thebluewillow

>:/

2008-03-24T06:11:06Z

"You can never truly walk with dinosaurs"...
Thanks Discovery Channel. For a minute there, I almost thought it would be possible. I saw it within my grasp. After all, we are working with cloning all the time. I thought to myself "You know, dagnabit, I'd like to be really up close to a T-Rex. That would really make my day!"

I get soooo mad at advertising and tv lately. I was watching Enchanted with my mom, sister, and aunt as a sort of Easter celebration, and they were advertising a new "HD" version of Sleeping Beauty...
..... .. . OKAY. Here's the problem with that. HD implies High Definition. It implies that at some point, a High Definition camera was used. Or a High Definition tv that you are viewing through. It implies some change in the technology that was used to "FILM" Sleeping Beauty. Now the hitch: It's ANIMATED. I just... I just can't... It's just that... AHHHH!! How STUPID do they think people are. I know what HD DVD is... that they accomplish via 'blue ray'. But HD implies that it was FILMED on HD equpitment. Oh, and the big 'optical' change? The green got lighter. That's right... our old classic version of Sleeping Beauty can now be yours for 25 or 30 on blue ray disc with the remarkable change of a new shade of green. *tilts head, stares, claps methodically* Well done disney, you fuckers. Well done.

So life is okay. Just want to get back to the UK to visit my peeps. But sad I won't see MaryAnn again, and sad that so much time has gone by with me doing so little. However, this past week I've been pretty miraculously productive. I edited for 20 hours this week in only a few days, and will do the same next week as I finish up with Film121. Then all I have to worry about is what the hell to pack.

OH, yes, and F-U to BA for cutting my baggage weight in half, followed by cutting the number of baggage I'm allowed in half. Thanks... thanks a lot. That was really... sweet of you. :/

thebluewillow @ 2008-03-18T01:17:00

2008-03-18T08:19:31Z

Why will no one go to Bellingham with me?

It's only the BEST place in the world!
I think I can convince Becah... maybe.

Packing for going back to England. Going to go there for a few months (lets hope they dont stop me at the airport!) as a tourist, and then might fly directly to NY and tour it with my mom for a bit this summer. I think that's a ... sorta... plan for now. But I dont want to plan too much! But I can't not plan... I'm sooo doomed.

News Flash

2008-03-12T04:24:12Z

To those of you interested, or keeping up to date on my life, I've spent the last 5 months sitting and waiting for the Home Office, (a governmental body in the United Kingdom), to make a decision with regards to my managing a small production company called Film121.
Today I found out.

My visa has been denied, and I will not be working in England. Now, this means that I've got several huge life defining choices. Naturally I'll inevitably end up deciding on working in NY or LA. But in the meantime, I'm not going to jump quite yet. I'm going to go back to England to clean up whats there, see my boyfriend, and say goodbye to some friends, and maybe even put in a few free hours on some film sets. Also, I'm going back to get advice and perspective.

So I'm leaving on April 2nd, and I'll be gone for a few months enjoying myself for a bit, and giving myself some time to recover from the 5 month lull.

Anyways, just thought I'd let you all know what is up, and that I'm not leaving for the UK for 5 years, just going back for a visit.

If anyone wants to say anything about living or working in LA or NY, it'd be greatly greatly greatly appreciated. I've never been to NY, and only once when I was 13 to LA. So... I'm just thinking I might want to get a lay/sense of the land first, and might make a few road trips, and might rely on the kindness of a few strangers... but that will be in a few months time. Anyways, again, anything you guys could say/know about those places would be great.

I'll update later when I decide what I'm doing and where I'm going and why I'm doing it. Till then, just going to watch some more West Wing and eat some Ice cream before I carry on.

Dear 2008,

2008-01-02T02:49:52Z

I was talking about how crap everything is to my boyfriend (per usual)... but I do have faith that despite an amazing start and middle to 2007, that I'll have a great middle and end of 2008!

After all, 8 is better then 7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi-ODZ3ING0

year in review to come. x

Response for Darien on Nationalized Medicare

2007-12-29T07:35:06Z

I feel a bit the expert here in this case!!! Only because i have experienced medicine in both sides! Both the 'insurance' side, and the 'socialized' side.

Just a quick little note... basically in England you go to the hospital, or emergency room, or make an appointment with a doctor or nurse whenever you are ill or need help. If you make an appointment, you'll be seeing a doctor in your neighborhood (this means within five blocks in London) and will be seen no later then maybe 20 minutes for your appointment. At the hospital, it will be a longer wait if you are going in the middle of the night on a friday or saturday due to the extra medical care needed for people who overdid it on the weekend...

That being said, the wait is well worth it. Sure, doctors don't have the great 'bedside manner' that we are 'accustomed' to... but after bitching about a doctor who I felt treated me like a piece of meat in England, I experienced an odd phenominon, which somehow I had convenintly forgotten about the US medical system.

When I was in england I found a lump on my thigh. which freaked me out. I had it seen at the hospital, which is maybe 8 blocks away instead of the four or five to my regular doctor. I sat in the waiting room for about 15 minutes before I was seen. The doctor felt my lump, looked at me coldly and said' You have a cyst. this can be removed if you think it is unsightly. You'll be fine, come back if something like this hurts or grows bigger" I was pissed off... mostly because of the way he handled me. I made an appointment with an american doctor for when I got back in the USA. I wanted a second opinion.
I called group health, and thought, 'well, if I'm going in for one thing, I'll get a few more checked out." I told them about the lump and made an appointment, and then also mentioned that I might have a urinary tract infection. They told me I needed to come in that day, and that it couldn't wait. I was passed on the phone over to another dept. to get an appointment. They told me they didn't have room but would see if they could bypass me seeing a doctor and moved me over to ANOTHER phone line. The woman there was pissed off, and said she had no space to see me, and that she didn't understand why I was being seen at all, and told me I'd have to go into the hospital in tacoma... that day.
I took the boat off and went to the hospital where I put my name on a slip of paper and details, and into a bin. A woman looked it over and said that I didn't need to see the doctor, just needed a urine test. She insisted that the doctors wait was at least an hour or two, and that I should just get it taken care of via lab results. So I went and took a number, waited half an hour, and did a urine test, and the lab sent me away. I wasn't sure where I was meant to go so I went back to the receptionist, who then told me to go back to the lab and they could tell me my result and give me a prescription. I took another number, waited another half an hour. I told the lab what the receptionist had told me... the lab looked shocked. She said she wasn't an MD, and couldn't perscribe me anything. I'd HAVE to see a doctor. I went back to the receptionist, and she said she'd see what she could do. She said she had taken my name out of the wait for the doctor, and so she'd try to squeeze me in if she could. A half hour later, she said that they couldn't see the results, even if I did see a doctor, as they were sent back to my doctors in south tacoma, who had already left for the day and were closed. She let me know that they were backed up because a nurse had gone out into the ambulence lane and was hit by a car, and that they were currently treating her and were preoccupied. I was told I would have to call a consulting nurse over the phone and get my results that way, and then see if I could get a prescription over the phone. She told me there was a phone in the lab, and wished me luck. I called, and she said that she saw blood and bacteria in my results, but would have to ask a PA if I could get a prescription. I waited another 5 minutes. The PA said it was too inconclusive, and I"d have to get another test... I went home, nearly missing the last ferry back. An entire day wasted.
The next time I went in to see my lump, I mentioned the urinary tract infection to the nurse looking me over. She looked up my results and said there was nothing wrong, I just needed to drink some water to flush it all out, and that it didn't need meds. The doctor came in, looked at my lump, and said it was a cyst. He looked slightly annoyed, as he knew I had already recieved this diagnosis before.

So... this is our amazing medical care? It took me an entire day to be told nothing. I PAID for them to tell me nothing, and had to call on the phone instead, and come in to another appointment, to be told to drink water?! Our medical centers that we slave over, working our way up in corporate jobs and holding onto meaningless jobs just for the benefits, and supposedly this is our reward for our labor and time?
And also, why do we feel it is our responsibility to not only judge those whose situations we can't possibly put ourselves into, but also to feel above because we somehow deserve to have our cancer treated before them?! What snobs we are, if we think we can tell people who is and who isn't allowed to get sick. That in itself is a sickness of the middle class mentality, and the "democracy" we are upholding.
Socialized medicare doesn't come with perks. If your teeth are ugly, they stay ugly. If your nurse is having a bad day, she's not going to put on a smile just for you. The waiting rooms are not filled with aquariums and you don't have a tv in the center to help you pass the time. But they DO make you better. They look at you, and help you, and get you on your way back into the world. They aren't perfect, but they don't judge. And everyone is entitled to be ill and welcome to get better. What is so wrong with that?

Sorry D... lit a firecracker, ya know?
If anyone would like to disagree, I welcome that. But please bear in mind when you are 80, in a wheel chair, and don't have insurance that covers your hip replacement that would allow you to walk for your last 5 or 10 precious remaining years, how your opinion may or may not change. x

Duh duh duh duh to you!

2007-12-11T07:01:16Z

Happy Birthday boys!

Memories...like the ones we've had before...

2007-11-27T05:20:24Z

Since I can't seem to write anything else:

Post a comment to this entry and I will:
1. Tell you why I friended you.
2. Associate you with something - fandom, a song, a color, a photo, etc.
3. Tell you something I like about you.
4. Tell you a memory I have of you.
5. Ask something I've always wanted to know about you.
6. Tell you my favorite user pic of yours.
7. In return, you must post this in your LJ.

thebluewillow @ 2007-11-20T02:11:00

2007-11-20T10:13:28Z

2:11am. Tired. Teeth officially cleaned. Light downstairs won't turn out after power flicker. Old Seattle Licensed bicycle next to me on one side, cat laid out on the other.

Work = stress
work permit = stress
not knowing what is going to happen for awhile = stress/relief
wanting to write/film/create and not being able to = stress.

I feel like one stressed out bunny that keeps being taunted by loud noises and flashing lights. Ugh.
At least I'm reading lots, if nothing else. :(

Just want to see my friends and forget that life is actually happening at all.

Born in the USA

2007-11-06T03:43:20Z

Things I love about being back in the USA:
The landscape
The fresh air
The trains/ferries
The ability to drive
My cats/family/friends
American phone ringtone

Things I hate about being back in the USA:
Commercials
People talking for the sake of talking (WHY, WHY would you do that?!!)
Blind/Dumb/Plain Stupidity
The food (does anything come in a non-battered option?)
Nothing to do when it gets dark out...
Missing out on my friends parties.
Good films/film events

I need to stretch my legs a little more. I'm getting way too depressed about not being in England... and having a crazy busy schedule. I hope it doesnt take me too long to get aclimated.
I too am behind on my writing... and work... and everything. :(

Blah Blah Blah

2007-10-16T18:55:05Z

Does anyone remember that song? Wow, I feel old.
I'm still at the office, and STILL havn't had lunch! It's 7pm, and I"m digitizing like crazy because my boss informed me I'll be doing some filming... on top of two other unexpected filming dates! And I need to catch up on the (a week ago) 26 tapes of footage I hadn't done yet. I now only have a lovely pile of about four or five in front of me, which is super hopeful! But I'm like.. MUST EDIT>... FASTER!!!... AHHH!!!

On the plus I managed to make discs of all the footage I did at Film School (about 90% of it anyways) using DVD studio pro!!! AMAZING! I feel AWESOME... I only learned how to open it like.. a week ago, and now I'm all experty!

Okay, I'll step out of film nerd ville now.

I've decided to live in hats for the next few days. today? a white fluffy affair which covers my gross hair. They cut my fringe too short, and now I look 8 years old... oh well!

I just like typing for the sake of it. Oh yes... I do.

Anyways, it's now 8pm... I should finish this stuff... and go... home!!!!!

I want to watch some things on the plane on the way back, preferably tv shows. Any suggestions?
xxx

Hello world

2007-10-14T12:33:40Z

So a brief update:

My plane tickets are booked, hooray. I stole some fine boxes to pack things in. I have a garage space for my things, and have gotten far on my giveaway/throwaway piles.

Last night I went and saw the Proclaimers with Alistair's mom, dad, and sister. So that was good.. but I was feeling really ill from earlier and had a super bad migraine, which wasn't so awesome.

I saw The Envy Core earlier this week and made a drunken fool of myself! But it was soooo worth it. Preston kept buying me double vodka and cokes which I didnt eralize, and I really really like the Envy Core and they were playing at this SUPER small club, so I was dancing but could't get cloesr than 10 feet to the stage, as thats the English Way. Partway through they reminded the crowd about bying their single. "Apparently thats how this whole... singles thing works. I dont know, it's a weird system... but if you guys could buy our single that would be good." everyone laughs. The guitarist whispers to Luke, the lead singer "WhaT?" "All these people already have our single... they're from our label." This is true... everyone there does work for their label. Hence how I got in = Alistair who works for their label. The guitarist looks out over the crowd. "Hey, she looks new. You're not from our label!" He points at me. I smile and shake my head, no. Everyone laughs. They continue on. At the end, I feel somehow, vodka induced, that it is my right, no, my DUTY to approach a member of the band and ask them what part of the states they are from, and how they find England. I imagine a night chat, sophisticated and friendly around a candle lit pub table. Laughter and wine fill the room. Back to the real world, the band finishes and they all disappear into a side room, walking past. I'm too shy to literally grab one. I walk around, and keep Preston and Ali stuck to the venue, hoping that we'll run into someone from the band. They go outside for Preston's smoke. I look for the bathroom, and when I come back up, there is the lead singer, stood before me. I smile, he's stuck! I have him! "You guys were really great tonight. I really enjoyed it. Where are you from?" "Oh, thank you. Iowa." "Really? Seattle." "Oh, let me... " He looks at the memorabila girl and she produces a singles album" "Here you guy" Serious amounts of silence take place "Yeah, you guys were just, really good. Sorry, i'm sorta pissed. I enjoyed it a lot. Oh, when are you going back to the states?" "Tomorrow" "Really? I'm being deported on Halloween" "OH... good luck with that" "Yeah, you too."

The shame. Oh, the shame. But fuck, I got a singles album. So... yeah. And shook Luke,s hand, and made a fool out of myself.

Further developments

2007-10-10T23:12:48Z

So my boss is still happy to keep me employed, and attempt to do the visa for me. He will even let me take a hard drive home to edit, and a camera to continue working. So thats good!

However, there was quite a heavy note today... I think were all wondering whether or not my visa will be successful.

Either way, I'm pleased to be going home. I'm having further and further doubts about my living space, and am looking forward to the idea of getting some space between myself and London.

I only wish I had a bicycle when I got home to do some exercise on, as it'll be raining loads and I dont really want to jog...

But i want fit legs!
advice, suggestions?

I've arranged a company who will ship the majority of my things home for me, which is great. I know where to steal boxes from now, and I'm getting my 'get rid of' pile nicely sorted. A few items have already been returned to their various owners, and I feel like things are getting a move on. The McMeekins are going to let me keep my stuff in their garage, which is totally far too nice, but somehow assumed! I'll really owe them a lot at the end of this.

Its odd... I always felt like I was living in two places at once, and never really belonging to one place. And now, as I get older, I just feel it more and more. When I was a kid it was Anderson island, seattle, and puyallup. Then when I got older it was Anderson, Steilacoom, and Kirkland and Seattle! Now ... i guess its just Anderson Island and London... I dont really feel like I'm a part of Seattle in the way I used to. Just like... at one point I was living there and I was in it's heart, and now its just another city, which changes so quickly I've gone from loving to hating areas at the flip of a coin.

At the end of the day, I'll be really happy to be home. Just remember guys, my home is Anderson. So when I come to visit, I'll be leaving to come to visit you, not just hanging out in a place where I should really be anyways.

See you all very soon. I'll keep you updated (not like you want me to!) x

NEWEST NEWS

2007-10-09T22:47:35Z

I'm not totally sure, but tomorrow or thursday I get to have a meeting with my boss and all will be discussed. Sounds like he's still going to do the work permit application, but not sure as of how the results will go.

I'm a little worried when I get back I wont have a desk... and about what to keep in the UK! What do I need??!!

Oh dear.

xxx

Be home on halloween evening.

Should I stay or should I go now...?

2007-10-07T22:26:46Z

life is mmmiiigghty complicated!

So I found out last Wednesday that life has just become a bit more hectic. I was asked by my office manager to clear up some details regarding my end of my visa. So I call up the home office... then I remain confused... I call them up again... then I'm more confused. Two hours later, and after a total of five phone calls I have fiver very different ways I'm supposed to deal with my visa!

My boss gets us to hire a lawyer to sort it all out. The lawyer and my office manager have a nice long chat, and finally she gets me on the phone to the lawyer. The lawyer tells me that I will, very likely, need to leave the country and re-enter later under a different visa status. But that they can't really apply for work permit, and I can't apply for entry clearance until I'm in the USA. Which could take... awhile. So, what now? I'm going to go home, no later than the 31st of October, and stay there until at least the 31st of December. I have to wait and see what happens with my work permit/visa... and there is STILL a chance it'll be denied. If it is, I'm coming back to collect my things and ship them home.

Then... who knows! lol...

If I'm taken back though, then I'll have a raise and stuff, which is great.

At this point, I am going between freaking out a little and being really happy to have a break at home.

My boss doesn't know the details yet, and he might say that none of this is worth it. I wont know until him, my office manager, and myself have a meeting!!! AH!

I just wanna curl up and watch ugly betty. Have a HUGE cup of hot coco.. instead I'm packing my things in three different piles 1) get rid of, 2) keep only if staying in the UK (divided into, get rid of if not in the UK and also ship home if visa is rejected), and 3) send to the UK.

Life is... crazy.

MaryAnn, you better hang out with me when I'm back. Abby, you're welcome to come visit if you need a break. Or we could at least speak on the phone then!
*le sigh*
I'm happiest I'll get to hang out with my mom though... and brothers and sister. And my Auntie Susanne.

It's only been... 10 years. Why not?

2007-09-22T17:53:00Z

1. Do you have a tattoo?
2. How old are you?
3. Are you single or taken?
4. Fish?
5. Do you dream in color?
6. Ever seen a corpse?
7. Hipsters or Hillbillies?
8. How did we meet?
9. What's your philosophy on life and death?
10. If you could do anything with me, and have no one know, what would it be?
11. Do you trust the police?
12. Do you like musicals?
13. What is your fondest memory of me?
14. If you could change anything about yourself what would it be?
15. Would you cheat ?
16. What are you wearing?
17. Have you ever peed in a pool?
18. Would you hide evidence for me if I asked you to?
19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?
20. Which do you prefer - short or long hair?
21. What's your favorite day of the week?
22. What's your favorite color?
23. If you could bring back anyone that has passed, who would it be?
24. Tell me one interesting/odd fact about you?
25. What was your first impression of me?
26. Have you ever done drugs?
27. Will you post this so I can fill it out for you?

Gosh Gee Gollikers!

2007-09-08T13:31:17Z

Can Vanessa dress up slutty and get drunk two nights in a row?! Stay tuned to find out!

Last night: Bloomsbury bowling, red dress with black spots, goth style 50s heels, black tights.

Tonight: Eerie pub, black short dress with extended lace, black boots, black tights.

I think I should start investing in more black tights. And feet that hurt less!

x

Update on April!

2007-08-01T22:57:51Z

Hey everyone. Long time no update... so now that it's 11:42 and I'm at the office... (PM)... I thought I could go ahead and send a little info over west, across the sea, and somehow within seconds to the rest of my friends!

First of all, my job:
It's really great. I'm the head of a company (and single employee of) called Film121. I'm not entirely sure everything that comes along with this role, but I do know I'm the head of filming, editing, and general creative. I get to take over all of their pre-arranged filming they had scheduled (such as monthly updates for online tv channels), as well as doing things of my own! For example: www.allotments-uk.com
Click on the TV channel and you will see some homegrown footage I am responsible for creating! Nothing great, but it was my first week!

The company itself basically runs 40 or more web pages (between three people who are responsible for the updates and turnaround, so please don't mock the sites... they don't look perfect, but its good for just the three of us.) They take on, and are sometimes asked to do certain accounts... but what I'm in charge of is community based websites, where a web site is attatched to a niche subject like fishing or skateboarding or hot-air-ballooning. I then need to come up with and film content for the online 'tv' channels.

It's really great for a massive amount of reasons, but especially because I get to do what I love. The people are great. And I found out I will be paid after all. Only 5 pounds an hour, but thats so much better than nothing, that I can't stand how excited it makes me. :o)

As far as working at ULU... I'm still employed by them, but dont really work with them at the moment because there are NO shifts. And its falling apart very rapidly. It's pretty sad actually. :(

Visa Status:
Well, god only knows. I thought I was eligible for a lot of things, and they have all crumbled. My aim is to try and stay in the UK for another year, and continue on in this job. But now my only hope of staying rests on the company I'm working for liking me enough to keep me on past october, and putting in a visa for me. I REALLY hoep this happens, but I dont want to press my luck. If this falls apart, I'm going to move (probably) to NY or LA. There I will continue on in the filmmaking career path I'm currently trotting.
This visa has been a constant source of stress and turbulence for me. For example, I have had my hopes lifted and dashed by the following schemes:
1) High Skilled Migrant - Not highly skilled enough
2) IGS (graduate scheme) - my school isn't a real school apparnetly
3) Marriage visa - they don't take kindly to fake marriages...
4)Work visa - my old job wasn't interested in doing it for me.

Boyfriend Status:
Still together and happy. Alistair has just found a new house in Ealing to share with our friend Tom from film school. It's great for me because my work is based in Ealing (which is roughly somewhere between a 30min and 1hour journey away from Kings Cross, where I live). So it's nice that I will be able to crash at his whenever I'm too tired from work to come home...

which brinsg me now to 11:54pm and still in the office. What can I say? Life of a filmmaker... there was a massive conference today, so after my 8 1/2 hour day (1/2 hour off for lunch) I have returned here for 10pm... and will leave sorta shortly but am trying to digitize a series of tapes which have to be edited by 12noon tomorrow! So basically its a hectic time for everyone, and I'm just at the hectic tail end of it.

Nearly done with reading Harry Potter... so I'm going to get back to that, and hope you all are well, and that this (boring) update has given you some sense of what is going on with me right now!

thebluewillow @ 2007-07-23T22:59:00

2007-07-23T22:09:47Z

I am tired. I think I have a job. I hope so, I worked for like, 9 1/2 hours at some desk doing things with a computer... there were people there. They were dressed half decently and talked awkwardly about their weekends. Some guy who looked sorta like a boss was in a seperate room. Occassionally he pulled me into this room with a long table so we could have a chat about things....

how did this happen? There was no interview... no... paperwork... no cv or ... i didn't even get to make my disk with all the good filmy bits... and now... now!! Oh god...

they've given me a computer with an email address and like, paying for my travel... and I'm.. uhh... the producer and basically the head of film121uk... not the head, but I do all the work and get all the credit and stuff.

WTF??

To expand: I showed up last thursday after getting a call (which woke me up so all I really knew was there were people at 111 uxbridge road who wanted a word)... so I showed up at this address and it was flooding outside (literally) so I couldnt wear nice clothing because I was afraid i'd be covered in mud and was wearing a pair of jeans and a hoodie and a snoopy t-shirt, and then I got to this building and it was massive,a nd I was like... uhh.. i'm here to see... someone. And the receptionist was like... who? And I was like... some sort of internet something? And she was like... maybe net 121... who wanted to see you? And i was like... uhhhh.... I ... am not sure.
HOW DID I GET THIS JOB??!!!

Anyways, i have no idea what is happening to wheter or not I'm staying in the UK. So... dont ask, cause I can't say. Its really complicated.

Life... is... ahhhhh... i'll tell you more of what I do later. Now = bed.

FLUIFIED!

2007-05-30T23:26:42Z

I have the flu, which is sad. But on the super-plus side, I managed to make a film. Under the worst possible circumstances... let me divluge:

My film was to be made Sat/Sun/Mon. At long last i had a really good script. I didnt have storyboards, or a shot list, or even floorplans, but damnit I had a script and actors and I knew I could get help from my DP. Then things started going wrong.
My location was a mess. I needed a house with an upper story and a garden. The house I had was too posh, and only one floor, plus the garden needed mowing. So I begged till I found someone who had a house I could use, (two days before my shoot!). Then, half of my film was wasmeant to happen in the garden. Well, three days before my shoot the weather was staggeringly beautiful. THEN, over the weekend of my shoot it went to freezing rain. So I had to replan to shoot inside. okkkaaay...
First day of shoot goes okay. Things are fine. Second day starts outa little slow, but begins to pick up. THEN!!!!
My camera breaks.
Oh yes, on bank holiday weekend, when EVERYTHING shuts, (normally on sundays things shut early anyways, but bank holiday weekend means they will shut espeically early AND not open on monday at all!) The camera says it needs the head cleaned. So I send someone out on an urgent search for a tape cleaner. They have to drive into central london to do it, and sit in traffic for a few hours before they get back, but they do it. We put in the cleaner.... loud scary noises occur. We attempt to use the camera again. AGAIN it doesnt work. We know were fucked.
I call the other guy shooting the same day as me. I tell his AD to get me his camera as soon as he's finished shooting. It gets sent over as soon as possible, and we finish still on time!!! HOWEVER, i need a camera for the final day of shooting. Another five scenes are left to do. My AD calls the school, and finally gets through to someone. We are told it will be sorted. Just incase, I try ot see if anyone else has a Sony Z-1. No one does, and those who do are in in Spain and in France. Shit.

8am the next morning, I'm sat at Alistair's dining room table, clutching my phone and waiting for a call from my school with news. I'm meant to be setting up my location, but know I can't do anything until I hear about the camera. I can't shoot with a different one, it has to be this one. Otherwise the picture quality wont match, and the sound will be shit. Its being shot in HD, we can'd do DV. Finally the phone rings... it's Vero, the school secretary/person who does everything. She can't find a camera for me in the whole of London. Nor can the school tech manager. She tells me to reschedule my shoot.

Rescheduling shoots are difficult process. It means getting the same location within a short period of time. Getting the same DP and Sound man, which will be impossible as the Met has booked them for other students till near the end of the course. I'd need the same actors, who may or may not have gotten work since that time. It is, shall we say, impossible. The weather, the temperature, the time of year, the mood, tone, props, everything must be similar and it is HARD if not impossible to match these things.

I decide to take matters into my own hands. I start calling everyone I know. I come up with a back up plan: start shooting at 6pm using the other student's camera, and hope to finish by 1am. Then pay for a cab ride for everyone back to their homes (fortune in money, but what can I do?) I call my actors. Everyone is fine... except my main character. Graham can't do it. He is shooting a music video for his favorite band that night. He didnt want to tel him, but finally had to. He can't give this up, its a dream. it pays. I start to freak. I start calling up DPs, asking if they know anyone or anything I can do. Finally my other actor, Freddy, recommends I call Guy, a DP, and tells me to ask if I can get the number for his friend Liz, who owns a tech rental company. Its a long shot. I call Guy. He gives me three numbers. I decide liz is a far fetch, and instead call a comany called Decode instead. It rings.... someone picks up.

Me "Hello, is this decode?"
Man on phone "uh..... uhh....... yes."
Me "My name is Vanessa Williams and I'm with the Met film school. Guy Routlidge recommended I call you. Im having serious problems with my camera and need a Zed-1".
Man on Phone "Guy huh. Yeah, he's a good customer. I know him."
Me "I'm desperate."
Man on phone "When do you need it by?"
Me "now"
Man on phone "I think one was returned yesterday. I'll go to the shop and check"
Me "that would be amazing. How long will it take?"
Man on phone "I'll call you within the hour."

THE LONGEST HOUR IN THE WORLD PASSES...

My dp rings me... His search for cameras has failed. I tell him I"m still waiting to hear back from Decode.

FINALLY
Man on phone "Hello, vanessa? This is Samuel from Decode"
Me "Yes, hello"
Man on Phone "we have one here. How soon can you be here?"
Me "Half an hour."
Man on phone "thats really quick. Usually it takes two hours."
Me "I need it soon, and I'm coming now."
Man on phone "great, call me when you get here."

HALF AN HOUR LATER
Me "HI, thank god youre here. Do you own Decode?"
Samuel "no, I just work here. I accidently had my phone on call divert from the office, and didn't realize until I picked up who was calling. I woudln't have answered the phone otherwise. But once I'm up, I'm up, so i was happy to help when I heard your dilemma"

ONE HOUR LATER
"Lets start this shoot!"

So basically I started by 1 instead of 9am, but finished around 6:30. I made my film, and hope to god I didnt miss any shots out. I had to buy props as the shoot went along (including two fish and a cake!) but it all turned out good. (HOPEFULLY!)

Now I'm working as an AD on another shoot, but have the flu due to stress, standing in the cold and rain for two days... and am meant to be working saturday!!! AH!

Thats my life for now.
Congrats to Becah , and thank you for the card! I would have made this shorter, but per usual I've forgotten how.
xoxo
Vanessa

The walls have ears

2007-05-13T20:46:46Z

[Looks from side to side]

I was complaining for AGES about my myspace profile getting messed up. I was sucked in by a southpark generator where you could make your own character, and the next thing I know I'm adding the html to my page and SUDDENLY it's all messed up.

OF course, I tried to fix the error myself, but it wouldn't give me the 'edit' link. I was sooo angry and my myspace was all wonkity. I finally gave up and emailed Myspace, but I got the crappest response possible, totally useless!

So...

I posted a MASSIVE complaint about it on my myspace blog.

The next thing I know, suddenly I can edit it. I just deleted the soutpark catastrophe and my myspace is gorgeous again.

Me thinks that someone out there is reading my blog.... indeed. indeed.

p.s.p.s.p.s. my life is crazy but i'll speak with my mom before updating. NO ONE CAN BE TRUSTED!

California here I come?

2007-04-11T03:42:08Z

I may end up moving to CA.

I'm really really freaking out. I dont know anything about the place really and I dont actually know anyone there. How I'm supposed to get into the buisness is beyond me. :o(
Anyways, I guess I'll find out soon enough which way the pendulum swings. I hate the idea of being away from my friends, but as MaryAnn pointed out, thats not what should be the determining factor.
AH!
... So nervous. What about NY? Thats a secondary possibility. Is it better? How should I judge where to move my life when I've never been to NY or only to CA when I was 13. I'm just... possibly going to go throw up!

I will still try to get a visa to work in britain, but to be honest the film industry is even more fierce in the UK then it is in the US, so the chances of me getting work are... slim. And of course there is Alistair, who ... well, we'll see if he'll bother staying with me if I dont see him for a year or two. :o(
I just have no idea what to do. None. zzip. So... well, I guess its a starting place? I should have watched more O.C.

Someday...

2007-03-20T02:27:19Z

I want a bath tub. I mean, it'd just be really really nice. That used to be my way to de-stress. Now... well, I guess low-fat ben and jerrys occasionally do the trick. But it's not the same as a bath!

I miss proper bathrooms... someday, I'm going to require an amazing bathroom in my home. Also an american fridge freezer. Don't even ask what they do to 'keep food cold' over here. Lets just say that you'd do better hanging a bag of your cold cuts out the window. :o/

She will attack from below

2007-03-14T23:00:17Z

WEIRDness...

Apparently one of the places me and joe looked at to move into burned down and 7 people were injured, one died.

That's just... crazy. I mean, there was NO way we were going to live there. But.... holy crap. And it looks like an insurance job... or arson as well. (It was above a brothel... I mean... "Sauna.")

In other news, those of you who were curious about the film I made can now see it on you tube or myspace.
www.myspace.com/harveythewhiterabbit

OR

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=HarveyTheWhiteRabbit

You tube you can get a bigger picture.

Anyways, it's not perfect, and not actually finished being edited (i'm going to do a bit of a revamp on it) but there you have it.

Off to go do some homework. Writing my next film... all I can say is; amaizeing!

New Years Resolution 1, Vanessa 0

2007-01-05T07:10:03Z

Oh holy crapity crap.

So I've already broken one of my top two new years resolutions. Which, btw, are the following:
1) Maintain GI Diet as much as possible.
2) Watch finances to point of red scare awareness.
3) Make extra film.
4) (upon Alistair's request) Don't get robbed.

I had about $600 in my account today because I spent a lot of money paying off my credit card bills (I"M FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!.... except for $80 I owe on one card, and it'll be gone in like, a day or so.)
And saw tonight in my emails that I was recieving emails about being low on my balance, and then negative. I tried desperately to think of what I could have spent my $600 on... and I was at a loss. Today I went shopping with my sister... she bought me lunch and I used my moms card for shoes and a few medical items to bring back to england...
So I looked at what was going on to discover to my total horror that there were 4 purchases magically made (all non-pin of course!) that I had NO idea what were! There was one concerning an online train company that my friend joe occasionally uses in england, as well as an $843 purchase for someing Hewlett Packard, and two purchases made in Ireland.

... okay, let me just say, if you're going to steal someones card are you SERIOUSLY going to get something thats Hewlett Packard?! I mean, SPLASH OUT a little! Go CRAZY! Get a new Apple or... a whole system, or... god, I dont know, something expensive.
What a dumbass.

The woman on the phone was totally nice and was like, yeah, there are hackers out there who spend all day going through thousands of numbers, and when they hit one they really hit one! Which is just crazy to me. I cut up all my cards between the numbers INDIVIDUALLY and throw out the halves in seperate bins. I dont have papers with the number on it. I only use reputable internet purchases (ie amazon/hottopic/delias)...
WTF.

Anyways, I'll be given all the money back, but have to go through that whole 'new card' crap again.
:o(

I'll call Alistair tomorrow and apologize for already breaking the resolution. I REALLY intended on not getting .. uhh... electonically mugged!
Maybe next year.

OMG! I'm a spokesmodel!??

2006-12-25T08:05:52Z

http://www.sonicboomrecords.com/

Scroll down a little!