Strategic Planning

Bob and I attend the San Francisco International Film Festival every year with our friends Chris and Ingrid. The festival takes place at the end of April and the beginning of May so it's time to order our tickets, but ordering the tickets is a complicated process. First Bob and I have to go through every film in the catalog to choose which ones we want to see. I circle the ones I'm definitely interested in and so does he; then we compare notes to see if we can agree on any of them. That's fairly easy. Next step: We put checks by the ones we might consider. Which films on our "maybe" lists can we agree on? That's a longer conversation.

Next we call Ingrid and Chris to find out which films they've chosen -- and if they sync up with ours. They usually do since the two of them attend most of the films whereas we only go to five or six. (We're astounded at their stamina!) Most movies play more than once at different times and on different days -- and some at different locations -- so we need to find out which time slots and locations work for all of us.

Then there are the complicated arrangements for the meet-ups. For instance, Ingrid and I are attending a late afternoon film, but we're meeting Chris and Bob for a second film on the same day. We have to decide whether we have time to eat dinner in between. If so, do they want to meet us for the meal -- or just meet up at the movie?  And who's standing in line and who's saving seats, hopefully all together in one row? And if we arrive late, where shall we look for them? Which row will they try to sit in? All of this must be determined beforehand.

There's usually one film that I want to see that no one else is interested in. This year it's La Dolce Vita. Since it's a classic Fellini flick, of course, I must go. Next decision: should I go alone or find someone outside the group to go with me?

Now to buy the tickets: go online, hunt up the festival website, find a list of the movies, check the appropriate boxes -- and whoops, some tickets are no longer available. More negotiation amongst all parties to determine the alternate choice. OK, back online and start again; now pay with credit card and we're done.

We've won the battle. We deserve a medal for our hard work and brilliant strategizing. Or some sort of reward. That would be the films, of course.