Ink Pen by Phil Dunlap for December 07, 2020

I hired an engineer who used to work for McDonnell Douglas in the MD-80/90 days.

She was a tooling engineer with a Mechanical Engineering Degree. She went back to school, got an Electrical Engineering degree and was rehired by Douglas. She was laid off a few years later, and went back to school and got a Certificate in Composites and in Qualitative Inspection. She was rehired by Douglas, lasted another few years until the sale /merger with Boeing and then was downsized for good.

I hired her immediately. Anybody who doesn’t sit around and look for the same thing, who tries to expand their value is worth their weight in gold to me. I try to make sure all the people that work for me understand that, and I rewarded it whenever possible. Recently we were acquired by a larger firm, and in that corporate world this value is not benchmarked and capitalized.

I hope I don’t have to see the low tide of competency begin to creep in as many of these talented people begin to move on.

Since the death of the studio system many actors and directors have formed their own production companies to work on their own projects. The big studios for the most part have morphed into distribution companies. Next time you watch a movie look at the numerous companies connected with its production. No longer “Big Studio presents a film by Director” but "Big Studio presents a Production Company project in conjunction with an Actor’s Company directed by “Director” film. And 90% of the credits at the end are for special effects, make-up and animation, even in a “live action” production. And why does the third assistant account’s brother in law get a credit? I mean, what is up with that?

Like many others? Join the crowd.