Well I'm done putting it off. Prepare yourself for a long one, as I update you all as to what exactly have been going on in my life from work, friends, apt, and...well my life, since September.
Let's start with the biggest change in my life. On the 10th of September, I moved into a new apartment with some new roommates. The apartment is really nice and really spacious. I'm still kinda in shock as to how big this place is. My roommates are some of my closest friend, guys that I would hang out with even if I wasn't living with them.A great place with great friends. This should be the best situation a guy could ask for. But I had my worries before moving in, and now that I've moved in and lived here for awhile, I still have those same worries and some that I hadn't thought of.
The biggest difference between my last apartment and my new apartment is Fernando and I had so much more in common than Ryan, Josh and I have. Ryan, Josh, and I were just brought up differently and you can definitely notice the difference, especially when it comes to energy consumption. Nando and I were brought up to conserve energy , I'm not talking about not turning on the heat in the winter or the A/C in the summer, but more the little things, like keeping lights on or using the washer/dryer for just one or two sets of clothing. Ryan and Josh doesn't seem to understand the concept that everything adds up, and to tell you the truth, I really don't think they care much either. It seems that their brain of taught is that if they can pay for it then who cares. At least that's my take on it.
I also felt very comfortable talking to Nando about anything and I'm starting to miss having someone to talk to. I don't even try to talk to Ryan or Josh, because I know that they wouldn't understand me. Things I've noticed, Ryan, Josh and I don't think alike. It isn't a problem where friendship could get ruin, but it's something that I worry about. You would hope that you and your roommates had more in common, but I'm finding out that we don't, which is a bit surprising since we are friends.
Beside those worries, my stay here has been great, but a bit lonely. The place is really big and one can feel a bit lonesome when you are the only one in the apartment or when both your roommates stay in their rooms the entire time.
The first month into my new lease, I had actually only stayed for half the time. The other half was spent in D.C. while I had gotten on a show shooting there.The show was actually pretty interesting. It was a reality show called Blonde Charity Mafia for Lifetime, which is suppose to start airing sometime in November right after Project Runway. I can't tell you anything about the show itself, because I signed a confidential clause. But I can tell you about my experience on it.
Unlike my last gig, this show had a smaller crew than a feature film. To me it was the perfect size, about 15 to 20 not counting producers. Crews that small usually don't get union guys, which is perfect for me, because I can actually get my hands dirty instead of just watching the grips and camera guys haul equipments, part of me feel very guilty whenever that happens because I'm just watching when I feel like I should help. On small crews I get to help out everyone and even better, watch and learn as they work, some guys even try to teach you as they work, which I love. An even better feeling is when after awhile the crew trust you enough to be able to do their job on your own while they go set up something else. All I ever want to do on set is be as helpful as possible and learn as much as I can, and the only way I know how to do that is to actually get my hands dirty.
This is the second time I work with a crew primarily from L.A. I had heard some horror stories about working with L.A. guys, but so far, all the L.A. people that I've worked with have all been great. I've been told that it's because I've been lucky so far and that if I give it some time, I'll get my own horror story about working with an L.A. crew. Funny thing is the guys on this show might all be from L.A. but they moved there from other places such as San Fran, Philly, Boston, and even Baltimore. The Assistant Director actually went to John Hopkins.
The actors/subject were great to be around with also, especially one in particular who was just a doll. I came in half way through production, so clicks were already formed and a bit difficult to infiltrate between crew and actor, but whenever I talked to anyone, I got the utmost respect and friendly demeanor. The actors/subject were obviously all local to the D.C. area.
The end of the show is always difficult. You work so many hours with these guy, and you get to know them pretty well and become really close to them, especially if you are an out of town crew member that has to live together. But at the end of the show, you pretty much all go your own separate ways, sometime never to see each other again. Everyone is hoping the show get picked up for a second season so that we can all work together again.
I think I have an advantage over other assistant. It might just be my imagination, but I've noticed that most producers love to have me around, because I can carry a lot of things. I guess being a muscular assistant does help, as most equipment are pretty heavy. At least that's my suspicion, because that's what I would do, as long as that person knew what they were doing. I just happen to know what I'm doing and I'm a pretty hard and reliable worker also.
The Lifetime show was not my only gig. I just came back from D.C. from another shoot. This was however different from most of my shoots, as it was a photo shoot. As most of you know or should know, I started out in photography then transitioned to film. I still love photography and if I had the money, I would probably try to freelance as a photographer also. So when I was asked if I was available for a photo shoot, I jumped at the chance.
This was quite different then what I was used to. Unlike a film production, this production was extremely slow. Everyone moved as there was all the time in the world. On a film set, everyone moves at lighting speed.
It was very interesting comparing the two, but it was most interesting watching the photographer at work. I would love to do another photo shoot, but photo shoot rarely use production assistant. If they need something, they just ask the photo assistant to do it.
I was put at a very awkward position, during this production. My job is to aid the production in anyway I can, and I usually only have to listen to one person. But for some reason the wardrobe stylist felt that I was also her personal assistant and kept trying to get me to run her personal errand. I was told by a crew member that she was power tripping, which I had already assess five minute after talking to her. The producer told me not to do any of her personal errand, but he never told her not to ask me to do her personal errands, so she kept asking. After 4 hours of her asking me to do this run, the producer finally talked to her about not getting me to do her personal errands, but I don't know what was said, because I eventually ended up having to make her errand. And no she wasn't from L.A. she was from Chicago, although, she did live in L.A. for a bit. The rest of the primary crew was from Tampa. The photo shoot was an advertisement shoot for Marriott Fairfield Inn, Resident Inn, Springhill Inn, and Courtyard.
I learn something everytime I work on a production, but here are some of the weirdest and craziest things that I've learned, not really production related.
- -There are more cars going into D.C. at 5am then there are cars going into Baltimore at 8am.
- -People who drive to work at 5am are all in a hurry, all poor driver, and are all scary to be driving around. (no joke)
- -It is apparently illegal to drive barefoot.
- -I hate driving in D.C. as it is terribly design. It is so easy to get lost and I know the city pretty well.
Socially, things have also been different. I used to go out all the times and there wasn't a weekend where I wasn't doing something. But lately, that has been the opposite. I was afraid that this would happen when both Nando and Ice were kinda forced to leave the area and move back home. Nando and Ice were the guys that I could count on to do anything. They would go anywhere at anytime, which is probably why my best weekends since August has been when one or both are in town. Ryan was also a person I could count on of at least going out, even if it was always the same thing, but he's been tied down as of late with girlfriend duty. I'm not really asking for much. All I want is to be able to do something Friday and Saturday night outside of the house.With the usual crew being absent, I've had to find my own things to do . Lucky for me, Jen's obligation has diminished and she's had more time to hang out. It has been great hanging out with her, after what seemed like two years of absence. But beside her, it has been kinda hard trying to find people to hang out with as of late, especially with most of my friend having left the area. It seems like everyone is so busy doing other things, like going out of town or home, or have things already planned. But I guess that's what I get for trying to make plans last minute.
The weirdest thing happened a few weekends ago, and it has been baffling me since it happened. It turns out that [redacted] taught that I wanted to get with his ex because I was..."dancing with her", and he felt the need to give me the O.K. to go for it. I appreciate the ok, but thing is, I wasn't trying to get with her, I was just dancing and having fun with her. This isn't what's baffling. What is baffling is that it isn't the first time one of my friends taught that I was trying to get with a certain female friends of ours.
There are about 5 or 6 females that we, as a group, have been hanging out with consistently. After a few comments by certain guys in our group, I decided to ask other guy friend in our group if they taught the same thing. And my guy friends all think that I'm or was trying to get with them. That's baffling because that's the furthest from the truth. I wasn't and hasn't been trying to get with any of them, half of which have long term boyfriend. Now I have those same suspicion about a few members of our group, i.e. they've verbally said so, but how do all my guy friends think that I was when I'm not. It has gotten me to question an old aged question which I taught I had the answer to. Can men be friend with a women without an ulterior motive? I think they can and that I have that, but I'm questioning it now. I've considered asking my female friends if they think that I'm trying to get to them, but never followed through.
Robert E. Lee Trail
I've been hiking a lot lately, mostly near my house where there is a nice simple trail, about 6 miles supposedly, it doesn't feel like it though. I've been attempting to get back into shape, but my knee is still a big problem, so I try not to exert to much pressure on it, like running or jumping. I love the outdoors, so hiking was a natural fit, but I would rather be playing tennis, soccer, and basketball instead. I've tried playing tennis with a few people, but they really aren't any good, so it doesn't do anything for me. It actually probably hurt my game, more than it helps me. I really want to start playing in tennis tournament sometime next year, so I'll have to end up finding a hitting partner that could challenge me at one point.
For the meantime, hiking will do. I'm actually trying to get into more outdoors activities. I've always been a fan of it, but never really had people to go with, and the people I did go with, never made it enjoyable. I want to hike and backpack a few trails in the area, and I'm working my way into being able to do 13 miles easily. I also want to go camping once the weather warms back up again as well as some rock climbing and kayaking/rafting.
But the main goal is to just be healthier and that means loosing the weight.
Well that's it for now. I'll attempt to update more frequently for all my curious friends, but no promises.
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