
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Mothers and Daughters

It's very remiss of me not to have explained what I'm working on this semester. The second year of the Grad film program is dedicated to a ten minute short film. It's the longest project we've worked on to date. Here's the synopsis for mine:
A young disabled woman wants to have a sexual experience but her overbearing, religious mother is unwittingly standing in her way. I've just got the script to a place that I'm happy with and I've got good feedback from my classmates and teachers. Now I'm trying to cast Eleanor which is proving almost impossible. It's quite surprising but there are so few actors with disabilities in New York. Luckily Christine Bruno from Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts is helping me out.
The talented Matt Mendelson has signed up as my cinematographer and I have two fabulous producers, Heather Jack and Shruti Ganguly.
Watch this space for updates.
I'm shooting this film in January, but in the meantime I'll be crewing on seven other films. Yikes!

Saturday, October 2, 2010
RIP Bill Reilley

One of my greatest mentors at NYU passed away this time last week. Bill was an amazing teacher and I don't think I've ever met anyone as generous or truly caring as he was. He gave everything to the students at NYU and his generosity, insight and humor will not be forgotten. Last year he said that he'd had former students nominated for an Academy Award ten years running. It was truly a testament to his inspirational teaching. He gave me the confidence to complete my film last semester. I will miss him terribly and wish I'd had more time with him. Bill I was always so grumpy with you for going overtime but I hope you knew how much I loved you!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
New York Fashion Week

My friend Shruti took me to three fashion parties this week. I'm such a terrible dag that normally an invite like this would terrify me but I feel so anonymous here and honestly what's not to like? Free booze, great music and a carnival atmosphere - count me in!
The shows we went to were presentations, that means that rather than doing a runway show designers have models lined up on a stage wearing their clothes. They sit there for a couple of hours and guests go and stare at them. It's a spooky experience, especially when the models stare back at you!
I know this sounds like a cliche but models up close really do look awful! The girls at one show looked like they had been ravaged by a long, brutal war. They could have appeared on a 60 minutes special about anorexia. It's also odd to notice how young they are. In photos models look like perfect images of beauty but up close they look like awkward teens. I wanted to give them hot cocoa and tell them about boys.

I met a writer for Indian Vogue who made a funny observation that stuck with me. She said that her country was commonly criticized for child labor, 'but' she said, pointing to the teenage models who were looking listless and bored in their extreme makeup and uber high heels, 'what about this?'
This is Shruti's friend from Nylon reporting on one of the events we went to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahk05WuKYXk&feature=player_embedded
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Mckibbin Lofts
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Mugged.

I just got back from the Police Station where a Detective was making me look at mug shots. I got mugged on the weekend. I was loitering near a subway map at the Montrose L stop when a tall man came up to me. I thought he was going to hurt me but he just wanted my bag. I had my wallet in my hand and I dropped it while he was trying to pull my bag off my shoulder. Then he ran off with my wallet. As far as muggings go it wasn't a big deal but it's times like that when you really miss home. :(
The police made me drive around with them in the police car and look for the 'assailant'. That was an unusual experience. When I got home my housemates were really supportive and kind and it was a great excuse to talk to friends and family back home.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Niagara
Saturday, June 5, 2010
So Lonesome
So three of my best friends have left the big apple and I'm here all by myself, sitting in an editing lab while the sun shines outside. I need a break from cutting this spec ad but it's due tomorrow!
I was so lonesome last night that I found myself drinking beer and singing Nancy Sinatra songs to the blind cat my housemate is looking after. Thankfully Charles rang me from Texas for a chat, otherwise, who knows what would have happened.
I'm living in Bushwick now. My posts have been so infrequent that I think I forgot to mention this fact. I'm living in a huge warehouse full of young artists. It's very cool but very noisy so none of my neighbors would have been bothered by my rendition of "If He'd Loved Me".
Here's a picture of my friends that I took on a recent trip to Pennsylvania.
I was so lonesome last night that I found myself drinking beer and singing Nancy Sinatra songs to the blind cat my housemate is looking after. Thankfully Charles rang me from Texas for a chat, otherwise, who knows what would have happened.
I'm living in Bushwick now. My posts have been so infrequent that I think I forgot to mention this fact. I'm living in a huge warehouse full of young artists. It's very cool but very noisy so none of my neighbors would have been bothered by my rendition of "If He'd Loved Me".
Here's a picture of my friends that I took on a recent trip to Pennsylvania.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010
"Little Lady"
I directed a spec ad for Diet Coke today. Jess Dela Merced was my DP and she did an awesome job. Special thanks to everyone who made it possible, my crew, the dudes at the photography department and my very good friends Jarreau, Bella and Charles.
The commercial will be up on my blog in six weeks. Yay!




The commercial will be up on my blog in six weeks. Yay!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Fan Club
How do I begin a blog after such a long absence? First, perhaps, I should offer an explanation. This semester has been completely overwhelming. I feel like I haven't had time for very basic things, like shopping for food, or getting enough vitamin d. I've been locked in a dark computer lab trying to organise my upcoming film 'Pen Pal'. I haven't socialized with anyone that doesn't study film at NYU for so long. My friend Tim came to visit a couple of weeks ago and it was so weird to talk about things other than film, actors and Tish gossip.
My reason for adding an entry after such a protracted period is this: I recently discovered that two people visit this site and read my blog! I am not talking to myself after all.
I presented my documentary in class about a month ago. I really thought it would be a complete disaster. The sound isn't great because our shotgun mic failed and only one of the séance participants would wear a radio mic. I was happily surprised by the feedback though. One of my teachers really liked the fact that most of the film took place in darkness. The other docs were wonderful and I will put some links up when they're posted online. I may even put 'Séance in the City' up even though it's very rough.
I had several ideas for the project that I was unable to use due to the limited time we had available for it. One of my classmates suggested I use those ideas for narrative projects and that's how I came upon my idea for 'Pen Pal'. I'll tell you more about it in a post tomorrow but right now I'm going to Shake Shack for dinner in the park. Spring has arrived!
My reason for adding an entry after such a protracted period is this: I recently discovered that two people visit this site and read my blog! I am not talking to myself after all.
I presented my documentary in class about a month ago. I really thought it would be a complete disaster. The sound isn't great because our shotgun mic failed and only one of the séance participants would wear a radio mic. I was happily surprised by the feedback though. One of my teachers really liked the fact that most of the film took place in darkness. The other docs were wonderful and I will put some links up when they're posted online. I may even put 'Séance in the City' up even though it's very rough.
I had several ideas for the project that I was unable to use due to the limited time we had available for it. One of my classmates suggested I use those ideas for narrative projects and that's how I came upon my idea for 'Pen Pal'. I'll tell you more about it in a post tomorrow but right now I'm going to Shake Shack for dinner in the park. Spring has arrived!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Back at Uni

The Spring Semester has begun and I already feel completely swamped with work. We had to shoot a documentary over the winter break and I'm in the editing lab cutting it right now. I filmed a Seance. It's taking all of my creative power to deal with the fact that half the film was shot in the dark. Jarreau recorded the sound and I did the filming. The psychics there told him that his mother would die in two years time if she didn't take care of her health. They told me that I would meet a professor in three years time and that we would fall in love.
This semester we have to adapt a short story and film it. It can't be any longer than seven minutes. We will be using a DVX 100 to shoot it. Crews have been assigned and I'm working with some terrific people. I think it's going to be a great semester.
Over the break I went to Montana to visit my Aunt. She spoiled me rotten and it was lovely to see family. This weekend my Dad is coming to visit!!! I'm so excited to see him and take him around New York.
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