Limes with Orange

This Week in Review

Breaking News: Three deadlines coming up this Friday, so this will be my last post until next week.

Adventures in Film: Was at a Final Cut Pro workshop at the CSIF all weekend. It was definitely helpful, but I want to learn more. I hope they'll consider holding an intermediate level Final Cut workshop at some point.

The Culture Corner: So You Think You Can Dance has started its new season! Don't worry, that's the only reality show that I'll include in The Culture Corner, because it really is aimed at promoting dance in general and introducing mainstream North America to a greater variety of dance traditions than most people are familiar with. And it's not like the Idol shows, which are basically karaoke, because SYTYCD has world class choreographers creating original, new dance works just for the show. That's pretty amazing when you think about it. Plus I like to use dance in my poetry films, so it provides a source of creative inspiration for me also. Happy happy.

Journeys with Judaism: After a stressful week, I thought that a visit to temple this past Shabbat would lift my spirits. And boy did I pick the right Shabbat service for that. Two baby namings, the junior high students talked about their trip to Israel (and let me tell you, these teens are smart and FUNNY), and I found out that the Israeli stomp group Tararam will performing for free on Stephen Avenue on Tuesday at lunchtime. (They're also performing at the Max Bell Centre on Monday night, but that event is way out of my price range.) A nice way to end a stressful week.

Life with Emma: I'm beginning to seriously consider a second cat to keep Emma company. Nothing decided yet, but I'm checking out the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) website for now.

Rants: I'm getting pretty fed up with young people who seem to feel entitled. Whether it's that they think they are entitled to special treatment or that other people should do things for them or they think that they should be given major responsibilities just because they've done something once or twice before. I've been in film for three years and am fully aware that three years is nothing when it comes to a career in the arts. But these kids seem to think that three years into their careers means they're finished learning from people who have been in the industry for a decade or more. I wonder how long it will take for them to realize that they will never have a truly accomplished career with that attitude.

Revelations: I've had an interesting journey of critiques this week. I felt pretty awkward after the Crit Night last week, realizing that I wasn't ready for strangers to critique my work. I'd like to thank the friends of mine who understood that I wasn't being defensive about my work, I was just processing the process and realizing that I'm only ready for critiques from people I know. It's simply the stage I'm at in my growth as an filmmaker. I wish everyone could understand that, but then I also wish the weather in Calgary didn't change so often. Unfortunately, both of these are things that are outside of my control.

My experience this weekend was the complete opposite. I showed my film to the professional editor teaching the Final Cut Pro workshop and he gave me very positive feedback along with some great ideas to try that are completely in keeping with the tone and style that I'm aiming for with this film. Which just reinforces for me that one-on-one feedback from somebody I respect, who understands where I'm coming from as an artist... that is the feedback I need right now. I'll figure out how to process critiques from strangers eventually, just not now.

Labels: highlights