Adventures in Filmmaking: The Start of Something New

To say school has kept me busy is an understatement. My senior year has been crazy as I finish both my English major and cinema minor, continue my job as a resident assistant, lead Habitat for Humanity as the president of the club, write for the school paper occasionally, and also try to have a social life. Plus, it is my last year in college so I am trying to fit everything in that I have ever wanted to do. Which is my way of saying that I am going to try and blog as much as I can this year, but that I am also not making any promises.
This semester I am taking two cinema classes, both of which are different than any of the production classes I have take previously. The first one is my Intro to Sound class, which I decided to take after my summer at CNN. The PA did a lot of sound recording for the show and I realized that I did not really know anything about sound or microphones. Also, I have realized, that in recording my own films I am a person who usually focuses on image more than sound. I am excited because I feel like this class is going to challenge me to think in new ways while I am filming. Already having to analyze a film (Touch the Sound directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer) solely based on sound is different than anything I have done before. It made me realize that while I may pay attention to the soundtrack or score of a film, the sound in general, is not something I usually notice.
Wednesday we got to build our own contact microphones to use on our first project. We had to solder the wires together from the microphone onto the cable that plugs into the recorder. (I wish I could get more technical, but that's about all I got.) It was fun and hands on and the best part is, it actually works. The contact mic picks up vibrations; I can tape the mic onto any object and it will record. I am not sure what our first project entails, but I am excited to play around with it. I hope it rains because I really want to record the sound of the rain on the window.
The second class I am taking is a class called Curating Film and Video where we plan and run our own film festival. I am really excited for this class. We are all assigned different positions, from fundraisers to designers. I am the blogmaster which means I am responsible for promoting the festival online through the multiple channels of social media. It is something that I feel like I am skilled at because unlike most people I understand twitter, I have my own blog, and I know how to get people's attention. I find social media almost a game where you have to use things like hashtags, trending topics, and current trends to win. Plus, I figured it would be a good way to force myself to blog, even if it is not on my own blog.
At first I had really wanted to be the festival curator, the person who watched all the films and decided which ones made it into the show, but I decided to be a team player and take the job of the blogmaster since no one else wanted to do that. Plus, I was not sure if I would have the time to watch all the film submissions that we received. One of the main reasons I wanted to be a curator was because I wanted to introduce the program and the guest filmmakers at the festival because that is one of the curator responsibilities. At first I was really disappointed, but I have gotten over that fact and now I am just excited to be a part of the planning in general.
I think my senior year is going to be a good one. It has to be, it's the only year I have left so I plan on making the most of it and learning all I can while I have the chance.

I Think You Should Know Thursday

For this special edition of I Think You Should Know Thursday, I am doing the "Six Songs of Me" which was recently featured in an NPR article. The article quoted another article from The Guardian where scientists are asking music lovers six questions to try and understand the nature of why we love music and what music defines us. Since music has played such a central part in my blog, I thought I would take part.
1.) What was the first song you ever bought?
I honestly don't know the answer to that question. I am sure many people in my parents generation and older can point to specific albums, but it makes me sad to say I cannot remember mine. I would say it is likely that it was a Britney Spears album, namely Oops...I Did It Again. Hey, I'm a kid of the 90's so you can hardly blame me. I also think my love for the singer had something to do with our shared first name. "Lucky" was my favorite song, I used to sing and act out the lyrics with my sister.

2.) What song always gets you dancing?
I cannot help but dance when I hear the song "Lisztomania" by Phoenix. There is just something I love about the song and the beat and the lyrics that don't quite make sense. It is so fun and happy. Phoenix is one of my favorite bands to listen to in the car because I love to wave my arms about and bop about...while driving.

3.) What song takes you back to your childhood?
My childhood was not that long ago, but the song that can take me back there is "Daughter" by Pearl Jam. I have a memory of singing that song while dancing around my living room table at a very young age. I did not know the real words at the time so I used to sing, "Fisher Price/$1.99" instead of "the picture kept will remind me." I blame my father for my eclectic tastes as a child.

4.) What is your perfect love song?

While I'm partial to "Your Song" by Elton John for a number of reasons, "All the Way" by Ole Blue Eyes himself is the perfect love song to me. I just think there is something so quintessentially romantic about Frank Sinatra's songs. For awhile now I have imagined walking down the aisle to this song which is one of the major reasons I find it so romantic. A honorable mention goes to "You and Me" by Lifehouse which held the spot as my favorite love song for many years. 

5.) What song would you want at your funeral?

This song is morbid, but a song I have always imagined during funeral scenes of films is "Hold My Hand as I'm Lowered" by Noah and the Whale. It has just the right amount of sadness and the lyrics are fitting for such an occasion.

6.) One song that makes you, you. 

I had a lot of trouble picking a song for this one. How can I possible pick a song that defines me? I did know one thing though, it had to be The Smiths. The Smiths are not only my second favorite band of all time, I feel like they define so much of what I feel on a daily basis: loneliness, awkwardness, the desire to be alone despite the loneliness because other people are annoying. One of the songs I have always felt defines me the best or at least explains how I feel a lot of the time is "Ask." The song talks about shyness preventing you from doing the things you want in life, which actually used to be a big problem for me. I used to be terribly shy, but college and some amazing friends have helped me come out of my shell in a big way. Still, I feel like this song is one of those that will always be special to me and remind me who I was. Honorable mention goes to "Just a Girl" by No Doubt for its message of girl power. 

Where Did the Summer Go?

 NYC Time Warner Offices 

With less than a month left in my internship at The Next List I have come to the point when I begin to ask myself, “Where did the summer go?” It happens every year like clockwork. We lament the summer’s slow beginnings and then suddenly the summer slips through our fingers like so many grains of sand on the overcrowded beaches.

I feel like I just started at CNN and at the same time like I have been here forever because (most of the time) I actually know what I am doing. I have a gotten into a routine and I am used to things like waking up (and going to sleep) early; things that were once foreign to me. My daily tasks as an intern vary depending on the day, what is going on with the show, and who needs help. I jump around between the show's numerous producers just trying to make all their lives easier and assist with anything that needs to get done. I also work closely with the production assistant (PA) on social media and increasing the show's following. 

 As an intern, one of my main jobs is to research information related to the person we are profiling for the show that week or just cool science/technology/entrepreneurial based things going on in current events all to share through our twitter feed. Scouring the web has become a talent of mine and I enjoy finding articles I think are noteworthy and entertaining. There are so many people doing interesting and innovative things in the world and while we cannot profile them all on our show, we can share the love through social media. I use the articles I find to compose many of the show’s tweets for the week. I like writing the tweets because it gives me practice in trying to see what works (and does not) in terms of attracting attention from followers.

Another task I have become skilled at is logging tape- which is a fancy way of saying transcribing interviews. This is a non-glamorous and intern designated task. However, over the past few days of transcribing I have gotten increasingly better and much faster at typing. Also, I find the people we profile and their subsequent interviews for The Next List fascinating. While the task of logging tape is tedious at times, I see this as a way to be involved in every aspect of producing an episode. I like listening to the interviews and then seeing what each producer chooses to include in the final episode. In some cases, they have even asked my opinion and told me to highlight sections I find interesting or important while transcribing.

Not the real CNN building, but a sign
(I was confused on my first day)

Also, in my down time, I have been watching the editors put together the episodes using Final Cut Pro. If you have read any of my blog, you know the love/hate relationship I have with FCP, but these guys (and gal) are all equally amazing. I love seeing each editor’s different style and just watching them work. Scenes that look good to me they will tweak a dozen times until it is just right. I admire their technical skills, but most of all I am in awe of their patience. Our editors will work tirelessly with the producer to make sure the episode is perfect before it airs. Everything from the image on the screen to the music (which I have had a hand in selecting for certain parts) is examined. I find that watching the editing process is one of the most intriguing parts of my job because it really is where everything comes together.

Even though I am excited to start my senior year of college, I plan on enjoying my last few weeks at CNN. Next week the other intern and I are going to shoot and edit our own digital short for the website (more details to follow). I am also working on an intern project that I have been assigned with a group of six others where we are free to do propose anything we can come up with to improve CNN.  I suddenly feel like there is so much to do and so little time. I also have a whole list of things I want to accomplish outside of work such as going to the MoMA, seeing one of the many outdoor movies around the city, and going to see Into the Woods in Central Park. I plan on making the most of this entire experience because who knows when I will get a chance like this again?

I Have My Reasons

I have come to terms with the fact that I will not be seeing The Dark Knight Rises at midnight along with everyone else tonight. And by "come to terms" I really mean "bitterly accepted my fate while secretly loathing everyone watching the finale of what may be one of the best 'superhero' trilogies of all time." (Superhero is quotes because I feel that Nolan's films are so much more, but that is a post for another time.)

There is no real reason why I am missing the movie; I have work in the morning, but not until 10. I am living in New York City which probably has as many movie theaters as Chinese restaurants so there are plenty to choose from. I am an avid fan of Chris Nolan (as I’ve mentioned before he is my 2^nd favorite director behind only David Fincher). So what seems to be the problem? I guess the issue is just the company.

I had originally planned on seeing TDKR with my dad. When we went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in IMAX we saw the movie in the afternoon and then went out to eat at the restaurant across from the theater afterwards. We both shared ribs and raved about the movie while I filled him in on the more intricate details of J.K. Rowling’s novels. It was one of the best movie going experiences I have had and we talked about doing the same with this film. But work schedules conflicted and now I am left with no plans except that I will see the film before the weekend is over and sooner rather than later.

My dad and I at DH 7.2. I look icky because I pulled an all nighter in my excitement 

I have many options. Since my dad backed out I could see it with a number of friends scattered throughout the city or even go alone (It would be easier to find a seat). But to me, the experience of seeing a movie for the first time is as important as the film itself. No matter how many times you will watch the movie once it comes out on DVD or Netflix, you can only see a movie for the first time once. Nothing can replace the experience of sitting in a darkened theater with rising anticipation as each preview plays and you get closer to the feature presentation or the almost anxious way your stomach clenches itself as the movie begins with the wonder of "will this movie be everything I hoped?"

Me & my friends at the midnight showing of Deathly Hallows 7.1

To me, going to the movies by myself would be the epitome of loneliness. Sure, I could find a theater and go at midnight or even catch a 6 am showing before work. However, there would be no one next to me to turn to and say, “ooh that movie looks awesome” during every trailer or to look at the minute credits begin to role with either disappointment or awe. These moments many not seem like much, but they can make or break a movie going experience.

Movies are all about the people you share them with. There is just something different about sitting next to your best friend at a movie and a total stranger. It is the reason films like Harry Potter have meant so much to me. Part of it is because of the film itself, but the main reason I have such fond memories is because I have enjoyed going in costume with a group of friends and raving about/bashing the films during the car ride home.

Sure, many could argue that with twitter and other forms of social media, one is never really alone. After a movie, send one tweet and thousands of people have the ability to respond and create a conversation.  Also, midnight showings are usually packed with people all as excited as you to see the film. That is just not good enough for me.

So for now I will wait. I will avoid twitter and Facebook and newsstands. I will try not to be too bitter at anyone for seeing the movie at midnight. I will see the movie at the earliest possible time Friday or Saturday surrounded by people I love because that is what is important to me. I love movies because I see them as a way to connect people and create common experiences and conversation. More than the cinematography or special effects, that is what draws me to films.

Summer in the City: Recap & the Beginning of my #Lifeofanintern

I think I have a little explaining to do on my absence from the world wide web. Most of it can be explained by the fact that my house has terrible wifi and my computer refuses to connect. The second half of that has to do with the fact that I have an internship with a CNN show called "The Next List" (view the Blog here) that can be seen at 2 pm ET on Sundays (shameless plug).

When I was thinking about my plans for the summer I never imagined I would be here. I thought I would be working as a cashier in my local grocery store again and potentially studying for the GREs. I never imagined I would have this opportunity. For once in my life I consider myself lucky. 

I would not have received this internship without the amazing support from the T. Howard Foundation. T. Howard seeks to place students of diverse backgrounds in internships in the media industry. I have been wanting to blog about my orientation with them since it happened in the beginning of June, but the aforementioned circumstances have kept me busy.  Let me just say that it was two and a half wonderful days where I met some amazing people learned more then I could ever have hoped about the industry, networking, and general business etiquette. It really made me think (and I am still thinking) about the kind of life do want to have when I leave college and what that means in terms of a career. All real life, pretty scary things to think about. There is so much about the media industry that I do not know about, so many jobs I could have that I have never even heard of yet and orientation opened my eyes to the numerous possibilities that are out there. After leaving I feel a bit more prepared to take on the world; although I am still partially in denial that such a thing as the "real world" exists. 

Me in my fancy work clothes

Nevertheless I started my internship about a week and a half ago. Things that were so scary on the first day (like remembering everyone's names) have become easy by now and I am getting the hang of working in an office. CNN is a lot more casual then I expected it to be. I was afraid of this huge corporate environment where I would be a lowly intern sent to fetch coffee in a scene not unlike one from The Devil Wears Prada. However, that is not the case at all here. Everyone in my department knows my name and I have worked with each one individually. On my second day I was calling people and looking for a location where we could shoot -not your typically intern tasks. The other intern and I even get to work on our own project as something that we can take away with us. I have only been here a short time and I have learned so much already. 
I have already started thinking about changing my schedule for next year so I can take more production classes. I want to learn more. I want to take the skills I have learned in the classroom and continue applying them in real life situations. I am not sure yet what I want to do with my life, but I know I am taking steps in the right direction to make my dreams (whatever they may be) come true. 

I Think You Should Know Thursday

Since this is the first official Thursday of summer and it has been a scorcher here in New York and because I have been bad and have not blogged in awhile (reason for that upcoming), I give you, not one, not two, but FIVE songs  you should know for what I like to call ITYSKT: Summer Songs.
1.) Summertime Sadness- Lana Del Rey
My friend posted this song on facebook about a month ago and I kept looking for the opportune moment to share it...looks like I missed that moment because the original is no longer on youtube. I did find a live recording that is close to the album recorded one. I love this song because it speaks of goodbyes that inevitably come with the changing of the seasons. When I first heard it I thought it was mournful and yet beautiful at the same time.

"Kiss me hard before you go

Summer time sadness
I just wanted you to know
That baby you're the best
I've got that summertime, summertime sadness"

2.) Summer in the City-Regina Spektor

I know I already shared Regina Spektor recently, but this song is appropriate for a number of reasons. First, I have been spending most of my summer in New York City so it is a song that always comes to mind during my time here (again, more on that later). Second, it is perfect and truthful and for me always brings up memories of hot, sweaty, summer days like today. It also expresses a lot of things I have been feeling lately like how a city can be so big and make you feel so alone.

"Summer in the city, I'm so lonely lonely lonely 
I've been hallucinating you, babe, at the backs of other women 
And I tap on their shoulder and they turn around smiling 
But there's no recognition in their eyes 
Oh summer in the city means cleavage cleavage cleavage 
And don't get me wrong, dear, in general I'm doing quite fine 
It's just when it's summer in the city, and you're so long gone from the city 
I start to miss you, baby, sometimes"

3.) Youth without Youth- Metric 
You may recognize Metric from the soundtrack of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World where their song "Black Sheep" was sung by Envy Adams (Brie Larson). They are one of the few bands that can get away with being fronted by a female because Emily Haines is equal parts sweetness and attitude. While this song is not necessarily about summer, it is a song about playing outside and watching your youth slip away- two things I think summer is all about. It also has a feeling of nostalgia in bringing up song titles from the past.

"Hangman we played blind man's
Bluff til they stopped the game Youth without
Youth born without time, Youth without

Youth, can you read my mind?"

4.) Escape in the Afternoon- French Films

How could I not love a band with a name like this? I found this band as a result of youtube stumbling (try it, you won't regret it) and I was instantly hooked by their sunny sound. This is one of those songs that should have a music video with teenagers doing fun things like swimming and running and dancing and kissing and just generally making you jealous that your life is not as awesome.

"Oh take me

Anywhere the sun shines

Away the harms of mankind off my shoulders

 'Cause anything that we were meant to be

Was lost but I want to escape in the afternoon

To see the youth run through my hands"

5.) Good Vibrations- Beach Boys 

For me any summer playlist is not complete without the Beach Boys. They are the quintessential summer band; you can feel the sunshine oozing from their every note. Everyone knows their music so they do not really belong on this list, but I could not help myself. I like all their songs. I had trouble just picking one, but for some reason "Good Vibrations" is always the first to pop into my head when I head out to the beach. Plus, it is a classic.

"I love the colorful clothes she wears
And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
I hear the sound of a gentle word
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air
I'm pickin' up good vibrations
She's giving me excitations"

You're Either on the Bus...Or Off

I feel like the universe is trying to send me a signal. The other day on my train ride into the city the girl next to me was reading A Game of Thrones. It happened again on the subway. Two of my good friends and my boyfriend are reading the book series as well. My dad is obsessed with the HBO show. And me? I just feel like I am missing out on something.
A Song of Ice and Fire, the series written by George R. R. Martin, and the show "Game of Thrones" have become one of the most talked about series in awhile. Usually I am part of major cultural phenomena. If you have read any of my blog or follow me on twitter you know what a diehard Harry Potter fan I was from the very beginning. I devoured The Hunger Games trilogy. I jumped on the Twilight bandwagon...before jumping right off. I have even perused 50 Shades of Grey before refusing to read it. I do not know what it is about (A) Game of Thrones that has aliened me so.

Girl power all the way.

After everyone could not stop talking about the first season of the show my boyfriend and I watched it. Watching it late left me open to spoilers like the deaths of major characters-but it was my own fault. However, it did take away some of the shock and awe of the series for me. I have seen maybe two episodes of the current season and again I find myself in no hurry to catch up. Do not get me wrong, I really like it, but I am not an avid fan like most others. I love Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen whose character portrays both power and vulnerability in equal measures and the adorable and sometimes identical looking Stark (half) brothers. Even everyone's favorite character, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister I find amusing, but not as rave worthy as everyone else seems to believe. I just cannot seem to agree with the masses on this one.
 I somehow feel like I missed the boat. I know it is never too late to get into a series; if I just picked up a book or started watching I could be caught up in no time, but I hate being so far behind. I despise having friends ask, "what page are you on?" and when you tell them they shake their heads knowingly and say, "oh just wait what happens next." Even if they do not tell you anything it tarnishes the first reading/watching experience which I believe should remain pure.

Yes, I'm talking to you J.K.

Another part of me just does not want to read it solely because everyone else is; maybe it is the hipster in me. I just cannot believe what a big deal Game of Thrones has become. I feel like everyone is either reading or watching it. I know it is not to the same extent, but this is what it must have been like to be a non-Harry Potter fan during the height of Pottermainia. It is like I do not want to give in and let the rest of the world know they are right. Even though I have watched a season of the show and read two chapters of the first book.
I will probably continue to watch the second season and maybe get up to the point where I can actually watch the third season live. Until then I will contemplate why I do not want to be part of another fandom. I have given my heart to authors so many times and it has been exhausting. I have devoted myself to them and in return they have killed some of my favorite characters, made horrible movie adaptations, and then stopped writing the series and moved on. I take it personally. My heart cannot take it any more. I think it is time I sit this round out.