Binger

Joop van Wingaarden and Otto Doorenbos run a management training company and give workshops together, as well as provide advice and support to companies such as VARA, VSNU, The Sandberg Institute, The Mondriaan Foundation, Rotterdam University and EKWC.

Joop and Otto give the Management workshop on the set at Binger. Joop: “But few directors realise that film making requires excellent management skills. Ideally, a director should spend 80% of his time on the creative process and the remaining 20% on ‘the other stuff’. However, he still has to direct an entire set full of people. What we have then is a sort of company, whereby everyone needs instructions. Many directors feel that this distribution of time is the opposite way round, and it is this perception that we want to change.”

Otto: “Our answer to this problem is: separate business from pleasure. All problems actually emanate from the inability to discriminate between these two. While it might seem like a good idea to be friendly with everyone on the set, this attitude actually results in a lot of extra tension.” Joop: “When friendships develop, all kinds of social dimensions come into play. This makes it more difficult to address someone on his or her behaviour. Friendships like that can be debilitating. We often see how although a director might instantly regret having appointed an employee, that same employee is still on the set some three months later. This is a waste of money and energy and obstructs the director in his creative process. He has to see things from a business perspective and bid farewell to such people that same day. And that's difficult, certainly for the sensitive people that directors often are. But that's why we practise with them. Often the mere mention of the fact that they have to adopt a business attitude is a real eye opener.”

Otto: “What's great about it is that the group is often very close; it's as though they all get on fantastically with each other. But all kinds of things happen on our course. In effect, we pull away their comfort blankets. They have to prepare a pitch and all the relevant details in two groups. One person has to take charge and the others have to follow. This always yields interesting situations.”

Joop: “The workshop at Binger is one of the highlights of our year.” We visit many local authorities and companies, but no other participants are as motivated and committed as they are here. We often encounter people with strong personalities, which is a whole different ball game from courses with IT people or a group of civil servants. At Binger, they soon get the hang of our theory and they express it in their own terms. They also often hold debates with one another, which gives us a lot of energy.” Otto: “The film industry is a unique one. For instance, we never start on time; the participants always coming rushing in at the last minute or arrive late. But we think that's wonderful, because that's how things have been for years and it's totally inherent to the film industry. One person will come racing in and another will vanish for a few hours because he's had a flash of inspiration. They continue until they're done and they give their all. It's hugely dynamic, and we really enjoy working in that environment.”

Joop: “I'm impressed by the participants' sense of globalism: they don't think twice about landing at a given place, doing their thing and taking off again a few months later. Six weeks in Amsterdam, three months in Berlin and then six months in Tokyo; and all that while looking after themselves and even being creative. These are true global citizens.” Otto: “We only give this workshop once a year, but we're always happy when that time comes round again.”