Updates

Did I say I was going to drop Digital Video Production? Well, I didn't, and we're working on our documentary project right now. One of the teams (at least, I think it might have been one of the class's teams, it could've been someone separate) used our camera and removed some things from it. I can't remember if they removed our first tape of footage. I want to smack a bitch, because we need that footage. Tian actually has the bag right now because he couldn't return it to DMS, so if that other team needs the bag again, oh well. We were supposed to pick a camera and stick with it. Karina thinks it was Kelsey (sure I'm spelling it wrong) that used it. I'd say I hope all their footage is shot, but I honestly don't care at the moment. No idea what possessed them to use our equipment and not put our tape back when they were done.

As for the actual project, aside from directing, I'm also in charge of post-production sound once Jess edits everything together. It should be interesting. A lot of the time yesterday, we didn't use the shotgun mic (Open Mic night brings a LOT of people into Standing Stone, the coffeehouse we're doing the documentary on, and it was hard to move and not block people's view): It was just Karina with the camera's built-in microphone. She was close enough that it was probably fine, and people weren't really talking through the performances, but I'm slightly worried about how it's going to sound. It's not the kind of thing that we can shoot over. Also, there was one performer, a guitarist, who had a music stand in front of him, and for his first song we couldn't see his guitar or his body, and it got worse when he stepped away from the stand to do a little solo. I had Tian change positions at the next song so we were on the guy's side, and it was perfect. We're looking up at him from below. It's not an extreme angle, but Nathan might complain about it. I'm gonna tell him it was a compromise we had to make, because I was not blocking patrons' view of the stage. Maybe that makes me not suited for camerawork and directing, but whatever. (Nathan's view is that anyone will accept your behavior if you have a camera in your hand. Greg, the owner of Standing Stone, came over to us early, after one performance, and told us not to block people. Greg wins.)

We're supposed to be meeting today to interview Greg and some of the staff, and maybe some customers. I really hope Amanda comes this time. I can't remember if she said she was available this weekend. I know Jess has issues being available because of theater. I'm really terrible about thinking up questions, but Amanda's pretty good about it. Still, I think I should ask questions this time, just so Nathan can hear me actually doing something. XD;;

In other class news, I kicked the shit out of the first Mass Media test, I made a cool design for ceramics before it started cracking and falling apart, so I'll have to do it over (but won't get penalized because it was built and Bethany saw it), and I'm doing well in Digital Art. Thinking of possibly taking Digital Photography. And there's another digital art class that's more like a graphic design thing that could also be interesting. I'd like to take Intermediate Drawing, too, if I can manage that. I have junior status now, so hopefully I can get into classes for next semester before they close. Oh, and Art Therapy's still a lot of fun. I have to do a project next week with a child.

Sophie is 100% hooked on Skyward Sword. She's playing through her own file, and she's basically caught up to my Hero Mode game. All she has to do is go through the last Silent Realm, and then we'll be in the same spot. I'm going to try to get the Hylian Shield from Lanayru before I have to go back to the surface, because I want to save the game before the epic Link vs. a thousand enemies part. You only get to do that once, there's no way to relive it unless you manage to save beforehand. It's epic, and the developers REALLY should've let you save before you start it, or at least pull off a reminiscence mechanic like in Shadow of the Colossus. Sophie's kind of fun and irritating to watch at the same time. If things scare her or make her nervous, she actively avoids them, even if going through them would take five seconds while going around them takes a minute. I keep telling her she needs to have no fear and just GO. ^^; Then again, I control the game a lot better than she does, because I'm used to it. She still has issues steering sometimes.

Home on Friday! Spring Break approaches. :D Sophie and I will be riding back together at least part of the way: She has to go to Philadelphia to catch her plane to San Diego. Can't wait to get home and see everyone. Lola's going to lose it when I get back. Dad is actually going down to Oklahoma for about a month and leaving on Tuesday, so he's going to swing by this way and hang out with me for a while, since he won't get to see me next week. Makes me happy, because I really didn't want to wait until the end of the school year to see him again.

Also, there might POSSIBLY be a trip to California in my future. Not sure. Sophie's going to Comic Con and wants me to come, and we can just generally hang out for a week or so. Have to see what's possible. Tuition is officially paid off (well, as soon as the money's removed from my account), and I can focus on other things now, like paying the accrued interest on my loans, dropping the credit card balance down a bit more, and, you know, savings. When I get back home next week, I'm gonna have Amaria do my taxes. Getting unemployment's going to eat into my usually-good refund, but whatever. I think I was getting a good amount from the feds before I gave up trying to figure everything out. (TurboTax asks this question that completely STALLED me. Something about how much money did you pay to the school that actually went toward tuition, I think. Schools don't generally report that. It's easier for them to just give you the amount you were billed, because then they don't have to break your bill down into aid received, tuition payments received, fees, etc.. It's extremely annoying. And the info they give you doesn't even need to be accurate because the feds don't get after them for it.)

Anyway. I think that's it. XD;