The End

This day was always imminent. The end of my blog.

I began this experimental project as a way to immortalize my senior year and my transition into college. But I often got busy and neglected it. Lately, I just lack the motivation to write about stuff. So, I'm cutting the cord and moving on.

I graduated a week and a half ago, and I already feel different. I didn't feel it at first, but I think it hit me last night. High school is already fading away, and college, which is something I always just talked about, is finally starting to become real.

I had a pretty great senior year filled with a ton of movie-worthy moments. Now I'm ready for a summer full of adventure. I basically want to spend as much time as I can with my family, friends, and Alaina. Not seeing them everyday will be the biggest adjustment that I have to make. But I'm going to school for something I love, so what can be better than that?

I want to take a quick moment to thank the five people who actually read this thing, including my amazing Aunt Brenda who passed away a month ago.

I finished reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower last night. I really liked it because it was filled with beautiful imagery and captured the feeling of growing up. In the novel, Charlie experiences the feeling of being infinite. I guess that's what I want to feel this summer.

To all my seniors, good luck in college. And good luck in life to everyone. All I can say is fill it with love... and joy. I think that's most important. Peace out.

Dishwashing Mania

I want to fall into a mountain of freshly washed sheets.

I finally have an official, real job: washing dishes at Rey Azteca. Thanks to Alaina's dedicated mother, I feel like I joined the mafia. There's no turning back.

I actually like the job although it is pretty down and dirty, hard work. Driving around town, I now think of all the other teenagers and down-on-their-luck twenty somethings silently washing dishes in the small corners of kitchen restaurants. Maybe I'll start a club. These are the real champions of society.

Track has started and the countdown to summer has begun. One thing is blocking my way - Ayn Rand. A couple of months back during my scholarship craze, I decided to enter The Fountainhead Essay Contest. Might as well. I read the book and surprisingly enjoyed it. But I need to get this essay done. That's my goal for the week. And then I will be free baby.

Other than that, I need to start writing my summer lists. I have two of them - Things I Want to Do This Summer (like go camping and head to the drive-ins) and Things I Need to Learn in Order to Survive in College (like I'm embarrassed to admit I can't tie my ties very well... or at all).

How are all the other high school seniors feeling right now? I don't know if I'm ready to leave my life as I know it. But it's time. I've had a good year. Now, I just have to go out with a bang.

And oh. I spent part of my weekend making this video for one of my teachers, Miss Rice. She wants to win a trip to England. Watch and share if you haven't already!

Send Miss Rice to England!

Hold the Phone!

I have a bunch of things I could write about, and because I probably won't have a chance to blog again until next Saturday, I will try to briefly cover everything.

This was a pretty crazy week including things like hipster shows in a renovated church and a 70s mafia fire hall, long musical group numbers, a Mexican dinner late at night, and a canceled religious retreat. After this dramatic week, I just have to say, "Thank God for the weekend!"

Of course, because musical and track have taken over my life, I'm spending most of the weekend getting caught up on "Chad" projects with a little Saturday Night Live mixed in. And no matter what happens, at 8:00pm tomorrow, I will be sitting in front of my television watching the Oscars.


I've been working with my friends to create a Summer To-Do List (it will be here before you know it). One of the items involves the drive-ins. However, I realized a sad fact recently. There's really no movies that I'm excited to see this summer. Every single film is a sequel or comic book movie.


That being said, I finally got to read a great GQ article by Mark Harris today. "The Day the Movies Died" talks about the decline of the movie industry and the lack of original movies (Top Gun 2 is coming into existence). Inception - an actual non-adaptation and non-sequel movie - has caused a stir. Hopefully things will start shaping up.

I am excited for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II and Super Eight. So, I'll find something to watch at the drive-ins.


Speaking of sequels, I guess I'll end with the big news of the evening...
Spy Kids 4!

That's right! The world is not ready. Embarrassing as it is, Spy Kids made me want to go into filmmaking. I was obsessed with the movie as an eight-year-old. When I watched a Behind the Scenes Feature on ABC Family one Saturday morning, I realized for the first time that movies weren't real. I fell in love with images of the backlot and bam! Magic.


Spy Kids 2 was pretty good too (although strange). The third one was stupid. I actually can't say that I'm stoked for this new one. Jessica Alba is involved. Although she may be pretty, I'm not a fan because all of her movies are dumb. Robert Rodriguez should be trustworthy.

Spy Kids 4 will either allow me to relive my childhood or destroy it. The movie industry may be in trouble after all.

Congratulations to Me

First off, this is my 50th blog post. Wow. I didn't think I would get there. Let's party!

I guess my gift is another snow storm. Schools in Johnstown got out early today, and I'm holding out for a third snow day so I can finally start typing my LMU essays.

I've been working on a poetry project for AP English. I'm reporting on Eating Poetry which has a theme of feeding attractions. Which reminds me of reading over 150 pages of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on Saturday. I finally finished the book at Alaina's birthday party.


Needless to say, I really liked the Swedish crime thriller. It was cool, sexy, and new. I guess I'll have to read the other two novels in the trilogy in the summer.


A little later tonight, I'm going to crash on my couch with some coffee and blankets to watch the Swedish movie. Thank God for Netflix on the Wii. Just saying.



America is working on its own version of the film. Because it's directed by David Fincher, it should be awesome. We'll find out next Christmas. That is if the Mayans are wrong, and we don't blow up before then.

Anyway, only 12 more days until this Christmas!

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.

The Boys Are Back

I am struggling to keep my eyes open right now, but I must stay awake. I have to pick my mom up from work in twenty minutes.

This week has been a whirlwind of craziness, weirdness, and fun. I've had to put summer reading and a little bit of running on hold. Tomorrow night is it. We are officially filming the first scenes of the short film.


The only minor obstacle is the fact that we don't have a location yet. The city manager is yet to get back to me. Sigh.

But all things considered, the project is coming together pretty nicely. I'm making a movie again, and it feels good.

I've been running around trying to get things done, but I have Ryan and our life-long best-friend-nieghbor Adam to help.

I'm really nervous. I hope we can pull this off. But whatever happens... happens. I'm just going to have fun.

Wish me luck!

Saying Goodbye

The dorm building we stayed in at film camp had many groups staying in it, but the sixth floor remained unused. On the last night, my mentor David was on night patrol. He helped some of us break out and sneak to the lounge on the sixth floor.

By the time we got there, it was very late. We sat around and talked for awhile, and soon everyone started falling asleep. We headed back to our rooms knowing that tomorrow we would finally get to leave the black hole. But did we want to now?

After two weeks, we had truly become afamily. I knew some of the kids at film camp better than I knew kids at my own school. Together, we managed to complete some sweet short films and maintain our sanity.

The last day went by quickly. It all ended with a closing ceremony. Many parents and relatives showed up. We watched the movies we had made and got to see work by the screenwriting and comedy improv students.

After the certificates were handed out, I found Carol Anne, Danny, and Danielle, and we started walking toward the parking garage. Just like that, it was over. Walking back to the car, I felt strange. We all felt as if the two weeks would never end, but they did. And as I grabbed my luggage, I knew that I would most likely never see those people again.

I really miss you guys. I hope you are enjoying the end of summer, and I hope that we meet again someday.

"You met me at a very strange time in my life."
- Fight Club

Dirty Little B*tches

Heh. Heh. I'm jumping the gun because the finale of Pretty Little Liars was on last night.

The children of my street excitedly tuned in to ABC Family at my neighbor's house. The show of course ended on a suspenseful note, and now I'll just have to hold my breath for the next season.

Haha! Okay, seriously. Pretty Little Liars is a shallow and sort of stupid show. In LA, Danielle and Erica affectionately called it Dirty Little Bitches. They were spot on. Some of the girls in the show behave like monsters. I find it really difficult to believe that high school girls actually act like that. I could be wrong. I do live in a small town.

I feel like teenagers deal with much more realistic problems than the materialistic ones that appear in Pretty Little Liars. So why did I tune into the show every Tuesday night? I really don't know. But it was entertaining in a summer way.

Another confession... I'm a gleek. Earlier this year, my dad and my brother (of all people) got me hooked on Glee. I excitedly tuned into the finale of that too.

However, whereas I would probably be embarrassed to admit I watched Pretty Little Liars, I am proud to announce that I'm a Glee fan.

I found the show to be hilarious and extremely well done. The writing, performances, and overall production values were impressive. Plus, unlike High School Musical, it wasn't afraid to address real high school issues... sex, pregnancy, homosexuality, racism, obesity, bullying, etc. Not to mention that it involved a pregnant girl and the birth of a baby.

If there are any other guys out there manly enough to profess their love of Glee, please stand up now.

On a side note, I spent most of today at WixPix, a production company near Johnstown. They do commercials and videos for a lot of local businesses and companies. I got to job shadow, ask a bunch of questions, and even work the teleprompter.

Unfortunately, they couldn't give me a camera for my short film, but that's okay. I have a few backup plans that will go in effect tomorrow. Production of this short film will start soon... I promise.

It's Not Said and Done Yet

Home sweet home.

The second week of Camp Zacchaeus ended yesterday. The experience was amazing, of course. It gave me the chance to hang out with old friends, make new ones, touch the lives of children, reflect on and absorb all of my summer adventures, and grow spiritually.

As Ryan, Tyler, Addison, and I left the grounds of Camp Sequanota, I became overwhelmed with the sense that summer was ending. Camp Z was the last of my excursions. LA. Film Camp. XC Camp. I've done a lot. This summer has been beautiful, but it's not over.

I still have three weeks until school. I am using this weekend to recover and regroup. Tomorrow I will be reunited with Alaina (who is at an Ok Go concert at the moment) and the cross country team. And on Monday, my 24/7 quest to complete my summer reading and make a short film before school starts will officially begin.

In the process, I want to write about everything. And I'll start with that long list.

Coming Soon

I am getting older. I can feel it.

I don't know, but I feel like I'm on the verge of something. I look at my brother Ryan who is just about to start his high school career, and then I look at myself who is ready to move on.

I just feel like things are changing this summer. There has to be other people that feel this way. In two short months, I will turn eighteen. I will cease to be a kid in the legal sense, but that won't change anything to me.

Even with things changing and college looming around the corner, I feel at complete peace. I'm where I want to be, and I'm happy. I like my class, and I'm super stoked for senior year.

Anyway, I'm leaving for Camp Z tomorrow morning, but with so much to write about, I wanted to make a list so I don't forget anything.

COMING SOON:
The Black Hole of Film Camp
The Making of Lemonopoly
V-Necks and Being a Hipster
The Homosexual Tension between Edward and Jacob in Eclipse
Sneaking Out/Saying Goodbye to Filmmaking Friends
College Reviews of UCLA, LMU, and Chapman
Why I Get Addicted to Teenage Girl Shows such as Glee and Pretty Little Liars
The Awesomeness of Inception and Almost Famous
Thunder Storms and Earthquakes
Dancing to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance
Funerals and Weddings
The Sweet Hilairousness of Troll 2
XC Camp
Girls and Forbidden Love
Tampons and Periods
Frat Boys, Hipsters, Skaters and Beyond
Making Out while Angry
and Skinny Dipping

Geeze. I'm going to be busy.

Takeoff

Where has the time gone?

Almost a month ago, I sat on a crowded plane heading from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles. This was my second trip to LA, and like before, I arrived at night. The sun was setting all across the country, and it was a beautiful flight. I knew that I was being transported somewhere entirely different from Johnstown.

You see those lit up pole thingys? They form my first memory of LA.

Once again, I was greeted by the night lights of Los Angeles. When the plane touched down, I felt as if I had never left. Last summer, I fell in love with LA. This time, I fell in love again. It's three thousand miles away and yet I feel as at home there as I ever did here.

My first cousins removed (I googled the correct relationship term) picked me up, and the journey began.

Toy Story 3!

For a late Father's Day gift, I decided to treat the family to a movie-going experience. The outing came with a price tag of $53 which is ridiculous, but it was probably only the second time that my whole family went to the movies together.

Anyway, Toy Story 3 was awesome! The movie opened up with an exciting reintroduction to the characters. I couldn't help but smile because I can still remember going to see Toy Story 2. Seeing Woody and other characters I grew up with on the screen was like a rebirth of my childhood.

The new Toy Story was interesting because I am now in the same boat as Andy as he heads off to college. I guess it's not all bad though. I started to gather together things for my California trip tonight, and I'm pretty excited. The message of Toy Story 3 was being able to move onto the the next chapter in your life. It also had a strong sense of family (which may bring a tear to your eye). I don't know what lies ahead, but I have my friends and family who will always be there for me, which is exciting in itself. Summer adventures, here I come.

Exposition! (Part Nine)

Meet Alaina.

My Bonnie.

I didn't ask for her permission to do this, but I don't think she'll mind (too much).

To set the record straight, we dated for about three months freshman year. We ran cross country together, and I thought she was cool. Unfortunately, I was awkward and weird, and she was adventurous. Plus, I was terrified of her.Not to mention, I still had a baby face (as evidenced in the picture below).

But then last summer, we reunited. Together, we live for summer days, sunsets, and thunderstorms.

Oh These Summer Nights...

Last night, after returning from the Catholic Men's Conference, I met up with my sweetheart Alaina (you'll meet her later) and my brother Ryan (you'll meet him later too). Together, we headed to Rey Azteca, the local Mexican restaurant where Alaina and her amazing mother are employed.

I tried the coffee for the first time. It was delicioso! Rey Azteca coffee is brewed with cinnamon, and I recommend it. We also feasted on chocolate chicken and discussed all of life's great difficulties. Throughout the night, I was playing with a small container of half-and-half. Right before leaving, I squeezed a bit too tightly. It exploded all over myself and the window.

After dropping Ryan off, I joined Alaina at her house. Sprawled out on her bed with her rowdy dog Hercules, we watched Adventureland on her two-inch television.

We loved Adventureland! It's helmed by the director of Superbad Greg Mottola. Except unlike Superbad, he actually wrote Adventureland. It's a sort of memoir of his teenage years. While Adventureland has its moments, it is not nearly as vulgar as Superbad. Instead, it's more sweet and real in an almost John Hughes sort of way. I boycott Twilight, but Kristen Stewart and all the other actors were awesome.

Not to mention, it takes place in the 80s, has a killer soundtrack, and involves Kristen Wiig (reason alone to see it).

After the movie, the night sort of turned reflective (and almost depressing). I guess that life is just strange, yet beautiful. Everyone makes mistakes. The key is to fix them - and then savor those truly special moments - even if they are as simple as a small TV, a boy, a girl, a movie, and a dog.

So, if you've been putting off seeing Adventureland (which has been out forever), change that. Until then, turn up your volume and jam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJUrt0O7uY