The first two full weeks of class end today. Went something like this:
Thursday, Aug. 25 - Admissions advisor Bronwyn Smith takes Mel and I on a guided tour through VFS's underground film studios. It's great to see where a lot of the interior shoots take place. We find each room in alternating states of fully-assembled and nearly-torn-down. A bird or raccoon hustles across ceiling beams, shooing us out. We oblige.
Day 1 - IT Orientation. We learn how to use the school computers and printers, how to access our email and homework assignments, and how to properly break the rules re: eating and drinking in the computer room. This is followed by Global Day, where we meet previous writing students and current teachers, and learn how to effectively analyze movie plots while planning that evening's drinking schedule.
Day 2 - Copyright lecture. Taught by Ken Ashdown, former VP @ Polygram Group Canada. Thanks to Ken, more interesting than it should have been and more important than we realized. Learned a ton in a short time. Hope I get a chance to nerd out a bit more on this stuff. (Bonus feature: Ken is the head of the school's Entertainment Business Management program (whose students function as, among other things, producers for student films), so I passed on a CD of my original film score music for his review. A little personal product placement, in case students were looking for a soundscape or two. I later passed a copy on to Rodger Cove as well, who in turn passed it on to Wade Fennig. More to follow!)
Other classes in Term 1:
She`s a full plate, me hearties!
So far, we've analysed and/or watched snipets of Some Like it Hot, The Verdict, His Girl Friday, About a Boy, The Maltese Falcon, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Gladiator, Braveheart, 500 Days of Summer and Legally Blonde, to name a very few.
In the next few weeks, we'll "have" to study or watch Pulp Fiction, The Godfather, Sideways, Napoleon Dynamite, The Blair Witch Project, Juno, Seven, Unforgiven, The Graduate, Good Will Hunting, Clerks, It's a Wonderful Life, and Planes, Trains & Automobiles. That's just term 1. Oh, the torture.
Meanwhile, Mel finally got a job. Executive assistant for Victoria Gold, literally a five-minute walk from our front door and fifteen from VFS. She was one of two finalists, then took the prize because she's awesome! (And big sigh of relief!)
Then Ricky came to visit last week and helped us relieve that other anxiety - being so far from the kids. (Only thing missing, obviously, were Jenni and James, but we'll get them out here before too long!) Had a great time strolling Robson, visiting Stanley Park and Granville Island, seeing Captain America, going for swims in the basement. Was sad to watch him go back home, but so great to have him here.
Ivan the Terrible |
Yea a very full plate, but you have a good appitite !!
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