Black art

David and Estella must make a presentation for a new office interior. Unlike Steve Jobs, they don’t have two months to practise. Presentation is scheduled for Monday morning and this is Saturday afternoon. They call in Yimou of NQOP.

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Yimou: You want this contract?

David: We need it to stay in business.

Yimou: Then you should make a DVD for this presentation. Show them and then give them a copy to take away.

Estella: Why not PowerPoint?

Yimou: Too canned-looking. It’s got to be a movie now with 3D walk-through shots to get attention.

David: Video editing and then burning the result to a DVD? Used to be called a black art. I once took a week to shoot and edit and finally get the results on a fifteen-minute short film.

Yimou: Fifteen minutes? Too long for a short film. Especially yours. Ten’s plenty. You can learn iMovie and iDVD in a day. Start at 10 and by 4 have the essentials.

David: Too busy.

Yimou: OK, if you’re too busy, I’ll do it. Got a spiel?

Estella: Here.

Yimou: Hmm. Filming tomorrow, I can edit and burn between dinner and lights out tomorrow night.

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