Execution Dependent

I've been working in the film industry for the past seven months and part of my learning curve has involved getting used to the industry-specific jargon that flies through the air in every meeting. Prior to this job, I spent 12 years working in technology marketing and communications, so I think it's fair to say that I've gained invaluable experience when it comes to wading through minefields of bullshit business-speak in search of a trenchant point. I'd have to guess that the world of high-technology pretty much sets the curve when it comes to private sector jargon creation, arguably coming in third overall behind academia and the military. But Hollywood is pretty high up on the list as well. For example, if a piece of dialogue is too obvious or cliched it's "too on-the-nose." That one tripped me up for awhile. How can something be "too" on the nose? It's either on the nose or it's not on the nose, which I think is the whole point of the original (non-bastardized) phrase. 

One piece of film industry jargon that I'm kind of obsessed with lately is the phrase "execution-dependent," which roughly means that the success of a given idea depends on how well the movie actually ends up being made. Now, at first glance it seems like everything should be execution-dependent, right? In order for the movie to be good, it has to be well-executed; well-written, well-directed, well-shot, well-acted, etc. But the coded information implicit in that phrase has to do with the bankability of a concept--it's a way of quantifying risk when people are deciding whether or not to invest millions of dollars in an idea. If something isn't execution-dependent, it means the idea is so marketable and commercially appealing that even the worst version of the movie it inspires is still likely to be successful. Kick-ass muscle cars that turn into huge robots, plus a super-hot chick, for example, ain't that execution dependent. It's straight cash money dollar bills. A Dickensian tale about an orphaned Indian slum boy who flashes back on his life story while playing a TV game show that he hopes will reunite him with his long-lost slumgirlfriend, on the other hand, is pretty damn execution dependent.

The way I've heard the phrase used most is an expression of concern about the level of talent required to make a given project successful. Rather than saying "I'm not confident that your team can pull this movie off," you say something like "it's a great concept, we'd love to give you a bunch of money to go make it, but it's a little too execution-dependent for our risk portfolio." 

I am both repelled and excited by this phrase and it's repercussions, is my point, and I've found myself thinking about other areas of my life in a similar way. My grand change-of-life diet and nutrition plan, for example, is extraordinarily execution-dependent. Conceptually, I'm on solid ground. I've got it down, philosophically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. I know exactly what I need to do and at all looks beautiful and liberating and life-changing from here. The problem, such as it is, comes in the execution. Ain't that a bitch.

I haven't exercised this week, in other words. I worked out three times last week and I'm still eating the right things and I'm losing a bit of weight, but I can't seem to get myself on track to take it to the next level with real rigor. Discipline!! Self-control!! Get your ass on the treadmill! Execute!!