Left brain, right brain

When I moved to Europe in 2001, and then did not return to southern California, I lost touch with many people. Time passed; connections frayed and good friends disappeared what with changing snail mail addresses, e-addresses, telephone numbers, and my inherent laziness. One of the better items that comes about due to the WSJ interview is the opportunity to re-establish connections with long-lost friends.

Bryan Gindoff is one. Bryan is the epitome of bleshing the brain's two hemispheres; the hemisphere lateralization of its logical and creative halves. An accomplished and highly-regarded screenwriter and novelist, Bryan also is as shrewd and savvy as they come with re to the world of business, but especially investing. Bryan 'gets' it; in fact, the quality of his insights convinced Bob Koppel and Howard Abell to interview Bryan for their book, Bulls, Bears, and Millionaires. (See sidebar for link.) I, too, am included among the interviewees albeit only for my handsome mien. The best part of it all? Bryan is a friend.

I recall one day at Tim Slater's long-gone and lamented TAG (Technical Analysis Group) seminars. These annual meetings were for market professionals -- its stellar list of participants, its interactivity, and non-fawning atmosphere led to some fantastic and informative discussions and conversations. On this particular day, Tom Bulkowski (see sidebar, "Chart patterns") discovered Bryan was the screen writer of the movie, Hard Times.

Tom's excited comment was that the movie was his perfect metaphor for being a successful stock trader. The way the Charles Bronson character would wait and wait and wait, and then POW! land the perfectly-timed and perfectly-placed knockout blow. Also was the deprivation -- almost Zen in its austerity -- the Bronson character imposed upon himself. Etc. So Bryan immediately phoned the studio and requested it rush a copy of the video to the conference. Bryan inscribed it for Tom, and then Tom wandered off, happy as a clam.

From the Amazon.com website,

"Walter Hill's colorful directorial debut has quite a cult following for its toughness and violence; it may well be his best film, in fact. Charles Bronson plays a silent street fighter in New Orleans in the '30s managed by the cool James Coburn. Jill Ireland, Strother Martin, and Michael McGuire costar in this spare existential Depression dirge. It owes a lot to its noir origins that Hill adores so much, yet there's something very fresh and vital about its subject and approach. That's really what made so many of these films from the '70s so endearing. An added bonus is the love and affection displayed by the real-life husband and wife team of Bronson and Ireland."

Walter Hill? How about Bryan Gindoff? Although Bryan, in full humility mode says,

"So you'll know the facts, I wrote the original screenplay with my then writing partner Bruce Henstell. Walter Hill then rewrote the script and directed the movie. It was his first major film. He shares story and screenplay credit with Bruce and me. And I suppose it would be fair to say that I made Charles Bronson's career, just as it would also be fair to say that I made Tom Cruise what he is today."

(The Tom Cruise comment refers to Bryan's casting of Tom in Tom's first movie role.) I agree with Tom Bulkowski: This movie not only is good, but a fine metaphor for investing success. Moreover, I like the movie; in fact, I always have, even before I knew Bryan.

I also like Bryan. Perhaps he will habituate this blog, and grace it, and us, with his many fine insights on a bevy of topics.

-- David M Gordon / The Deipnosophist