Longest Day Ever

Today McCort hosted the second (and hopefully last) blood drive of the year. While it was fun to help work at, we had to be at school at 5:30 - a little too early after a long week. After school, we had musical practice for Bye Bye Birdie which, needless to say, needs a lot more work.

However, I have only one more day of mid-terms left. Tonight, I am watching movies and sleeping. And tomorrow I can't wait to join my friends for a fancy "let's get together and cook dinner" night.

In the meantime, I love Sofia Coppola. I don't know if I've said that before. But she's a girl who can easily fight the guys, and that's sexy. There's something about her movies that just makes them gorgeous.

I want to live in a Sofia Coppola film. The end.

Friend Request

After a very stressful week, I was thrilled for a fun weekend. I went to the football game (nearly froze to death), edited my short film, hung out on Saturday night, and saw The Social Network.

As expected, it was good. The film has already been called a "classic" story. Because I've read many classics so far for AP English including Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, and The Great Gatsby, I have to agree. Maybe Mrs. Reaman will let us discuss it tomorrow (nice try).


Alaina and I have concluded that Jesse has surpassed Michael Cera. He was pretty dark and definitely has acting skills. Everyone else was really cool too including Brenda Song (who won't be on the Disney Channel anymore).


Basically, Mark gets inspired by some guys and invents the facebook in order to impress his ex Erica. His best friend Eduardo is made CFO as the website starts to gain attention.

Everything goes well until Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) enters the scene and seduces Mark with his coolness and California. In the process, poor Eduardo gets screwed, and Mark is later sued by Eduardo and the other dudes who claim they had the idea for Facebook.


The movie is actually very relatable. Alaina and I could draw parallels between the characters and people that we actually know. I mostly identified with Eduardo. He was the only nice/nomal guy and ended up getting screwed over. I hope that doesn't happen to me. I guess I just have to be smart when I enter the big world.

What's scary is that Mark and Eduardo are real people. I hope they can become friends again somehere down the road.


Of course everyone has a facebook, but that's not what the movie is really about. These guys could have started a lemonade stand, and the story would have been just as compelling.

The script was the best part. At the end of the movie, we sort of just sat there. Alaina was angry and crying. That means the movie was good. She's an emotional film viewer.

As I went to Walmart, drove home, and headed to bed, all I could think about was The Social Network.

Go see it.

Taking Flight

I have the sudden urge to fly somewhere. It doesn't matter where. Who's with me?

The cross country invitational today was fun. In tribute to a past runner, the guys wore tube socks and pre-wrap headbands. I looked sexy in my 80s running style. It was a good race.

As usual on invitational days, I am now pooped. So even though I have a buttload of stuff to do, I am taking the night off. After we got home, Alaina and I laid around my house for three hours.

I want to talk about the future. I named this blog "Trekking to Adulthood." I am definitely trekking. But I can trek to wherever I want. And right now, I like where I am headed. I know who I am and what I want to be.

For instance, I know that I am going to follow my dreams. I want to be a filmmaker. And everyone else can suck it. That's right, I said it.

My old religion teacher (one of the best teachers I ever had) once said that there is a big problem with today's education system. It is geared toward the goal of getting kids good jobs that make a lot of money. He said that somewhere along the way, teachers forgot to tell their students to go after their dreams. And he told us to dream every day.

Unfortunately, he was right. Filmmaking is not a "safe" job. Art is not a "safe" job. Fashion is not a "safe" job. Writing is not a "safe" job.

Who cares?

I am currently working on an essay for a scholarship program. The program wants to know about obstacles that I have overcome - along the lines of family death, hardship, poverty, etc. Well, I haven't had to endure any of those. But I have had other obstacles.

Living in a small town, I have tried to make movies. No film classes. No budget. No support from city managers.

Most people in my town stare at me like I'm looney when I tell them my intended major. You want to know the truth? I love that blank stare. I just smile.

Most people in my senior class are planning to be physician's assistants, engineers, doctors, whatever. Great for them. If they love it.

I am going to do what I love. Luckily, I have supportive parents. Thank you mom and dad. And my friends and role models are there for me too.

I am not afraid. I am taking a chance. I not interested in money. I am interested in passion. I am actually going to attempt to go somewhere outside of my city's limits. People want to know why in the world I would want to go to school so far away. Distance is not an issue to me. I can get a job and hop on a plane.

I'm not sure where I am going with all of this. But I think that some things in live are worth it. I don't want to be one of those people that choose a "safe" life and then regret it for the rest of forever. Everyone out there (that means you Alaina and Christina), don't give up.

I submitted my Florida State Film School personal statement last night. It was about my motivation to become a filmmaker. It ended with "The adventure starts here."

Arcade Fire has their new album Suburbs out. This is "Ready to Start." I like it.

Remember Me?

Remember me? Chad?

I've been out living.

Last week quickly transformed into crunch time as I rushed around like a mad man trying to get my short film actually filmed. Luckily, I have a great crew of supporters and friends. Together, we gathered equipment, went costume shopping, and created shot lists. I drafted my brother Ryan to act in the film. He hesitantly agreed. (I eventually made him dye his hair and even kiss a girl... gasp!). Finally, the one thing that hanged in the balance was a location.

Originally, I had always planned to film on Main Street by Central Park in downtown Johnstown. I wrote a nice letter of request and delivered it to the city manager like I was instructed to do. However, the city manager chick never called me back. For two days, my mom and I pounded her with phone calls and messages.

On Friday - shooting day - Ryan and I marched to city hall and waited outside her office until she returned from lunch... only she never did. She must have taken a four hour lunch break. And she still didn't call me back.

I was pretty ticked. I love Johnstown most of the time, and I can't understand why my city wouldn't help me out. Dear City Manager, why do you have to be such a rude biznatch?

Never willing to give up, I called my high school - Bishop McCort Catholic High School. We were allowed to film in the courtyard for three nights. The first night was hectic, but Saturday and Sunday went beautifully.

I couldn't have asked for better actors. Staring at the viewfinder, I was awestruck because I knew I was a part of something special.

I want to thank everyone... for everything. I had a great crew who went without sleep for three nights. Yesterday, we filmed the last little intro scene. Now all that's left to do is edit. In the next month, I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'll also try to share some pics and videos.

In other news, school started. Ahhhhhhhhh!

After filming Sunday night, Ryan and I jumped awake at six in the morning. He had to go to school for Freshman Orientation, and I had to help out because I'm on student council.

The rest of the week was weird. It feels like summer break was only a short weekend. Every time I walked down the halls, I could hear the Jaws theme song playing in the back of my head.
Dun dun dun.

Still, it's senior year! Whatever that means. I'm going to have fun.

No doubt, things are going to get crazy as I attempt to juggle cross country (first meet on Wednesday), college applications (I started my application for FSU), homework, and this short film.

I'll write about the new adventures coming my way, but I still have some stuff to say about the summer.

Until then, good luck to everyone going back to school. Take art classes! Bye.

LMU

Today, I want to write a quick review of Loyola Marymount University, but first a few recent happenings:

After Wednesday night practices in the summer, the cross country team hangs out at Eat'n Park - a chain of family friendly diner-like restaurants that are famous for its Smiley cookies. Last night was our last Eat'n Park adventure. It was fun. A few friends and past runners dropped by to say goodbye before they left for college. That will be me in a short year.

Speaking of college, I am still working on finalizing my list. My parents are worried because I haven't begun to apply yet. They are now clocking my time. Yesterday, my mom yelled at me because I watched America's Next Top Model for twenty minutes while I ate lunch. This means I might have to do some secret blogging.

Finally, I keep hitting dead ends with my short film. On Tuesday, my faithful french teacher gave me a list of possible male actors. Two days later I still haven't found someone. Sigh. Summer feels as if it has been over for awhile.

And now introducing Loyola Marymount University.

I'm pretty sure that Loyola has schools across the country. LMU is a small Jesuit school in LA. My cousin Danielle went there. I'm not sure of the differences between the Jesuit and Catholic faiths. They seem similar.

Danielle and Erica took me on a little tour of LMU on the Saturday after film camp. While there, we got locked outside on a dorm roof. It also rained (drizzled actually). Rained in LA - I told said the weather was weird while I was there.

I went back later that week with Carol Anne, and we got a personal tour of the film building. The student who gave us the tour had some good information, but he also talked a lot of trash about other film schools in the area. He came off as a bit biased and arrogant. He also mentioned that he was attending LMU and his brother was going to attend USC because they had "connections." Which is what it's all about folks.

LMU sits in the middle of LA on top of a mountain. The location really is beautiful. It's in a safe environment - a residential neighborhood. It's also a short drive away from LAX and Manhattan Beach - one of my favorite areas of Los Angeles.

The school seems religious. Each dorm has an in-house priest. Although from what Danielle tells me, that doesn't stop the students from having a good time. As a whole LMU reminds me of a local college - St. Francis University. A ton of kids from my high school, Bishop McCort, go there. It has earned the nickname 13th grade.

After attending a small Catholic school for my whole life, I am anxious to break out. I want a big school in a big city. Just visiting LMU makes me feel chrostophobic, and I worry that I might go crazy there.

The film school itself is a tiny, and I mean tiny, little building. It is pretty hard to get accepted into the school. LMU has a two sound stages, a nice theater, and a cool editing suite. It sits in the heart of the action and seems connected to the industry. A bunch of cool people come to talk to the film students. Advanced film screenings are sometimes held. Plus, students can break out and explore opportunities in the city.

All in all, LMU is not my top choice. But the campus is very nice. LMU just got a brand new library that was probably one of the nicest buildings I have ever been in. The film school is reputable and connected to the industry. It serves as a good backup school if USC and Chapman don't work out.

I want to end by introducing you to Pratley. I know it's random, but my good friend Christina introduced me to his music. He's a student at USC. Listen to Fall Wind. After all, Autumn is around the corner.

http://pratleyproject.com/

Suck my Lemons

The Making of Lemonopoly.

AsI mentioned earlier, the film students were placed into groups of three or four with each person acting as director, producer, director of photography/cinematographer, or editor/sound.

My group worked great together as we quickly decided that Reid would direct, I would produce, Kevin would work the camera, and Walter would edit.

For actors, we cast Jimmy and Zach who were great. They both agreed that they hadn't made a movie as fun as Lemonopoly since high school.

Our group was mentored by a graduate student name Julio. He was awesome! Making Lemonopoly, I learned that the producer does all of the hard work - scheduling, gathering props, setting locations, working with actors, and keeping the shoot on time. Producing was fun especially since organization is my specialty, but I would much rather direct.

On Saturday we had a blast at the shoot. Unlike other groups, we stayed in one location all day. We threw lemons, created jokes, and made a mess.

We spent the rest of the week editing the film. Because my group worked well together, the whole experience was fun. For having only two weeks, I am proud of Lemonopoly. Feel free to check it out.

Exposition! (Part Three)

I must admit - this blog thing is fun.

The next thing I want to talk about is film. I want to be a filmmaker. Scratch that. I am a filmmaker. I want to become a better one. I want to tell stories. And I want to go to film school. No doubt, much of this blog will be about movies, filmmaking, and college.

What are my favorite movies? They change all the time. But here's what I'm feeling this morning (while I eat my cinnamon poptart).

If you have not seen any of these wonderful films, go load up your Netfilx queue immediately.