Week Ending: Zombie Apocalypse strikes ! ; Lost in translation & Business Heavyweights

IN a modern business environment which forces us all to be permanently glued to our laptops, mobiles and tablets, there is a tendancy for us all to feel a little bit like a zombie from time to time.

But that was literally the case for staff at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce when they swapped their business attire for a slightly more dishevelled look on Wednesday.

That was when the Chamber played host to a film production crew making a zombie-themed movie.

The crew from  from Apocalypse Pictures gave a number of Chamber staff a full zombie make over, complete with dirt and blood stains, before giving them a masterclass on how to walk and act like zombies.

Businesses were then treated to a performance from a zombie dance troop and a screening of some footage from the film.

The event had been organised by the Chamber to give the Greater Manchester business community the opportunity to get involved in the new film franchise, ‘Zombie Apocalypse’.

Set to air in 2016, the new movie, which will be filmed mainly in Greater Manchester, is a fusion of action, horror and war genres.   Businesses are being invited to get involved with product placement, memorabilia and hospitality packages, as well as investment and promotional opportunities.

Stella Bowdell, head of membership at the chamber said: “This is a great example of the strength and potential of the creative industry in our region. When we were offered the chance to support Apocalypse Pictures with this, we didn’t hesitate to say yes.”

Our members have already shown great excitement and interest in the project, and we’re hoping that many more of them will take advantage of the opportunities that this presents.”

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THE match-ups for the eagerly-awaited Business Heavyweights white collar boxing event have been announced.

Last week Week Ending reported how 10 intrepid amateur pugilists will step into the ring on June 24 at the Midland Hotel to try to beat the £90,000 raised for local charity last year and reach a mimimum of £100,000 for the Factory Youth Zone in Harphurhey and Gorton Mount Primary Academy.

This year’s bouts are:

Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Morris (chief executive of Citation) v Richard ‘Dickie the Dog’ Millman (CEO at Total Fitness);

Byron ‘The Berserker’ Evans (associate director at MC2) v Dominic ‘The Corsican Scorpion’ Orsini (associate director at Altium);

Richard ‘Beardo’ Beard (relationship director at CIB Future Williams and Glyn)  v Simon ’The Hammer’ Fagan (founding partner of Aticus Law);

Matt ‘Maverick’ Currie (assistant director financial sponsors at RBS)  v Michael ‘The Hitman’ Hewett (senior manager at Deloitte);

John ’The Freak’ Fowler (consultant at UK Fire Doors Ltd) v Bob ‘The Bull’ Nicholson (head of property development at Pochins).

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IT’S that time of year when many of you I know may well be heading for distant shores in search of early summer sun.

To get you in holiday mood, we thought we’d share some humourous mis-translated hotel notices sent in by translation business  Tongue Tied (Manchester).

Our own favourites are from Japan and Thailand, but please enjoy….

Paris: “Please leave your values at the front desk”

Switzerland: “Our wines leave you nothing to hope for”

Norway: “Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar”

Vienna: “In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the hotel porter”

Bucharest: “The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable”

Moscow : “If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it”

Japan : “Guests are requested not to smoke or do other disgusting behaviors in bed”

Thailand: “Please do not bring solicitors into your room”

Nairobi “Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager”

Acapulco: “The manager has personally passed all the water served here”