Its only now that after Surf and Sand has closed do I feel comfortable trying to get another job at a movie theater. I would've felt like I was cheating on Surf and Sand or something. I don't know.
Lazy Monday happening right now. I have lots of work to do for my scholarships and what not. So today is shaping up be a little boring.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
My First Week Back.
Been back for over a week. I truly missed the city and I am glad to be back. I took my dad to a screening of There Will Be Blood at Union Square, on a Saturday night at 7. So needless to say the place was packed with people. My dad was amazed of how busy the place was. He commented that he had never seen a movie theater that crowded. All I could do was shrug and say thats New York for ya.
I got reacquainted the things that i missed. I have had chipotle about 4 times since i've been back. I'm now using the subway without really having to look at the maps. I did get to involved in the book I was reading and missed my stop at my dorm. Stopped by my comic shop and haunted the soho Mac store for a few hours.
My first week back in class was ok. I like most of my classes. Most of them are the same teachers and times. But my new classes are Acting for Film and Literature. And the literature class consists of only pre modern works such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Sophocles. I have this mental block against literature that was written more than a hundred years ago. I'm more into the post modern lit novels. The oldest book I've read and enjoyed is Walden.
My acting teacher is the quintessential acting teacher. She's this chill hippie teacher who forbids criticism and judgment. "We are all on the same level.Equals" she says. It will be an interesting way to start my Thursdays.
Through a finagling of my own my schedule my last class is on Thursday and then my next class isn't until Tuesdays at noon. So every weekend I have a four day weekend to get all my stuff done. I have still have my internship on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Friday was cool. I ran a bunch of errands and saw Youth Without Youth, which is this bizzare movie about a scientist who gets struck by lightning when he is 80 and begins to age backwards. Then Nazis get involved somehow. Its really crazy but pretty interesting. After that I went back to the dorm where Elias ,his friend Dan , and I had a mac and cheese party and played some guitar hero.
Saturday was a strange little day. Stacy and I took Ellery to see the Veggie Tales movie. It was about vegetables who are pirates (??). Ellery being two got bored with it and we left. I decided to hang back and watch the last half of There Will Be Blood. Went back to the dorm for a little while before meeting Leah to go see Cloverfield. And I must say that it totally delivered some great scares. It completely met my expectations which were pretty high. Alot of people there were pissed about the movie that it didn't explain alot of stuff. It was a very well crafted monster movie and a great film in general. I guess from a film making stand point it really spoke to me because it was played as if it was a digital camcorder with all the overlapping footage and jump cuts. The handheld camera was a little trying at some points, I sat too close to the screen and got a headache. Right after that Leah felt we needed to detox from Cloverfield, by seeing 27 Dresses. I felt like I was the only guy in the theater. They had a decent soundtrack, but other than that it was a complete paint-by-numbers chick flick.
It was cool though because I finally saw the commercial that I worked on in October. They were playing it during the adverts at the movie theater and during the football game on Sunday. Its really an indescribable gratification.
My radioshow is now on Thursdays so I should upload it Thursday night/Friday morning.
I got reacquainted the things that i missed. I have had chipotle about 4 times since i've been back. I'm now using the subway without really having to look at the maps. I did get to involved in the book I was reading and missed my stop at my dorm. Stopped by my comic shop and haunted the soho Mac store for a few hours.
My first week back in class was ok. I like most of my classes. Most of them are the same teachers and times. But my new classes are Acting for Film and Literature. And the literature class consists of only pre modern works such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Sophocles. I have this mental block against literature that was written more than a hundred years ago. I'm more into the post modern lit novels. The oldest book I've read and enjoyed is Walden.
My acting teacher is the quintessential acting teacher. She's this chill hippie teacher who forbids criticism and judgment. "We are all on the same level.Equals" she says. It will be an interesting way to start my Thursdays.
Through a finagling of my own my schedule my last class is on Thursday and then my next class isn't until Tuesdays at noon. So every weekend I have a four day weekend to get all my stuff done. I have still have my internship on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Friday was cool. I ran a bunch of errands and saw Youth Without Youth, which is this bizzare movie about a scientist who gets struck by lightning when he is 80 and begins to age backwards. Then Nazis get involved somehow. Its really crazy but pretty interesting. After that I went back to the dorm where Elias ,his friend Dan , and I had a mac and cheese party and played some guitar hero.
Saturday was a strange little day. Stacy and I took Ellery to see the Veggie Tales movie. It was about vegetables who are pirates (??). Ellery being two got bored with it and we left. I decided to hang back and watch the last half of There Will Be Blood. Went back to the dorm for a little while before meeting Leah to go see Cloverfield. And I must say that it totally delivered some great scares. It completely met my expectations which were pretty high. Alot of people there were pissed about the movie that it didn't explain alot of stuff. It was a very well crafted monster movie and a great film in general. I guess from a film making stand point it really spoke to me because it was played as if it was a digital camcorder with all the overlapping footage and jump cuts. The handheld camera was a little trying at some points, I sat too close to the screen and got a headache. Right after that Leah felt we needed to detox from Cloverfield, by seeing 27 Dresses. I felt like I was the only guy in the theater. They had a decent soundtrack, but other than that it was a complete paint-by-numbers chick flick.
It was cool though because I finally saw the commercial that I worked on in October. They were playing it during the adverts at the movie theater and during the football game on Sunday. Its really an indescribable gratification.
My radioshow is now on Thursdays so I should upload it Thursday night/Friday morning.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
My Movie Theater
So tonight could very well be the last time I ever work at surf and sand. I have worked there for almost four years (In April). There is a very good chance that it is closing very soon. There are some screwy things going on with the lease and because of numerous other factors. We haven't had a new movie in over a month so its a good sign. There are a million things wrong with the place. Our ice machine is broken, the heat is out in two theaters, the roof leaks profusely when it rains hard, our registers are over 20 years old, the projectors have multiple problems. I honestly believe that if someone put the money into the place to renovate it and fix a few things then it would gain alot of attendance back.
I have this tiny void within me with the idea that it will be shut down.(yes a very emo statement I know. But hear me out.) That place is such a big chapter of my life. I mean there were weeks at a time when I would spend more time there than I would at home sleeping. Hours upon countless hours walking up and down the hallways patrolling movie theaters, sweeping up an infinite amount of popcorn kernels, dealing with unruly customers. I have seen alot of people come and go. Made some friends. Got most of my friends to work there with me which was really great. But its just strange to think of that place just NOT being there anymore.
I've seen SOOOOO many movies there. Previews are the best! All of the employees together just watching a movie and cracking jokes at the same time. The best one probably was Alien Vs. Predator. The worst movies make the BEST previews. It was also really great seeing movies a few days before they actually came out.
I came to work there because it was one of my dream jobs. I mean in a basic sense. My ULTIMATE dream job is a film director, but a projectionist will do for now. Anyways. I was 15 and working at Chesapeake Bagel and the people at surf and sand would come in and order food. I would talk their ears off about how I would want to work there, but couldn't until I was 16. So when I was about to turn 16 I put in an application and got hired. Out of all the people that were working there when I started only less than 5 still work there. I still talk to a few of them that moved away.
A year goes by and I move from snack to door. and a little while after that I get trained in box. And around the third year I get trained in projection which is awesome. It really is such a great job. The projectors are very fickle machines. One wrong move could fuck up the entire film print. I don't think alot of people don't fully understand how they work. When you don't do projection for a while and come back, its like riding a bike.
So the next logical conclusion would be that I would become a supervisor. But because I goof off alot and had a tendency to not follow some ridiculous policies, I wasn't made a supervisor. But it was strange. When I left for college 60% of the floor staff left for college as well. After that the theater wasn't really the same again. The responsibilities of the different positions weren't held in as much high esteem. I mean positions that took me years to get promoted to took people months to do now.
So I left for college and had to get other jobs up in richmond, and i never have enjoyed any place that I've worked at since. In a totally mutant way we were kind of a family. So strange but kind of true.
I was mentally writing this post during my shift and I was going to write out a whole movie theater etiquette guide but being that it is 330 in the morning and I have alot! of stuff to do tomorrow before I leave early Saturday I need sleep.
I have this tiny void within me with the idea that it will be shut down.(yes a very emo statement I know. But hear me out.) That place is such a big chapter of my life. I mean there were weeks at a time when I would spend more time there than I would at home sleeping. Hours upon countless hours walking up and down the hallways patrolling movie theaters, sweeping up an infinite amount of popcorn kernels, dealing with unruly customers. I have seen alot of people come and go. Made some friends. Got most of my friends to work there with me which was really great. But its just strange to think of that place just NOT being there anymore.
I've seen SOOOOO many movies there. Previews are the best! All of the employees together just watching a movie and cracking jokes at the same time. The best one probably was Alien Vs. Predator. The worst movies make the BEST previews. It was also really great seeing movies a few days before they actually came out.
I came to work there because it was one of my dream jobs. I mean in a basic sense. My ULTIMATE dream job is a film director, but a projectionist will do for now. Anyways. I was 15 and working at Chesapeake Bagel and the people at surf and sand would come in and order food. I would talk their ears off about how I would want to work there, but couldn't until I was 16. So when I was about to turn 16 I put in an application and got hired. Out of all the people that were working there when I started only less than 5 still work there. I still talk to a few of them that moved away.
A year goes by and I move from snack to door. and a little while after that I get trained in box. And around the third year I get trained in projection which is awesome. It really is such a great job. The projectors are very fickle machines. One wrong move could fuck up the entire film print. I don't think alot of people don't fully understand how they work. When you don't do projection for a while and come back, its like riding a bike.
So the next logical conclusion would be that I would become a supervisor. But because I goof off alot and had a tendency to not follow some ridiculous policies, I wasn't made a supervisor. But it was strange. When I left for college 60% of the floor staff left for college as well. After that the theater wasn't really the same again. The responsibilities of the different positions weren't held in as much high esteem. I mean positions that took me years to get promoted to took people months to do now.
So I left for college and had to get other jobs up in richmond, and i never have enjoyed any place that I've worked at since. In a totally mutant way we were kind of a family. So strange but kind of true.
I was mentally writing this post during my shift and I was going to write out a whole movie theater etiquette guide but being that it is 330 in the morning and I have alot! of stuff to do tomorrow before I leave early Saturday I need sleep.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
My Big Update
So yes i havent updated in over a month. But I do better than some other blogs I read. I want to try and keep this updated as much as possible.
Ok so I am in virginia beach right now. about to head back to New York in a few days. I am going to leave on Saturday. Kind of counting down the days. I want to leave but i want to stay.
The break overall has been good. Hung out with alot of people that I sorely missed. Phil and I went to the gym alot durring the break. I think it is benefiting me somewhat. Hopefully I will continue to do that in NY. Got to monopolize Shelby a bit. I didnt see ALOT of movies. but I saw quite a few really great movies. Atonement was really amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if it won best picture. But besides the many movies hanging out with my friends was amazing. I miss them so. Hopefully in a few years i can get more people to come live here because of how amazing it is.
I cant believe that next week I'll be back in classes. I essentially I have to switch around most of my scheduel just cause of various reasons. My grades last semester were quite good. One B and the rest A's which is SWEET!! I have to take a Literature class next semester which I'm mildly looking forward to. Hopefully we will read some really great books. But that rarely happens i've noticed. Been reading alot of books over break. Read The Subtle Knife, No Country for Old Men, a few scripts, Apollo's Song, and some comics. Right now I'm reading Peter Pan and its interesting so far.
My future reading list is full to the brim. I got a few gift cards and bout almost 6 books. Alot of titles that im VERY excited to read. I hope that I can adapt some of my favorite books into films. Thats what Stanly Kubrick did, he adapted nearly all of his films from books. My dream project is Claire Marvel and its a quite simple drama but the themes in it are something I have an intense personal connections with.
But alas the year is over and I saw around 230 nEW movies this year. Thats .63 movies a day!!! Not a bad average.
So yeah, I will do my best to update as frequently as I can. Now below is an unused post that I began to write before I left NY for break.
Another day another adventure. I went to work on Friday, and was sent on a massive errand. I went to take location photos of stages for a commercial shoot that we are doing. They gave me a list of places and a camera and put me in a car. For the next few hours I was running around all the boroughs to various stages taking pictures. It was really funny, I was sent to this one studio where they were shooting Gossip Girl, 30 Rock, and the Sex and the City movie all in the same building! I wasn't able to grab lunch in all of the running around.
I got back to the office at about 4pm. All that was left for me to do was to take the pictures off the camera and give them to the producers. But of course, being life, it wasn't that easy. Being that the camera was a Sony, and that the fact that all the pictures were located on the camera's internal memory, not on a memory card, we had no way of getting the pictures off of the camera. I had to run around in the snow for about 2 hours. And hadn't eaten all day. It was not fun. I even went to the sony store, they were sold out! They tried to sell me the wrong chord. I had prove their computer system wrong. So I went to this other store and had to put a $70 dollar deposit down so that I could borrow the cable for a weekend essentially. Anyways, I took the cable back and then I was done with work for the day. I went to this great resturant called Soho Park, had an amazing steak sandwich and fries, then caught a screening of Margot at the Wedding, which was not an enjoyable movie at all. I just hated all of the characters by the end.
Anyways so Saturday I lounged around and did home work before going to catch a late showing of The Golden Compass with my Uncle. But before we left I visited with my cousin who is almost two. And she is the most entertaining person I know. And I can entertain her very easily. Its great. She spent most of the night enthralled with my wallet.
The Golden Compass was throughly entertaining. Its a really great holiday movie. I love fantasy films. And I felt they did a good job with it. But it didn't do too well in the box office so it may not get to complete its story. Lame.
So I got back to the dorm around 1 and stayed up watching some movies. Then Elias and his two friends that are staying over came in at about 4am. It didnt really wake me up. I had just layed my head down. Elias needed to wake up at 530am to go work on a shoot. So we decided to be evil and keep him up till about 520am.
But The weeks ended and I was done with classes. My first year as a film student is done and I feel great. Can't wait to come back in a month.
Ok so I am in virginia beach right now. about to head back to New York in a few days. I am going to leave on Saturday. Kind of counting down the days. I want to leave but i want to stay.
The break overall has been good. Hung out with alot of people that I sorely missed. Phil and I went to the gym alot durring the break. I think it is benefiting me somewhat. Hopefully I will continue to do that in NY. Got to monopolize Shelby a bit. I didnt see ALOT of movies. but I saw quite a few really great movies. Atonement was really amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if it won best picture. But besides the many movies hanging out with my friends was amazing. I miss them so. Hopefully in a few years i can get more people to come live here because of how amazing it is.
I cant believe that next week I'll be back in classes. I essentially I have to switch around most of my scheduel just cause of various reasons. My grades last semester were quite good. One B and the rest A's which is SWEET!! I have to take a Literature class next semester which I'm mildly looking forward to. Hopefully we will read some really great books. But that rarely happens i've noticed. Been reading alot of books over break. Read The Subtle Knife, No Country for Old Men, a few scripts, Apollo's Song, and some comics. Right now I'm reading Peter Pan and its interesting so far.
My future reading list is full to the brim. I got a few gift cards and bout almost 6 books. Alot of titles that im VERY excited to read. I hope that I can adapt some of my favorite books into films. Thats what Stanly Kubrick did, he adapted nearly all of his films from books. My dream project is Claire Marvel and its a quite simple drama but the themes in it are something I have an intense personal connections with.
But alas the year is over and I saw around 230 nEW movies this year. Thats .63 movies a day!!! Not a bad average.
So yeah, I will do my best to update as frequently as I can. Now below is an unused post that I began to write before I left NY for break.
Another day another adventure. I went to work on Friday, and was sent on a massive errand. I went to take location photos of stages for a commercial shoot that we are doing. They gave me a list of places and a camera and put me in a car. For the next few hours I was running around all the boroughs to various stages taking pictures. It was really funny, I was sent to this one studio where they were shooting Gossip Girl, 30 Rock, and the Sex and the City movie all in the same building! I wasn't able to grab lunch in all of the running around.
I got back to the office at about 4pm. All that was left for me to do was to take the pictures off the camera and give them to the producers. But of course, being life, it wasn't that easy. Being that the camera was a Sony, and that the fact that all the pictures were located on the camera's internal memory, not on a memory card, we had no way of getting the pictures off of the camera. I had to run around in the snow for about 2 hours. And hadn't eaten all day. It was not fun. I even went to the sony store, they were sold out! They tried to sell me the wrong chord. I had prove their computer system wrong. So I went to this other store and had to put a $70 dollar deposit down so that I could borrow the cable for a weekend essentially. Anyways, I took the cable back and then I was done with work for the day. I went to this great resturant called Soho Park, had an amazing steak sandwich and fries, then caught a screening of Margot at the Wedding, which was not an enjoyable movie at all. I just hated all of the characters by the end.
Anyways so Saturday I lounged around and did home work before going to catch a late showing of The Golden Compass with my Uncle. But before we left I visited with my cousin who is almost two. And she is the most entertaining person I know. And I can entertain her very easily. Its great. She spent most of the night enthralled with my wallet.
The Golden Compass was throughly entertaining. Its a really great holiday movie. I love fantasy films. And I felt they did a good job with it. But it didn't do too well in the box office so it may not get to complete its story. Lame.
So I got back to the dorm around 1 and stayed up watching some movies. Then Elias and his two friends that are staying over came in at about 4am. It didnt really wake me up. I had just layed my head down. Elias needed to wake up at 530am to go work on a shoot. So we decided to be evil and keep him up till about 520am.
But The weeks ended and I was done with classes. My first year as a film student is done and I feel great. Can't wait to come back in a month.
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