FILM

Wow. What an experience today has been!
Really threw me into a "real world" perspective type thing.

I awoke to my dismay this morning at 5 o'clock A.M. after receiving five hours of sleep. I had planned out what I was going to wear the night before, as my mind is generally numb at that time in the morning and with as little sleep I got.
It felt so weird to drive to UMHB at such an early time. Let me tell you how afraid I was about falling asleep while driving! My anxiety was so high that it completely nulled the effects of my medication (I'll be sure to let my psychiatrist know that I'm ready for a higher dosage).
After surviving the drive up to school (with the help of blasting my iPod), IT WAS STILL DARK OUT! I made it to school at 5:50, so I sat around in my car and drank my breakfast replacement shake.
I'm not a breakfast person, but I knew I needed the energy from the sugars and vitamins. Chocolate flavor it definitely my favorite! It doesn't taste fake or gross!
But that's an aside.

As soon as I walked into the York Science building the work began. I helped bring in supplies and food/snacks/drinks/eating utensils from the parking lot all the way up to the third floor.
Thank God for elevators. ;)

It was SUPER busy from 6 a.m. all the way to 8 o'clock. We were setting up the sets, lighting, and sound/cameras, as well as getting the actors prepared for their lines, make-up, and costumes.

We started running a little late and half an hour off schedule. But we finally started to film!
One thing I will say, is that in the film industry no matter what your part, you are expected to know EVERYTHING you need to do. I wouldn't say that higher-ups are rude, but they aren't sweet to you and they don't say please. So you really need to turn off your normal emotional responses, and try to get in your head that these people aren't being rude, they're just SUPER specific to how they want things, and get VERY upset when you're wrong.
I wanted to cry several times, but I'm a big girl, so I held it in. ;)

I always sort of had an idea that it took a long time to make a film, but who knew in order to film an 11 minute movie, it would take 15 hours!!! Twelve hours today (6-6), and we're filming for another 3 or 4 tomorrow (Sunday)!

Another thing I sort of expected but didn't all at the same time is that scenes are shot out of order. We in particular are going backwards. There are 6 scenes in all, and we filmed scenes 6-2 today.

But you don't film a scene just once! There are a few rehearsal run throughs initially before each scene is filmed. Then it takes about 2-3 minutes to prepare! Starting with the announcement "QUIET ON SET!" and finally ending with the director shouting "ACTION!". Talk about crazy.
Then each scene is filmed as a "master shot"; a camera view that gives the viewer a visual on the setting, and shows all the characters acting together. Then the scene gets shot again for each of the actor's close ups. Actually, it's called a medium shot (this is how most T.V. shows are filmed). And each of these get filmed 2, or 3, or even 5 times depending on if something goes wrong! Anything can go wrong! Sound (like an airplane all of a sudden, or someone out in a hall way or even the air conditioner turning on!!!). An actor can mess up his/her lines or actions. Or the director or director of cinematography could not be "feeling" scene.

Sometimes close ups from different angles are required too!

Just absolute craziness! No; not craziness.
Managed chaos.
Yes. That's the correct definition.
If you didn't know while watching the movie, you'd never know that only a few INCHES away from the lens of the camera, just off view, was me. Holding the reflector for the lighting.
I find that incredibly cool.

However, I'm not planning to changing my career path to anything during production.
Today has shown me that I chose wisely in that I want to be a part of POST production.

Though I wish I was part of the editing crew, this was still a neat experience for me.
What I had in my head about what producing a film would be like, today FAR surpassed my expectations.

:)

By the by, here's a shameful self promotion that the film we shot today, "The Last Waltz", will be screening at UMHB on April 20th and the 21st in Brindley Auditorium at 11 am, and Lord Conference Center at 12:30 pm respectively.
MY NAME WILL BE IN THE CREDITS AS GRIP! :D

But no. I'm not prideful that my name will be in the credits. That is a common misconception.
;)

Tag: You're it

"Tagging" is sort of a youtube thing.

A person tags 5 people in their video. If you get tagged, YOU have to make a video.

The video contains 5 facts about yourself (you can be serious or silly).

So I thought I'd bring this obsession to blogspot as well as facebook.

You don't have to make a video, but it can be really fun.

So I tag everyone.

:D

GO EDIT! Make me proud. hahaha

:)

-ttfn

Move!

So the week of spring break (March 13) my family and I are moving!
Not a particularly big move (only a few streets down from where we are now).
However, the new house has some much needed space for our growing family!
No. None of us are pregnant.
;)


However, we are one adult and one medium sized dog more than we were before I made the migration to Texas.

We need some serious space!!!

The new house is about twice as big as the one we currently rent. With bedrooms 1.5x the size of the ones we occupy and two large living rooms, this house will have plenty of space when everyone needs it!

I'm super excited! I love moving! I love new houses.
You know one of America's biggest fears is change?
The number one fear being public speaking, and fear of death falling at number 7.
However, those are whole other stories.

I don't have much of a fear of change! My life thus far in my 18 years and 9 months (my birthday is in exactly 3 from today ;D ), has been about nothing but change!
I've lived in two states, three cities, three houses, soon to become four.
I mean, there's more changes besides the moves, but I've accepted them!
I just love the change of getting a new house.
My sister's moved so many times, I've lost count! And I've been there for every single one of them.

So change is not really a fear of mine.

I embrace it.

Tomorrow the whole family will get a tour of the house; my momster Jennifer's the only one who's seen the inside so far, so I'm really looking forward to get a glimpse of the layout, and try to imagine where our furnature will go.

Might I also add that I have the best boss/adoptive mother in the entire world, because I would have had to work tomorrow during the house tour, but she told me not to worry about it.
:)

And I'd like to add for Ginny McQ, I LOVE THAT YOU STALK MY BLOG RELIGOUSLY!
:)

Footprints

So I'm sure most everyone (at least most christians anyway), have heard this story, but it's one of my favorites.
We talked about it briefly during alternative chapel last Saturday, and I wanted to post it.
:)

One Night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the
Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you you'd walk with me all the way, but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was
then that I carried you."

Just one of those inspirational stories I suppose, and I'm sure you've all heard it, but I just wanted to remind you of it.

:)

Please & Thank you

Why is it that all the restrooms in UMHB have coat/bag hangers except for the restrooms in the SUB?
I find this completely ridiculous.
I would just like to point out that it is winter, so many girls and women on campus are wearing coats or jackets. Or possibly both depending on how cold it is. Also, a great number of these said girls/women, also are carrying purses.
As a fellow female, I pride myself in not putting my bag and coat on the disgusting, dirty, bathroom floor.
So upon my entering the stall when I need to use the restrooms located in the SUB, I am always slightly frustrated when I am yet again reminded that there is no hook for me to hang my belongings.

So I am then forced to get creative, and find a way to make sure my stuff doesn't touch the floor, or any of the other germy surfaces within the stall.
This creates extra work for me, mind you when my bladder is full to burst at any moment(!), as I have to then unlatch the door, align the hood of my jacket and the shoulder strap of my bag perfectly over the top right corner of the stall door, then make sure I can close said door and re-latch.

All the while praying to God that my stuff doesn't fall off and touch the floor that I worked so hard to prevent happening.

So, please, dear Mary Hardin-Baylor, hear me out.
If you've got the moo-lah to spend on new roofs, multiple building projects, and new parking spaces, please, please, PLEASE, shell out the cash to buy the 8 or so hangers so desperately needed in the ladies restroom of the SUB.

Fellow student in public bathroom misery,
Sadie M.