Introducing Budrus, A Powerful Documentary

Feature documentaries are difficult to make. They take time, money, an unflagging commitment to work through numerous obstacles and grit. And with all of that, you often run the risk of sinking into a predictable and one-sided conversation on a complex issue. The documentary, "Budrus" is none of that. It is a compelling portrayal of the power of an idea, namely using non-violent protest to effect change in the war-torn Middle East. It shows how one person can make a difference. And it is made with the kind of skill that plunges the viewer right in the middle of the action. I found it very moving and informative. It's made by an international organization, Just Vision, dedicated to promoting non-violent solutions. The woman who directed and edited it, Julia Bacha, was an editor of another great documentary, "Control Room," her first film effort. She's very talented and I highly recommend it.

How to make the boring desirable

All you need is Catherine Zeta-Jones and a wonderful imagination. That's what Unilever had when they created a Hollywood style promotion called "Alchemist"for Lux Shampoo. Now, don't take this the wrong way, but how boring is shampoo? Now, I like clean hair as much as the next person, but when it comes to something as mundane as all this, you're looking at a major marketing challenge. I mean, how do you get their attention? That's why I like what Unilever's Asian arm decided to do, which was make an everyday brand adventuresome, exotic and simply wonderful. Which the filmmakers accomplished in spades with their seven-minute commercial. Who says shorter is better? And another thing about it, as the story unfolds, you are wowed and let in on the joke at the same time, which makes it all even better. Just another great example of what can be accomplished when you allow yourself to re-examine the same old, same old.