Check out these fabric wraps. What a neat idea! Just think, if everyone used fabric to wrap their presents, it would be the ultimate recycling project! You would never have to throw away wrapping paper and you could pass the fabric onto whomever you give your next gift to. Not to mention it looks really cute.
Aaaaaah summer. So much has happened in the past two months, it's going to take me a little bit to update you all on the happenings, but the good news is that I have a little breathing room in the next couple weeks (also known as two Sundays off minus a trip to Richmond tonight) to catch up on photos, emails and blogging. So if you're waiting on something from me, don't worry, I haven't neglected you, your photos are on their way!
So what exactly has been preoccupying my time? In between the 9-5 job, the weddings and everything in between, I've been making movies! Last year's Koi Keepers reunited for this year's 48 Hour Film Project as A Bad Idea (speaking of ideas, we really should think of a solid production team name, especially considering that we're the same awesome group of people) and I made my directing debut in our little 48-hour post-apocalyptic bar flick.
Before I go on to post our film, I definitely want to give a shout out to our team leader/art director/production designer Chris Curl, our director of photography Steve Strickland, our talented cast (Ethan Marten, Cory Evans, Robyn Meislohn, Desiree Connell) and crew (Geoff, Nate, Derek, Steve, Peter). As I always say after we wrap a production, I would work with you guys any day, no questions asked. Tell me when we're filming our next movie, I'll clear my schedule.
And with that, here's our film, Waste Not, Want Not:
Waste Not, Want Not - A 2010 48 Hour Film Project Submission from Chris Curl on Vimeo.
But wait... there's more.
While I think Waste Not, Want Not is probably our best film to date, we were missing a pretty huge asset on our team, our fearless director from last year, Jon Abrahams. He and his wife, Teviya, were in Taiwan when 48 hour kicked off and spent all of Friday evening through Saturday night flying back from Asia. Yet, even with the added obstacle of traveling halfway around the world, the two of them managed to make a pretty rad film and WIN the Hampton Roads 48 Hour Film Project. I think it's pretty freaking great how they accomplished all that with the given limitations, not to mention the fact that Teviya should win an award for best actress since she had the stomach flu the entire time they filmed...
Anyway, here's their winning film (they also took best editing, best graphics, and best cinematography). I'm completely stoked for them and hope they go far in the competition.
Passion Fruit - 2010 48-Hour Film Project Winner - Hampton Roads from Jon Abrahams on Vimeo.
And I'm also completely obsessed with this band:
Another video:
On another note, I am having the most difficult time trying to fit in everything I want to accomplish in a week... I was looking at my calendar and realized that I don't have a free weekend until December! Wow!
Somebody made a great point saying that I don't HAVE to do everything now, since I have my whole life ahead of me and all, so I tried to narrow down what I wanted to accomplish before the end of this year, and this is my list:
1. Revamp the Blog
2. Revamp and order new business cards
3. Finish decorating my apartment. Though I can't decide if I want to put up photos of people, places, or concerts. I don't want to do all because then they wouldn't really flow well together.
4. Learn how to play the piano. Maybe take voice lessons. Get back into playing the violin.
5. Get new album samples!
6. Start an online storefront selling my own art images
7. Travel! Everywhere!
...And I've pretty much decided I'm skydiving this coming spring.
Keep your eye out for some wedding and portrait sessions being posted in the next few weeks ;)
57. Go to 25 concerts
90. Go to a concert by myself
So I almost want to say that this shouldn't count for the sole reason that I've seen these guys a crapload of times since high school, so it's not really a new experience, but seeing them live is always a great experience, so in that way, it should count. Nevertheless, as always, Mae put on a wonderful show at Neptune's Park in Virginia Beach. They just kicked off their US tour, (a)fternoon, last week, so you should check them out because they may be playing at a city near you.
Of course, let me leave you with a few of my favorite photos from the show:
Earlier this month, a group of us got together to write, shoot, and edit a short film in 48 hours. It was made for the 48 Hour Film Project, an international film competition that came through Hampton Roads a few weekends ago. My role in it was writer and assistant director, and I am so happy to have had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented filmmakers here in this area. Everybody who worked on the project was a huge asset to the team and none of this could have been done without their contributions.
Our required elements were as follows:
Character - Ed or Emma Butler, Travel Agent
Prop - Kite
Line - "When will she be back?"
The genre we ended up drawing was Film de Femme, which basically required a strong female lead.
We didn't win Best Film, but we did come away with a couple of awards, including Best Costumes and Best Special Effects.
Here is our film, but let me warn you that it is not family friendly. Please screen with caution :)
The film that took 1st place, Sea of Trees by Idyl King Entertainment can be found here.
I'm a very goal-oriented person. Like, ridiculously goal-oriented. For every New Year's since I can remember, I've always laid out 4-5 goals I wanted to meet for the year. And by some dumb luck, I've always managed to reach those goals.
So when I came across this project a few weeks ago, it definitely grabbed my attention. There are so many things I've always wanted to do but put off doing for whatever reason. "Oh, it's not the right time yet," or "I have more important things I need to be focusing on." Well, not anymore. I'm creating my list today (August 16, 2009) and I'm giving myself exactly 1001 days (that is, until May 13, 2012) to accomplish what's on the list. I'll definitely keep you all posted as I venture towards completing these tasks.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in 1001 days.
The Criteria: The tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of effort on your part).
More info can be found on http://www.dayzeroproject.com/
Italics are in progress
Strike-thrus are completed
My List (26/101)
Travel (2/7)
1. Revisit Seattle Completed 11/13/09 with the help of the amazing SO.
2. Revisit San Francisco - 9/10: A possible trip to San Fran may be in the works for next spring... more details to come as they're fleshed out.
3. Backpack around Europe (and visit Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and Austria)
4. Visit 3 college friends who are located outside of VA (1/3)
-1. September 5-6, 2009: Went to NYC to visit Ari and Sean
5. Visit Simone for a week
6. Go inside a real castle August 2010: Not only did I go inside SEVERAL real castles (Cahir Castle and Ross Castle in Ireland), I spent TWO NIGHTS sleeping in the tower of a castle!! Thanks to Steve for planning such an amazing trip!!!
7. Go on a cruise
Visual and Creative Arts (not including photo/video) (1/6)
8. Learn how to play 3 songs on the piano (0/3)
9. Write and self-publish a novel
10. Get involved in community theater
11. Take a dance class
-Beginning in Fall '09, I've been taking a combo of hip-hop, zumba, and latin dance classes.
12. Go to a Broadway show in NYC
13. See a play at least once every two months (1/16)
-10/29/09: Saw Evil Dead at the Generic Theater
Photography/Video (1/22)
14. Purchase a Diana F+ and an assortment of lenses
-12/25/09 Steve bought me a set for Christmas!!
15. Scan the photos I take with the lomo camera and post them online
16. Purchase a full-frame DSLR with video capabilities
17. Start and finish a photo project with the end result being a book of some sort
18. Master HDR photography
19. Direct a project for one of DVXuser's film fests
20. Write 1 short screenplay per month (0/33)
21. Produce and direct one of my screenplays
22. Learn After Effects
23. Learn Color
24. Get my photos exhibited in a public area
25. Get published in a magazine
26. Purchase additional off-camera lighting and accessories (including softboxes and clamps)
27. Go to Lowes and experiment with rigging different lights for photo/video projects
28. Get an awesome lightning bolt photo
29. Pay the necessary dues to get Fahrenheit Photography VA official
30. Shoot an offbeat wedding
31. Shoot an insightful portrait of each one of my friends and family- create a wall in my apartment to display these portraits
32. Compile all the pictures I have from college into a book
33. Go to the Sundance Film Festival
34. Collaborate with another photographer for a personal photoshoot trade
35. Contact an acting agent just for the hell of it
36. Be an extra in a movie or tv show
Fitness and Nutrition (8/11)
37. Buy a cookbook and learn to cook something other than pasta - I actually bought two cookbooks, one for cooking with wine and the other for vegetarian dishes. And lucky for me, the SO and I have a routine worked out so that we take turns cooking each other dinner once a week, so I'm forced to stray away from those Lean Cuisines and pasta dishes every now and then :)
-3/11/10 And the cookbooks keep coming!
38. Remove fast food from my diet - 11/24/09: It's been about a month now, so I think I'm safe to cross this out.
39. Stop drinking soda - 9/29/09: Easier than I anticipated.
40. Bring my lunch from home for 1 month
41. Lose all the weight I've gained since college graduation and maintain it - 9/8/09: 3 lbs down... 12 more to go. Ugh.
42. Go to 20 local restaurants that I haven't been to before (20/20)
- 2009 Okay, I know I've been to at least 3 or 4 in the past several weeks, but I cannot for the life of me keep track. However, I am contemplating completely cutting national chain restaurants out of my lifestyle, except for the occasional Panera Bread, of course :)
-3/11/10 Since making this list, new restaurants I've been to include:
Pasha Mezze
Bardo
Eurasia
Domo
No Frill Grill
YNot Pizza
Press 626
Charlie's Cafe
The Painted Lady
Nick's Seafood and Raw Grill
Cogan's
CP Shuckers
The Surf Rider's
Mahi Mah's
Waterman's
Chick's Oyster Bar
The Green Onion
Red Dog's
Colley Cantina
Bangkok Gardens
43. Commit to going to a fitness class 1-2 times a week 9/29/09: I'm officially taking boxing classes every Wednesday, dance on Tuesdays, and dance and pilates on Sundays
44. Start eating a small breakfast 9/29/09: Clif's Bars and Coffee counts, right?
45. Create a consistent running routine and stick with it for 1 month
46. Go vegetarian for 2 weeks
-Dec. 2009-Jan.2010 How about going vegetarian for a whole month? What, what!
47. Cut fried food out of my diet
-Feb. 2010 - Steve and I actually made a bet that I couldn't go without friend food for six months... well, I lasted for almost 2 months before I gave into a plate of buffalo wings, but I haven't had the desire to eat fried food since. Holler.
Sports and Recreation (1/6)
48. Go skydiving
49. Learn how to ski (and stop) properly
50. Go white water river rafting down the Colorado
51. Take a fencing class
52. Go paintballing again
53. Go to a shooting range June 2010: Went to a shooting range with Meagan, Steve and Charlie. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos in the range, but I learned how to load and fire an 8mm gun. It was definitely some scary stuff.
Entertainment and Fun (0/7)
54. Go to a karaeoke bar, sing in public, and do it all sober
55. Go to the movie theater and watch 3 movies by myself (0/3)
56. Watch 50 movies I haven't seen before, made prior to 2009, based on recommendations from people I know (0/50)
57. Go to 25 concerts (18/25)
-9/6/09: The Electric Zoo, Randalls Island, NYC
-9/21/09: Mae, Neptune's Park, Virginia Beach
-9/22/09: The Sounds, The Norva, Norfolk
-9/23/09: The Decemberists, The Norva, Norfolk. Easily one of the best shows I've seen.
-10/9/09: Strung Out, Peabody's, Virginia Beach
-10/23/09: If These Trees Could Talk/Gifts from Enola, The Blue Nile, Harrisonburg.
-11/18/09: All American Rejects/Taking Back Sunday, The Norva, Norfolk.
-12/31/09: Third Eye Blind, Grand Hyatt, Washington DC
-3/3/10: Ani DiFranco, The Norva, Norfolk
-3/7/10: Jack's Mannequin, The Norva, Norfolk
-3/20/10: Ben Folds, The Norva, Norfolk
-3/21/10: Ingrid Michaelson, The Norva, Norfolk
-4/29/10: Los Campesinos!, 930 Club, Washington DC
-5/10/10: Say Anything, The Norva, Norfolk
-6/13/10: Moving Mountains, The Camel, Richmond
-7/25/10: Tegan and Sara, The Norva, Norfolk
-8/8/10: Something Corporate, River Stage, Philadelphia
-8/31/10: Coheed and Cambria, The Norva, Norfolk
58. Listen to 50 new bands/musicians I haven't heard before based on recommendations from people I know (12/50)
9/8: Right now I'm hooked on The Fratelli's, Moving Mountains, and Los Campesinos.
11/24: New bands I like- We Are Scientists, Phoenix, Anberlin
3/11/10: A Fine Frenzy, Meg & Dia, The Animal Collective, Cursive
9/25/10: Airborne Toxic Event, She and Him
59. Go to an anime or comic convention and dress up
60. Go to a Renaissance Fair
61. Get a group of people together, invade a public location, and spontaneously act out a play, complete with props and costumes
Personal/Miscellaneous (13 /37)
62. Start getting to work before 8:30 consistently - 9/29/09: I falter on some days, but for the most part, I have been getting there on time.
63. Master Dreamweaver
64. Master Flash
65. See my family at least once a year
-2009: Thanksgiving
66. Send Christmas cards to the people who are important to me
-December 2009- Done and done.
67. Send 25 handwritten letters to people who have impacted my life in some way (0/25)
68. Take a walk and lay out in the rain
69. Buy or at least learn how to drive a scooter
70. Dress up for Halloween At work, nonetheless! Check out the OEA Facebook for photos.
71. Spend the night in a haunted house
72. Create a personal blog and update it at least once a week -
Update this blog at least once a week
9/29/09 Addendum: Tried this for a month, and I find that I'd much rather write in my own personal journal and update this blog more often than put my personal life out on the internet. It was something I could so easily do back when I was 14, but now, not quite so much. :) So start expecting more updates on this blog.
73. Read 100 books (2/100)
-9/3: Finished The Actor and the Housewife. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone else to read it.
-11/14: Finished Remember Me? An okay book, slow beginning, picked up towards the end.
74. Buy a TV. Preferably an awesome one.
75. Send a Post Secret
76. Floss daily for a month
77. Grow my hair long (at least 4 in. past my shoulder)
78. Decorate my desk at work and keep it neat for a week
-3/11/10: Decorated? Check. Neat? Uhhhhh...
79. Watch the sunrise on the beach
80. Make a conscious effort to not make the first move 9/29/09: This was a rather ambiguous listing, but I am happy to say that as of the past few weeks, this subject is no longer an issue. :)
81. Send a message in a bottle
82. Buy a sexy black dress
83. Attend an event in which I can wear the above dress
84. Adopt a puppy
85. Delete all the unnecessary social networking profiles I have online 9/8/09: No more MySpace, Vox, LiveJournal, Friendster...
86. Live in my own apartment, by myself, for at least a year
87. Buy an espresso machine
88. Host a game night
89. Make at least 2 new female friends (2/2)
-3/11/10: Not including the girls at work, I've also met Katie and Kelly these past few months and they're pretty awesome!
90. Go to a concert by myself 9/21/09: Mae at Neptune's Park in Virginia Beach
91. Do not spend Christmas alone
-12/25/09: Spent Christmas with Steve and his family.
92. Purchase a real bed with a real mattress 9/29/09: Officially had it delivered last weekend. It's a pretty awesome queen size bed. I would post pictures, but it may be a bit creepy to put of photos of my bedroom... plus I'm not finished decorating yet.
93. Locate all the crap I have scattered in various areas of VA and FL and bring it back to me 11/24: Got my stuff from Florida. Now everything I own is in my apartment.
94. Recycle
95. Make it a habit to shut my computer down at the end of the day
96. Go to a local art show
-Jan 2010: Went to the awesome Mrs. Katie King's art opening at the Java Cup Cafe!
97. Attend a New Year's party
-1/1/10: Grand Hyatt. Washington DC. Third Eye Blind.
98. Stop searching for answers and just live in the moment - and I'm loving every minute of it.
101 in 1001 (0/3)
99. Inspire 5 other people to make a list like this (tell me if you do so I can mark this off) (1/5)
-Go Amanda!
100. Donate $5 to a charity for every item on this list not accomplished
101. Create another list in 1001 days.
I had originally started this blog with the intention of intertwining my business with my personal life, something that most people try to avoid doing. My reasoning behind this is that I want to capture the relationships between people, not just their image, so why should I paint a static, carefully marketed picture of myself when I could just go on here and show the real thing?
Well... unfortunately life caught up, and I didn't quite get around to updating this blog with as many personal snapshots as I would like (meaning, personal snapshots of my life, not myself... I'm not quite that narcissistic ;) ) So, instead of getting to bed at a decent time, I'm here, catching up on sessions and rambling on my blog.
Here's a little snapshot from a couple of weeks ago... a bunch of my friends and I went out to grab a bite to eat in celebration of my birthday, and this photo op came up. These are two of my friends, Cory and Rebecca. I'm not sure if they were tired, having one of those "lovey dovey" moments, or if they were just slipping into a food/drink coma... but it was definitely something I'm glad I was able to capture on camera...
A final note before I retire for the night... I'll be away on business until Thursday, so my apologies for any emails that go unanswered until then. I'm still working on getting a Macbook Pro, which I so desperately need want. Which potentially means to internet until I get back.
If you don't see your session posted yet, sit tight... I'll get it up as soon as I get back. :)
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