Category Archives: Reel Leadership

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Harold And The Purple Crayon

My latest book, Reel Leadership, is now available on Amazon. If you love movies and leadership, you will love this book.

The beloved children’s book Harold And The Purple Crayon was recently brought to life in a live-action version that extends the original tale into something special. I was hooked when I heard Zachary Levi was attached to play the live-action Harold. I knew I had to see the film. Levi is one of my top 10 actors.

So, what happens in Harold And The Purple Crayon? The film starts with the simplistic, childish drawings from the book. It then transitions into a brief animated scene featuring Moose (Lil Rel Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds). They hear the voice of the Narrator (Alfred Molina) and decide to find a way to the real world. 

A man sitting on the couch with a young boy. The boy has a purple crayon in his hand. There's a flying creature in front of them. Scene from Harold And The Purple Crayon starring Zachary Levi  Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Howl’s Moving Castle

A Reel Leadership Article

If you enjoy this article, you’ll love my book Reel Leadership. It’s available on Amazon.

Our local movie theater participates in the Studio Ghibli Fest every year. The festival is a time to focus on and recognize the fantastic works of the Japanese animation studio and their impact on the animation industry. 

Currently, there are 23 films from Studio Ghibli. These range from the emotionally heart-wrenching Grave Of The Fireflies to the light-hearted Porco Rosso or The Cat Returns. There’s something for everyone from Studio Ghibli.

This year, Pamela and I caught Howl’s Moving Castle by Hiyao Miyazaki. It’s a classic anime film celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. 

A young girl is being held by a man with bird-like features.

The story revolves around Sophie (Emily Mortimer/Jean Simmons). Sophie lacks confidence. She believes others are more beautiful and talented than her. After meeting Howl (Christian Bale), the Witch of the Waste (Lauren Bacall) curses her and turns her into a grandmother!  Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Joker: Folie à Deux

A Reel Leadership Article

If you enjoy this article, you’ll love my book Reel Leadership. It’s available on Amazon.

Joker: Folie à Deux is the second entry into the strange yet enduring DC Comics Joker film series. It stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker and his new love interest Lee Quinzel/Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga). Their relationship is toxic and brings out the worst in Arthur.

The film hits on some poignant themes, including love, mental illness, police corruption, and more. It’s similar in vein to the original 2019 Joker movie. However, it feels like it takes a drastic departure in characterizing Arthur and the other characters.

Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga as the Joker and Harley Quinn in Joker 2

Regardless, if you go to the theater to watch Joker: Folie à Deux, you can leave with new insights into leadership. That’s what we’re going to share in this article. Brace yourself for the leadership lessons in Joker: Folie à Deux.  Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Seven Beauties

If you enjoy this article, you’ll love my book Reel Leadership. It’s available on Amazon.

You can purchase your own copy of Seven Beauties on Amazon.

“Seven Beauties” is a complex and provocative film that offers several leadership lessons through its characters and the world inhabited by Pasqualino, Seven Beauties, during World War II. Pasqualino stops at nothing in his struggle to survive the often difficult circumstances he finds himself in. From gangster wannabe to insane asylum patient to soldier to POW, the great actor Giancarlo Giannini portrays our tragic, comic hero with humor and poignance. Here are a few key takeaways from the film that can help you develop your leadership perspective.

Man in a suit. Wearing a hat. Looking at another person.

Resilience and Adaptability:

The protagonist, Pasqualino, demonstrates an incredible ability to adapt to extreme circumstances, from surviving a concentration camp to navigating the criminal underworld. Similarly, leadership requires resilience and adaptability in the face of all sorts of adversity we confront in the business world.  Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From The Wild Robot

A Reel Leadership Article

If you enjoy this article, you’ll love my book Reel Leadership. It’s available on Amazon.

The Wild Robot is a fun, exciting, and interesting computer-animated film. Based on the book series of the same name, the film made me think of the lovely animated film The Iron Giant.

In The Wild Robot, an intelligent robot, Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. Roz was programmed to serve others and complete tasks. Upon completion of those tasks, she would return home.

Glowing robot looking through a pine tree

Since the island was uninhabited, no one was there to give her tasks. 

But something interesting happened…

She discovered the animals on the island needed her help. She could complete tasks to help them and then return home. Her main task became to help a young gosling, Brightbill (Kit Connor), learn how to eat, swim, and fly. Brightbill would need these skills to survive and migrate with the other geese.  Read more...