School, Serendipity, and Warhol

It's Friday!

This week I have learned the crazyness that is my work and school schedule. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I work from 10 AM- 6PM, then hop on the subway to go straight to class. Class starts at 7PM and lasts until 10:30 PM. Talk about a full day! However, I absolutely love every second of class. On Tuesdays we have Electronic Culture, exploring how technology has changed us as a society and how it will continue to affect us. On Wednesdays we have Contemporary Cinema, which is pretty self explanatory but includes exploring the filmmakers of generation X and why filmmakers made more philosophically based movies in the late 90s/2000s. Our teacher, Joe Kickasola, is wonderful-- laid back, insightful and extremely thought provoking. Which is needed after a full work day!

In class, we are able to write on the desks! (Something I got sent to the principal's office for in middle school. I remember to this day walking into Miss Murray's office, terrified, and telling her that it was a senseless and dumb mistake.) In the open minded spirit of New York, we are able to graffiti our hearts out if desired. It is seen as a "creative outlet" for students. Love it.

After school on Wednesday night, Julia and Erica had a hankering for some delicious dessert. So my roommates and I headed to the famous "Serendipity 3" restaurant to sample some famous desserts. (They are open until 2 AM) This charming little restaurant dates back to the 1950s in New York City. The story is fascinating. However, I think we were expecting too much because we were less than blown away by the desserts. Julia and Erica split a chocolate cake, fudge, and ice cream creation which turned out to be quite mediocre.

Delicious for sure, but not anything you haven't tasted before. Lauren got the apple pie, which was okay, but nothing spectacular either. I ordered their famous "frozen hot chocolate," a treat that everyone RAVES over, and was definitely NOT raving about the tasteless, chalk-like, whipped cream on top of it. Sorry Serendipity, but we will not be back for your over-priced touristy desserts. We ended up getting home

for the day at midnight. Whew!

Even though my internship is very low key right now, it is draining to be awake and alert for so many hours. I am hoping that my decision to work 4 days a week won't come back to haunt me.

On a happier and more exciting note, we went to an extremely cool venue last night-- The Museum of Modern Art's exhibition of Andy Warhol's motion pictures. I really don't know much about Warhol (ask my little sister Sally, she would DEF know!) but I do know that I was inspired and intrigued by his portraits captured on 16mm film.

Along with viewing his creative films, one could create their very own Warhol portrait. The event set up a room with three stations, each complete with a white backdop, lighting, and a personal photographer. All you had to do was stand in a line and each person got a 45 second potrait done. While all of this was going on, a DJ played eclectic music while museum workers served different kinds of wine in plastic cups. This was my first art gallery experience with the famed wine in a plastic cup! I had a ball.

Lauren and I discovered that not everyone's portrait was displayed. We figured you either had to be beautiful or interesting to be displayed (lots of foreign people were up there, along with anyone wearing thick black rimmed glasses). So in an attempt to look more artsy, I borrowed Kevin's glasses for my portrait.

We saw Erica and Julia's portraits from another line, but Lauren and I unfortunately never saw our faces on the big screen. Sad day. However, this event will definitely be one of my favorite moments in New York City I am sure. :-)

Julia and I both wore shoes that were very unforgiving to our feet. So, we decided to split a cab back home instead of walking 6 blocks to the subway. It was definitely worth it!

Julia stopped and got McDonalds in Time Square. It was such a fun, memorable, night in New York City! I have an intern seminar at work today in two hours and after that, the weekend is here! be sure to tune in to Letterman tonight if you aren't out! Our taping will be on. Nathan Lane (voice of Timon from Lion King) is the guest. Extremely funny man.

Becoming a Local and Seeing Letterman

Hello!

I can't believe it's only been a week and a half. My roommates and I are already so familiar with our schedules, subway directions, and the beutiful city of New York. Our apartment is a dream. We live in Long Island City, outisde of Manhattan, but it is only a bridge away. Because of the location, we have a very spacious apartment, one that would be comparable to any Waco apartment for a Baylor student. We are very blessed.

To end the work week last Friday, my roommates and I went to a swanky bar called the Campbell Apartment, located in Grand Central Station.

This is a famous New York bar, but also famous because it was on the pilot episode of Gossip Girl. For any GG fans out there, this is the place where Nate *gasp* cheated on Blair with Serena after a wedding. Anyways, Erica and I had candied apple martinis and Lauren had their famous "prohibition punch". We could only afford one drink there but it was a really cool place to visit. Afterwards, we went to a place in SoHo more suited for our college student wallets.

Saturday, the girls and I thought we would be out conquering the city, but sincewe were so exhausted from the first week we ended up relaxing quite a bit. That night, we went to a restaurant called Pomme Frites, which only sells French Fries. The appeal is getting to choose from a vast array of dipping sauces. I chose Rosemary Garlic mayo, Mango chutney mayo, and Truffle Oil mayo. They were really delicious, but our stomachs weren't the happiest afterwards...

On Sunday, Julia, Erica, and I went to Union Square for some bargain hunting and grocery shopping. Afterwards, we researched the best Italian restaurant we could find for a good price and ended up in Astoria-- New York City's most diverse neighborhood.

Apparently over 120 languages are spoken in Astoria. The great thing about Astoria is that it is only two subway stops away from our apartment. The restaurant was small and charming with exposed brick walls and wooden tables complete with candlelight. The service was wonderful, the food exquisite, and the prices low.

On Monday, I was awoken by a phone call from a New York phone number. I let it go to voicemail. Out of curiosity I listened to it and it was a man from the David Letterman show saying to call back if I would like tickets to a taping of the show. However, he said that I must answer a Letterman trivia question in order to get the tickets. So I immediately woke up, googled David Letterman, and began studying him.

After thirty minutes I called back, and he asked me what instrument Paul Shaffer plays on the show. "The keyboard!" Yep, so I got two tickets. We were supposed to show up at 3:30 to pick up tickets, then come back at 4:45.

It turns out that the boys in our Baylor group also got tickets and our other roommate Julia got a ticket at the last minute. The show was exhilarating. They play upbeat music and clap as you walk into the studio. They tell you to laugh hysterically even if you don't think a joke is funny.

At 6 PM, Letterman ran out on stage and welcomed us to the show. It was surreal seeing him so up close. We were on the 4th row. The show was a blast and I would encourage ANYONE who goes to New York to do it. Especially because it's free! All you have to do is answer a trivia question. :-)

Our taping of the show airs this Friday, the 21st if you want to see it! Maybe you can catch a glimpse of me in the sweeping audience shots.

First Day at Work

Here is a smattering of photos from my first day at Focus, taken with my iPhone.

The office itself is beautiful. Hardwood floors, exposed ceilings, and illuminated posters of movies Focus Features has made.

My desk was love at first sight. Right by my computer was an Atonement poster. I got an intern handbook and was allowed to get a coffee in a Focus Features mug. I'm a nerd.

I work in Physical Production under the production manager, Evelynda. I read a script today that Focus is starting to shoot in March. Also, I covered the receptionist while she was in a meeting and got to answer the phones saying, "Focus Features." Woohoo! They would ask for a name and I would say, hold please, and transfer them to someone important.

Here I am taking my first Lunch break!

Monday, January 10th: First Celebrity Sighting

On Monday, little did we know, we would meet this dreamy actor named Chase Crawford. I'll get to that later.

I have Mondays off so I spent the day getting to know the city more and finding my office in Manhattan. It takes about 25 minutes to ride the subway from my apartment to my office.

Julia, Erica, Mandy and I went to a bakery then to Whole Foods in Union Square.

The best part of the day was when we chanced upon meeting Chase Crawford, star of TV show Gossip Girl. They were filming an episode of Gossip Girl in the hotel that Lauren's family is staying in. She mentioned the possibility of seeing some of the shooting, but we weren't sure. We went in the lobby and there is Chase, just leaning against the wall, waiting on shooting. Julia went over to him and said, "Hey! We're from Texas.." Then his security guard shooed her away and Julia was devastated. But THEN-- Chase came up to us and started talking! He is actually from Texas so we talked about how we are from Baylor and everything. He is really nice and was absolutely gorgeous in person.

I went to my first Broadway show called "Next to Normal" and walked around Times Square.

In The City!

I am now settled in my new apartment in NYC! This is the view from outside my window.

I have three roommates: Erica, Julia, and Lauren. Erica is doing PR at a company called 5W, Julia is working at CBS, and Lauren is working at a production company called Spin the Bottle.

I was exhausted after finally getting to New York, so we all went to eat lunch at a nearby Thai restaurant and then took a nap. We had an orientation meeting from 7 to 10 PM, then we went out for drinks to celebrate my birthday!

This morning, my roomate Julia bought me a birthday donut! So sweet. What a great 22nd birthday to wake up in New York City!

Where I Am Heading

I would like to take the opportunity to describe the company I am working for. It is a brilliant little company called Focus Features. It is the art house film division of NBC Universal's Universal Pictures and acts both as a producer and distributor of its own films, as well as a distributor for foreign films.

They have produced movies including Atonement, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich, Pride and Prejudice, Dan in Real Life, The Pianist, Lost in Translation, and The Kids are All Right.

They make movies that push boundaries and inspire. Movies that go against the norm of the usual Blockbuster with characters and stories that are relevant to our culture.

This internship is a dream come true. Well, at least for now. I may change my mind after actually working there. One more day in Alabama and on Saturday I am off at 6 AM to fly to NYC. Pursuing the first real step of working in the film industry.

The Day Has Come!

I leave for New York City in less than 2 days and I am a nervous wreck. I haven't packed, I haven't studied a map like I thought I would do all Christmas break, and I am falling behind on my Food Network research of where to eat in NYC. My flight leaves from Mobile at 6 AM on Saturday, which means I probably will not sleep that night.