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Agents’ Film Reviews
Lights, camera, action! While the release of No Time to Die put secret agent James Bond back in the limelight, PG sought the ‘film reviews’ from a cast of greeting card (not secret at all) sales agents as to whether the last year’s trade was a blockbuster, cartoon comedy or horror movie, as well as their highlights and tearjerking moments.
Derren Seal
On location: Southern England - a square area from Gloucestershire, Dorset, Bedfordshire to Hampshire. The stars you represent: Derren’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ are Cherry Orchard, Gifted Stationery, Kingfisher Cards, Lola Designs, Rush Designs, Words ‘n’ Wishes and WPL Gifts. The plot line: “My 2021 was such a mixed bag with all the differing advice, guidance, shutdowns, openings etc… sometimes making it feel much like the iconic film Pulp Fiction with stories running alongside other stories simultaneously.” Highlights and tearjerkers: “The highlight for me was the magic date of April 12 when it seemed we all went Back to the Future. I jumped back into my Delorian honestly believing that if my calculations were correct, when this baby reached 88 miles per hour (obviously 70 on our roads!) I was going to see all my gorgeous customers again! The lowlight of the year for me was definitely the early shut down on January 6. Thus began the stuck in time Groundhog Day we had already experienced in 2020.” Popcorn strategy: “I think that we have all dug deep over the past two years and I particularly like the words in the letter sent to Red in Shawshank Redemption which aptly states: “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies”.” Casting couch: “A film character that best showcases my personality is Happy Gilmore - a guy who never gives up on his dreams. But if I were to honestly compare myself to one particular film star however, it would have to be the late, great Yul Brynner. Apart from the obvious sex symbol similarities, I also represent The Magnificent Seven companies (detailed top). Above left: Derren Seal in Yul Brynner Magnificent Seven mode. And, like me, Yul Brynner was a life-long Liverpool Above right: 2021 had echoes of Back supporter, but unlike me, was not a fan of using to the Future for Derren. Above: A message from Shawshank aftershave. Always remember… Yul never wore Redemption is that fear can hold you cologne! (Get it?!...You’ll never walk alone!)” prisoner, hope can set you free.
Lucy Sharp, Sharp Stuff
On location: All of Bonnie Scotland. The stars you represent: These include Abrams and Chronicle Caroline Gardner, Roger La Borde and Talking Tables. The plot line: “Unlike my favourite, Ferris Bueller, there has been very little in the way of ‘days off’. It's been a jam-packed action feature leaving me and my customers on the edge of our seats, but thankfully with a happy ending.” My customers deserve an Oscar for keeping going when it looked like all their business was Gone With The Wind. It could have been Apocalypse Now with the ups and downs of Covid and the last minute supply chain plot twists and turns, but they pulled out all the stops to make sure it was still a Wonderful Life at Christmas.” Highlights and tearjerkers: “Following on from a successful pop-up event in 2020, Above left: Lucy Sharp together with my 'co-star' in Labyrinth mode. Easy Agency, we expanded Above: Thankfully businesses were not the franchise and opened ‘Gone with the Wind’. Edinburgh's very own ‘Pinewood Studios’ (our 3,000sq ft trade showroom) where all the stars hung out! With months of ‘on the edge of your seats’ drama, the film started to move into ‘too long’ territory towards the end of the year. There were definitely some tired eyes in the cinema that started to droop, but after a good Christmas break I think we're all ready for the next instalment.” Popcorn strategy: “The cast of stars that fills my working life…the wonderful people I work with at the brands and the retailers PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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