Recovery via Belvoir, the ACO & At The Movies
I think I’m slowly starting to improve in spirit and mind after the unexpected death of my brother Murray in early May. For a while it was all surreal, unsettling and confusing. I could not really concentrate on much at all. I could not read or even watch movies. One night I left a live concert at the Enmore Theatre (see image left) in a complete state of confused anxiety.
So, I think I’ll try and post something each day on this blog as part of my recovery and in line with the #blogeverydayofjune hashtag on Twitter. Maybe someone will notice whether the posts become more or less coherent over the month. This first post is probably going to be a bit of a mess but I did warn you that my emotions are still in over-drive. Mind the step . . .
I don’t think the kind of management theory that emanates from Harvard Business School that, along with a culture of sheer greed, gambling and competition, has almost destroyed the finance industry can be applied neatly to rescue or to keep afloat libraries and other cultural institutions. This is especially the case given the kind of second rate management “experts” (who didn’t make it to the finance industry) who tend to regard it so highly in such institutions. We don’t simply have clients and stakeholders and we don’t need to worry about bottom lines and shareholder returns in exactly the the same way as a merchant bank does. Our outputs are different and we should be able to focus on more specific qualitative indicators that are much harder to measure.
Bertrand’s directing consists mostly in the confidence and freedom he gave us. He never imposes anything. He hates marks on the ground. He just can’t stand them. He’s so cheerful when he’s shooting, so happy. His obsession is that energy flows, that every moment, every second is fresh. He communicates so well. He is so positive, so cheerful. He jumps around all day long, getting excited about every scene, rubbing his hands and muttering, “This is fantastic! I love my actors! I’m crazy about them.” And just that gives you so much confidence that you’ll do anything. And that’s an important aspect of directing.
What a fantastic way to direct.
FromMelbin 
I concur – fantastic way to direct. Love the idea of the positive energy that would come from that sort of leadership.
Hi Mal. I have been there and I know nothing id ever the same for anyone but, if you can write, writing helps. Only up to a point, and the point is very sharply defined, as you know, but it is only a point. Then you go on. Good luck.
It's all about trust. Trusting your actors to do what they do best. I think it is true of the people you work with too if the trust is there :o)
1. Trust is so important, and so hard to build. On both sides.2. The more I work with/manage people, the more I'm convinced management is an art, not a science.3. Good to hear from you. Be good to yourself.
I think it's a little more than trust. It's about looking for the positive. About expecting the fantastic everyday. I lost that recently, whilst still trusting all my staff. I'm going to try and build it up again. As you say – it's about the way i like to work when I'm happy.