James Bond Themed Business School
Badie.
Posts: 5MI6 Agent
Hello everyone,
I'm a French student in a business school in Paris. I am among the team responsible of the graduation party that will take place in late April. I was given the task of taking care of decorations and animations during the event.
I consider myself an "amateur" in the James Bond world, so I decided to watch at least 5 of the best rated JB movies, so I can get the most ideas I can. But I also thought I could get other interpretation than mine.
So I registered to this forum because I felt like it'd be better to actually hear the opinion of true fans, and I wanted to know, as a fan what would be the classic (or basic) elements in the decoration or the animations that you'll be expecting to see in a JB themed event ?
So far I've come up with really basic stuff in the decoration, mostly related to "Casino royale", who is good choice for the decoration, and the same goes for the animation, so i feel like with 20+ movies, this is too easy/cheap.
Thank you in advance for those who will share their ideas, no matter how crazy or clichée they are, plus I'm not writing the check.
I'm a French student in a business school in Paris. I am among the team responsible of the graduation party that will take place in late April. I was given the task of taking care of decorations and animations during the event.
I consider myself an "amateur" in the James Bond world, so I decided to watch at least 5 of the best rated JB movies, so I can get the most ideas I can. But I also thought I could get other interpretation than mine.
So I registered to this forum because I felt like it'd be better to actually hear the opinion of true fans, and I wanted to know, as a fan what would be the classic (or basic) elements in the decoration or the animations that you'll be expecting to see in a JB themed event ?
So far I've come up with really basic stuff in the decoration, mostly related to "Casino royale", who is good choice for the decoration, and the same goes for the animation, so i feel like with 20+ movies, this is too easy/cheap.
Thank you in advance for those who will share their ideas, no matter how crazy or clichée they are, plus I'm not writing the check.
Comments
Graduation is slightly different to the normal student party (or maybe not). It does depend on how formal you want it to be for example non formal you make it a James Bond theme night and people can come in anything Bond related in this case i have seen BA stewardess, Scuba, DJ's, Villains and various forms of Bond attire etc the list goes on. Only caveat was you had to carry a picture all night of your attire as seen in the Bond film as proof or you got fined. Throw is a disco and some cheap props from the film (some pull ups and posters for decoration etc)
Or you can go for the more traditional with Casino Royale Styling and an on site casino with the various gambling tables. We also contacted the local Aston Martin dealer and borrowed a DBS for some pictures on arrival (cannot remember if it was the local dealer or they put in contact with an owner but you get the idea). THere was even some prop guns (PPK) for the Bond posed Photo arms crossed you know the one. Of course it was more formal black tie and ball gowns affair but still a good night. Bond music played throughout the night from a local band. There was a charity element where the prizes were small Bond related like Sunspel voucher, track day driving Aston etc. Where we were there was actually a lake which we looked at some punting with floating candles options or fast boat but then health and safety got a tab over enthusiastic but it was nearly an option.
You are limited by your own imagination and effort you want to put in really - there are plenty of people who have organised similar type events on here I am sure you will get some good feedback
Good luck
Cheers :007)
It is separated in a graduation party where there will be the parents, & then the student party, so it won't change a lot. The animation will be during the cocktails & the decoration will stay all night.
I hope too that people will not be shy and will give me Their feedbacks
Peppermill : I look forward for your answer, and I guess you just gave me my first homework.
Thank you guys.
Give everyone who enters a quick Bond quiz on paper they can fill out. The winners might win a nice prize.
Music is very important, so try to find some soundtrack albums. Better to have the full film scores than just a best of album.
If the party is held in several separate rooms you could give every room its own theme. This also works if you have one large room and give every corner its distinct theme. For instance:
- A casino setting for Casino Royale and all other Bond movies that have scenes in casinos.
- A Japanese themed room for You Only Live Twice
- A voodoo themed room for Live And Let Die complete with Tarot cards (see my later suggestion for decoration)
- Gold (Goldfinger, The Man With The Golden Gun, GoldenEye)
- Space (You only Live Twice and Moonraker)
- Paris/France (Thunderball, A View To A Kill, GoldenEye)
- Q branch with lots of techy things, lab coats and gadgets.
- M’s office with a big desk, file folders, a coat and hat rack and of course the high quality booze
If this theming is too much for you, you can always go for something more subtle, like colour themes. Diamond, black/white, ruby red, gold, etc.
Next thing to figure out is the dress code. You might be inclined to make it a black tie party, however you will often see that a lot of people show up not looking the part (a black suit with a bow tie is not black tie!). Another (better) idea might be to have everyone dress up like their favourite Bond character. I have had great success in the past with this. There will be people who show up in a beautiful dinner jacket finally having an excuse to wear it again, but also people who come dressed as Blofeld (complete with stuffed cat), Largo, Jaws or Odd Job. I even had someone showing up in an astronaut costume. However, just showing up in a suit or jeans with a polo shirt is “allowed” as well. Women have more options than of just dresses in this scenario as well compared to the rigorous black tie dress code.
Now comes the decorating. The thing is to overdo it. Bond movies are over the top spectacles and so should you party. When you decide on a Gold(finger) room EVERYTHING should be gold, no holding back! You can use props to dress up the party. Things to think of are:
- Playing cards and casino chips. You can make great decorations using only playing cards, chips a drill and some fishing wire.
- Tarot of the witches deck (https://www.amazon.fr/Tarot-Witches-Book-Interpretation-Fortune-Telling/dp/0913866407/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1484744554&sr=8-4&keywords=tarot+of+the+witches used in Live and Let Die)
- File folders. A nice touch for sending the invitations, designing the drink menus or just as dressing.
- Second hand sites like ebay might offer some movie posters etc that you can use.
As you can see, these things don’t have to cost a lot but can give a special flavour to the party. As long as you follow the dictum “you think you have enough? Add some more”
Since you are from France you might be able to find one, one of the greatest Bond cars is a yellow Citroën 2CV from For Your Eyes Only.
And last but not least, since the party is in April, now is the time to graduate from a Bond amateur to a Bond expert and dazzle everyone with your new knowledge at the party
Bonne chance!
EDIT: our own The Manthis did 2 great videos on throwing a James Bond party. https://youtu.be/dcFvLapUZLY and https://youtu.be/U7PgKWw07BM
Thank you so much for all this ideas. I plan on watching around 10 movies so I can the best kind of set/decoration during the party and also incorporate a few animations that make references to the movies.