My Last Day

So, this is it...

After today, I no longer have to battle traffic for two hours and I've successfully completed another job on my resume with a recommondation. Overall, how would I rate this experience? I'll go with a solid 7. 10 being if I had landed a job from my internship and absolutely loved it. It's helped me decide that this is what I want to do, and I'm comfortable doing it. After work, I leave feeling slightly uppity knowing I did something other than sit around all day. I wish I had gotten to know my superiors a little better, but when I compare my position to that of the creative interns I realize I have it pretty good. They just sit around all day reading. At least I get to walk around while finding binders to stuff papers in.

Also, I like the idea of working in physical production. It's an all encompassing place where you follow the movie from production to post, helping along the way whether it be finding locations to shoot or delievery of the film to the distributor. And you are not stuck on one project, you get to jump around. Starting this internship I thought I wanted to be in post, but now I realize I'd rather be here. Producing something through the whole process. Why decide on one aspect when you can do both?

Have I really not posted for so long?

Okay, haven't been too good on keeping this updated recently...like for a week and a half.

But it's because I've been busy. Even though my time here is finally winding down (only one more day left) my days have been more action packed. I took on the task of organizing all of the files left on my desk since the company switched buildings, which is no easy feat. But my organizational skills have proven themselves fruitful as I've cut the pile in half.

I think it's one of the first times my boredom has transferred into productivity. Yay!

But I did throw up at work on Tuesday. And that was not fun. But embarassing. And sometimes embarissing is funny, but never fun.

Now I need to write my own recommendation. And try and diminish one more movie's staggering paper trail.

She works hard for the...self-satisfacton?i

lI'm trying to keep up to date with these posts, and interesting enough to pass as journal entries for my class. And since I have some free time now, I thought I'd do a real update.

Management styles.

So, the role of the intern is to fill in when boring tasks are too tedious for the busy assisstants. I.e. unstapling things, filing, being put on hold with Hotel concierges (I'm not a paying guest, so why should they take my call?) But this allows me to keep my ears open and watch how things are played out. I'm starting to understand the power structure better and understand how things are getting done...I'm not as lost as before, but I'm definitely more bored. Now that I know that the bald man is in charge of the dark haired, pretty girl...it isn't as appealing to watch them talk. No more torrid love affairs to think of, just work. Now, this doesn't have anything to do with management styles. More of a note that the lack of structure in my job means it's taken more time for me to find structure within the company.

I can't actively discuss the projects' problems and the exact mechanics involved in creating the features currently in production, but I can tell you how much everyone is getting, who has been on set what days, and if the project is over/under budget. But the more I work with production, the more I'm aware of the fact I like production. I like organizing how things are going to get done and managing them, the best part is that producers get to travel to the sets. So yes, this internship has been fruitful because it's showed me various job positions I'd like to have. Perhaps being a line producer? Supervising producer? Not executive. I can't schmooze that good, that constantly.

Alright, back to work. And what the hell is this brown envelope with the scribbling for?

She works hard for the...self-satisfacton?i

lI'm trying to keep up to date with these posts, and interesting enough to pass as journal entries for my class. And since I have some free time now, I thought I'd do a real update.

Management styles.

So, the role of the intern is to fill in when boring tasks are too tedious for the busy assisstants. I.e. unstapling things, filing, being put on hold with Hotel concierges (I'm not a paying guest, so why should they take my call?) But this allows me to keep my ears open and watch how things are played out. I'm starting to understand the power structure better and understand how things are getting done...I'm not as lost as before, but I'm definitely more bored. Now that I know that the bald man is in charge of the dark haired, pretty girl...it isn't as appealing to watch them talk. No more torrid love affairs to think of, just work. Now, this doesn't have anything to do with management styles. More of a note that the lack of structure in my job means it's taken more time for me to find structure within the company.

I can't actively discuss the projects' problems and the exact mechanics involved in creating the features currently in production, but I can tell you how much everyone is getting, who has been on set what days, and if the project is over/under budget. But the more I work with production, the more I'm aware of the fact I like production. I like organizing how things are going to get done and managing them, the best part is that producers get to travel to the sets. So yes, this internship has been fruitful because it's showed me various job positions I'd like to have. Perhaps being a line producer? Supervising producer? Not executive. I can't schmooze that good, that constantly.

Alright, back to work. And what the hell is this brown envelope with the scribbling for?

It's my birthday, my ba-ba-ba-birthday

Yay, gift card to Barnes and Noble!

It's amazing how presents make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside...but then the cynic awakes inside of me when I realize the amount of the gift card is the same amount I withdraw everyday to pay for parking.

But I'm still smiling.

Tuesday was a busy day, worked on expense reports until I left a little early in order to prepare for my critique, which went well.

And today I really did break the copier, but then I fixed it. I think the post-production guy was impressed with the fact I got ink all over my hands as I pulled out all of the different trays in the copier in order to pull out all of the scraps of paper. Copiers are intense pieces of machinary. Don't mess with them. Today is relatively quiet, which is kinda nice. I like looking at the storyboards for the VFX (Visual Special Effects). It does remind me of the storyboards I need to do for my project.

Hold please

Today has been more interesting than previous, partly because I've been upgraded from copy bitch to phone bitch. Even if all I am doing is making reservations at the Ivy, I can still feel the glamour dripping out of the maitre d's voice.

I went out to lunch today with two other interns, and it was nice to talk to other people about other positions at Mandate. I also got the answer to, "Where does the money come from?" It's generated through the selling the rights of the movie to other (mostly foreign?) markets. The process usually goes as following: script gets greenlight, people get drunk and schmooze with rich foreign businessmen/women, drunkards make drunken agreements to invest money, and as soon as the hangover have diminished, a film can be made. I guess the profits mostly come from sales of the distribution rights and the distributors are the primary benefactors of box office sales and the foreign businessmen will hopefully get their money back with the possibility of a slight profit.

Why did I ever think the stock market was not a good way to make money? The headache the stock market used to induce from thinking too much pales in comparison to that money-making hangover.

so smooth, like butta

So, I finally slept over at Kristin and Vicki's before work, and it made a huge difference. Getting extra hour of sleep? And not having to deal with loud roommates? Who knew heaven was so easily accesible?

I missed work on Tuesday because traffic was just horrific due to that little bit of rain we got. There was just no way I could drive 2+ hours in the morning without copious amounts of black tea. Instead I worked on my senior project and got some major headway on that. So, I learned from my mistake on Tuesday and drove myself halfway to work on Wednesday nigsht. Much better.

I just hope Vicki fights her food poisioning. Because that doesn't seem like much fun.

Today I've been researching passport wallets as wrap gifts for one of the projects. It's intense doing bulk orders, you're suddenly transfered to "Corporate Sales" and the hold music gets a little better. Also, you automatically get discounts. This is how the rich stay rich. And no, I am not complaining.

Jitterbug

"Woah, the intern knows the words!" - Post-Guy...aka Jack
"No I don't!" - Me
"Intern, Jitterbug!" - Jen
"No, I don't know how!" - Me, Intern
"You're the intern!" - Jack
"When we say Jitterbug, you ask for how long!" - Jen

Never singing along again.

P.s. Manicures at posh Beverly Hills salons are definitely a plus to this job.

Contradiction Milkshake

I woke up before the alarm went off this morning and thought today might be different. Last night, I finally went to the supermarket and bought supplies for a nutrious lunch that costs less than $20. $120 later...mission accomplished. Now it's a matter of protecting my goodies from prying hands.

So, the critique schedule was finally posted, and of course I am scheduled to go on a day I am not here. Thankfully I've begged Jose enough to have him switch with me, but there was a moment when I thought everything would not be okay. Now I have to help him out on Wednesday. And no, my desire to push back my crit date has nothing to do deal with the fact I have nothing to show them except a new script.

My Mom knows about this blog and she said she hopes I'm having a better time at my internship than what my blog lets on...and truthfully, I don't feel like I'm having that horrible of a time. I don't mind sitting at this desk and browsing the internet inbetween tasks. Nor do I mind my cubemate's dirty humor and constant Chicago radio shows. Chicago radio is much better than L.A.'s.

It's not that bad. It may seem like that, but it's a nice setting to get the grunt work out of the way. True, having 8 hours of work sandwiched between 2 hours of rush hour driving isn't the most desirable thing, but it's not that bad either. And I like knowing that every week I have to be out of the house for 24 hours. My 24 hours of peace.

Okay, don't have enough time to gush about this. I have to get back to work. Lots of resumes to sort through.

The thought that gets me through the day is that hopefully somebody will have to do this for me one day.

that shiny exciting feeling has dulled, just a tad

Today is a remarkable day due to its inherent unremarkability. I woke up and groggily got out of bed, forgoing the shower due to the multiple snoozes and drudged my way to work, snaking through the slow traffic with a completely absent mind. And I don't think I've woken up yet. And going through the day while asleep is a very dangerous task, you don't know what kind of messes you are going to get yourself into. I got an invite to a dinner party after work, and I impuslively agreed to go without realizing that I don't really want to attend and I don't know exactly where the party is. Ah, yes...this is why I am a social flake.

At least I'm just doing paper work and filing, my mind can remain turned off. Ideally I would be "networking" but I get the feeling everybody else around me is just as dead.

On the plus side, I got a lot of work done on my senior project. Too bad I just found out that I have a critique in a little more than a week (and yes, it is the same weekend that I am going out of town...who wants to switch with me?). Shit. Problems. I am so not ready to deal.

got an available helicopter?

Whenever I'm stuck in traffic I always wish that God existed and he'd pick me up with his huge hand and move me ahead of the congested mess, directly to my destination. During this morning's commute, Reavis came up with the brilliant suggestion that maybe I should just try and find somebody who has access to a helicopter and have them on call during my commute. No need for a God, just a giant hook on top of my car to attach itself to the cable dangling from my hypothetical 'copter.

Also, I really wish I was better at small talk. I'm not so good when people just randomly come up to me and say, "I like your boots." All I can do is stand there dumbfounded wondering what to say beyond, "Thanks." And there's always an awkward silence where I see hope of a bond slip away each silent second.

introducing my new segment...

JUST ASKING... Which startlet has been seen running around town claiming her pool boy stole her last remaining pair of green plastic panties? She needs them to try and seduce her closeted boyfriend who's been seen leaving barnyards late at night...What over-weight, over-the-hill diva has been making ridiculous demands out of her servants as of late? She constantly requires grapes on straws, a metal roof over her head, and always facing North. Her behavoir has gotten her kicked out of 46 sets and proving to be a detterent in her long-expected return to a respectable spotlife.

Answers to last week's: 1) Lassie 2) Zsa Zsa Gabor's Fur Coat

superman was a chicken in a blue suit

So my job has upgraded from singular (stupid Cingular, making me think singular is spelt wrong)button pusher to multiple-button pusher. And I broke the copy machine. Twice. I love being new. Okay, it wasn't a broken copier as much as I couldn't figure out how to relieve the paper jam and then froze the screen in a frantic move of pushing too many buttons.

I'm tired. I should have taken nyquil last night. I can't wait to go back to bed later on today. Mmmm, bed.

Gotta go pull staples out of 200 more pages before commencing my two hour drive home.

R.I.P. Anna Nicole Smith, your antics shall be missed, along with your ample bossom.

counting down the minutes...

Went to lunch. Got blisters trying to find Kitson. And was really unimpressed with Kitson...but impressed with the dog boutique store which I had to forcefully remove myself from. Oh, and a nice chinese lady let me have a free lunch because I didn't have any money.

I wonder if i have any more notes on my car.

Less than an hour and a half to go. I have upgraded from button pusher to obsessive compulsive sorting, my forte. Unfortunately, when sorting is your forte, the job gets done rather quickly and the thumb goes up the butt while the other hand struggles to type by itself.

Alright, you don't have to think it so loud...I can hear you from all the way over here in the past...I'll go ask for more shit to do.

30 Minutes till lunch

I went to my car to move it (five feet to a different spot) and found a piece of paper stuck to the windshield. It just said, "Ass Hole, please learn how to park." I examined my car looking for my incredible offense and realized the person who left me that note was a crackhead with very nice handwriting.

Los Angeles is starting to look less appealling everyday.

Yes, Scientists get crazy jealous too...

From Reuters:

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - Police filed attempted murder charges against a U.S. astronaut accused of trying to kidnap a woman she considered a rival for another astronaut's affections, preventing her release from jail on Tuesday.

A judge had granted bail for astronaut Lisa Nowak, who was arrested on Monday on charges including battery and attempted kidnapping, according to police in Orlando, Florida. But shortly before she was to be released, police filed the more serious charge of attempted first-degree murder, halting her release.


Just because you have a doctorate doesn't mean love can't turn you into a psyco bitch.

Welcome...

Welcome to my very first 5th blog. You only start your fifth blog once, so I wanted to make it special, meaningful...much more than those previous one-night stand blogs on myspace and various other friends networks. This one means something. Blogspot, you are special.

So, the theme of this blog is to create a chronical of my trials and tribulations associated with being a prestigious intern. Such examples of my grandious position include having the entire city of Los Angeles realize I was driving to work on the 10 and decided to join me for a 2 hour picnic on concrete. My skills with Final Cut are being put to use on the DVD copying machine which requires concentration and the stamina to press one button every 3 minutes.

At least I have a 121 page script to read until lunch.