I Want to Be Great

The more I’m engaged with art and this school, the more I feel the need to step up my game. I’m finding that a lot of what I once thought was cool isn’t so much so… I suppose it could just be that others don’t see my vision. Or it could also be that I’ve got a lot more to learn.

I’m looking at the work of others displayed on the TV screens at school and envy them. I’m also noticing more pieces of artwork as I randomly peruse the internet. My eye is being trained to catch what’s beautiful and why it took a lot of mastery over the medium in order to achieve those results. I envy those artists, and I want to one day put out amazing work like them.

At the moment, I’m frustrated because I can’t match the quality which I know I am definitely capable of. My abilities aren’t catching up with my imagination. Practice makes perfect, I suppose. The best way to advance is to gain experience. I have to remember that all players start off as Lvl 1 Squires. To grow, you have to put in the hours and train your character on the battlefield. That’s really the only way to level up.

Blank Screens Love Writers

It took sitting around for two hours and staring at nothingness but I finally found a sliver of inspiration for my screenwriting class. I was tasked at developing a character (or at least the beginnings of one). I’ll be working with this character for the remainder of the quarter.

I had the hardest time because the assignment was so vague. What world would I want to shape around him? What genre was I hoping to explore? The hardest part was knowing where to start. Be that as it may, I finally found my inspiration by reflecting on my own life. After all people always say, “Write what you know.”

I ended up pulling a piece from this blog, actually. Those who go out of their way to seek fame and association with celebrity have always irked me. So why not start writing a screenplay about them? The protagonist is inherently flawed with those desires, but as he lives out his life pursuing those endeavors, he gains life lessons that improve his character.

I suppose this is written more like a sitcom than a film, but he will go through an epiphany nonetheless. In writing this, I hope not to offend anyone in the process. Or rather, I hope my muses don’t discover my work and become offended by it.

Agitations from the Past

A lot of thing on my mind today. Negative things, in fact.

I feel the need to really separate myself from T.D. Wang. I keep trying to tie in my old life with the present, which is turning out to yield these unsettling emotions within me. The past is the past for a reason. It’s darkness which I have moved away from. I need to keep going forward, toward the light.

Specifically, I was given the runaround on a PR request. It was a slight gesture but nonetheless reminded me of working in that type of unbearable environment not even less than a year ago. I don’t miss it. And like all things you want to be rid of, you should quit it cold turkey lest you invite negativity back in.

I also took another life lesson from this. Once again I need to remind myself not to depend on others. Sure, people say you should ask for help when you need it, but it’s always a challenge to determine the fine line between asking for help and being lazy. I want to be self-dependent. I don’t want to depend on anyone because I’ve been prone to be let down. Let down a lot within the past year, actually. Overall, this advice to myself should be heeded more often. Today was just a grueling reminder.

First nose hair

Hear Ye, Hear Ye,

Today it seems as if a particularly large nose hair has protruded from my nostril to a degree which I have never seen. Although I know that I do posses normal-sized nose hairs, this one is in fact extraordinary to my existing collection. It has been bothering me all day. As of a few minutes ago, I managed to snip it as temporary relief. I know in such actions the hair will only grow back longer and stronger. This is a brand new battle for me, and I felt the need to record it.

Thank you, and goodnight.

Photography is harder than you think

My weekly woes stem from my photography class. Not because I don’t enjoy the subject, it’s just that the practice is a lot harder than I realized. It also seems like I’m the slowest one in the class. Tis a hard pill to swallow.

I was moved into the class a week ago after testing out of inDesign. I was proud to be rid of it, but then again, out of the fire and into the frying pan. Each week looms a feeling of dread for having to learn some new camera technique. It seems like everyone knows about 1) aperture, 2) shutter speed, 3) panning, 4) exposures, etc. etc.

Where the hell did they learn all this from?! How are they all so adept at taking pictures. It doesn’t help that literally 90% of them in there are art directors and not copywriters. I’m definitely the weakest link, and I hate that feeling. Because of this obvious role I’ve been pegged into, others in the classroom look to me like a pariah and avoid talking to me. It’s a very lonely feeling being the only ‘freshman’ in a sea of other talented individuals.

Sigh…given it’s only the second week. There’s still time to move forward. Hopefully putting in the extra effort pays off.

Video evening @ MAS

Here’s a fun little post. We did a video shoot for our self-introductions today. Got to play around with the studio, and I was happy that I navigated the space fully knowing exactly what to do. I felt more in my element than ever. I suppose it’s because I had been in those situations before and was somewhat used to the vibe.

At any rate, today was proof that preparation makes life easier. While most people took quite some time in the studio, I went in with a concept in mind – I executed it – finished. In and out. I like that efficiency.

Here’s a bit of photos from my experience today.

Resolve to do more writing…yep…again.

I’ve neglected this blog for far too long — yet again. Blah, blah. Same news, different day. I am very aware of this, but now that I’m taking my creative career path more serious than ever before, I ought to stand by my words this time.

The objective: Blog at least five times a week until the end of the quarter. Once a good habit of writing forms, this should probably go on for even longer than the quarter. I really need the chance to exercise my noggin’ and get the writing juices flowing again.

Now with that introduction out of the way, let’s talk about some updates in my life.

I’ve since moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in copywriting. I hope to one day become a creative director. Where? Possible? Who the fuck knows. Someone’s gotta pursue a pipe dream every now and then. As for the city itself, I find it to be the same exact place I left behind. I know a grip of people who’ve relocated from Seattle. The lifestyle, people, transportation system, food, etc. is exactly the same. I’m not culture shocked at all. If anything, it seems as if I’ve transplanted so seamlessly that people don’t even think twice to assume that I’m a local. Well… maybe that’s a hyperbole. Suffice it to say, I feel very comfortable living here. Although I am a little too comfortable. This is a bad thing. In retrospect, I wish I had chosen to apply for a tougher city (ie. Hamburg, DE). 随便.

I can’t wait for this year to come to a close, so I can move once again and tackle whatever internship comes my way. London, Hamburg, or New York City. We’ll see what hard work and perseverance brings.

Foolish

An idealist developed this. I found it foolish enough to post yet valuable still to remind me how naive the world can be.

Oh yeah! Bags

The Hershel Supply Company Brand

Epiphany moment about Vegas food culture

Vegas has no good food aside from those fancy Strip restaurants because mom-and-pops can’t afford to source any fresh ingredients. When they attempt to, they charge an arm and a leg to cover their expenses, thus repelling every cost-conscious Las Vegan. Are there any local produce options for the dessert? Corn? Cattle? What is the Vegas food specialty and how can we differentiate ourselves?

the stuff i think about from sitting around all day…