Roald Dahl’s vivid imagination brought to life the whimsical and fantastical world of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory. From chocolate rivers to edible landscapes, the sheer creativity of the setting has been captivating audiences of all ages since the release of the book in 1964.
The latest iteration of the timeless story is the musical film Wonka – directed by Paul King and starring Timothée Chalamet – which is now available locally through HBO GO powered by PLDT Home.
Wonka traces the billionaire chocolate maker’s beginnings. Chalamet plays the aspiring inventor, magician, and chocolatier newly arrived in Europe after traveling the world for seven years. Here are a few life lessons that the world’s most popular chocolatier himself can teach us:
Work hard, persist, differentiate yourself
Every entrepreneur or employee faces logistical challenges and fierce competition. Sometimes, it seems impossible to overcome obstacles, but there is always a way. Much like in Wonka, you can’t get a shop without selling chocolate, and you can’t sell chocolate without a shop. That’s indeed a conundrum yet Wonka persists in making his chocolate – leveraging his skills as a magician, inventor, and showman.
Pay attention to details
Wonka learns a lesson by not reading the fine print in Mrs. Scrubitt’s contract and he gets stuck working for her to pay off his debt. In real life, whether it’s a side hustle contract or your rental agreement, remember to always read the fine print. It’s literally fine print because it sometimes stipulates conditions you may not agree to had it been front and center.
Be creative, be imaginative
When people say use your imagination, they usually mean it sarcastically. Well, Wonka does use his imagination – and it pays off handsomely, getting his chocolate to the masses and a measure of popularity. Wonka invents “hoverchocs” or chocolates that make people fly for 20 minutes. He also invents Big Night Out chocolate, which allows the eater to feel like he’s on a night out, making him sing and dance. Wonka’s Broadway Choc has the same effect – but with better choreography as if you were on a Broadway show. They sure got everyone’s attention!
Find your inspiration
Wonka’s inspiration is his mother’s love. “Hold on to your dreams,” his mother told him when he was a young boy. Throughout his difficulties, Wonka held on to these words like a lifeline. Whatever it is that inspires you to get up earlier in the morning or work later in the night, use it.
Starring alongside Chalamet are Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant. The film also stars Natasha Rothwell, Rich Fulcher, Rakhee Thakrar, Tom Davis, and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.
To find out more, visit pldthome.com/hbogo.
