Boomerang

Last week I received some disappointing news about a writing program I'd applied to...for the third time.  I was not accepted...again...for the third time.  This year was a bit more disheartening than years prior, because I actually got to the second round this year.  The second round where they ask for additional writing samples...and I knocked a new script from thought to finished 2nd draft in 5 days!!!   ( I slept very little during those five days, but it made me feel good to know that I could perform under pressure.)

I found out in a way that made it worse for me.  I just happen to be scrolling on Facebook, and saw a post from the program congratulating semi-finalists and how they'd already received their emails with further details about the next steps and that in a few days the finalists would be posted as well.  I never received such an email, so I knew it was another year of rejection for me.  All programs.  I applied to four others, and did not get into any.   This last program, which was the one I was hoping for the most, was the last let down...and the most colossal one.

Applying to these programs, this past year in particular, has me feeling like a boomerang.  Each year I've focused a great deal of effort, time, sweat and sleepless nights, sent out each tailored application, and sent up lots of specific prayers, only to end up in the same place. No matter how I throw it, no matter the wind conditions, no matter the type of wood...the boomerang of it all puts me back in the equivalent position I was before applying.

On the upside...I find that I am the other side of the traditional boomerang; the 'non-returning' boomerang.  The boomerang traditionally used for killing prey.   The one sent out for specific goal and completing that goal.  The one used time and time again to achieve a goal, then used again for a new goal, so on and so forth...constantly pressing towards new goals and achieving each one.  That is the boomerang I am.

So on this eve of Thanksgiving, I am thankful (for an innumerable amount of things, but specifically related to this post) for the ability to get up, press beyond disappointments and keep on keeping on...and with a smile on my face!

Denial into these programs is not denial of my dreams...just means perhaps these programs aren't the way for me and greater things are in store.  Greater things I can't even imagine.   Stay tuned.

(That boomerang clip...well....that's just for fun!)

More Hob Nobbin...

I got invited to another screening this weekend for The Dallas Buyers' Club, and it was really great.  I both enjoyed the performances and was disturbed by it at the same time (much like 12 Years a Slave, but not quite the same.)

If you've never heard of The Dallas Buyer's Club, take a look at the trailer here (but this isnt' for the kiddies):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhFYcnRPEfA
(it's sure to be in a theater near you soon enough)

Before the screening there was a reception hosted by Reese Witherspoon...who was present in her naturally very tiny form, and accompanied by a few others:  Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner and some other people who I recognize but not sure on their names.  I guess one could say I was 'hob-nobbing' but it felt a little surreal to be honest.

I get it.  This is my reality now, and I see people who were once only imaginary people who lived in a small box in my living room or a significantly larger on in a big dark room.  Sooner or later I imagine some of these people will become my friends...I mean I already work with a few.  Further still, I'm guessing I'll be one of those people eventually.  And yet...it's a bit bizarre.   I will not (nor likely will I ever) lose my mind and act a fool over seeing these people in the flesh, but it is an oddity.  One I'm sure I'll get over sooner than later...I mean they are only people.

Still, it was a fun time and free one too! (Well, that is until I followed it up with paying to see The Best Man Holiday with a friend preceded by dinner.)

As for Best Man Holiday, it was overly dramatic and somewhat predictable, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and am glad to see chocolate people on the screen without it being a social commentary on racism (though, I love those too!)  If you want to see some uber melodramatic scenarios acted out by equally beautiful people, then go see it!  It's a fun two hours, and not much of it is wasted.

There was no hob-nobbing at this event, but the other day I did see Taye Diggs driving down the street.

Ah well...I press on!

For Science!!!

I joined my boss in walking for a cure for Epilepsy, (as her daughter was affected by the disease, but is now doing well.)  I walked for Team Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (Team CHLA) and to show their solidarity (outside of matching t-shirts) they decided to color their hair hot pink.  (The head of pediatrics at CHLA has perpetual BRIGHT pink hair for the sake of the children, and wanted us to the team to join her.)

Now, I'm all for team spirit and the like, but I refuse to let my hair be sprayed pink (or dyed pink or chalked pink or anything that is not it's natural jet black color...even when I gray, though that might change when that time comes...but back to the point.)  Nope! Uh-Huh!  No, sir-ree!  But because I am a team player, I got my hands on this silly feathered head piece and I committed to looking silly for science!!!

My boss thought it was great, the head of the Pediatrics department was very pleased, I got numerous shout-outs of admirations for my feathers, and was even asked by random strangers to if I would take pictures with them.   One lady even gave me some wings (as seen in the pic) to go with my festive head dress.

(My boss' son however thought the feathers were scary and for a good ten minutes wouldn't look or talk to me...he got over it though.)

It was a nice day and glad to be a part of something for the advancement of science concerning epilepsy.  I'm willing to look a hot mess for kids and for cures...but that's it.

Thor! Mandela! Perks!

Movie Day!!!

Sunday I saw Thor: The Dark World and it was good fun for me.  Now, I guess I can't give a detailed critique as I'm not a comic book reader and don't know the history tied to this particular story...but I can say I enjoyed it (despite, mistakingly, reading some bad reviews prior to seeing it).  And let me just say, though I know it's not emphatically his story, Loki has garnered more of my affections in this installment.  (Still I loved when he got his behind handed to him by the Hulk in The Avengers!!!)

It's worth mentioning that with movies such as these I expect only three things:

1.  Epic battles

2.  Wonderfully nefarious villains we love to hate

and

3.  Razzle-Dazzle in the special effects realm

The fact that I also thought it was visually visceral, humorous, not overly predictable and had some fun surprises are just added bonuses.  Was it as good as the first Thor installment?  Eh, are sequels ever better than the originals?  No. (but I would argue that Lethal Weapon 3 was better than Lethal Weapon 2, but not better than one...but in general, No.) However, if I leave the theater with any of the following...

1.  A smile on my face

2.  A renewed fire to write more

3.  A wish I was a superhero

...Then it was a good time for me.  I don't expect stellar acting, overly complex character arcs or great emotional attachments to those same characters in fun movies like these (though some deliver all of that in addition to the three basic expectations).  I do, nevertheless, expect all those things and none of the above on movies like....

...Mandela:  Long Road to Freedom...which I saw at a screening at the AFI Film fest Sunday night...and it delivered as expected.   The acting was authentic and satisfying.  The story shed light on the lives of the great Nelson and Winnie Mandela, and the complexities they faced as they fought the apartheid machine of South Africa.  Visually it made me feel as if I was actually in Africa, with it's warm, crisp hues and break-taking sceneries.  It also helped me identify with the plight of the South Africans with the visual parallels drawn between the disparities of the different communities.   The supporting cast and community songs were all South African only helping convey a credible bio-pic. 

And I left the theater with both #1 and #2 from the list above.  The added bonus from this screening...both Idris Elba and Naomi Harris were in attendance.   That tall drink of water and his petite counter part brought extra smiles to my face that night.   A small perk of this crazy adventure I'm on!  (Not to mention sometimes getting to see films before they're released...so go see this one when it comes out later this month.)

Survival of the Zombie Apocalypse!!!

Saturday I had the opportunity to attend a Zombie Apocalypse Survival Course...where I took down real zombies!!!  

Ok...it was just a regular survival meet up group outing, but I frequently see such a course referred to as such....and it sounds...interesting...in theory. 

It should be said that I personally don't believe in zombies or their impending takeover.   (It should also be said that as good as it probably is, I'm not overly compelled to add Walking Dead to my already ridiculously long list of TV programming must watch.)   Now, if I am wrong and zombies are real and will one day take over he earth,  I'd focus my efforts on mastering chemical compounds and biological weapons that could simply eradicate the biological components of a zombie rendering it essentially dead....but I digress. 

During the survival time, we hiked, identified plants and learned their purposes.  We built shelters out of trees and branches.  We used plants to make soap, tongs, cording and create fire kindle.  We started fires, using multiple techniques...and I learned that while I'm good at starting fires with my knife and a flint rock of some sort, I'd better have a lighter on my person at all times if my only option is rubbing sticks together because I'm not great at that...(well, not yet!)  We crossed streams and traversed from desert to wooded terrains.  And finally, I got to make good use of my knife, but also realized that I should also invest in a fixed blade knife.  

Besides the abundance of tiny welts all over my arms gifted to me as I made shelter with various tree parts and the wet boots I received as a result of not being patient enough to wait while those in front of me teedered their way across the streams on logs--I just walked though the streams...It was a great time and great learning experience. 

Saturday night my 'gang' girls came over for some much needed girl time...which basically translates into eating a ridiculous smorgosborg of homemade goods, venting about our current woes-whatever they may be, and being silly.  On this particular night we decided to talk out our frustrations over coloring pages, a version of the 'who am I game' and (as usual) a dance party.   It was great!!!  And leads me to another expression of gratitude:  I really am grateful for the bond that has formed between me and the two lovely ladies I met on my first real paid job here in the industry...I forget what I've called them in previous posts...so I'll go with Chicago and Six (which may not be terribly off from what I originally called them).

After they left, I very much contemplated going to a midnight show of an indy film at the AFI Film fest to which I had tickets.  My body had other plans....get in the bed and go to sleep.  So I did. 

Stay tuned. 

Gratitude!

As it is the 'official' month of gratitude, and I say that with great hesitation, (since everyday I wake up not dead is a day for gratitude) I figured I'd make an effort to journal some of those things I'm grateful for.  I've been keeping my own journal, but it's another reason to keep me focused on keeping up my writing on this blog, in addition to whatever other flavorful happenings come my way!

So...I'll start with the Gratitude catch up:

11/1 - Grateful for the opportunity to support a friend's work an attend the screening of a short film he worked on.

11/2 - Grateful for opportunity to hang out with a dear old friend and meet a new friend!

11/3 -  Grateful for a friend who prayed for me over the phone out of the blue.  Also grateful that we've been able to reconnect after so many years of being apart...and it's like we never were.

11/4 - Grateful for a very creative morning full to the brim with ideas and writing (though not so grateful that because of that same creative morning, I was late to work...but on the flip side, grateful to have a job to be late to!)

11/5 - Grateful that I was able to find lower priced flights home for Christmas!  (Also grateful for being able to observe certain...behaviors...and for also having the wisdom to do whatever I can to NOT emulate them....it's a long story.)

11/6 - Today is that day...and it's not over yet, so I'd prefer not to say what I'm grateful for just yet...

Stay tuned.  (I may have some new shenanigans to share...day ain't over yet!)

My Own Fault...My Own Grace

I knew there would be no new reads from the blog...but that's my own fault.  I didn't tell anyone I was working on it again....maybe I won't.  I'll just keep my thoughts journaled here for myself, and if anyone else joins, then that's just icing on the cake!

It's a new month, a new week, and I've got a revived state of mind to accomplish things in different parts of my life.  LOTS of writing projects, (just to mention one) and I believe I can finish them all by the end of 2013.  No pressure. And I will do what a friend said to me just yesterday...

Extend Grace to myself.  I was telling her about a script I finished over the weekend.  She was impressed that I pulled an 'all nighter' to finish it, but I wasn't.  My personal deadline for that script was two weeks ago!  But she reminded me that I did finish it, and that's something that not everyone can or will do.

With life's daily grinds, ever arising issues and constant emotional rollervcoaster ride, sometimes deadlines and timelines are just dates on a calendar.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.  Finishing a project (any project) I set out to do is always an accomplishment, whether it took me one day or one month.

So I will lavish myself with Grace, just as God does.   Stay tuned.