Try as You Might

The final hour drew closer and closer as we wrapped out of Louie's house. As far as short films go, minus a few minor complications, it was a pleasant shoot. We finish shooting, the company moves out and all is well.

As the first 15 passenger van pulls away, I get ready to start loading my stuff into the other. When I get out there, though, I realize something almost horrific as I try to open the door to the van. The keys are sitting right there in the ignition.

F*@k!

I frantically check the AD kit and the UPMs files for the spare keys. Of course the one were missing is the one we need. So I do the next best thing. Find a couple of paint sticks left over from the Art Dept to try and pry the door open. Not good enough... so I grab a screw driver to add that extra little bit of leverage.

I'd seen it done before, so I think I am able to recreate it.

I get the door pried up no sweat with the screw driver, but as I fiddle around sliding the coat hanger through the space and its no use. I can't quite hook the lock. So, I come up with a plan B (you always have to have one of those). I look around the location for something like a dowel rod that is sturdy but thin.

Nothing... seemingly, and then we find a rod for blinds. Unfortunately it is no good, as its too short. With some quick thinking, I decide to use a stick, long enough to reach and thick/ sturdy enough to hit the lock button.

With in 10 minutes I get the lock open... and it had just gotten dark! Success! I now have a new skill to add to my resume.

Fairy Tales

I have been talking back and forth with a friend of mine about fairy tales. Mostly the fact that I am writing fairy tales in my spare time. He commended me and said it was cool (Wow! someone thinks I'm cool), because he wants his life to be one.


First of all, who doesn't? I mean I feel, in my experience at least, that we all have this innate desire to have that "happily ever after." We have this want to live this big, extravagant adventure that ends in the heroine finding her Prince Charming, or the Hero finding his Princess or Fair Maiden. There seems to be something completely magical about the idea of living a fairy tale that just makes every day life seem overly difficult and mundane.

Why all this longing for something that is nothing more than flowery words and fictionalized stories. My friend, for example, talented Actor and Musician, with and independent album and a lot of promise. He wants to live a fairy? He is living one. What I said to my friend and I repeat to everyone who dares read this blog (myself included) is that real life is way more interesting than any fairy tale anyone could pen. Its all about semantics. Anyone can live a fairy tale, anyone can have their own fairy tale; all you need to do is elaborate and exaggerate the truth a little, add a mythical/ magical twist and end on any note you feel like.

I think we all need to do a bit more of living and less longing for that which you seem not to have. Although, who am I to talk? I probably do the most longing, the most dreaming and the most wallowing out of anyone here. I try to hide it well, but truthfully at any given moment I am wondering why it didn't work out with my latest interest, why my world isn't in perfect order, or thinking about everything I don't have in my life.

How can I be the optimist when there are times I am genuinely unhappy with my life, my world? Simple, I am an optimist out of necessity. When times get tough, when days become rough and when it seems like you will never get out of your hole, you have to (or at least I do) keep your chin up and hope for the best. After all, if things cant possibly turn around and get better, then whats the point of continuing.

I mean my life isn't so bad... in fact most would consider this a dream life, a right royal fairy tale. Whose to say fairy tale characters never got their hopes down? Whose to say that everything always happened perfectly in these stories. They certainly didn't, but then the focus was on the Happily Ever After, and everything prior to The End just let them straight there...

Singin in the Rain

Upon wrapping our short film yesterday, the entire crew went out for a drink at a near by bar. We were all chatting, shooting shit and chillaxing after a long week of production. I must say, that despite the craziness and desire to strangle some of the people I worked with, it was a good crew and I enjoyed the company. G however is no longer speaking to me.

At around 1900 hours, I get a call from Tim, Matt, Matt and Dean, who are visiting for the weekend and they happen to be a few blocks from where I live. I immediately hop up, give everyone my regards and exchange hugs, grab my things, and head for the door. When the good looking spanish DP says, "Maura, why don't you stay longer with us?" I politely say, "I have friends in town," "but im leaving for Spain on Tuesday," "but you'll be back, I havnt seen these kids in forever." Well it seemed like forever, I love the Lovechylds.

I ran out the door, flagged a cab and went home to drop my stuff off and quickly get back out the door. I was going to run all the way there, but my lungs couldnt handle running in the cold air. What can I say, I like these guys.

They are at Alligator Lounge, free pizza with every beer. We sat, chatted and had fun. Tim made the comment that when he and I talked it wasnt about the past, which is often what old college buddies talk about when faced with a reunion. Not us though, it was more about what everyone is doing now and how life is and the works. These kids never bore me...

We leave Alligator Lounge around 11:30 and head for the subway, stopping first at a convenience store where I can find a redbull. In crossing the street, I slip and wipe out... not spilling a drop of the red bull. We try to hail a cab, but they wont take 5 ppl so we try for the subway again. It takes about an hour to get to their hotel room where they retrieve their guittars, and we leave again.

There is a subway station down the street from their hotel and we head there. Enter the subway and they play. It was like being in college again, only grown up and more adventurous. I fogot how much I loved them. I was the resident groupie. At one point Matt plays a very familiar bass line, and Tim stops him. I say, come on you gotta play that... And so they play a completely acoustic version of "I Believe In A Thing Calle Love," fantastic.

I dont remember when I last smiled as widely as I did around these guys this weekend. I felt truley at home again.

All Work and No Play Make Maura Something Something...

So 2008 starts and just doesnt stop. February 10th and I am wondering where the time went. I have been working incessantly, and am happy to be working. The lack of work is starting to get to my roommate, while I actually wish I had less work to do. Truth be told, though I dont want to turn down work because, as soon as I do there will be a lull in my employment. Id rather be working than doing nothing. As I dont have a boyfriend right now, I have no reason to worry about working late... or too much. Sure my friends will miss me, but I need to stay busy.

While I often mention the perils of love, I rarely mention actually wanting boyfriend. Do I want one now? I dont know. There is someone I am interested in, but I am not sure when I will next see him. This is part of the reason I am trying to stay busy. I like this kid, but Im trying not to obsess over him or the fact that I like him. Im not really sure where I am going with this, but even so... I like this guy, he likes me and yet again I fall into a pattern of not being able to get my act together for something to happen... more updates later.

Career wise, I have been costume deigner for 3 shorts in a row. The student shorts love me because I do my job, do it well, and come in under their budget. I love them because they are fun and pay me. Its a win-win situation. I have also played UPM- unit production manager- I told the producer i tend to work with that it better be a VERY long time before he hires me as UPM again. I can handle a lot of things, but I want to learn how to do htat job well before I tackle things again.

On an upcomming short, I was asked to be 2nd AD... far cry from production, but it will be a nice break. The 1st likes the way I work, so despite the fact that am inexperienced as a 2nd, he feels like I can handle it and handle it well (and for the record, as much as this may sound like my fairy tale... the 1st is not Phillip... in fact there is no Phillip, I made up the character).

Life is slowly coming together for me... seriously