stmas. It was great to meet my new niece and play the cool aunt to my nephew. I hung out with my friends in Lethbridge, got clean teeth from the dentist and purchased some cool new specs to be a
ll filmy andpretentious in. Mariko says they're very Josh Groban -esque. It wasn't my intent, but I think I'm OK with anything "a la Josh Groban" in my life! :-)
To recap school, in December we finished and screened our Mini 3 projects and then wrote the ever popular final exams. I wasn't totally thrilled with the outcome of our Mini 3 project, mostly because I felt out of control for most of it. I was the sound designer for post production so that was kind of fun. And, once again, I was left to complete the delivery. To be fair to the person who was the delivery tech, they did attempt to do it but ran out of time and had to go to work. Oh well - I'm getting really good at it!
Exams went well. When I received my final grades over the holiday I was really happy to see 4 As and 2 Bs with varying +s and -s. Yet I still have apprehensions about how well I'm really able to apply what I know. This next semester has a lot more practical time than classroom so that will be an interesting switch. Last semester we a week for prep, production and post. The same applies this term as well, with the exception that we won't have class during those weeks. They are completely devoted to the projects which each count as an individual course. Time management will be key!
In my apprehension about this term I went to talk with one of my instructors. Seanna has been the program co ordinator for a long time and this is the first year that she's just been an instructor in a while. So this program is really 'her baby.' I wanted her thoughts and advice on a few things. It was kind of crazy - she picked up on things about me that I had no idea she knew. I've been concerned lately that though I'm good at a lot of things, I'm not great at one particular thing, so I'm not sure how to specialize. I hadn't told her this concern yet when she told me that if she were to ever hire me she would have no idea how much work I was actually doing but as soon as I was gone she would feel lost. I didn't really know what to say because I was in shock that she would say that. I'm not very vocal in class and I don't talk to her a lot like a lot of other students do. It's to her credit that she can notice things that like about people. My next surprise came as we were discussing what I actually want to do. Seanna's emphasis has always been to do what you love, don't get stuck in something you don't love just because it pays well. It's a common trap in the film industry. She warned me "you have good administrative skills - and you're a woman, don't get stuck in the office if you don't want to be there." There are some aspects of the administrative end that do appeal to me, but I am afraid of getting stuck there. But then she looked at me and said "I know you won't settle. I heard your inspiration. You won't let yourself." I looked at her in shock, trying to remember what I had said in my inspiration assignment that would tell her that, because it's completely true. I then remembered my spiel about potential and the fear of not achieving it. It was a really good conversation and she gave me some good advice.
My most enjoyable event of the week was watching my instructors and 2nd year students demonstrate the "Block, Light, Rehearse, Shoot" of on set protocol. It was cool to see a professional example of what we been trying to achieve in the last semester. At first I wondered why they didn't just do this demo at the beginning of the year, but I think we got more out of it after having attempted it ourselves. We could actually see the method to the madness instead of just people moving in every direction with seemingly no reason. Here is a sampling of the chaos.
From L-R: 1st AD, Camera Operator, Focus Puller(1st AC), Actor, Director, 2nd AC, Director, Actress, Cinematographer, Sound Mixer (hiding), Boom Op, Script Supervisor. Not pictured: Hair/Makeup/Wardrobe, Grips and Electrical, TADs, 2nd Team (actor stand ins)
NOW: Imagine all of these people (and more) behind the camera of every scene that you see on film or television and you'll see the tip of the chaos.
Dave Gordon, my Camera&Lighting and Technical Production instructor, as the cinematographer discusses the shot and lighting with his camera operator.
One more thing that I should mention is an event that is about 5 months away. My crazy friend Mariko who used to hate the band Westlife and find no joy in travelling has purchased concert tickets to see them in Dublin, Ireland! When she first suggested it to me I thought she was crazy, especially because of the money involved. But as soon as I realized she was serious, I was suddenly making plans in my head and figuring ways that I could save money to go since my student loan isn't due right away. So we've decided to go to Ireland in June and will make a stop in England too. It'll be nice to see family in England again. My older sister who also really loves the band has gained the 'sympathy' vote from my parents and they are sending her as a birthday present. She's never been overseas and they have paid for me and my two other sisters in the past. My brother was fortunately able to send himself. It's worked out nicely because when we first started talking about it I immediately thought that Kyla would be so sad. I didn't even want to tell her! But my mom asked if I'd mind if she sent her and now it's all worked out! So she is the remaining child to cross the ocean - they'll be able to say their work is done after this! It was fun to surprise her with a note telling her that she's going after a week during the holidays of hearing my friend and I talk of plans. The whole thing is ridiculous. None of us really have the money to go, but it feels right. I don't know why. My mom and I were talking about it - I'd better find something life changing over there! To be honest, I should probably take some responsibility for the craziness even though Mariko is getting the head shaking. She refused to
listen to Westlife before she met me and I've taken her on so many road trips now, that she actually enjoys travelling. I couldn't have planned this better if I'd tried! I get to go back to Ireland!!! And I get to play tour guide a bit too since neither Kyla nor Mariko have been there before. I'm really excited about it. (Check out my favourite Westlife song/video here. It also features the stunning Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, which I can't wait to see again!)
So that's pretty much where I'm at right now. The plans that I had made for myself are completely turned upside down but even though I have no idea what awaits me after Ireland, I feel oddly calm about it. Perhaps as it gets closer to reality I might become more concerned about it but I'm just taking things as they come for now. The goal at the moment is to find a job to pay for all of this and balance it with school which is bound to get crazy at any moment.
Later days!
