Accomplishments & Anxieties
It's the last week of March and there's plenty going on.
Last Sunday, I hosted the ISA's Holi celebration event in the student center. Nothing spectacular, but good fun, with Chiru's video presentation and playing with colors, though putting color ONLY on people's faces and not drenching them and bombarding them with water balloons can be a real damper. Still, it was my first time playing Holi in almost a decade, so it was good to actually celebrate something from home, the way its supposed to be done. Certainly, a big step up from a Powerpoint presentation and dinner!
NS left for India on Friday night, ending his time in Muncie with a get-together at Motini Bar. It was a nice evening, despite my lack of appreciation for smoke-filled bars. Plus my resolution to not drink this semester didn't help either. But for a time as stressful as this, I was oddly cheerful, probably because I hadn't been in any informal social setting since the Superbowl gathering in Columbus (Yay for graduate school and corresponding bank account balances!). But the super-gorgeous German women are always an added bonus. And I stayed sober to take in the sights!
The rest of the weekend was a combination of work, rest and working while resting. Most of Saturday was spent working in bed on props for Sunday's shoot. Sunday was the last major day of shooting where James, Ticha and I completed the library scenes in the morning and the argument scene out his apartment at midnight. These guys are amazing, they seem to perform effortlessly and are open to discussion and feedback. It's unbelievable, how much I have learned from them. But even more unbelievable, the fact that I directed my first film(s), and am HAPPY, rather than regretful to write about the experience. I owe it to them to make this a great experience.
But that is were the accomplishments end and the anxieties, or rather jitters, begin. Up next is post-production (editing, special effects, packaging), then surveying, compilation and presentation. Three months down, two more to go. My biggest fear is losing motivation like its happened to so many people, but its the promise of working on something innovative and a promising tomorrow that keeps me going. The big pothole in the road will be here next month; God I hope I can pull through it without hitting rock bottom. (Gosh, five years already?!)
But speaking of innovative, here's another reason for jitters. The interactive television project goes live this weekend. It's a huge deal and I'm proud to say I had something to do with it (even it meant being custodian for the production area the night before). The implications are obviously far-reaching, and I guess it'd be kinda cool if I could say I had something to do with American TV history. But, let me not get ahead of myself here. There are still plenty of kinks to be worked out, though my dear Anisha, I will be thinking of you the entire day. Happy B'day!
The Web site is 75% done (though my sister somewhat aptly puts it at 25%). The next couple of days will be spent on getting my videos and photographs uploaded and finalizing the design. The job hunt beckons, as do the butterflies in my stomach.
But for as anxious as I seem to be, I am doubly excited. After all, I wouldn't have invested myself in this if I didn't really want to do it! To be challenged with something new everyday like this is rare in life...and my stars are due for a shining. :)
Rahman in Dayton in April, home, sweet home...Colorado in May and (hopefully) NYC in June!
Last Sunday, I hosted the ISA's Holi celebration event in the student center. Nothing spectacular, but good fun, with Chiru's video presentation and playing with colors, though putting color ONLY on people's faces and not drenching them and bombarding them with water balloons can be a real damper. Still, it was my first time playing Holi in almost a decade, so it was good to actually celebrate something from home, the way its supposed to be done. Certainly, a big step up from a Powerpoint presentation and dinner!
NS left for India on Friday night, ending his time in Muncie with a get-together at Motini Bar. It was a nice evening, despite my lack of appreciation for smoke-filled bars. Plus my resolution to not drink this semester didn't help either. But for a time as stressful as this, I was oddly cheerful, probably because I hadn't been in any informal social setting since the Superbowl gathering in Columbus (Yay for graduate school and corresponding bank account balances!). But the super-gorgeous German women are always an added bonus. And I stayed sober to take in the sights!
The rest of the weekend was a combination of work, rest and working while resting. Most of Saturday was spent working in bed on props for Sunday's shoot. Sunday was the last major day of shooting where James, Ticha and I completed the library scenes in the morning and the argument scene out his apartment at midnight. These guys are amazing, they seem to perform effortlessly and are open to discussion and feedback. It's unbelievable, how much I have learned from them. But even more unbelievable, the fact that I directed my first film(s), and am HAPPY, rather than regretful to write about the experience. I owe it to them to make this a great experience.
But that is were the accomplishments end and the anxieties, or rather jitters, begin. Up next is post-production (editing, special effects, packaging), then surveying, compilation and presentation. Three months down, two more to go. My biggest fear is losing motivation like its happened to so many people, but its the promise of working on something innovative and a promising tomorrow that keeps me going. The big pothole in the road will be here next month; God I hope I can pull through it without hitting rock bottom. (Gosh, five years already?!)
But speaking of innovative, here's another reason for jitters. The interactive television project goes live this weekend. It's a huge deal and I'm proud to say I had something to do with it (even it meant being custodian for the production area the night before). The implications are obviously far-reaching, and I guess it'd be kinda cool if I could say I had something to do with American TV history. But, let me not get ahead of myself here. There are still plenty of kinks to be worked out, though my dear Anisha, I will be thinking of you the entire day. Happy B'day!
The Web site is 75% done (though my sister somewhat aptly puts it at 25%). The next couple of days will be spent on getting my videos and photographs uploaded and finalizing the design. The job hunt beckons, as do the butterflies in my stomach.
But for as anxious as I seem to be, I am doubly excited. After all, I wouldn't have invested myself in this if I didn't really want to do it! To be challenged with something new everyday like this is rare in life...and my stars are due for a shining. :)
Rahman in Dayton in April, home, sweet home...Colorado in May and (hopefully) NYC in June!
