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Health & Fitness

What Do Martin Scorsese and Local Real Estate Have in Common?

Martin Scorsese comes to town to screen his new movie Hugo. How has his decision to make this movie connected with local real estate?

The famed director was in town yesterday, not to buy a home but to screen his new movie Hugo.

If you’ve read my blog or any of my local columns, you know that I sell real estate for Alain Pinel Realtors in Menlo Park and I also have a passion for all forms of entertainment (film, tv, digital, technology driven). 

I worked for many years as a studio executive and producer in my “previous to real estate life” and am fortunate enough to be a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA). I attend screenings and hold movie night parties with friends and clients this time of year as I get sent copies of all the Oscar hopeful pictures on DVD and also attend screenings at various locations in the city. 

When I received the invitation to attend last night’s screening of Hugo at Skywalker Ranch and also attend the PGA sponsored pre-screening party where the directors typically attend, I RSVP’d as fast as my fingers could dial the hotline as I knew it would fill up quickly.

At last year’s screenings, I met directors such as Quentin Tarantino, George Lucas, and James Cameron. But to me, Martin Scorsese is the godfather of directors and an opportunity not to be missed. With movies such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed and many others as a producer and director, this is the chance to see a great storyteller and key figure in the history of film.

The party was fun, the movie was great, the 3D was amazing and really added to the experience and the Skywalker Ranch theatre is second to none. The real depth to the evening came from seeing Scorsese in person and listening to his stories and point of view on why he made the movie. His style of movie making is finding characters that are very edgy and from the dark side of life. Then suddenly at age 69 he makes a feel good, softer side of life film. Why? And why now?

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His comment was interesting and poignant…he made it for his daughter.  Scorsese is a late in life father and he is now experiencing life through the eyes of a ten year old girl. The movie came about because his wife read the book/graphic novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and told him, “Why don’t you make a movie your daughter can actually see?” 

The bottom line…he put all his past experiences and style of moviemaking behind him and did something totally new and out of his comfort zone. He wanted to leave a legacy for his daughter and also get more involved in her life. She could be there for filming and actually have a small part in the movie too.

Not an easy decision because working with kids means you have lots of restrictions and challenges, including the ability to only film 4 hours a day. But, it was for his daughter, so he went forward with the film.

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Which gets me back to how his movie making decision is related to local real estate. 

I did the same thing for my kids. I was a high-ranking executive in the entertainment world for many years and worked at the big studios as well as the small independent production companies. It was a great life, but full of travel, late night meetings, working all the time and missing out on some aspects of raising the kids. 

Changing my career over to full time real estate changed all that. My kids win (in my opinion at least!) because I’m home more and for the past number of years, I have been able to coach little league teams for my son, be at all my daughters volleyball tournaments, help with homework, be at birthday celebrations and be a bigger part of their lives. 

My clients win too because they get somebody with great executive level skills who has completed hundreds of deals and knows how to handle all aspects of real estate (marketing, sales, negotiating, people skills etc) from a highly professional background. I’ve worked with CEO’s, athletes, celebrities, lawyers, agents and real people who are put in extraordinary situations on reality shows. So, if I can successfully navigate those waters, there isn’t anything I can’t handle in real estate with any situation or client. My wife wins too as we think it takes two to raise kids properly in this busy, fast paced world kids live in.

So, Martin Scorsese deciding to take time from his style of movie making and do something for his kids loosely connects with my decision to do the same to sell local real estate here on the Peninsula. I think kids are living in a very adult world but not always ready for the decisions they are faced with at such a young age and do need adult help in their lives. Parents being a part of kid’s lives, especially in the early teen years when life’s big choices hit them in the face daily, will bring years of rewarding results. I can’t stress enough how much the kid’s I see really need an adult voice in their life.

Since real estate is so intertwined with families and kids (people buy up because of new babies, downsize when the kids leave, move for a divorce etc.), I thought I would start the year off with urging parents to make sure they are involved in their kid’s lives. What are you doing to make sure you are helping raise your kids or help them with their decisions? Have you made any sacrifices that have paid off and you’re glad you did it? Do you have any advice for other parents who are thinking about doing the same thing, or maybe should?

Please comment and let me know your thoughts.     

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