and would require the remainder of their compensation to be paid prior to a negotiated date or the deposit paid by the investor of development capital would be forfeited. (According to industry practice, the agent for the talent would be legally required to hold the deposit in escrow so as to be refunded in the event of non-performance–basically meaning not showing up for duty on the specified first day of principal photography.)
With these options secured, raising the production capital would be made much, much easier as the contingencies that deter most investors would be obviated.
What are the sources of development capital?
Private investment is always the best. Any producer that does not have potential investors for development capital is at a distinct disadvantage. I cringe when I hear creative talents mutter the mantra that they are “creative types”, not “business types”. Well, if that is what you are, I hope you have:
a) A business type friend who is willing to invest their time on a long shot project.
b) A rich relative who believes you walk on water and will take the plunge.
Government finance is another possibility. Australia and Ireland have outstanding programs. Austria, Belgium and Canada (three countries who border on much larger same-speaking language countries that provide enough content that the entertainment needs of the forementioned three could be met without them producing a minute of content) have good programs. Almost every country other than the USA has some film promotion scheme in the form of tax subsidies or outright grants..
Why not the USA? The USA is perceived to produce enough content without help that government subsidies are considered unnecessary. And, unlike most countries in the world, the domestic market alone for most content is large enough to turn a profit. Can’t exactly say that about Iceland or Ireland or New Zealand, can you?
Crowd funding. I was slow to accept crowd funding as a means of raising development capital. Is not the perfect solution for many or most. But, you can see my assessment of possibilities at http://michaeltgeorgeonmedia.blogspot.hk/2014/05/crowdfunding-and-creative-community.html
What are the necessary elements to attract development capital? This is the even more subjective part of this missive.
a) A compelling treatment. You must convince a potential development capital investor that the project will keep the audience engaged from the very beginning to the very end. Thus, it must have elements that you can point to that are new and compelling without being so avant-garde that the audience will become alienated.
b) A business plan. You must clearly articulate what you want from the development capital investor, what same will receive as compensation. Your potential investor may not be saavy on the nuts and bolts of production and distribution. But, shall likely have people who have.
Virtually every investor has heard horror stories about movies that have grossed millions, but whose investors were wronged by producer criminality or negligence or robbed by distributors via “creative accounting”.
Be able to make a case for either your knowledge of negotiating distribution agreements or the expertise of your retained counsel that does. Wouldn’t hurt to look at the exalted essay entitled Fundamentals of Distribution for Producers at http://michaeltgeorgeonmedia.blogspot.hk/2014/05/the-fundamentals-of-distribution-for.html
c) A top sheet budget. The proportion of producer compensation to the remainder of the budget will be the first thing an investor will look at. Too big and you are asking the investor to bear too much of the risk. Too little and you won’t be taken seriously as a business person.
d) An advanced draft of the screenplay. Would not provide same to an investor if possible–and then only if you can judge the interest of same to be very serious. Everyone has an opinion. Invariably, an investor with enough capital to take a flutter on the risky prospect of providing development capital must be financially successful. Financially successful people think they can be successful in any trade, and that their creative input into a screenplay would be indispensable to your success.
That said, William Goldman is famous for saying “Nobody in this business knows anything”. Is probably the stupidest thing anyone has ever said in this business. Good screenplays actually have two things in common:
1) They are consistently engaging from beginning to end. To do so, they must be sufficiently innovative to lead the reader to terra incognita. Anything conspicuously derivative hurts.
2) The protagonists must inspire sympathy, amenity or empathy. Otherwise, we don’t care what happens to them, and lose interest. Never understood the appeal of Oliver Stone’s Midnight Express. Drug mule gets caught carry drugs and languishes in Turkish prison? Who gives a shit what happens to him?
Hemingway famously said that a story cannot be better than its villain. I would cite Iago (Othello), Frank Booth (Blue Velvet) and master-at-arms Claggart (Billy Budd) as my most compelling arguments in support of Papa.
e) A revenue forecast. By territory and media. Citing the high, low and most-likely grosses for the 17 largest territories (which constitute about 95% of worldwide revenue). Make sure that the “low” is below break even. I know someone who can help you with this.
f) Cash flow timetable. Quarterly. For five years.
g) Lastly, some appeal to the vanity of the investor is to be allowed. Their name will forever be on the credits of an important motion picture. The IMDB entry will immortalize them as a bona fide member of the entertainment media family.
Some last caveats. Don’t waste your time with investors that:
a) Only make blue chip investments. The project may appeal to the following remarkably common country club fantasy: “Well, Sam, you ask how my picture is coming along? Things were not going very well. But, I’m now taking a more active role, and things seem to have turned around for the better.”
Once they see the real risk involved, reality will dissipate the fantasy. Venture capitalists and successful real estate types understand risk/reward. Pursue investors of any stripe that understand these as well.
b) Confuse an investment with a loan–or want some kind of hybrid that will give them a guaranteed return with the hope that they may also make the big score. The laws of most countries–especially the USA–clearly define what constitutes each. An investor that is set on a guaranteed return is unlikely to be satisfied whatever arrangement you offer. Don’t waste your time.
In 2001, I had lunch with my friend Kevin Mills in Beverly Hills at Nate ‘N Al’s Deli on Beverly Drive. Loud. Abrasive servers. Packed with people. As we approached the one unoccupied table, we could see that Jerry Springer was sitting alone at a table next to it, reading a massive tome. I commented to Kevin that I had gone to a hockey game the previous night. Mr Springer looked up from his book and said: “We don’t fight on my show anymore.”
He was right. USA Networks had bought the show the previous week, and announced that the battling was over. However, when viewership levels tanked, the prohibition quickly was rescinded.
While Kevin and I ate lunch, Mr Springer would occasionally ask us questions about the international tv market (the topic Kevin and I were discussing). He particularly wondered why his ratings in the UK were significantly higher than elsewhere in Europe. Kevin and I speculated that the British loved to watch others air their laundry in public, but were hesitant to show their own. That seemed to make sense to Mr Springer.
The three of us continued to chat during lunch. When it was time for Kevin and I to go, I said that I would pick of the check, but hoped that it would not end up on the front page of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Mr Springer put his face down on his open book, pointed to the door and said “Leave now. Say nothing more. Leave!”
Should I mention that while he was mayor of Cincinnati, Mr Springer paid a prostitute by personal check? Said payment was obtained by the newspaper, at least temporarily putting his political career on hiatus.
In 1990, I was attending American Film Market at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. My objective was to license a movie titled “Reel Bullets” in the international marketplace.
A middle aged Black man came into the hotel room (which had been converted into a sales office) to discuss a film with which he was involved. At the time, Tony Brown had a Sunday morning show on PBS called “Tony Brown’s Journal”, which dealt with Black political issues.
The movie was titled “The White Girl”. I asked if I could speculate on the story line before seeing the flyer. He invited me to go ahead. I guessed that it was about a light-skinned Black girl trying to pass for Caucasian who recognizes the error of her ways and becomes proud of being Black. He initially assumed that I had already encountered the movie. But, it was easy to make the case that I had not.
He changed the subject to the number of Black people in entertainment media. He said that Blacks were underrepresented in the acting trade. I disagreed. A study quoted in one of the trade papers stated that Blacks held 16% of the acting jobs, but 14% of the population. It was Hispanics that were underrepresented.
It was in non-acting creative and non-creative areas that Blacks were relatively rare. He asked how I thought greater numbers of Blacks could join the ranks of producers, writers and directors. I supposed that making more prison movies would be a start. His initial shock permutated into a subtle smile as he left. I watch his show on the following Sunday, where he showed pictures of his visit to AFM. But, made no reference to our encounter.
There are many reasons why New Zealand (with its robust population of just over five million) is a better country than poor Uruguay (with its paltry three and a half million). Here are some of them. Number 1. The Name. New Zealand is named after the least populous province of The Netherlands, a country with which it has only the most nominal connection. There is a movement in New Zealand to change the name of the country to its Polynesian name—Aotearoa—which translates into English as “Land of the Long White Cloud”—a common nickname of the country. It would be an inspired change. But, why trade something for something better? Such is just not the way things are done in New Zealand. The official name of Uruguay is “La Republica Orientale de Uruguay” (The Eastern Republic of Uruguay.) Orientale? Eastern? It is a country on the southeast corner of the Western Hemisphere! The name is irresistible in its absurdity. But, no, misnamed New Zealand still has the better name. Number 2. The Flag. The official flag of New Zealand has four stars and a Union Jack. But, the more famous flag is that of the national rugby team “The All Blacks”. That flag features a white feather (the traditional English symbol of cowardice) against a black background—and is an infinitely better reflection of the Kiwi true character. Uruguay? Its flag features the sun, which is smiling with smug self-satisfaction—a confidence that can only invite suspicion. Who would trust such a star? No, laughably anachronistic as it is, the Jack and Stars flag is the better flag. Number 3. Leadership. Until recently, Jacinda Arden was the prime minister of New Zealand. She is a nice lady who had a baby while PM, has a househusband straight out of Central Casting and– to the best of my knowledge– has never been arrested. Pepe Mujica was president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. (Presidents in Uruguay can serve only one five year term.) He spent over a decade in prison for bank robbery and on terrorism charges. Bank robbing is bad, even when the robber doesn’t kill the bank manager during the robbery. I have to vote for New Zealand when it comes to leadership. Number 4. Accomplishments. New Zealand was the first country to give women the right to vote. Uruguay was the first country to legalize (not just decriminalize) the recreational use of marijuana. Giving women the right to vote—despite the downsides of suffrage—is arguably a good thing. But, allowing people to bliss out on government regulated and taxed marijuana is bad—no matter how delightful it is to smoke a half and half with one’s morning coffee or yerba mate’ and a pipeful of full-strength in the late afternoon. Drugs are bad. My mind is a bit cloudy on this issue, but New Zealand seems to be the more accomplished country. Number 5. Sports. New Zealand’s Rugby Union super team the “All Blacks” sets the standard for rugby worldwide. No country with a comparably small population can boast of such a high standard of play. While the sport of Rugby League is clearly superior to the sport of Rugby Union, is it the fault of the All Blacks that they play the wrong kind of rugby? Should they be punished for this? In contrast, Uruguay’s only sports accomplishment—and a modest one at that—is that it has twice won the quadrennial World Cup in Soccer. Big deal. Any country can do that and most countries have! Conclusion: New Zealand is better at sports. Number 6. Capital City. Wellington, New Zealand is distinguished by being both the windiest city and the southernmost capital city in the world. Most of its cultural events either take place at the mausoleum-like New St. Paul’s Cathedral in the CBD or in the suburb of Lower Hutt. Nga Taonga is the national film archive, showing a wonderfully balanced selection of whingey and whiny movies–the envy of politically correct populations worldwide. Of course, Cuba Street (named after a ship, rather than the country) is pretty cool. But, by limiting entertainment, the City encourages a healthy introspection that only feels like boredom. Montevideo, in contrast, has an abundance of entertainment and concert venues (such as the 170 year old Teatro Solis), museums and the Cinemateca with its three large and identical auditoria, showing classic and arthouse films every day. The tango culture permeates all aspects of life. Pretty much everyone drinks yerba mate’ while doing pretty much everything, However, a city can be too colorful, too engaging and too exciting! The tango culture objectifies women! What looks like ecstasy only hides the hurt and humiliation suffered by women forced to endure it, thanks to the patriarchy. The world would be better without it. Thus, Wellington must be the better capital city. Number 7, Food. Per capita, New Zealand has the most sheep and Uruguay has the most beef cattle of any country in the world The New Zealand national dish—Hangi—a dish compose of meat or fish and root vegetables that is cooked underground–is known to all Kiwis, but eaten by few and commercially available to none. In contrast, the Uruguayans have Chivitos–a delicious, open faced sandwich loaded with slices of beef, cheese, mayonnaise and is topped with a fried egg–plus more mayonnaise. It is an absolute delight. However, it is repugnant to vegans and must, therefore, be reviled by all. Keeping in mind that Hangi is a traditional Maori dish and has less meat in it than chivitos, the evils of cultural appropriation are less vile than hurting the feelings of vegans. Thus, I pronounce Kiwi cuisine to be superior to la comida Uruguayana–at least until the consumption of meat can be forcibly prohibited by both countries. Number 8. Covid 19. New Zealand has a higher per capita infection rate than Uruguay (387 vs 256 per million as of October 2020) and has the advantage of being separated from its nearest neighbor by over 2,000 kilometers of ocean. You couldn’t infect the country if you wanted to! Uruguay is bordered by the third and fifth most infected countries in the world (Brazil and Argentina). Should be a nightmare, right? No, it is rightly known as La Suiza de Sudamerica (the Switzerland of South America) and may have the best health care system in the world—certainly it is among the most cost-effective. Due to widespread testing, contact tracking and social distancing, it has done a wonderful job of keeping the virus under control. In fact, it is the only country in the Western Hemisphere whose passport holders can get tourist visas for travel in the European Union. Such is not to say that returnees won’t face lengthy quarantines when they return. However, to suggest that Uruguay has done a better job of managing Covid 19 would be to denigrate a female head of state. This I will not do. I will not engage in the sexist practices that have discredited my woeful gender. New Zealand again gets top marks. In conclusion, New Zealand must be better than Uruguay. To believe otherwise would be to deprive Kiwis of the one thing that distinguishes them–their facile and specious sense of superiority. I politely, but emphatically, demand that you feel the same way. Michael T George 29 October 2020
When I travel overseas, pharmacists marvel at the cost of prescription drugs in the USA, compared with their countries. But, there is little mystery as to why.
In almost all countries in the developed world, the governmental health authority maintains a monopoly on the purchase of pharmaceuticals. Health officials negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies, and have the likelihood of getting good prices, as they have no competitors for the products.
In the USA, the scenario is completely different. No negotiation on prices is allowed. The buyer (commercial pharmacies, clinics and hospitals) can only take or leave the asking price on patented medicines. The same medicine purchased overseas costs a tenth of what it does overseas.
Can’t the prospective customer in the USA simply choose not to buy the product? They can. But, if it is a medicine with no comparable, competing medication (and is protected by patent) and the buyer chooses not to purchase it, the buyer is vulnerable to a wrongful death lawsuit if a patient dies because the medication was unavailable. Big Pharm has a commercial interest in promoting such lawsuits.
One would think that once the patent on a medicine has expired, other manufacturers would quickly enter the market and sell generic versions of same. No so. Sometimes, the former patent holder will pay other drug companies a fee not to offer generic versions. Of course, this results in the maintenance of a high price on the drug.
An interesting exchange took place during the 2016 presidential debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Mr Trump claimed that Ms Clinton was on the side of Big Pharm, and that he would personally negotiate with the drug companies to bring down consumer prices.
After almost a year in office, Mr Trump had taken no action and became increasingly scrutinized for his lack of action. Perhaps for the only time during his term in office to date, he admitted he had been wrong on the issue. He now believed that the fault did not lie with the drug companies. Foreign buyers were at fault, he claimed. They were paying too little for drugs produced by American-based pharmaceutical companies. He reasoned that if they paid their fair share, the drug companies would reduce their prices in the USA.
The Democratic Party response? Muted at best. Big Pharm is one of the very largest spenders of lobbying dollars–and they lavishly spend their money on Congressional campaigns of both parties.
It is an incredibly corrupt system, but don’t expect changes in the foreseeable future.
In 2010, I stood outside the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival, holding the door open for a gentleman who exiting the building. Film critic Roger Ebert looked at me and said “I don’t remember your name. But, I do remember that you are an asshole.” I smiled and said that I had read that he had been ill, and hoped for his rapid and complete recovery.
Of course, there is a backstory. In 1987, I conducted a seminar at the Hawaiian Internatonal Film Festival in Honolulu. The topic was “What Producers Need to Know About Distrribution and the Marketplace.” It went very well. During the last half hour, Mr Ebert and his entourage came into the small theater, sat in the back and started having a party–a very loud and disruptive party.
I told him that we would soon be finished, and I would conduct the Q&A session outside so that he could begin his lecture on time. In return, I politely asked him to keep it down until we were finished. He would have no part of it. He said that business had no place at a film festival.
I contended that 70% of producers that had produced a film were never able to produce a second one, largely because they mishandled the business side on their first one. I was trying to make sure this did not happen. Mr Ebert was unmoved, and spoke to me like I was an idiot as he repeated that film festivals are no place to discuss business.
Now, I was pissed. I responded that not every failed screenwriter has a career in film criticism to fall back on. Money doesn’t matter, I continued, just as it didn’t matter when he dumped PBS for more money with Tribune Broadcasting, and then dumped Tribune for Disney.
“My personal finances are none of your business!” he roared. He stormed out and, I found out later, went directly to the festival office and demanded that I have my credential taken from me. Otherwise, he would leave that night.
When chased down by the organizers, I made a deal with them. Other than the Governor’s party the next night, I would attend no official events. As for Mr Ebert, I never spoke with him again until that brief encounter at Cannes. He died in 2013. I’d be a liar if I said I miss him.
Normally, mixing drugs and alcohol is not a recommended practice. But, if you can’t make an exception for your best mate’s wedding, what kind of friend are you?
The trip from Murwillumbah to Brisbane last August (the middle of Austral Winter) was uneventful. Despite the good motorways, finding a good vein while riding in an SUV is a greater challenge than one might imagine. Laureen avoided bumps and pot holes as much as possible, which i really appreciated. She is so considerate–even remembered to bring along my bleach kit. I was feeling fine as we approached the train station at Varsity Lakes, just across the border of Queensland and New South Wales. She parked the SUV and we boarded the train heading north..
Should have been clear sailing from there to South Bank Station in Brisbane. However, with security cameras everywhere and Big Brother’s prohibition on public alcohol consumption, my aspirations of dissolution were put on hold for the time being. Fortunately, I was able to drink Bundaberg Rum from a flask, uncontested on the one kilometer walk between the train station and the River Cat ferry.
I must admit that I was not feeling my best on the ferry to Kangaroo Point, as Neptune himself takes issue with the inebriates who ply His waters. Well, I have news for him: He is no saint himself!
As we disembarked at the Holman Street ferry stop, Laureen guided me to the Anglican Church, where I took a nap around the corner from the main entrance. Some time later, I awakened to an odorous and unpleasant moisture emanating from my torso and legs. I asked Laureen if she was feeling better. But, with her characteristic Bart Simpson laugh (the one with the slight cackle at the end) she informed me that I had, in fact, vomited upon myself. Fortunately, I had had the foresight to wear a Hawaiian shirt (one of those classy ones with the coconut shell buttons) that camouflaged my chunder. My khaki trousers were less forgiving. I felt betrayed by my own pants.
By this time, Laureen, satisfied that I would be okay, went to confer her greetings to the assembled crowd. I sought a faucet to mitigate my arguably soiled condition. But, was surprised to learn that when I turned on the faucet, sprinklers just around the corner soaked the assembled the wedding party. What were the odds on that!
Nevertheless, I went around the corner, removed my potentially offending garb and conscientiously cleansed my clothing in the soothing sprinklers . I then dressed and took a seat next to Laureen in the cold stone church. She really loves weddings. In fact, she has been married seven times.
I slept through much of the ceremony, and don’t remember much about it, except for admonishing a five year old to “watch it with those flowers!” as she spread rose petals at the initial procession. I do remember awakening when the priest said “You may now kiss the bride”. I obediently staggered towards the altar, only to be stopped by that killjoy Greg Dunny. The padre should have been more specific and Greg should have minded his own business.
Laureen and I walked to the reception nearby (the longest half kilometer of my life!). There we discovered that my name was absent from the list. That was okay. While Laureen had a good feed, I sought the refuge of a sleeping space among kindred souls. With a view of Storey Bridge and a cool breeze to comfort my soul, I savored thoughts of the happy couple, enjoyed the view and looked forward to the warm and forgiving embrace of my beloved Laureen.
When the cashier at the hotel coffee shop in Rock Springs, Wyoming appeared at the cash register, the old Chinese man had already removed from his billfold a Hong Kong ten dollar note and a US twenty dollar bill. His wearing surgical gloves that made the process more difficult. The cashier was fascinated by the plastic Hong Kong note. The Chinese handed it to her. “It’s worth barely a single US dollar”, he said. “Please accept as my gift to you.”, handing it to her with both hands.
She gave him his change. On his way out, he stopped by the Men’s room. He carefully removed his surgical gloves, dropped them into the waste basket, washed his hands thoroughly, and put on a pair of winter gloves.
Glancing back, he could see the cashier proudly showing the plastic note to her co-workers, all bemused by the novelty of the gift. He departed into the sub-freezing cold. The skies were clear. Snow drifts fringed the parking lot.
Inside the car, the frosty interior of the windshield was still new to him. He had before
encountered such back home. He tried wiping the windshield with his forearm and gloved hand before allowing the defroster to finish the job.
A drive to the tourism office proved fruitless. His request for directions to the cemetery in which the Chinese were buried was met with a cold stare. Tourists were welcome. But,
troublemakers were not. No massacre had taken place in the 1870s. The rumor that
Chinese immigrants–newly unemployed after completion of the Transcontinental
Railroad—had competed for mining jobs with locals had no basis in fact. No, the Chinese
had moved either to San Francisco or elsewhere, he was told.
On his own, he found the town cemetery. But, it offered no clues. Graves dating to the 1840s were to be found. (Many were of those passing through on the Oregon Trail, but, none contained Chinese.)
The old Chinese was chagrined as he left town, thinking ahead to his return to his hometown of Sah-In in Guangdong province, where he was a distinguished, though
generally regarded as a rascible, chemist. Meanwhile, he passed the hotel on his way to the I-80.
Slowing at an intersection, he could see an ambulance in the parking lot, its two EMTs were loading a young lady onto a stretcher: the hostess he had encountered earlier. A second ambulance almost ran him off the road and into a snowdrift as it squeezed past him. A third ambulance could be heard in the distance, its siren growing louder by the second. He was relieved that he had avoided a collision and was happy that he would be in Salt Lake City in time for his flights to San Francisco and Shenzhen, followed by the long bus ride home.
In my youth, I was both precocious and an over-achiever. So, it was no surprise when I was sent to a reform school for teenaged boys when I was only 11 years old. It was a progressive facility, teaching skills that would be useful when we matriculated to adult prisons.
In one shop class we were being taught to make shivs from toothbrush handles. Mine was roundly praised for being exquisitely sharp while being concealable in body orifices without causing internal damage. It was truly the Mona Lisa of illicit weaponry.
In the informal contest, mine was assumed by all to be the finest.
However, the teacher’s punk was given the highest marks. I was inconsolable. My mates sought to make things right by providing me with a life-changing consolation prize–a sachet of Folgers Instant Crystals coffee.
I will never forget that both the aroma and the taste exceeded any sensory experience I ever had. The subtle froth alone was worth a pack of cigarettes. The taste alone would turn the most devout Mormon into a Jack.
My anticipated career path has not gone as expected, as I have remained outside the prison population. I found myself as a full time advocate of instant coffee. True, I have shared my joy, and gained many new converts along the way. But, not at a certain cost.
Maureen D had spent over A$700 on an espresso machine a week prior to her conversion to instant coffee. At first, she tried to sell the chrome plated disaster. But, the constant reminder of her mistake induced her to throw the machine away. Meanwhile, M Durney discovered that her new found distaste for the pretensions of French Press coffee were hard to give up. What would she do with the drawer full of berets?
The satisfaction of conversion to new and better things has its challenges. However, the rewards far exceed the costs. One must always be willing to go that extra sip on instant coffee’s journey of ecstasy.
Immigration reform is an inflammatory issue for many people. Here is my take on it.
In 1931, immigration policies were introduced during the Hoover administration that severely restricted immigration. Quotas were placed on immigrants from all countries, with a special accommodation for political refugees. Preference was given to prospective immigrants with trades that were considered to be in short supply, such as engineers and medical doctors This system more or less stayed the same until Ronald Reagan became president in 1981.
The system worked. By giving preference to prospective immigrants with marketable skills fetching high wages, the competition for both lower-end jobs and housing was minimal. The disparity of income was very low by historical standards in the USA. Periodic shortages of migrant farm workers during and after WWII were met with contract workers from Mexico, as a part of the Bracero program.
In 1982, the rules for immigration changed under Ronald Reagan, but the changes were already over a decade inn their formation.
In the early 1960s, California was dominated by the Democratic Party as it is now. Attempts to sell a conservative agenda failed. Richard Nixon failed to win the election for governor in 1962, just two years after losing the presidential election to JFK. Ronald Reagan had been the past president of the Screen Actors Guild. But, had no conventional political experience and, had few political convictions other than being a staunch anti-communist.
Aside from being an actor in such classic films “Bedtime for Bonzo”, he was a pitch man for General Electric and host of the popular tv anthology series “Death Valley Days”. He was well liked by the public.
Two powerful, conservative businessmen (Justin Dart and Eli Broad) thought he would be the perfect man to sell the conservative agenda, and supplied him with the financial resources and grooming to become the next governor of California in 1966. He won the election against incumbent Edmund G Brown.
While Mr Dart and Mr. Broad were Republican loyalists, they shared a common objective: the liberalization of immigration policies. Mr. Dart wanted an influx of poor immigrants from Latin America to put downward pressure on the wages he paid for his low-skilled light manufacturing subsidiaries. Mr. Broad–who owned the largest property management company in California–wanted higher rents by having greater competition for his low-end rental properties. Since immigration policy is conducted at the federal level–rather than state level–it would seem that putting their resources supporting Mr Reagan were misplaced. But, they were willing to play the long game–anticipating that Mr Reagan would run for president in the future.
When Mr Reagan left the governorship after two terms in January 1974, he was anticipating a run for the GOP nomination in 1976. What he did not anticipate was that only seven months after Mr Reagan left office, Mr Nixon resigned, and Mr Reagan would be facing an incumbent president (Gerald Ford) in a spirited primary campaign that was won by Mr Ford. Jimmy Carter won the general election. Mr Reagan had four more years to hone his message and further develop his campaign skills.
The first two years of his presidency introduced far-reaching policy changes. Reagan had struck a deal with his closest allies. As long as the powers that be supported his desires for immigration reform and higher spending on defense, Mr Reagan would support the party line on lower taxes for the wealthy and a reduction in government spending–the centerpiece of the Reagan campaign.
Secretary of the Treasury David Stockman wrote in his book that Mr Reagan would sit at meetings with his eyes closed, listening to the proceedings as he planned his pitch to the American public–a skill at which “the Great Communicator” was a master. He was apitch man, not a policy wonk.
A favorite of example mine was his claiming that he was recently in line at a grocery store where he was standing in line behind a woman who paid for liquor with food stamps! (Such a fiction created an impactful image that superceded the illogic of it being decades since he had been in line at a grocery store.)
His strategy for selling the public on immigration reform was equally brilliant. His objective in allowing large influxes of poor immigrants was to create competition for low-end jobs and housing. But, he sold it on humanitarian grounds. “Family reunification” was his preferred approach. It was a brilliant ploy–and the immigration policy has remained largely unchanged since then.
On a map, Australia looks very isolated. But, the world’s fourth most populated country (Indonesia) is but a short distance to the north. They have had their own refugee crisis for years–and the mechanics are very similar to what is faced by the Greeks and Italians.
People smugglers put migrants on flimsy boats and take them to international waters, and abandon them–assuming that Australian ships will bring them ashore.
Handling the matter has been a controversy for Australia since the year 2010 when Kevin Rudd was prime minister. Australia made arrangements with both Indonesia and the tiny island nation of Nauru to build detention centers. It was made absolutely clear that boat people would be refused entry into Australia. (Most of the boat people have made their way from Iran and Afghanistan to Indonesia to attempt asylum in Australia.)
Today, the boats have stopped. No one is dying at sea trying to get to Australia. Word has spread that life on Manus and Nauru is worse than it is where they are. Admittedly, the conditions are draconian in both places. Suicides, riots and psychological stress–especially among children–have occurred at high levels.
The majority of the migrants have been resettled in the USA in exchange for Australia taking in migrants that had illegally entered the USA. (No Somalis or Iranians have been allowed in the USA.) Many in Australia were shocked that Australia turned down New Zealand’s offer to take some of the migrants. But, I agree with the refusal. Relocating the migrants to other countries would encourage the smugglers and lead to more deaths.
Italy is getting a lot of flack of late. A right wing, anti-immigrant alliance has taken power—and Europe is responding with shock, more shock and righteous indignation!
Starting In 2015, the number of boat people seeking asylum in Europe rose dramatically, largely due to the war in Syria, political upheaval in Libya and declining living standards elsewhere in Africa.
Hong Kong has a population of just over 7 million people in an area a little smaller than that of London, Most visitors stay either near the north shore or Hong Kong Island or the southern part of Kowloon, which is just across Victoria Harbour to the north.
95% of the population is ethnic Chinese. The remainder are mostly Westerners, South Asians and over 250,000 live-in domestic helpers, mostly from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate with two distinct seasons. Winter (November to March) temperatures can dip below 10°c (52°F). Summer comes in May and continues into late August, with temperatures often above 30°c (92°F) with rain, high humidity and even the occasional typhoon.
Octopus Card. For anyone that will be in Hong Kong for more than a few days, an Octopus Card is an absolute must. Can be used on public transportation and for most purchases less than HK$200 (US$26). It can be obtained at the airport and all MTR stations. The card costs HK$150 (US$19.35) and comes with HK$100 in credit. All but HK$50 can be refunded upon departure.
Adding credit can be done at all 7-Eleven stores, MTR stations and most locations that accept the card. Recharging takes seconds. You hand the store clerk the cash, touch the card against the reader and after you hear the beep you are on your way. You never have to take the card out of your wallet or purse, just touch same against the reader and you are good to go.
Language. Most of the Chinese that have regular contact with Westerners have some degree of fluency in English. Hotel clerks in better hotels speak fluently. At lesser hotels, shops and restaurants the degree of fluency declines. But, one is rarely in a situation where communicating a need in English is a genuine difficulty, as someone who speaks good English is likely to observe your communication challenge and act on your behalf.
The local language is Cantonese, which is spoken by 110 million people in Hong Kong and the adjacent Chinese provinces of Guangzhou and Guangxi. It is sufficiently different from Mandarin (called Putonghua by native Chinese) that they have to be separately learned.
However, written Chinese is a completely different matter. The written language is entirely pictographic, with no phonetic equivalent. It has approximately 3,500 characters that must be individually learned. So, all literate Chinese can communicate in writing, regardless of dialect. (Think of universal sign language as the nearest equivalent.)
CHEK LAP KOK AIRPORT
Located on Lantau Island. 40 km (21 miles) from Central, Hong Kong, Chek Lap Kok International Airport offers the necessary amenities to make the transit to and from the airport almost a pleasure. You will find the helpful and approachable people at the information counter and on foot throughout the arrivals area. Free, high-speed wi-fi is available throughout the airport.
ATM Machines are located in several locations at the terminal. Don’t trust ATMs that are not directly affiliated with a bank, as the fees may be exorbitant. Bank affiliated ATM machines at the airport arrivals are include: China Construction Bank, HSBC and Standard Chartered. There is also a Travelex money changer, should you want to get your HK dollars at the airport.
Mobile Phones. You can purchase a SIM card for your mobile at the Airport. If you are coming from the USA or Canada, make sure your mobile phone has been “unlocked” ten days before you come to Hong Kong.
For pre-paid SIM cards you might consider the Discover Hong Kong Tourist Sim Card. They offer two plans: five day (HK$88 / US$11.25 / 1.5 gb) and eight day (HK$118 / US$15 / 5gb). Is operated by 1000. The office is on the 5th floor of the arrivals building.
Your mobile phone will work as well in Hong Kong as it does in Europe, and infinitely better than it will in the USA or Canada. Why? The low, building penetrating frequencies on which mobile phones operate in Europe and Asia were allocated to the US military long before mobile phones existed. American and Canadian mobile phones operate at the high frequency, low penetrating range of the electro-magnetic spectrum. Be pleasantly surprised to discover your phone will even work on the MTR.
GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT
Assuming that your hotel is on Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon, getting to your destination will be remarkably easy. You have a choice of the Airport Express, taxis and public buses.
Airport Express. For those traveling alone or in pairs, taking the Airport Express is recommended. You can buy your Octopus Card and ticket for Airport Express at the same time. (Or, buy your Octopus Card and purchase your AE ticket with the Octopus Card.) The one way fare to Central station is HK110 (US$14) and to Kowloon station it is HK$100 (US$12.75).
The Airport Express runs shuttle buses from Central to most of the hotels in Central and Kowloon. Takes only 24 minutes–much faster than a taxi or bus. Other pluses: There are no stair steps between the arrivals area and the doors to the train; attendants will even help you put your luggage on the train.
Taxis have the advantage that taxis have everywhere. You get door to door service; a plus if you are carrying a lot of luggage or market paraphernalia. The cost of a taxi into town is HK$280 (US$36) plus surcharges for luggage. So, three people traveling together via taxi will pay about the same as they would by taking the AE. Transit time would be about the same: the AE gets to town faster; but, after switching to the shuttle bus and making the rounds to the various hotels, the overall time would be about the same.
Bus. Traveling by bus from the airport is cheap. But, the buses are slow, uncomfortable and not recommended after a long flight. (YHC takes it because he is cheap and the A11 stops near his flat in Tin Hau.) A bus ticket to Hong Kong Island costs only HK$40 (US$5.25).
CUSTOMS AND MANNERS
Overview Hong Kong Chinese are more conscious of the cultural differences between the East and West than you are likely to be. In general, it is best to speak softly and avoid drama if at all possible. Droll humor and irony are to be avoided if possible, even with Chinese that have been educated in the West. Low key is generally the best key.
If you have time, the book The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently … and Why (2006) by Richard Nisbett makes for worthwhile reading .
Gratitude. Hong Kong Chinese do not generally thank people who are being paid to provide a service, such as a server at a restaurant. However, the charming Chinese custom of knuckle tapping is a way of acknowledging service. To do this, make a fist with your right hand with the palm side facing down. With your fingers still curled, extend the forefinger and middle finger and tap the middle knuckles silently on the table twice.
If you are in a crowded place, there is no need to excuse yourself if you need someone to move in order for you to pass by as long as you have made eye contact with the person. To do otherwise implies that the person is not making sufficient effort to accommodate you, and will induce the person to apologize. Save the “excuse me” for when the person is unaware of your presence.
The Pedestrian Life. The pace is fast. Sidewalks are crowded, and made even more congested by innumerable unauthorized vendors competing for space.
Sidewalks. It is entirely acceptable for a person to pass you and cut directly in front of you as they continue onward, as long as they both maintain your pace (barring some other obstruction) and make the minimum physical contact possible. This seeming violation of personal space takes some getting used to by a westerner.
The same is true for waiting for the traffic light to change and there is enough space in front of you for another person to fit, be prepared for someone to fill this space.
Crosswalks. Pedestrians have few rights. Except at intersections with traffic signals, be particularly careful about crossing streets. Few cars use turn signals or slow down when making turns. But, just as pedestrian rights vary dramatically on the east and west coasts of the USA, so too Hong Kong has its own ways. Be careful.
Doors. Hong Kongers traveling alone open doors just far enough for themselves to pass through. Is a bit disconcerting that holding doors for strangers is not standard practice. But, such is the local custom. However, should you do so for others, it is generally appreciated and acknowledged.
Escalators. Stand on the right and pass on the left.
The MTR. Probably the most disconcerting custom is the anarchy of boarding and exiting MTR trains. Recorded announcements in English and Cantonese plead with passengers both to allow people to exit the trains before others board and to move towards the center of the cars. Both requests are routinely ignored. The generally high standards of courtesy break down on the MTR.
During less crowded times, an air of patience prevails. But, when it gets crowded it is a free for all.
Eating. No tipping. No sales tax. A few restaurants assess a 10% service charge. High service standards, though not particularly friendly. Good food. And, great value as long as one avoids the major tourist thoroughfares and the tony realms of Soho and Lan Kwai Fong.
A few tips: In general, the farther one gets from areas frequented by Westerners the fewer the number of English speaking servers one is likely to find. If you do not see a bi-lingual menu posted outside the restaurant, presume that English is not spoken. However, if there are pictures of the fare on the menu, go ahead and take a chance.
At informal restaurants, expect yourself or your group to share a table with others.
To ask for service, extend your arm upward with fingers extended and keep it there until the server appears at your table.
The dishes are likely to come at different times for each diner. Chinese custom stipulates that one starts eating when their dish arrives. The western custom of waiting for all to be served is viewed as a quaint curiosity.
When the bill is brought to the table, presume that you should pay the server at that time. If you are directed to pay the cashier, the server will point towards same.
If using chopsticks, place them on top of the bowl or plate when finished.
If the restaurant is crowded, do not be surprised if you are asked to leave shortly after finishing your meal.
One last note. Compliment service people on their good English, even if their use is barely adequate. It will make you both feel good.
GETTING AROUND HONG KONG
Easy, efficient and cheap.
MTR. The nonpareil underground system not only runs every two minutes during peak hours and every 3-4 minutes at other times. The fare from Wanchai (the station nearest to the Convention Centre) to the famous Night Market in Jordan costs only HK$7.7 (US$1).
The MTR is a modern wonder. Clean, efficient and cheap. You will quickly realize that if you are changing to another line the train running to your intended location will be directly opposite the train from which you’ve just disembarked. This will be no coincidence. In designing the interchange stations, the trains with the highest numerical probability of being the train passengers would switch to are positioned directly opposite each other.
For example, to go from the Wan Chai MTR on Hong Kong Island to City One in the New Territories requires five changes of trains, but the trip takes only 40 minutes.
Using your Octopus card will spare you the wait in line at the ticket machines. Buy yours at the airport when you arrive.
Taxis. Cheap, clean and the drivers are generally honest. (I have, however, heard horror stories from tourists taking taxis to or from major tourist attractions, such as Victoria Peak.) The drop charge on Hong Kong taxis is only HK$22 (US$2.80) and will get you quite a distance. Finding one is easy, as they far outnumber passenger cars in the principal business areas.
If you are returning to your hotel, is best to give the driver the business card for the hotel. Keep in mind the following: Most drivers speak very little English; and, streets with both English and Chinese names have no phonetic similarity.
But, Hong Kong has found a simple solution. If the cab driver does not understand you, he will call the dispatcher on his mobile and hand the phone to you. You will tell the dispatcher where you want to go, and the dispatcher will then tell the driver. It usually works out pretty well.
Tipping is not mandatory. But, if you receive a combination of coins and bills as change, you may wish to take the bills and give the driver the coins.
Trams. The routes of these double decked wonders are clearly marked at the trolley stops. Fare is only HK$2.30 (30 US cents!). They run at the same frequency as the MTR during the day. The trams are convenient, and their routes are clearly marked. Most are old, but clean. The newer ones are more comfortable, but have all of the charming features of the older trams. They feature wood interiors and the view from the upper deck is a real pleasure. Much recommended.
Do you know the direction you are going, but are not sure if you are on the right track? The track on the left side in the direction you want to go is side on which you want to go..
You board trams at the rear, and pay as you disembark at the front. (More info in the WHERE TO GO section.).
Buses. Public light buses (holding up to 16 people) will get you close to anywhere you might want to go. But, these are not recommended unless you are traveling with local knowledge, or on an easily explained Point A to Point B route.
WHERE TO GO
Hong Kong hosts many attractions. Select an activity according to the time you have available.
Since Wan Chai has a large number of tourist hotels and is centrally located on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, we will use the MTR station thereat as a starting point for excursions.
A Ride on the Ding Ding (aka Tram, Trolley). Hong Kong Island. (1-3 hours) The cheapest and best tour conveyance one can hope to find is the tram that runs along the north side of Hong KongIsland (except for the tram to Happy Valley, which goes inland and has few attractions other than the horse track). For HK$2.3 (US$0.30) you can have unlimited one-way travel on the ding-ding. However, I would not recommend this means between 6pm and 8pm in the evening, when seats are hard to come by. (Standing on a crowded tram is no pleasure.)
Exiting the Wan Chai MTR (Exit A3) you can take the train in either direction. I recommend the eastbound tram to North Point, where you will pass along the edge of Time Square in Causeway Bay, trundle alongside Victoria Park and exit in North Point. (Takes about 30 minutes.) You can then take the same tram back to Wan Chai or take the MTR at Fortress Hill to your next destination.
Victoria Peak. Hong Kong Island. (2-3 hours) Probably, the most popular attraction in Hong Kong for visitors. The Peak Tram is a funicular that ascends to the highlands behind Admiralty and Central, delivering you to the Peak.. The view is spectacular. The restaurants and shops are expensive. The tram ride is entertaining.
To get to the Peak Tram take the MTR to Admiralty Exit C1 (one stop away from Wan Chai on the Island Line going west). From there walk to Pacific Place and take the escalator to Hong Kong Park. Follow the signs to the Peak Tram terminus.
Temple Street Night Market. Kowloon. (2-4 hours) The first choice for visitors to Hong Kong is pretty much ignored by locals. Mostly clothing and accessories. Plenty of fun, inexpensive restaurants. Always a rather festive atmosphere. Don’t hesitate to haggle. Take Exit A at Jordan MTR Station. Make a right turn and go three blocks. The real action starts around 8pm.
Yau Ma Tei Kowloon. (2-3 hours). Huh? Located between Jordan and Mongkok, this is one of the most crowded areas in all of Hong Kong, and one of the most fascinating. Make a U-turn as you leave Exit C at the Yau Ma Tei MTR Station and go two blocks to Temple Street. Pass through the Ladies Market for dinner at the funky Mido Cafe (63 Temple Street) or pop around the corner for dessert at the Kubrick Cafe (3 Public Square St, Prosperous Garden) at the Hong Kong Cinematheque.
Afterwards, head back to Temple Street. Make a left turn and walk four blocks to Waterloo Road, cross the street and go one block to Portland Street. (Runs parallel to and one block west of Nathan Road.) Walk along fascinating, grubbyPortland Street to Langham Place, a gigantic, brilliantly designed shopping centre, with some of the longest indoor escalators anywhere. There is an MTR station at Langham Place
Stanley Market. Hong Kong Island. (3-5 hours). Your best chance to see rural Hong Kong if you have a half-day or less to spare. Best visited during the day. Located on the opposite site of Hong Kong Island. There is a low-rise shopping arcade, restaurants in every price range and a nice view of the open sea. Nice place to relax.
Take the #6 bus (Central MTR Station Exit B) to Stanley Police Station bus stop. You will be unable to see anything of interest as you disembark. But, the action is only five minutes away. The bus takes about 50 minutes, and takes the most scenic route.
Returning to Central, you can take the 6x or 260 bus, which take a less scenic route and are 20 minutes faster. You might want to take the slow bus there and the fast bus on the return..(You can also take the #40 public light bus on Tang Lung Street at Hennessey Road, near Time Square inCauseway Bay.)
Lantau Island. (Day Trip). Would you like to take a scenic ferry ride to a charming rural village, followed by a bus ride to the world’s largest sitting Buddha and finishing with a ride on the world’s longest aerial tram ride?
Go to Central MTR Station Exit A. Follow the signs to Central Piers. This walk will take up to 15 minutes.
Look for the Ferry Terminal #6. You will want the ferry to Mui Wo. The fast ferry takes 35 minutes. The slow ferry takes 55 minutes. You can see the ferry schedule at http://www.nwff.com.hk/eng/fare_table/central-mui_wo/
Mui Wo is a village of 6,000 people, very popular with expats and featuring a handful of very good western restaurants and cafes near the ferry terminal.
Looking out from the ferry terminal, you will see a McDonalds (the only chain restaurant in Mui Wo) on the far left. Walk past it on the left until you can see The Kitchen (18A Mui Wo Ferry Road) and Cafe Paradiso (3 Ngan Wan Road). Or, you can immediately take bus #2 to Ngong Ping Village in the mountains of South Lantau Island, home of the Sitting Buddha.
From there, you can board the Ngong Ping 360 aerial cable car for the 5.7 km (3.5 mile) journey over the mountain tops to Tung Chung, where the both an MTR station and the largest outlet mall in Hong Kong are located near the exit.
The MTR station has a direct line to Hong Kong MTR Station, which is connected by an underground walkway to Central.
Macau. (Day Trip) The fact that Macao surpassed Las Vegas years ago in amount money spent gambling is well known. But, did you know that this former Portuguese colony is 250 years older than Hong Kong, and much of its historic architecture remains intact?
Take Exit D at Shueng Wan MTR Station to the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal. Hydrofoil ferries leave for Macau at least every hour. The one hour trip costs about HK$155 (US$20) each way. You must have a valid passport. See the Turbojet website for prices and timetables at http://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routing-sailing-schedule/hong-kong-macau/sailing-schedule-fares.aspx
If gambling is your objective, free shuttle buses will you to where you want to go. But, if you want to see historic Macau take the #3 bus from the ferry terminal via Avenida Ribeiro to the Ruins of St Paul and wander among the attractions of the nearby Senado Square. Macanese cuisine–a hybrid of Chinese and Portuguese styles–is worth a try.
Pay via credit or debit card where you can, as the change given for payment in US or Hong Kong dollars will be in the local currency–the pataka–which will be useless to you outside of Macau.
FINAL THOUGHTS. Hong Kong is the most user-friendly city that your humble correspondent (who lived there for over nine years) has ever visited. The internet is fast. Transportation is inexpensive and reliable. Service standards are generally very high.
For the first time traveler to Asia, Hong Kong (along with Singapore, perhaps) is where East and West meet with the least friction. But, it can be frustrating. A cool head and patience are almost an absolute must.
The success of your visit will largely depend upon your adaptability to the environment. Take a deep breath. Relax. Absorb yourself as much as you can into the Hong Kong experience. Enjoy the adventure.
Crowdfunding can be an effective means of raising money for projects of almost any description. You can finance development of an app or invention, raise money to finance a recording or video; or, to acquire equipment for a new business.
The basics. There are three parties involved: 1) the Project Initiator (PI); 2) the Crowd (i.e. the pool of potential funders); and, 3) the Platform (e.g. Kickstarter, Pozzible, etc.).
There are four kinds of crowd-funding: 1) Donation-based; 2) Reward-based; 3) Credit-based; and 4) Equity-based.
The PI places a proposal on a platform that identifies: 1) the specific amount to be raised; 2) the deadline by which the entirety of the amount must be raised; 3) the purposes for which the funding will be raised; and, 4) background information about the PI, including whether it is a non-profit organisation.
Donation-based crowdfunding is exactly what the name implies. The Crowd derives satisfaction from contributing to a noble cause, plus possible tax benefits if the PI is an IRS 501 (c) 3 entity (both non-profit and tax-exempt) or the equivalent in other countries. Suitable more for projects that would raise money for medical equipment for a local community or for the purchase of mosquito nets for use in third world countries than to finance movies and tv programs.
Reward-based crowdfunding allows the Crowd to receive something of tangible value in exchange for the donation. So, if it were used to raise money for a concert event or produce a music CD, the rewards might be concert tickets, CDs, autographed posters, etc. If the PI is an NPO, the Crowd may be able to deduct the difference between the value of the reward and the amount of the donation from their taxes.
It is a very suitable means of pre-selling tickets to a concert. In the event that the target funding is not raised–and the event does not take place–the platform will automatically refund the donations at such time as the deadline for complete funding passes. Such reduces the risk for the ticket buyer (Crowd) and the responsibility for refunds from the PI.
Laws governing Credit-based and equity-based crowdfunding are still in a state of evolution. At the time of this posting, crowd funding operated under the same laws governing conventional loans and investments. But, if and when they find a legal status something short of conventional private offering, they may be an excellent vehicle for raising capital for larger motion pictures and tv projects.
Using crowdfunding for big budget screen projects. I do not particularly like the idea of using crowdfunding in its current legal state as a vehicle for raising the entirety of the funding for a multi-million dollar motion picture. It is a long shot at best, even if you have something of great perceived value to offer (such as Spike Lee getting $10,000 each from 29 people desirous of sharing his court side seats at a Knicks game).
However, let us say that you are trying to raise US$2.5 million for a film to which you have attached a relatively unknown star with a small but enthusiastic following. A combination of $500,000 in pre-sales and/or in an advances from a distributor, $1.25 million in a combination of equity finance and government incentives, plus $750,000 in reward-based crowdfunding would cover the costs.
Best of all, it could avoid the chicken and egg contingencies that plague most fundraising efforts. The pre-sale and equity entities would be induced to put up irrevocable letters of credit with execution dependent only upon raising the target crowdfunding amount. (Money in the budget would have to be allocated for factoring the LCs.)
The importance of passion. Reward-based crowdfunding is best suited to projects where the crowd feels passionately about the subject matter and/or participants in the project. In the 1980s, a collection was made in Mennonite churches to fund a movie about the founder of the Anabaptist movement from which the Mennonites, Amish and Baptist churches descended–knowing that their religion prohibited they themselves from seeing The Radicals.
If the Crowd would like to see the project funded, but does not feel compelled to take action, the crowdfunding effort has little likelihood of succeeding
When the laws governing credit-based and equity based crowdfunding have been enacted, I will be back with updated notes on same.
