The Conclusion of the Best Week Ever

Thank you so much to National Honors Convocation. I had the best week of my life with some of the best people ever. Jeff Ahlholm, Alex Hedlund, and all my friends, I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Sorry I wasn't able to keep you guys informed while I was away, but that was just how extremely busy we were! So today I am going to take the time to give a full play-by-play of my adventures.

Day 1: The Arrival

There were many complications on Day 1. I was picked as a random security search at the airport, nearly missed my flight, and upon arrival, found out my paperwork hadn't gone through. Pretty much a crappy day. However, it got better as I got to know some new friends, and my coaches Jess, Jeff, and Alex.

Loyola Marymount University

Day 2

Our first day of "lessons" and guest speakers. Awesome. Bobbie Minton and Earl Carroll came in to talk to us about the business of acting, we began working on pre-production for our short films, and spent some time getting to know each other.

"The Hill", where all classes took place

Bobbie Minton, Earl Carroll, and I

Partyin' up after class

Day 3: Universal Studios

Group picture day! And then we got to talk to Beth and Colin, two screenplay writers. After that, we travelled to Universal Studios! Amazing day. Check the pics.

(Left to Right)-Constance, Jenna, Liz, and I

A view of the fire damage at Universal Studios

Wisteria Lane of Desperate Housewives. They were filming!

"The group" with Zorro

The famous globe

Day 4
More lessons and the like. Very fun. This day was mostly Alex talking to us, and us joking around with him. (groups 1-2 filmed this day.)


Day 5: Santa Monica Pier/Venice Beach

The pictures say it all. Before we went, we got to screen the movie "Unknown", and then two of the producers came in and talked to us about the making of the movie.

At Venice Beach!

Santa Monica Pier-Recognize the coaster from Tony Hawk's American Wasteland? I sure did!Where we went shopping instead due to the crowds at the Pier

Day 6: My group films+LA Film Festival
Today was filming day. Hopefully I'll get the video up soon that our group made, but it may be a bit. Having some probs with the CD. Here's some pics of filming.
This was also the day of the LA Film Festival. We went to Shorts Program 1, which was actually really interesting. The theater was beautiful.

Day 7
This was editing day. Basically my group spent 16 hours in a room together, watching Brandon and Maddy edit the movie, as we pitched in ideas. This was also the day that we pitched film ideas to Alex. Jeff had spent about 2 hours with me working on mine, and we ended up making what he says "Is so amazing that if you can write a good script, I'd try to do something with it."

Day 8: Graduation and Dance
It was a day of joys and sorrows. Our last official day together, but also the craziest and most fun. Not to mention that after the dance no one got more than 2 hours of sleep. We partied it up. Also, Alex and Jeff kept showing up outside whatever room I was in. So I called them stalkers. But it was awesome, because they are awesome.

Jeff and I
Alex and IJess and I

Jeff Chillin'

Some of the staff: Andre, Michelle, Alex, Jaemy, Jess, and Inkit

Alex gettin' his party on

Jeff...uh... we still don't know. We looked over at the stage and there was Jeff just... laying there. Posing or something.

Day 9
Final goodbyes. EVERYONE was crying. Also, there was a bomb threat at LAX while I was there. Lovely. But I did finally get home, and I'm still wishing I wasn't.

Supporting the 5 A.M. departures

About 8:00 A.M.

My boy Michael and I

This happened after I left. Staff waterballoon fight.

So that's a quick summary of my time in LA. It was the greatest experience ever, and would do it again in a heartbeat!

California Adventures

First, I'd like to give a little message... HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN MICHAEL BOLGER!!!!!!! Ahh I'm so glad I got to get on a computer today.

So anyways, yesterday I was at Universal Studios in Hollywood, and I was pretty sure there was something going on Public Enemies related. Maybe. I'm not sure. But that would be awesome if suddenly they were "following me"!

As most of you (do not) know, I am currently in California for a film internship/convention thing. It was really last minute that I got to go, and it's really amazing.

I can't say the trip has been uneventful, however...

I was picked for a random security search at the airport that included a full patdown, and they dumped my entire backpack out, causing me to nearly miss my flight. Then, after I got here, it ended up that my papers hadn't cleared. Although everything finally worked out, it was super stressful.

Now, though, it's super amazing. We're making a short film, get to talk to actors and producers daily, and learn all sorts of neat things. Yep. I love L.A. Yesterday we went to Universal Studios, which was awesome, and tomorrow we are going to the Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach. WAHOO! Then on Sunday, we're going to attend the L.A. Film Festival. It's almost overwhelming. I've also made tons and tons of amazing friends. It's kind of like a convention of nerds that aren't really all that nerdy. (There's 5 conventions, with film being the biggest. Law, Medicine, Business, and Leadership are the others.)

I'll be coming home on Wednesday (however much I'm wishing I don't have to) so maybe I'll see some of you then! When I get home, there will be lots of pictures to share!


THIRD WATCH quote of the day:

Cruz: I on the other hand, have to get up every day, by myself, and talk worthless pieces of crap of ledges! Now I'm not going to ask you again. GET UP!


You've already had your fact of the day. It's John Michael Bolger's B-day!


No Johnny Depp quotes today. Instead, a quote from a new friend group about him.
Jenna: Johnny Depp called me last night.
Me: But Johnny was at my house last night!
Liz: What? I don't get it. You were here in California last night... OH! You're JOKING!

Why Does EVERYTHING Cost Money?

Plane tickets are so majorly expensive. Seriously. And they don't go for the "I'm a poor student with an opportunity awaiting me in California" thing, no matter how true it is. Couldn't they at least let us pay a little later?

If you haven't noticed by now, or haven't spent any significant time with me by now, you'll realize my family runs on a last-minute sort of world. Mind you, I'm supposed to be leaving for California TOMORROW. And yet I still don't know if I'm going or not, which means I don't have my ID tag or T-Shirt from this thing, because they don't know if I'm going, either.

Ugh. That's all I can say, and I'm starting to lose hope.

However, I did have a fun weekend, which in turn earned me a little bit of money (even though I was under the impression I was volunteering). My neighbor does a weekend camp every year for some church kids, and I helped out, 48 hours-12 kids-3 camp counselors. And I got to say, I miss those kids... No matter how wild they were, they were still cute and fun.

Also-you may have heard a tidbit about this on the news-the Chilton Morrissey Park Project. I helped out there, too, 9 1/2 hours, building a new playset/park. That was pretty fun, too, but I sprained my shoulder. Ouch.

As for filming, I have a neat little update about myself-ish, and about filming. Sounds like today is going to be the last (or close to last) day of filming. It's a little sad, in my opinion. I'm going to have to find a new obsession...
But also... I still can't believe I even met so many actors and awesome people in the first place, and it ends up that people are actually reading my blog! And... do I dare say... people in high(er) places than what I expected! I just recently sent out 4 CDs of my John Michael Bolger videos, and if you were around at the time when I got the email (Abby, perhaps?) you know how excited I was about that one. And also the fact that I got to pass on a little message to John Michael Bolger. That made me pretty happy, as I am such a Third Watch fanatic.
Although I've been so busy lately, I haven't watched any episodes recently. *sniffle*

As for right now, though, I gotta run, because I need to keep trying to figure out this California thing, or even if I get to go at all.

And I'm really sorry, but I'm skipping the quotes/pictures today. I just don't have any time!