SpinFest VII, November 10 - 12, 2006

This semester, I was the intern for the Spindletop Film Festival here in Beaumont. It was cool to see Joe Lansdale again, although I don't think he recognized me. I also had the pleasure of meeting Bill Wittliff and wishing everyone a Happy Bill Wittliff day on the 11th, when Mr. Wittliff was given a proclaimation by the City of Beaumont.

Students enter internships to get an education through the experience. Well, it was certainly an education. The entire festival was more than a little disorganized, and we didn't pull in the ticket sales we would have liked, but the people I worked with were wonderful, and we had many compliments from our guests. We created a laid-back, warm atmosphere (pay no attention to that man behind the curtain), and even if the crowd was small, the guests received great feedback from their patrons.

I learned two things in particular:

Running a film festival kicks ass.
Running a film festival kicks my ass.

I can't wait until next year.

Beginning of Fall Update

Not that it feels like fall is approaching any time soon . . .

Here is my Fall Semester schedule:

Sundays: work out, lunch shift, homework.
Mondays: Film Production I, Communication Studies, Advertising Principles, homework.
Tuesdays: work out, Industrial Psychology, Advanced Expository Writing, Interpersonal Communication, Lamar Advertsing Federation meeting, Southeast Texas Film Alliance meeting.
Wednesdays: Film Production I, Communication Studies, Advertising Principles, Lamar Filmmakers Association meeting, group study.
Thursdays: work out, Industrial Psychology, Advanced Expository Writing, Interpersonal Communication, Southeast Texas Screenwriters Circle meeting.
Fridays: Film Production I, Communication Studies, Advertising Principles, dinner shift.
Saturdays: lunch shift, homework.

I also meet up with the staff for Lamar's literary magazine, PULSE, when called upon, and I'm preparing to compete for a massive post graduate scholarship—wishmelucklordhavemercywhatthehellwasIthinkingwhenI-mademyschedulegodhavemercyonmysoul—

So, how are you?
[Faints.]

End of Summer Update

Not that summer ever "ends" in southeast Texas.

I got two more As in my Summer II term. Now that my sciences and political classes are out of the way, the only core curriculum I need to finish is History (bleagh). But that can wait until next summer.

I've decided to extend my graduation date another half-year so I can include one, possibly two minors and a General Writing Emphasis Certificate, because official documents as wall decor look so cool. In the meantime, I am fully loaded. I'm enrolled in Public Speaking for the August mini-session. I'm taking 18 hours in the fall, which include film production, advertising, and critical writing courses. I will be joining the Lamar Advertising Federation in which we will be preparing an advertising campaign for a nation-wide contest to be used for a major company. I belong to the Lamar Filmmakers Association and the Southeast Texas Film Alliance, in which we are currently planning a masquerade ball fundraiser in the month of September. I'm designing some film-themed masks for silent auction. And I must work. I have car payments now, you know.

If you'll excuse me, I must prepare my speech on font choice and get ready for work.

Mid-Summer Update

Two As for Summer I in my Japanese Film Classics and Conceptual Physics I courses. Now I'm taking Political Science II and Conceptual Physics II. The later doesn't bother me, but from what I understand from professor reviews, I'll need to fake being interested in Poly Sci for a month to get an A in the former.

I also signed up for the August mini-session. There are no breaks between terms, not even a day off, but at least I'll have Public Speaking out of the way. I'm signed up for 15 hours in the fall. After speaking to my advisor I had to drop the writing minor in order to push my graduation date forward—I want to graduate before my biological clock starts ticking.

The car is doing fine. It was finally legalized Saturday when I got my plates. I'll probably bring it into the shop in the next month or so to add some mudguards. I definitely need to get some tinting before next summer.

"I Love What You Do For Me, Toyota!"

I GOT IT!!

2007 Toyota Yaris 3-Door Liftback, automatic, power package (power locks, power windows, power mirrors, sliding/reclining 60/40 backseat split, CD/mp3/wma player with aux. audio jack), 40 mpg/hwy: $13,775 . . .

. . . and it's sitting in my driveway right now.  Pictures later this week.