Taurus Productions

“Oysters”… one of the many film industry terms that makes absolutely no sense to anyone outside production. 🎥☀️🦪

For those playing along at home, it means using natural light instead of artificial lighting setups. Simple, beautiful… and slightly confusing when actual oysters are involved.

The production world is full of strange little idioms and crew slang that somehow became universally accepted language.

Back at Ronald McDonald House Charities today.

It’s been many years since my time on the Executive Marketing Committee- amazing how fast that goes. Even Gus the wonder dog has a bit of grey now 🐾

Good to be back where it all still matters.

Pulling together a multi-stakeholder project this week, I realised that group problem-solving rarely starts with the problem that’s being presented.

In negotiations and planning, what’s said is often just the surface layer. Underneath are motivations:
*time pressure
*risk tolerance
*reputation
*creative ownership
*value equity

The work isn’t pushing harder or talking louder; It’s listening well enough to understand why each party is holding their position.

That’s where empathy matters- not as softness, but as strategy. When people feel understood, resistance drops. When motivations are visible, solutions appear. Noise creates friction. Restraint creates clarity.
The strongest outcomes come from slowing things down long enough to see what’s really driving the room, and planning from there.