Living The Dream...

I haven't had an update to this blog in a while.

My life has changed fundamentally since the last time I updated this blog. I did get the internship at Harpo, and I moved to Chicago on October 25th. Since then, I have gotten my own apartment, become very comfortable at Harpo, and am overall enjoying my time in Chicago.

I did have to get a second job because Harpo pays squat, so I work at Macy's on the weekends during this bustling holiday shopping period. It's only temporary.

Oh! And I got into graduate school. I start at DePaul University for my MFA in DIgital Cinema next fall!

More updates to come!

Kismet

Sometimes I think some things are more of "destiny" than coincidence. In my last entry, I gushed about applying to DePaul University. I finished my application about 3 weeks ago, and now I am just waiting to hear if I have been accepted or not. Last week, I received a pretty arbitrary call from my DREAM job, HARPO STUDIOS!!! Harpo is Oprah Winfrey's company and they govern not only her show, but her production company here in LA. I have no idea how Harpo got my information and resume, but somehow they did. I applied for an internship there two years ago, but they have my most up-to-date resume. Someone out there must really like me, because I have no idea how they obtained my current resume. In case you didn't know, Harpo is in Chicago, just like DePaul! How perfect would that be to work at Harpo during the day, go to school at night, and live in my favorite American city? Pretty amazing. Also, I got an interview for the NBC Page Program. Slowly, but surely, GOD is planting seeds in my life. I can't wait to see them bloom.

Hopeful Emptiness

I must not be very good at blogging, because my last update was over a month ago. But all that matters is that I'm back now, right?

I believe the last time I wrote in this blog, I was lamenting over leaving my cushy internship with Sony and starting a new job as an assistant at a no-frills TV station. A stark difference between the lavish employee life at Sony Pictures. However, a month later, I feel a month older, and a month wiser. I actually like my new job. The people here are very nice, and I actually feel confident here. A little too confident. I'm the type of person that likes to be kept on my toes. I enjoy having a constant feeling of being challenged, so that I can grow. If I'm not growing, then I am stagnant; stagnancy makes me crazy, and life is too short to spend it being crazy. So starting now, I am planting the necessary seeds to initiate a massive change in my life.

For starters, I strongly dislike Los Angeles. I was born, and raised here, so it will always have a special place in my heart, but whoever planned this city should run over by the traffic on the 405. So what is the best thing to do when you dislike the place you live?... MOVE!

I am applying to DePaul University in Chicago, for the MFA Program in Digital Cinema. Why DePaul you may ask? Why Chicago? Well, Depaul, unlike other masters programs, has specializations and courses in all things digital. From digital moving images to digital photography. In case you have been living under a rock, the "film and motion picture" industry is making a very slow, but steady transition from film to digital formats. It's easier, cheaper, cleaner, and much more efficient. DePaul is also a FRACTION of the price of its overpriced, yet maybe higher esteemed counterparts (NYU and USC). And Chicago? Chicago is my favorite U.S. city. I partially grew up there since nearly my entire extended family is dispersed all over the city. Beautiful city, relatively reasonable cost of living, no need for a car and the perfect place for me. This grad school opportunity will not only afford me a great education where I can improve on my filmmaking and photography skill, but it will allow me to live in a place that inspires me to want to be a thriving creator, and an innovative artist.

I'm becoming more serious all around. I'm taking an After Effects course at L.A. Mission College, and I am going to buy that pricey Nikon D90 as an upgrade to my D60, so I can really become serious about my photography aspirations. To keep me on track, I uploaded this beautiful photo (above) of the Chicago skyline to the desktop of my blackberry. Whenever I look down, I will be reminded of what I need to be looking UP to. This is the plan, and I am sticking to it. More updates soon.

9 to 5

So last Friday was the last day of my internship, and the first day of my descent into adulthood. Yes, I intentionally used the word "descent". As a recent college graduate, I was left out in the cold, unemployed, in this lackluster economy. Luckily, I found an "assistant" position that is suitable for my needs right now. It's a far cry from Sony Pictures, but do I have any other choice?

This weekend, I watched a film for the first time entitled, "9 to 5", starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton. Not only did I LOVE the film, but I found it to be eerily reflective of my life at the moment. The story is about these three women that work for an egotistical, sexist boss in an unidentifiable business. There is a namesake song by Dolly Parton from the film. These are the lyrics from the chrous:

Workin 9 to 5
What a way to make a livin
Barely gettin by
Its all takin
And no givin
They just use your mind
And they never give you credit
Its enough to drive you
Crazy if you let it

Please find the song on iTunes or something. It's very catchy.

In modern (Western) society, we are trained from infancy that the steps in pursuing happiness are: to work hard, get GOOD grades, get into a GOOD college, get a GOOD job, get married to a GOOD spouse, have a GOOD family, and the climax... have a GOOD life. Well what if I don't want to be GOOD. What about those of us that want to be SPECTACULAR. Should we follow these same steps? People are expected to workhorse themselves into the ground 5 days a week, 8 hours a day... and for what? A paycheck. Why? I just want to live. I just want to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. But then I guess I wouldn't be descending into adulthood, right? I just don't think that it's right. We should be working "9 to 5" not just to make a living, but to fulfill ourselves emotionally. This is my quest. My goal for the next 24 months. Not to make a GOOD living, but to be happily SPECTACULAR.

So, in an effort to release some of my emotions , I have decided to create this here blog. I will be disclosing my journey to "fulfillment", or at least share some funny stories along the way.

So thank you Dolly Parton for your inspiring, toe-tappingly poignant lyrics. And here we go...