Day 1 was long and waking up was a bit harder than I thought it would be. Most of the kids seemed to be used to getting up early or something though, especially my girl group. Most of them were wide awake at 6:00, from what they told us. Thats too crazy. I didn't even get up until 7:45 which was sort of last minute since we have to be knocking on their doors at 8! Haha, good thing I have no hair to style!
Anyway, onto something you guys will care about. Day two started off shaky, with two groups losing their scripts thanks to Deepfreeze. Apparently, if you save anything to the mac hard drive or desktop in this state, power your computer off, and turn it back on, it will be wiped. But breakfast started the rest of the day right with pancakes, sausage, eggs, and hashbrowns- all of it deeeeeelicious! However, this was just a trick to make you think that the rest of the meals would be as scrumptious. LIES.
Afterwards, we met up with Fred and Mike from Animatus Studio here in Rochester to learn about the magic of storyboarding. The kids were much more receptive to this lecture than Johannes', but I think its only because they were constantly kept busy after a short discussion. The guys would just walk around to the groups and give them 1-on-1 attention. It seemed to go a lot better and the kids were more attentive. Don't get me wrong, elements of a story are super crucial, but as I mentioned before, it is hard to keep 13 year olds focused!
Storyboarding went surprisingly quick, which was nice because the kids got to enjoy a lot of free time and also some pool time. It was like the calm before the storm since Wednesday would be all about FILMING. For the kids, this was a nice, easy day, but for us counselors it was busy and hectic. We weren't really fully aware of the situation with actors before camp started, but basically they didn't provide us with any. So here we are, scrambling around trying to find some professional actors in the Rochester area for filming the NEXT DAY. Needless to say, it didn't go so well. Phone calls to friends, family, acquaintances, and those people that you've only talked to a handful of times were the last resort and boy did we pull our resources thin. We managed to find enough people (with 3 or 4 staring in a couple different movies since we were so low), but it took a whoooole lot of time and effort.
I kind of wished the kids had more of a participating role in it, more so for them to see what its like to get actors. But it was just too hectic to really involve them since we were calling people who weren't really in the business.
After another long, but worthwhile day, it was finally time to settle in for the night. Thank GOODNESS!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Camp Day 1!
I didn't venture too far away from home for this update, but I traveled much farther in a different way.
I recently returned from a one-week filmaking camp where I worked as a counselor. Here, the other counselors and I helped 12-18 year old kids stumble their way through the process of filmaking, to end up with a finished piece by the end of the week. We worked with some fantastic speakers, which the kids would go to every morning to learn about which aspect of filmaking that they would be immersed in for the day, and I think that everyone involved got a lot out of it.
The schedule started off with Scriptwriting on Monday. We checked all the kids in, let them organize their things, and then we whisked them off to listen to Johannes (yes, my RIT friends, that Johannes) talk about what makes a good story. Then they were off and running into their groups to get started on their masterpieces. I had the youngest of the groups and they all wanted to work together in order to make one film instead of breaking into 2 groups to make two films.
About halfway through the day, we realized that there were just too many people, too many varying ideas, and not enough agreement. I had to divide them and finally the scripts started to develop! We had a creep-tastic story about an asylum patient and a neat story about a germaphobic guy who has left the house for the first time in years. After splitting up, both groups seemed much more into scriptwriting, but have you ever tried to get a group of 13 year olds to concentrate? Its like freakin' rocket science and I am no scientist my friends.
Soon, though, it was lunch time and we shuffled off to the cafeteria. Which, by the way, had zero air conditioning, a million bodies, and hot food. This becomes a major problem later in the week.
Other than that it was scriptwriting all day and some free time for the kids, which they enjoyed a lot...the counselors did too, taking turns napping. What a long day!
I recently returned from a one-week filmaking camp where I worked as a counselor. Here, the other counselors and I helped 12-18 year old kids stumble their way through the process of filmaking, to end up with a finished piece by the end of the week. We worked with some fantastic speakers, which the kids would go to every morning to learn about which aspect of filmaking that they would be immersed in for the day, and I think that everyone involved got a lot out of it.
The schedule started off with Scriptwriting on Monday. We checked all the kids in, let them organize their things, and then we whisked them off to listen to Johannes (yes, my RIT friends, that Johannes) talk about what makes a good story. Then they were off and running into their groups to get started on their masterpieces. I had the youngest of the groups and they all wanted to work together in order to make one film instead of breaking into 2 groups to make two films.
About halfway through the day, we realized that there were just too many people, too many varying ideas, and not enough agreement. I had to divide them and finally the scripts started to develop! We had a creep-tastic story about an asylum patient and a neat story about a germaphobic guy who has left the house for the first time in years. After splitting up, both groups seemed much more into scriptwriting, but have you ever tried to get a group of 13 year olds to concentrate? Its like freakin' rocket science and I am no scientist my friends.
Soon, though, it was lunch time and we shuffled off to the cafeteria. Which, by the way, had zero air conditioning, a million bodies, and hot food. This becomes a major problem later in the week.
Other than that it was scriptwriting all day and some free time for the kids, which they enjoyed a lot...the counselors did too, taking turns napping. What a long day!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Whoops
Hahaha, so I definitely never updated this with Las Vegas things, since we had to pay for internet wherever we were. Blah.
Vegas was great, but I was really glad to be home. Its so busy there and definitely for the party oriented people, not so much for someone like me who enjoys family vacations or well, I don't know, just a different type of vacation. I think I would like to go back again but with friends instead of family, so that I can really live it up and have a good time.
Now, don't get me wrong, I had a fantastic time and saw some amazing shows and had some wonderful experiences while there. I loved, especially, seeing the outside and inside of all of the different hotels. It was impressive. We were in the Venetian for the first night, which was absolutely stunning inside and outside. Vegas does it up, let me tell you, and they do NOT miss any detail. Gondolas in and out of the hotel, Italian music playing inside the hotel and outside on the street in front of it, beautiful artwork on the ceilings, and rich details in just about everything else. I felt like a goddamn queen staying there. It was wonderful to feel that way. Plus, my mom's company threw this HUGE party that night wih free drinks and food. So, it was a REALLY good night!
The hotel that we stayed at for the remainder of the trip was the Flamingo, which was completely fantastic all in its own. They had water slides into their pools! There were flamingos (duh) outside of the hotel along with free-roaming birds and other animals. They also had some waterfalls that went into the pond there. The rooms were very small compared to the Venetian, but it is an older hotel and they had recently done some updating, so it was pretty nice. Plus, we didn't spend too much time in the rooms anyway! It was just amzing in there and all pink, which I loved, and a fun atmosphere.
That's my general review of Las Vegas, enjoy!
Vegas was great, but I was really glad to be home. Its so busy there and definitely for the party oriented people, not so much for someone like me who enjoys family vacations or well, I don't know, just a different type of vacation. I think I would like to go back again but with friends instead of family, so that I can really live it up and have a good time.
Now, don't get me wrong, I had a fantastic time and saw some amazing shows and had some wonderful experiences while there. I loved, especially, seeing the outside and inside of all of the different hotels. It was impressive. We were in the Venetian for the first night, which was absolutely stunning inside and outside. Vegas does it up, let me tell you, and they do NOT miss any detail. Gondolas in and out of the hotel, Italian music playing inside the hotel and outside on the street in front of it, beautiful artwork on the ceilings, and rich details in just about everything else. I felt like a goddamn queen staying there. It was wonderful to feel that way. Plus, my mom's company threw this HUGE party that night wih free drinks and food. So, it was a REALLY good night!
The hotel that we stayed at for the remainder of the trip was the Flamingo, which was completely fantastic all in its own. They had water slides into their pools! There were flamingos (duh) outside of the hotel along with free-roaming birds and other animals. They also had some waterfalls that went into the pond there. The rooms were very small compared to the Venetian, but it is an older hotel and they had recently done some updating, so it was pretty nice. Plus, we didn't spend too much time in the rooms anyway! It was just amzing in there and all pink, which I loved, and a fun atmosphere.
That's my general review of Las Vegas, enjoy!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Las Vegas, Here I come!
Be prepared, Vegas, for on Wednesday afternoon I will be invading your neon dappled streets. I will be sipping on your drinks and spending all of my moneys in your casinos!!! Mwahahaha.Been packing and all of that fun stuff lately. Thats about it though. MORE WHEN I LEAVE/COME BACK.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Baggage
I recently discovered yet another way that airlines are causing me to spend my hard earned money on ridiculous things. For those of you who travel a lot (or watch the news/read the newspaper), this probably will not come as a surprise...and you'll say "duh Becki, its been like this for x amount of months." But, I didn't know, the last time I flew was to Japan and we could check up to 2 or 3 bags (depending on the airline) for free. Now that its Vegas time in two months, I'm starting to get serious about my planning and have realized that checking baggage is incredibly expensive. Who knew?
I am now desperately looking for ways to get around this system...at least for one way. I am wondering if I can fit all of my travel gear in a tiny bag and keep that as my carry-on, but hide a bigger (empty) bag inside of it to put souvenirs in for the way back. That way at least I'm saving money one way :/
I'll probably pack in advanced to check how well that will pan out.
Is it May yet?!
I am now desperately looking for ways to get around this system...at least for one way. I am wondering if I can fit all of my travel gear in a tiny bag and keep that as my carry-on, but hide a bigger (empty) bag inside of it to put souvenirs in for the way back. That way at least I'm saving money one way :/
I'll probably pack in advanced to check how well that will pan out.
Is it May yet?!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Vivaaaaa Las Vegas!
Heading to Las Vegas during the first week of May, so be expecting some updates around then! For now it seems so far away, but I'm excited to be on a plane again. And to be going somewhere completely new. My only wish is that our connecting flight would be in Ohio or Boston so I can finally get my hands on some UFood and use up a bit of my gift card!
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