| I have a serious dilemma. And since summer movies are not exactly your “thing”, I doubt you’ll be any help. |
| Funny you say that, as there are three summer releases that I plan to see. |
| Three?! You?! Really?! I’m guessing one of them is “Oppenheimer.” But have no clue what the other two can be, especially as I can’t imagine you want to see "Barbie.” |
| Yes, to “Oppenheimer,” and to “Barbie.” I am fascinated by all the Barbie marketing and co-branding … and how Mattel is not only trying to change how we look at Barbie, but also rebranding itself. |
|
With all due respect, I want to enjoy movies, not understand the business
behind them! |
| All I was going to say is that most people think of Mattel as a toy company, and what is happening with “Barbie” is they are becoming more Disney-like in that they are an intellectual property (IP) company managing franchises. That also happens to sell stuff. Lots of stuff. |
| I guess that explains why it’s a full-blown Hollywood movie with big-name movie stars. And directed by Greta Gerwig, a “serious” and well-respected director. But that doesn’t explain why you would see it. Growing up, I don’t ever remember seeing you play with Barbie dolls. I know I didn’t. |
| I guess hanging out with the boys next door and tying firecrackers to Barbie dolls does not count. But, I do have one Barbie doll pristine in her original box. |
|
Now you’re just messing with me. Or are going to say it was an investment
purchase. |
| Neither. When I was racing the Ferrari Challenge, my crew gave it to me as a gift. And, she stands proudly amongst my various racing awards and paraphernalia. |
|
Did they mean it as a compliment or was it a gag gift? |
| Hard to say, as I was the only woman racing the series. But, I did not ask. What was important was how I saw it, not how they did. And, that is why I want to see the movie. I have been reading how Gerwig was determined it would not be some “fluff” piece, but a work of art and a commentary on society and women. It is an impressive objective, and before I can comment further, I need to see it for myself. |
| Well, Sawyer caught a sneak preview showing the night before it officially opened, and she wants me to see it so we can discuss it. |
| I can’t imagine that is your dilemma as you usually do not need an excuse to escape to the movies and eat popcorn. Although you have discovered that movie popcorn you make at home. |
| No, I was already planning to see it in the movie theater, but there’s no rush, as I expect it to be out for a while. But I’m concerned the latest Mission Impossible movie, “Dead Reckoning Part One,” which needs to be experienced on the big screen, may be gone from theaters if I wait too long. |
| Using that logic, I may need to see “Gran Turismo” when it opens. |
| The one based on the video game? I know it’s about cars, but you don’t play video games. Is this another “research” project? Can’t you just go to the movie to escape vs. think? |
| That is my plan. I know it will have great race scenes, but it is “inspired” by the true story of a teenage Gran Turismo player who wants to be a race car driver. Think of it as a modern-day “My Fair Lady” – except instead of trying to turn someone into a lady, they are trying to turn them into a world-class racer. |
| That analogy got my attention, although I doubt it’s how they’re marketing it. But it does sound like something that needs to be seen on a big screen. |
| The movie that was made to be seen on the big screen is “Oppenheimer.” And, I mean literally, as it was specifically filmed for viewing not only in a movie theater, but on a 70mm IMAX screen, of which there are only 30 worldwide. And, if you are wondering, two are in Texas – Dallas and San Antonio. |
| Oh, I know! I already checked because the movie was done by the acclaimed writer-director Christopher Nolan, who also did “Inception,” one of Natasha’s and my favorite movies. |
| So, is your dilemma which to see first? |
| No, it’s that I want to go to San Antonio to see “Oppenheimer” on the 70mm screen, but they’re saying it’s only going to be showing for three weeks, and all the weekend tickets are already sold out. And the weekday ones are going fast, so I have to figure out how to get your permission to take a day off. |
| Well, that does not sound like a dilemma – it sounds like a road trip. Have fun. |
It's a running joke in my family that the only reason I go to the movies is for the popcorn. And while that isn't 100% true, it's probably close, as I can't remember a time when popcorn wasn't an essential part of the experience.
I can still remember seeing Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" when it was first released (in 1974) at the Massapequa movie theater, which was literally at one end of an old strip shopping center. It bore no resemblance to today's multiplex cinemas, and the concession stand offerings were very limited. It was dark and a bit dingy, and the seats were old and uncomfortable. But I didn't care because the popcorn more than made up for it. And while I sat through multiple showings of the movie (it's still one of my favorites), I was grateful my dad had given me enough money to buy multiple popcorns, as in those days there was no such thing as the big bucket, let alone free refills.
Fast forward, and some things never change...
First, I ask them to fill the large bucket "really high, please, I haven't eaten all day, and I'm starving." Ok, so I probably did eat earlier, but I need an excuse for asking for a ridiculous amount of popcorn, don't I? Which takes me to the next part of my routine. If the bucket's filled to the point of overflowing, I know exactly the pace to eat it so that it lasts for almost the entire movie. (Trust me, I'm not kidding!) And then, the final part of the routine … I don't start eating my popcorn until the movie begins. Not the coming attractions— the movie. (Unlike Black, who races to finish her small size popcorn by the time the movie starts as if it's something to be ticked off a "to do" list.)
So, think what you will, but for me, the popcorn's a critical part of what makes going to the movies so enjoyable. And has become an amusing memory for my youngest daughter and me, as many years ago, when we were in the concession stand line, she asked me what size popcorn I was getting,
I love you, honey, and you're so smart, but that may be the silliest question you've ever asked me. And, quite possibly, will ever ask me.
To this day, she still remembers it, and although she no longer lives at home, when she hears that I’ve gone to the movies, she’ll jokingly ask me what size popcorn I got. And in the same breath, answer the question. Because she knows that there’s only one answer.The biggest bucket available.
Every time we see the photo above of our "guinea pigs", it brings back such fond memories. You may be thinking, "What? Are they calling those students guinea pigs?!" Well, actually, yes. And before you think ill of us, please know that we use the term with great affection, deep gratitude, and utmost respect. And these eight amazing seniors from the Class of 2010 know that's our nickname for them because ...
We started calling them our "Guinea Pigs" as soon as they volunteered to help us develop our Red & Black Personal Finance and Life 101 program at KIPP Houston High School. It was important that they knew this was truly an “experiment”, as neither one of us was a teacher or a financial expert.
It all started at our first speaking engagement, when during Q&A a woman asked why the topics in our book weren’t taught in school. The next thing we knew, we were sitting in the office of Bryan Contreras, Director of KIPP Through College, and being asked not only to develop, but also to teach, a semester-long personal finance and Life 101 course to their high school seniors. During their spring semester. (Yes, the months right before they graduate.) While Red looked like a deer in headlights (we barely considered ourselves authors, let alone teachers), Black responded as she often does, with a simple:
Sure, not a problem.
While Red went home to carpool and baking cookies, Black did what she does best — use her corporate and business experience to tackle the challenge. So, she requested a "task force" of seniors to help us develop the curriculum because, as she put it:
If it is not relevant, why bother? And, who knows best what is relevant to high school seniors? High school seniors.
Black introduced them to the business concept of a working lunch (which might also be considered a pizza bribe), and we met for five Fridays. We gave them a list of select book excerpts they were expected to read each week so we could discuss what they thought should be included in the curriculum. That first week, they seemed motivated to help — but we weren't sure what to expect.
They came back excited and totally committed, with two of them having read the entire book and the rest having read much more than the assigned excerpts. Luckily, Red had been a straight-A, copious note-taking student. However, she could barely keep up with their comments and feedback, let alone the side discussions generated by the conversations in our book. You could see their interest in personal finance (and many other Life 101 topics) was strong and genuine, and they explained that learning from the mistakes of others was extremely powerful. One student, after prefacing his comment with apologies, stated:
When I grow up, I don't want to be Red.
We'll always be indebted to our Guinea Pigs for their enthusiasm and suggestions, as using our book as the textbook was their idea, not ours. And through their feedback on the book and the lessons they were already learning from it, which began at those pizza lunches, the answer to how best to "teach" a Red & Black class was obvious to them. It was as simple as a book club. For us, it took a little longer to come to that realization as we were hampered by our own preconceived notions about how lessons are taught in a classroom. So, although the initial intent may have been for us to be the teachers and them to be the students... we learned from each other.
P.S. – For those of you interested in a more "educational" look at our detour into the world of education, including "feedback" (student quotes, Black's "non-scientific" surveys, and KIPP press releases) from our two spring semesters when we "taught" at KIPP Houston High School, please check out An Unexpected Education Detour ...
Red loves to stop and reminisce. Black prefers to look forward.
But even Black will admit that sometimes there’s value in looking back — it reminds us where we came from, the detours and roadblocks we have managed to navigate, and that we may be stronger and more capable than we give ourselves credit for. Sometimes, it’s a lesson learned. Sometimes, it’s a memory that reminds us what’s truly important.
But Black has one caveat (and it's one of her favorite car analogies) …
If you decide to look back, keep it in perspective. There's a reason why windshields are so much larger than rearview mirrors.
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