A New Semester and a Lot of Rain

Hey everyone,

Once again, it's been too long in between posts, but I promise I have good excuses. Things have been really busy. Here are some updates on my life:

Interterm: I didn't take an interterm class last year, so it was pretty fun to finally see what it's like. The class I took was incredible: Advanced Workshop in Genre Writing with Jeff Phillips, one of our part time professors. We had nine class periods and learned nine different genres. Some were more difficult than others, but as a screenwriter, it's important for me to step outside my comfort zone and try new things. And I even found out that I love writing horror films... I started one that hopefully will become a feature script by the end of the year.

Work: I'm still enjoying my job at the film school, but I needed to make a little more money. I was fortunate enough in this economy to find a second job at Jamba Juice! Free smoothies make me very happy. I just hope that two jobs, full time classes, and sorority involvement don't make me too crazy.

Apartment: Finally furnished! I've lived there since September and I finally had time over interterm to furnish the rest of the living room. It looks awesome, if I do say so myself.

Sorority: Gamma Phi is still treating me very well. I just took on a new position as our House of Reps representative. House of Reps is a part of Associated Students, which is our student government here at Chapman. I will go to the weekly meetings to represent Gamma Phi. It'll be a good way for me to be more involved at Chapman and see firsthand how our government works.

Spring semester: Unfortunately, screenwriting classes were a little full this semester. So I'm not taking any required classes for my major, but I do have two classes at the film school that I already love. One is Actor's and Writer's Workshop. Screenwriters write the scenes, screen acting students act them out, and we all learn how they can be improved. I think it will honestly be one of the most useful classes I take here. I'm also taking Prime Time: The Game of Television. It's a giant role-playing game to learn how TV works. There are network executives, producers, and advertising agencies. Right now, I'm a network exec for CBS. It'll be a lot of fun.

I'll let you know more when it happens. I know it's Admissions time and those of you who are high school seniors have a lot of important decisions to make. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know!

Katie


Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. - E.L. Doctorow

6 Days Away from Christmas Break!

I am T-6 days from finishing the semester and it couldn't come soon enough. It's been really hectic last few months and I can't believe it's done already.

FINALS: I know everyone talks about Finals like its the Apocalypse, but they aren't that bad. I'm sure for some people they are, but it's definitely doable. This year, mine aren't too bad. For Psych, I had a paper and presentation, but I got it out of the way already so I'm set. Film History and Sociology are the only ones that I actually have tests, but the Film History final is open note so i really don't even have to study. For Acting, I have a two person scene with my friend Carl and we're using one from the show Californication. It's on Showtime, and if you haven't seen it, you should. ASAP. Last but not least, for Screenwriting, the "final" consists of turning in my screenplay, and I've been done for a couple weeks.

REGISTRATION: I registered for classes next semester. The bad news of college is that Sophomores tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to graduating. Because of that, you don't always get all the classes you want. I was relatively lucky... I'm only waitlisted for one class. Unfortunately, it's the one I want the most: Feature Screenwriting II. The good news is that it's not usually TOO difficult to get signed it. Aside from that, I'm talking Actor's and Writer's Workshop, Environmental Ethics, Religion, Prime Time: The Game of Television, and Abnormal Psychology. It'll be another busy semester, but hopefully a fun one too.

THE HOLIDAYS: If you ask anyone that works in the Front Office, they will tell you I'm a Christmas nut. I'm totally obsessed. I've been playing Christmas in the office for over a week. Right now, it's Frank Sinatra's version of "Jingle Bells." I think I have over 200 Christmas songs on my iTunes at this point. It's embarrassing. Tomorrow is our Front Office bake-off and we all go into a sugar coma testing desserts and listening to music and playing Secret Santa. There's even prizes, so naturally, I can't wait. And best of all, I'm going home in 6 days and I'll be there for 3 weeks before I come back for Interterm. Washington is cold (as it should be for Christmas)... I'm over this California "winter" where it's still 70 degrees. Palm trees and Christmas lights don't belong together. But I'm thrilled to see my family and friends and get a break... at this point in the year, I need it.

I hope Thanksgiving was amazing and your holidays are too! I'll update you all at the start of Interterm :)


Katie

Change

There have been a lot of things happening lately... my life has turned into somewhat of a whirlwind. First and foremost, the biggest thing to occur were the elections a few days ago. I won't get involved with politics in my blog, but there are definitely some things to be looking forward to. And I am proud to say that my first participation in a presidential election came for this historical one.

Even though I can hardly believe it, the semester is about to come to an end. We only have a couple weeks of school until Thanksgiving, and then another week and a half until Christmas Break. I'm finally doing interterm this year... I just don't see the point in paying a month and a half of rent if I won't be there and not taking advantage of an amazing (and free) opportunity.

The class I'll be taking is Advanced Workshop in Writing Genre with Jeff Phillips. Interterm will be incredible because it will still give me three weeks at home and time while I'm at school to write more, make a little extra money, and take a few small weekend trips (like to Palm Springs to see my grandparents).

Unfortunately, in order to be able to afford my rent and utilities and food (all that fun grown-up stuff) I have to get a second job. Hopefully, having two jobs, being in a sorority, and taking a full load of classes won't completely overwhelm me. And in theory, I can work the second job for a few months to just save up some extra cash.

That's all the major updates for now :) Take care!

Katie


"If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative." Woody Allen

This is what procrastination looks like...

So right now I am supposed to be working on a Sociology paper. Don't doubt me, though. I'm almost done with it and I'm actually very interested in the topic... I just need a break and I'm kind of stuck with the conclusion. The paper is about legal and illegal immigration in America and looks into its benefits and problems from a sociological view. I also have a Film History paper to be working on, but that will come later.

I'm in the middle of midterms. This year, mine are very spread out. I had one a week (or two?) ago, have one this week and one next week. On Friday, it's Acting for Non-Actors. We got to select a monologue to act out in front of the class with costume and prop and all the words memorized. I'm doing Regina's monologue from Mean Girls about Janis and how she thinks that she's a lesbian. It's fun because I would say that I have exactly the opposite personality of Regina-- that is the appeal of acting after all, right? You get to be someone who you aren't.

Screenwriting is going really well. I didn't get chosen for Location Filmmaking -- I'm only a little bitter =D -- but I think I'll submit it on the Dodge Information Group (DIG) and see if it would make a good Advanced Production or Senior Thesis film. The DIG is a way for students to exchange information (crew calls, scripts, head shots) online.

For my Feature Screenwriting class, I'm working on a script that I like to describe as Knocked Up with alcohol instead of marijuana and marriage instead of pregnancy. It's fun to write... I've been enjoying writing comedy over drama lately.

Interterm is coming up and I can't really decide if I want to take a class or have a 6 week vacation. I didn't do it last year, so I'm probably not the best person to ask questions, but it would be a good opportunity to get some credits out of the way. And now that I have my own apartment, I don't really want to pay a month and a half of rent when I'm not staying there. Also, one of the adjunct professors has been talking to me about a Screenwriting Genre class he is teaching over interterm and it sounds super interesting.

Okay... I think I've put this baby off long enough. Time to get back to work. I have a favorite analogy about procrastination, but it's probably not appropriate for the internet. If you know the one I'm thinking of, good for you =D

"The act of writing is an act of optimism. You would not take the trouble to do it if you felt it didn't matter." Edward Albee

September already?

As much as I can hardly believe it, it's already over a week into September, which means I'm super busy.

Here's what's been going on:

- I moved into my apartment! It took forever, but I'm finally no longer homeless. And since I didn't have any big, strong men laying around, I had to assemble ALL of the furniture by myself. So far, so good. I haven't broken any chairs by sitting in them, so a huge success in my books. It's really nice having my own place, but to all of you who are wondering whether or not to live on or off campus your freshman, live in the dorms. You'll meet so many people and it's so much fun (most of the time).

- Location Filmmaking is coming up! It's this really exciting opportunity within the film school and it's open to everyone, regardless of your major or class standing. It's a screenplay competition for Dodge College students. In the end, six will be chosen to be produced by Chapman -- 100% fully funded and crewed. There's no entry fee so no harm, no foul. If you have a short script under your belt, there's no reason NOT to participate.

- Classes are pretty good this year. My screenwriting class is a lot to take in right now. We had to come up with three feature ideas that we'll be working on over the next year. I like what I came up with so I'm hoping my excitement about writing it will carry on over this semester (and next).

- I went skydiving this last weekend! I know, I know... "Weren't you supposed to go in August?" Well, the engine fell out of the plane the day before my birthday and all six people that were in the plane ended up in the ER. I don't believe in bad omens, but I had to wait until this last Saturday until I could go. It worked out for the better, though, because my friend Chad and I went to Pacific Coast Skydiving, which is INCREDIBLE! We flew over Mexico and the San Diego coastline and jumped at sunset. Absolutely fabulous. I even have a DVD of the jump, which is so fun to watch.

I think that's all the updates you need for now. Have a good week :)

"Writing eases my suffering... writing is my way of reaffirming my own existence."

- Gao Xingjian

Coming up on the end of summer... Good news and bad.

Well, it's August 1st today and I'm going back to Chapman in two weeks. A huge part of me can't wait to see all my friends and get back to my film classes and start moving into my apartment. (However, I'm semi-homeless for a week and a half because I'm not allowed to move into the apartment until August 30 and I'll be in Southern California August 17th. Oops?) Yet another part of me is really sad to leave Bellingham because my summer here has been one of the best.

At my full-time job here, cashiering at Joe's Sports and Outdoors, I've met a ton of people and have spent a lot of my time with my new friends, all of whom I'll have to leave in a couple weeks. To ease this inevitable pain, a few people from work are throwing me a birthday party. (It's my birthday on the 4th, by the way! 19 years has been a long time coming). The party is on Sunday, and on Monday (my actual birthday) I'm going skydiving with my best friend Frances. I'm terrified, but it will be worth the horror and the fat wad of cash.

As far as Screenwriting goes, writing for the TV show Reel to Real has been an incredible experience. I'm starting to think that I'd rather write for TV than for film, at least initially. Frank, Myles, and I are trying to find a location to film our short story in, but that will hopefully get on its way. It's been in pre-production for months. And months.

Speaking of Frank and Myles, you should support me by supporting them and checking out their newest video, "Flushed." It's the style that OUR film will be in, but ours will be a little less silly. The youtube link for that is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvJX-uyBR3o

Myles is also on Fox Searchlight (http://my.foxsearchlight.com/profile/Myles), where all of his other videos, and eventually the one I wrote, are posted. He's not currently a Chapman student, but will be after he transfers.

Hope all of you are doing well. If you have questions, as always, feel free to write.



"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you." ~Ray Bradbury