ChrisCThe Jerry Maguire Principle.
January 22nd 2008 12:13
* I was watching the film Jerry Maguire the other evening when something dawned on me – the scriptwriter had only written enough material for half a film. I could suddenly imagine the frustration and anxiety at the pre-shoot production meeting. The studio executive saying “sure, this script would be great for an individual television show, but we aint in the business of making television, and television aint in the business of making only one show of anything.” The producer would be looking at the half-script, shaking his or her head, desperately seeking a solution, while the scriptwriter sits in the corner sobbing uncontrollably.
As a silence washes over the room (apart from the sobbing), the high-backed black leather chair that has been facing the window all morning slowly starts to move. All eyes lock onto it as it turns to face them, and reveals none other than the mighty Tom Cruise; sunglasses on, hair slick, legs swinging freely several inches from the floor. As cool as you like, Tom surveys the nerves and insecurities written on each and every face, then produces his trademark raising of the arms and the toothy grin combination and shouts out, “I’ve got it. Let’s start shooting.”
So how did Tom turn a 58 minute script into a 130 minute film? What was his master plan, a plan so masterful that it has taken me about a dozen viewings of Jerry Maguire to work it out?
He simply said everything twice. He said everything twice.
And then when he found a line that particularly appealed to him, he instructed his co-stars to use it ad nauseam. Throw it in anytime there is a pause in proceedings. Or, if proceedings are, well, proceeding well, throw one in anyway!
“Show me the money!”
“Help me help you!”
“It was just a mission statement.”
“The human head weighs eight pounds,” or some bloody thing.
The bonus of this plan, code-named Operation Echo, was that it not only extended each scene to the required length, it also made every single line seem to be the most dramatic and emotionally important of the whole film. Come on everyone, say it once, then nod earnestly and whisper it a second time: “You complete me. You complete me.”
Suddenly a whole new world opened up to me. I had been enlightened not just by Hollywood, but by Tom. (And no, I am not considering joining that Scientology stuff. I’m not rich enough for starters). It occurred to me that if Operation Echo works for film, then why wouldn’t it work for a modest little radio show like Funky and The Jazzman?
I immediately jumped on to the phone and rang The Jazzman. As soon as he answered I yelled down the line, “I’ve got it! Let’s do this week’s radio show Jerry Maguire style!”
Not having a clue what I was talking about, he responded the only way he possibly could have: “Sounds great - let’s do it!”
And so we set about creating half a radio show, knowing that our repetitions would fill in the rest of the night, and, as a bonus, we would suddenly have a dramatic edge that has previously been missing. No, it has, really.
But why stop at film and radio? The Jerry Maguire Principle (The JMP) can be applied to all kinds of endeavours, whether at work, around the home, or at play. Or, as I’ve just realised, when it comes to writing a blog. So when you finish reading this, simply move back up to the asterisk at the top of the page, and start again.
As we always say, remember to be alert, but not alarmed, and thanks again for taking the time to have a read.
Chow4now,
Funky and The Jazzman.
As a silence washes over the room (apart from the sobbing), the high-backed black leather chair that has been facing the window all morning slowly starts to move. All eyes lock onto it as it turns to face them, and reveals none other than the mighty Tom Cruise; sunglasses on, hair slick, legs swinging freely several inches from the floor. As cool as you like, Tom surveys the nerves and insecurities written on each and every face, then produces his trademark raising of the arms and the toothy grin combination and shouts out, “I’ve got it. Let’s start shooting.”
So how did Tom turn a 58 minute script into a 130 minute film? What was his master plan, a plan so masterful that it has taken me about a dozen viewings of Jerry Maguire to work it out?
He simply said everything twice. He said everything twice.
And then when he found a line that particularly appealed to him, he instructed his co-stars to use it ad nauseam. Throw it in anytime there is a pause in proceedings. Or, if proceedings are, well, proceeding well, throw one in anyway!
“Show me the money!”
“Help me help you!”
“It was just a mission statement.”
The bonus of this plan, code-named Operation Echo, was that it not only extended each scene to the required length, it also made every single line seem to be the most dramatic and emotionally important of the whole film. Come on everyone, say it once, then nod earnestly and whisper it a second time: “You complete me. You complete me.”
Suddenly a whole new world opened up to me. I had been enlightened not just by Hollywood, but by Tom. (And no, I am not considering joining that Scientology stuff. I’m not rich enough for starters). It occurred to me that if Operation Echo works for film, then why wouldn’t it work for a modest little radio show like Funky and The Jazzman?
I immediately jumped on to the phone and rang The Jazzman. As soon as he answered I yelled down the line, “I’ve got it! Let’s do this week’s radio show Jerry Maguire style!”
Not having a clue what I was talking about, he responded the only way he possibly could have: “Sounds great - let’s do it!”
And so we set about creating half a radio show, knowing that our repetitions would fill in the rest of the night, and, as a bonus, we would suddenly have a dramatic edge that has previously been missing. No, it has, really.
But why stop at film and radio? The Jerry Maguire Principle (The JMP) can be applied to all kinds of endeavours, whether at work, around the home, or at play. Or, as I’ve just realised, when it comes to writing a blog. So when you finish reading this, simply move back up to the asterisk at the top of the page, and start again.
As we always say, remember to be alert, but not alarmed, and thanks again for taking the time to have a read.
Chow4now,
Funky and The Jazzman.
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