Film School

Shaffer Art Building

Class began today with a collective of first, second, and third year grad students. One requirement course is a graduate filmmaking seminar that is structured for students to create and experiment with film or video, and to evaluate and critique each others work. Early into the first several weeks, we conduct discussions based on treatments we bring in for short film ideas, and introduce some of the work we've already produced. What are we trying to pursue? What methods have we adopted and from where? It's an academic environment that applies heavy critical thinking and discourse in order achieve some sort of creative production. The process essentially repeats in a nonthreatening, informal way. It's very inviting.

I have now been acquainted with all of the faculty and film students. The two other first year grads are enjoyable and less timid each time we meet. I will be working closely with them as we familiarize ourselves with lab equipment and course curriculum. Sook Hyun Kim is from Korea and practices documentary work. Ying-Chin Wang is interested in teaching film and has studied independently in China. Aside from class, we will have equipment workshops, the first being this friday, learning the Arriflex SR1 Super 16 kit.

The film cage is where I report for work. Twice a week I maintain and properly check-out equipment to grads and undergrads in film and computer art. All of the equipment is at my disposal. Quite convenient. John, my supervisor, is also a bit of a crack up. Over beers, he discussed his thoughts on the film program, his career and his family. As it turns out, he's very into the Pacific Northwest and has frequented Snoqualmie Falls on a number of occasions with his wife. John also extended an informal invitation to work on set on two projects this summer, both shot exclusively here in town. Germ is a send-up of Zombie horror films with a modest budget that he is set to direct. Hotel Syracuse, is a more an elaborate thriller-drama under the helm of an Israeli director, Haim Bouzaglo. Supposedly, the producers of Hotel Syracuse are in negotiations to land John Malkovich and Martin Sheen as two of the leads. I've yet to get started and job opportunities seem to be coming around already.

Otherwise, I'm maintaining well now that I've surpassed my limbo state. Emily made an incredible cameo this past weekend by coming to visit. We bonded over Ms. Pac-Man, garlic naan bread, and beers.

File Photo

We sat in 2nd Story Books, read magazines with our bevs and browsed books. On the way back, I declared to Emily that I had found my new favorite spot to visit. Although we didn't get our 2am Insomnia Cookie order in, we managed to squeeze in some time for Wii Sports. It was damn good seeing those Miis again. Emily visiting is a true testament to her loving character. Dodging my way around a room packed full of bros and bro-girls just won't be as funny for a while.