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.
25 February 2008
22 February 2008
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...
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...
10 February 2008
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.
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
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
25 January 2008
...
The world is again a blur as I work simultaneously on two short films. Its crazy how much you forget the world around you when you're busy. Such is life in the big city. Such is the life in the big city.
Since January began, my work life has picked up quite a bit. As strange as it seems... to me anyways, I have been working mostly in Costumes and Wardrobe. Two months ago I was looking to get out, and now here I am running the show. Its funny how things turn out... how life works out. Costumes balance my need to run the show, and as odd as it is I think I want to get to producing through wardrobe.
At least right now, that is what I think I want. Do we ever know what we want when we see it? When we are exposed to it?
No, I don't think so. I think we get ideas and the ideas run away with us. Do we then take steps to make the ideas come to life? What happens then when the outcome is not how we pictured it?
Is it ever supposed to be?
from time to time perhaps... but in general no...
Since January began, my work life has picked up quite a bit. As strange as it seems... to me anyways, I have been working mostly in Costumes and Wardrobe. Two months ago I was looking to get out, and now here I am running the show. Its funny how things turn out... how life works out. Costumes balance my need to run the show, and as odd as it is I think I want to get to producing through wardrobe.
At least right now, that is what I think I want. Do we ever know what we want when we see it? When we are exposed to it?
No, I don't think so. I think we get ideas and the ideas run away with us. Do we then take steps to make the ideas come to life? What happens then when the outcome is not how we pictured it?
Is it ever supposed to be?
from time to time perhaps... but in general no...
08 January 2008
Best of 2007!
As I look back on 2007, here are some of my highlights as I see them:
Best Overall Move: Deciding to pursue a film career in New York
Coolest New Move: Unpopping Collars in Bars
Most Surprisingly Movie-like Story: Me moving to NYC and Starting work
Most Surprisingly Awesome Project: Planning and Coordinating the Summer Camps
Most Memorable Movie Worked On: Red Hook.... it was my first and it will always hold a soft spot in my heart
Coolest Short Term Freelance Gig: Helping to make Turbans for Marc Jacob's Holiday Party
Coolest Temp Job: Working in GQ's Fashion Closet
Worst Temp Job: Tying bows on books for Cole Hann
Best New Beginning to a Story: This is what was suppose to happen... This is what actually happened
Coolest Night Out: Going to get RENT tickets at 12pm not getting home from that whole endeavour until 5am
Best Day Trip: Anita and I going to U of M to see 12th Night as done by a children's theatre... and stopping by trader Joe's while we were there
Sweetest Engagement: Tom and Amy getting engaged the last Saturday in August!
Most Memorable Kiss: Grant... although that kiss at Dive 75 also ranks up there (more because Tom won't ever let me live that down)
Person I Wish I Could Get Back in Touch With: Grant
Most Interesting Celebrity Met: Vinnie Jones
Sweetest Networking Contact and Friend: J.B... he's been a mentor to me since he took me on as UPM for Venice
Coolest New Friend: Lauren Loeb... though I have met many new people over the course of this year, Lauren ranks as coolest because she has many a time been my partner in crime
Best Sporting Moment: Red Sox Winning the World Series
Favorite New Player: Dustin Pedroia
Best Book Read: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Best Movie Seen in Theatres: Juno... Hands down this one was by far the best I saw in theatres and it luckily snuck in under the radar
Worst Movie Seen in Theatres: this should actually be classified as movie I saw in theatres that I like the least.... 1408
Most Watched Movie: Love Actually, for grand total of 15 times.... that I can think of
Favorite New TV Show: Private Practice
Most Watched TV Show: Firefly
Favorite New CD: Travis- Boy with no Name
Most Listened to CD: James Blunt- All the Lost Souls (there is something completely mesmerizing about it)
Hardest Goodbye: that's a toss up between Elaine, Elana and Anita... all were very special and dear in their own way... and all were very hard to let go of
Most Over Used Turn of Phrase (by me): Fair Enough
Most Over Used Hand Gesture (by me): the sign language Y with a little nod
While there are many other bests and worsts of the year, these are among the ones I chose to share... may you enjoy and laugh at these little sentiments
Best Overall Move: Deciding to pursue a film career in New York
Coolest New Move: Unpopping Collars in Bars
Most Surprisingly Movie-like Story: Me moving to NYC and Starting work
Most Surprisingly Awesome Project: Planning and Coordinating the Summer Camps
Most Memorable Movie Worked On: Red Hook.... it was my first and it will always hold a soft spot in my heart
Coolest Short Term Freelance Gig: Helping to make Turbans for Marc Jacob's Holiday Party
Coolest Temp Job: Working in GQ's Fashion Closet
Worst Temp Job: Tying bows on books for Cole Hann
Best New Beginning to a Story: This is what was suppose to happen... This is what actually happened
Coolest Night Out: Going to get RENT tickets at 12pm not getting home from that whole endeavour until 5am
Best Day Trip: Anita and I going to U of M to see 12th Night as done by a children's theatre... and stopping by trader Joe's while we were there
Sweetest Engagement: Tom and Amy getting engaged the last Saturday in August!
Most Memorable Kiss: Grant... although that kiss at Dive 75 also ranks up there (more because Tom won't ever let me live that down)
Person I Wish I Could Get Back in Touch With: Grant
Most Interesting Celebrity Met: Vinnie Jones
Sweetest Networking Contact and Friend: J.B... he's been a mentor to me since he took me on as UPM for Venice
Coolest New Friend: Lauren Loeb... though I have met many new people over the course of this year, Lauren ranks as coolest because she has many a time been my partner in crime
Best Sporting Moment: Red Sox Winning the World Series
Favorite New Player: Dustin Pedroia
Best Book Read: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Best Movie Seen in Theatres: Juno... Hands down this one was by far the best I saw in theatres and it luckily snuck in under the radar
Worst Movie Seen in Theatres: this should actually be classified as movie I saw in theatres that I like the least.... 1408
Most Watched Movie: Love Actually, for grand total of 15 times.... that I can think of
Favorite New TV Show: Private Practice
Most Watched TV Show: Firefly
Favorite New CD: Travis- Boy with no Name
Most Listened to CD: James Blunt- All the Lost Souls (there is something completely mesmerizing about it)
Hardest Goodbye: that's a toss up between Elaine, Elana and Anita... all were very special and dear in their own way... and all were very hard to let go of
Most Over Used Turn of Phrase (by me): Fair Enough
Most Over Used Hand Gesture (by me): the sign language Y with a little nod
While there are many other bests and worsts of the year, these are among the ones I chose to share... may you enjoy and laugh at these little sentiments
02 January 2008
A New Year State of Mind
New Year's is a time for new beginnings, a new start essentially for anything you want to better about yourself. I started my new year by taking a risk, I made eyes at a complete and total stranger on the bus from New York to VB, until he invited me to the empty seat next to him where we talked for the majority of the 7 hour trip. He was really cute, really nice and we had quite the interesting conversation. Honestly, how many times do you meet a stranger that you can talk to for 7 hours and not find them boring or in any way trite.
We got to VB, and parted ways. No numbers, no e-mails, no last names, just the experience of having talked to each other for the duration of the trip. Probably dumb on my part, but you know... you live and you learn.
Here are my projects for 2008:
We got to VB, and parted ways. No numbers, no e-mails, no last names, just the experience of having talked to each other for the duration of the trip. Probably dumb on my part, but you know... you live and you learn.
Here are my projects for 2008:
- Never drink vodka again (I know I have said something similar before... this time I'm for real)
- Drink less
- Get into a regular exercise routine
- Eat healthier
- Read at least 1 non industry book a month
- Write 1 short story every two months
- Meet nice guys, and go out on at least one date (I find it hard to believe that I am 23 and haven't exactly been out on a date)
- Stay Positive (My whole living situation in Detroit really took a toll on my positivity... I still have a little ways to go to get back to my old self)
- Figure out what I want, and go for it
- Repel the guys I am not interested and attract the nice ones I am interested in
- Trust myself, others and the world- everything will fall into place as it already has
So this seems like quite the list... lets see how I do. 2008 here I come!
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