Becareful what you do when you just want to work in TV!!
This is why I love to work behind the scenes… my face won’t show up on some project I worked on later in my career and make me feel shameful!! It’s typically just my name, and even then very few people actually read credits.
Proof the US Education System is failing students…
a quote from it “I personally believe that many Iraq, South Africa for our children… Americans … there is a shortage help south africa and places such as of maps and we should…”
And for more entertainment watch:
HUMAN TETRIS
and
HUMAN TETRIS 2
Cracks me up every time.
If you are wondering, Sam’s still on the movie. He’s primarily working 7pm until 7am, meaning he leaves before I’m home and then comes home after I’ve left for work.
Storms
Sam and I have found out way into the middle of a few storms lately. Thankfully while some have cleared up new ones have reared their heads. Today Sam found out that Winona, MN (where his parents live) have had some terrible floods. 12 inches to be exact. His parents have now evacuated and are staying with Sam’s brother in his 2nd story apartment building. It is reported that 5 people are confirmed dead, although in MN they are saying 9 people.
This is a local store. Mostly I feel sad for those vintage cars sitting out front. Sad classics that will probably be in pain after all the water.
That is Sam Sr. and Barb’s street.
And that is their back yard. Typically you would walk down a series of about 10 steps to get to the reservoir and now the water is up to the yard level. Across the reservoir from where they live they just built million dollar homes. Needless to say the contractor didn’t do his research…
Sam is really worried about his family, so please pray for them and everyone dealing with flooding, storms (both literally and figuratively), hurricanes and mudslides.
Vegas Baby!!
This past weekend Sam and I decided to fight LA traffic and head out way to Vegas. See both CA and Vegas fight over the roads. California thinks that Vegas should pay for the roads to be widened since Vegas is the one who primarily profits from the traffic. Where as NV says “idiot, they are YOUR roads.” Once you hit the NV border everything picks up. It’s the CA side that’s retarded. But then most California roads are like that. Poorly planned for the amount of traffic that’s on them. And what’s really sad??? They are going to get a WHOLE lot worse before they finally get better. Don’t get me started on the huge gas tax and license fee that seems to go to special interest groups and NOT what it’s intended for.
Dope, sorry…I got off topic.
We had gone to Vegas to meet up with friends of my parents, The Pitmans. They happen to frequent the Star Trek convention so we decided to drive out to meet up with them. Sam had never met them before. We stayed at the Hilton, where they were staying to make meeting up between their sessions easier. Sam and I arrived so late the hotel was forced to upgrade out room. (being overbooked) We had a HUGE king sized bed, Jacuzzi tub, and a beautiful view of the strip.
Primarily we ate. And ate some more. Buffet the Saturday for breakfast and then dinner at the “Top of the World” restaurant at the top of the Stratosphere. Then Sunday brunch before we hit the road.
Somewhere in there we were able to cram in the Imperial Palace’s Vintage Car display. That hotel is REALLY crummy, but they had some beautiful cars: Bugati, Ford Mustang, Mini Cooper, Maserati, Rolls Royce etc.
While we were talking to the Pitmans we realized that Sam and I hadn’t been away together for over a year and 1/2. Now I think we are aware of it, we will take more weekend get aways.
Editing 101
For those of you who don’t know, I’m a TV editor. I primarily cut reality tv and have been being paid to do it for 7 and 1/2 years now. Editor’s take all the raw footage, assemble the show, add graphics, add music and sound effects…. legalize it for TV etc. I can give you more detail later. I love it because it’s with computers, music, story telling. It’s multi-layered and great for one with a short attention span because the projects are always changing. Always learning, always meeting new people and working in new places.
Last night I went over to watch a friend’s home video. It was surprisingly great. Great emotional arc, good cutaways, titles in the right places… one of the friends has a photographic memory. So he scrolled thru the instructions and keyboard shortcuts. I was a little taken back. Typically home videos suck. They have no emotion, they are so shaky and have such bad sound you can’t really tell what’s going on. Where this was great. So I’ve decided if this friend ever needs a new career he should consider editing. It’s not often that people can make the entry level editing programs do even CLOSE to that, let alone in 2 days. Typically I can’t really help people get work, but this person has SOOO much talent I don’t think it would be hard for them to break in.
Plus at the rate the film and TV industry is growing, taking on internet and cell phone media the jobs are growing exponentially. Some places are getting desperate for entry level employees.
General note: I can’t help you get cast, I’m not much help reading your script and there’s no chance I can get you near a director. I can get you a unpaid PA gig on a film, I can get you an entry level post job – but I will only do so if I see talent. Helping people in these areas is putting my name and reputation on the line. But if you ever need pointers on your videos please feel free to ask. Although beware, the first thing I’m going to tell you is BUY A TRIPOD!!
The little things
I went and watched this video for one reason alone: this week in Entertainment Weekly Stephen King wrote an entire page motivated by this video. Stephen King, who brought us It, Apt Pupil, The Green Mile, Firestarter, Misery, and so many more works that will be remembered for decades to come.
And what motivates this man??? A balding man dancing in a best buy.
The idea that something so simple would make a man of King’s talent stop everything he was doing and not only watch, but smile is empowering. Let alone the fact it inspired him to write a whole page on the matter. I’m glad I’m a person who sees and enjoys the little things. And I hope I can find inspiration in these places as well.
Top Model Tribute
As most of you know I worked on 2 seasons of America’s Next Top Model. It was great experience and a lot of fun as I watched the show before I worked there. This however is the best tribute I’ve seen yet. Go here Planet Unicorn and watch Episode 4.
I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.
BTW Tyra is very nice in real life. And no I can’t tell you secrets I’ve signed a confidentiality agreement.
Colorado
My dad just accepted a job at a church in Grand Junction, Colorado. They will put their house on the market immediately and then hopefully move sometime in September. This is a big step for them, returning to the US. My parents haven’t lived in the US since College and Seminary. My Dad grew up in Canada, so I’m sure he will have a little bit of separation anxiety. It will be a big change for them.
I will miss having a place to crash and car to borrow when I visit Toronto. Although it’s good I was just there to see my old friends.
In a way I wish that he could have found a job in another field, but they are moving to a beautiful place that will be nice to visit.
Please pray for them as they take this new step together in their lives.
