We often forget that meetings, hospitality and events feature in movies. Here’s our choices, let us know if you disagree with us!
BLADE
‘THE OPENING PARTY SCENE…BLOOD FROM SPRINKLERS’
The film that made superheroes supercool again. And an opening scene and party unlike anything seen on screen before. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oMEo9X4lmk
GLADIATOR
‘ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?’
The commander of legions of Roman armies falls into slavery and fights for his freedom as a gladiator to avenge his wife and son executed by the Emperor. Name me anyone who has not wanted to bellow this into the ear of someone looking glum and talking into their smartphone after all the effort you’ve put into a great event, lol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbBiXPVKuTA
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS
‘THE BARN RAISING CONTEST WITH OPPOSING TRIBES’
From the MGM classics is a recollection that there’s was nothing like a barn raising and a local country fair. Some would say there is still nothing like the drama of a country event! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqaM88u082Y
WEST SIDE STORY
‘DANCE AT THE GYM SCENE’
The dance at the gym is controlled violence, a stand-in for the murderous melee to follow. Tension builds as the dancing becomes more disturbing and intense, but the narrative of an inevitable war is pushed by Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse’s choreography towards a symbol of hope for the future when the crescendo sees Tony and Maria lock eyes on each other for the first time and souls connect and walls begin to tumble for the first time. All you need is love…altogether now!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkOLqmwGPx4
THE GODFATHER
‘CONNIE’S WEDDING’
Connie’s wedding is amongst the opening scenes in the first chapter of The Godfather (Part 1). A scene that conveys comedy, horror and drama. Absolute genius by the director and writers in bluntly displaying – without apology – the varied type of personalities we find at such occasions, whom would do anything for family. Yes…even senators. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoVgcEsrGjU
GOODFELLAS
‘THE NIGHTCLUB SCENE’
The famous single-shot Steadicam scene that tells you everything you needed to know about the hospitality industry in one scene. When you need that table in front of the stage, it’s all about who you know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sr-vxVaY_M
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL
TAKE YOUR PICK!
‘WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE CHARLES? CHARLES DIED YEARS AGO!’
…’AND CHARLES/HUGH GRANT’S WEDDING SPEECH’
…AND OUR WINNER IS…THE WEDDING RECEPTION
That nightmare, oh the cringe, hoping the ground will open up and eat you. That moment when all your past comes to haunt you because you’ve acted like a total dick in the past and you know you’re rightly stuck there for at least the next hour. We’ve seen this happen at weddings and awards ceremonies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvpWsK7Kn-c
BACK TO THE FUTURE
‘THE ENCHANTMENT UNDER THE SEA DANCE’
For those of us in events, many of us cut our teeth in organising school/college/university balls/parties, so this scene instantly connects with us. And yes, couples do actually meet for the first time at a high school/college parties and end up still together 30 years later, as proven by our publisher Mr Mendy and his Queen. Don’t we love creating events that change the future? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_WSXXPQYeY
WALL STREET
‘GREED IS GOOD..THE CONFERENCE SCENE’
There are conferences and AGM’s, and then there was the fictional Gordon Gekko whose speech duped a whole generation of CEO’S and wannabe’s into totally misreading what Michael Douglas portrayal was trying throw shine upon and would instead try to emulate this ‘greed is good’ speech because they felt…well, they felt it made them like Gekko. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhZtyRjiAKk
WAYNE’S WORLD 2
‘IF YOU BOOK THEM, THEY WILL COME’
Every live event organiser/promoter has had that question, “where did the idea for your event come from?”. Not many of us have confessed to having Jim Morrison, Sammy Davis Jr, and a naked native American telling us to in our dream. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSG3s7Y9lP0
FIELD OF DREAMS
‘IF YOU BUILD IT, HE WILL COME’
The inspiration for the Wayne’s World 2 scene seen earlier, as Hebrews 12:1 tells us, “We must run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The third and final lesson is a phrase familiar to us all: “If you build it, he will come.” In the movie, that means building a baseball diamond in a cornfield where players of past eras would return, including his father. Through the movie, we realise life and mortality is a sensitive co-existence and the desire to create a legacy, fulfil your dreams, and the need for a constant such as baseball that connects us all and provides harmony and hope for a better day. That’s what events do, folks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwB7fRI-jp8
SPECTRE
JAMES BOND INFILTRATES THE SPECTRE MEETING
Ever had that feeling that you’re attending an event that maybe you shouldn’t have been at? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8wvQkZkxyQ
…AND THE EVENT WE ALL WERE LEFT INTRIGUED BY….
