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March 13, 2023

The Oscars, Jenny On the Stage, and Those Lengthy Contracts

Got to talk about the Oscars. What a night yesterday. Lively (no incident – thankfully). EEAAO all the way. 
Diverse. Inclusive. Seeing Jenny on the stage was a real treat.

Emotional acceptance speeches. Loved it when Daniel Scheinert, who was born and raised in Alabama, celebrated his teachers who made a difference in his life. And when Michelle Yeoh said, “Thank you all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight. This is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that [dreams], dream big, and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you [that] you are ever passed your prime.”

The song Naatu Naatu from the hit Telugu film, RRR made history by becoming the first Indian film song to win an Oscar! Yes, you now know Naatu. The dance number on stage was abbreviated. You have to see it on the big screen. India won a 2nd Oscar for The Elephant Whisperers in the Best Documentary Short film category.

Angela Bassett was snubbed! Her reaction was appropriate. While I am happy for Jamie Lee Curtis, considering her lengthy Hollywood career, I am sad for Angela Bassett, who found herself in a similar position in 1992.

Speaking of getting emotional.

Back to reality, I only tend to get emotional (sans speeches) when clients send lengthy contracts. They seem punitive and one-sided. Whom are they protecting? Instinctively, I almost never want to read them, but I do.

Yes, it is highly recommended to read lengthy contracts, especially when it comes to consulting jobs. The contracts are binding legal agreements that set out the terms and conditions of the working relationship between the consultant and the client. They are designed to protect the interests of both parties (seldom, I feel) and ensure that they understand their respective obligations.

Contracts can be very punitive because they often contain clauses that impose penalties or consequences for certain actions or failures to meet obligations. These clauses are intended to deter breaches of the contract and encourage compliance.

When reviewing a contract, some aspects that should be read carefully include:


1. Scope of work: The contract should clearly outline the scope of work, including the specific tasks or deliverables that the consultant is responsible for.
2. Payment terms: This section should detail the consultant’s fees and how and when they will be paid. It is essential to ensure that the payment terms are fair and reasonable.
3. Confidentiality, Intellectual property: The contract should include clauses that protect the confidentiality of the client’s information and the ownership of any intellectual property created during the project.
4. Exclusivity clause, Non-compete: The particular project should be non-binding especially if this is a sub-contract situation with an agency and there might be opportunities to conduct business in the future that are non-competitive in nature. A tricky one.

I plan to watch Naatu Naatu again and again on YouTube today. The catchy tempo and choreography will perhaps ease the pain of reading a lengthy contract thoroughly. Happy Monday. 

Filed Under: News and Updates

Kavita Mittapalli

Kavita Mittapalli, Ph.D., is the CEO of MN Associates, Inc. She brings over 18 years of experience in conducting research and evaluation for various programs and initiatives. She started MNA while in grad school at George Mason University (VA). An agriculture graduate turned applied sociologist and a mixed methodologist by training, Kavita brings her extensive qualitative and quantitative research skills to the evaluation work she does.

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