Pawnee Visit//Oakwood Goodbyes

My last official week of Grady LA was perfect! I was truly amazed to see how much of a routine I had built only to see it come to an end.

Monday I had my internship. It was bittersweet as my time was coming to a close but I got a chance to work on a treatment for a new show which was fun. I felt very official! After that I went to the annual women's summer white party held by C3 Silverlake/Hollywood. Now most of my friends that know me well, know that directions and driving can give me great anxiety and the parking situation in LA can be quite confusing and stressful. But alas, I ventured out and found myself parked and waiting exactly where I needed to be! The party was fun and I was really glad I went. I cherish the connections I was able to make in the place I may one day call my home!

Lovely C3 Summer White Party at NoHo.

The message was beautiful. We referenced the verse often used for young ones on the precipice of an unsure future:

For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11

- You can't doubt God's promise.

- Compromise comes when the promise can't be seen in our current position

- Determination with desperation and without submission leads to compromise.

- God isn't looking for a stand in or replacement in your life
-- your his plan A NOT plan B


Tuesday we went to the Dodgers/Braves game. I'm not a big sports aficionado but the experience was fun regardless! The Stadium was beautiful. I wore blue so as not to reveal my allegiance, as I technically had none. It will always remain a mystery, which team was I rooting for? Wouldn't you like to know? Technically, so would I...haha.

Dodgers.

Dat field though...

After that we went to a very well-known karaoke bar called "Dimples." It's very famous and many famous people go there to have a good time. But alas we went on a night where famous people there were not. Except for one America's Next Top Model contestant Don Benjamin (and groupies that sang way to well for a karaoke bar)! I freaked out, he sang "I'm Too Sexy," and it was perfect!

Wednesday I continued my research for my internship and when I came home we watched one of my favorite films Pride & Prejudice, which I can quote word for word (much to my roommate's dismay). It was a sweet night.

Thursday was the day I'd been literally waiting all summer for. The day we went to visit the set of Parks and Recreation. All I have to say is many pictures were taken and many freak outs were experienced. And with one of these pictures I pulled a joke on my friends back home that was worthy of applause...

Welcome to the Parks Department.

Council Members.

Conference room.

Pawnee Mural.

April and Andy's living room.

That evening we screened our group projects that we filmed and they were hilarious! We had no idea that each one of our separate films made one giant film as a whole...it was a masterpiece. And as I watched all the different portions of the films edited together a wave of nostalgia rushed over me. It was the sweetest thing to see all the personalities and humor of so many of my classmates. I loved it! Our evening concluded with a group dinner to Umami Burger and a game of superlatives that got all too real too quick. Funny but really real. And then I went with some of the guys to an evening showing of Guardians of the Galaxy which was quite possibly the best summer film I've ever seen! I was blown away. My expectations were high and I'm happy to say they were all met.

My awesome Guardians of the Galaxy poster.

My last day of my internship was very sad. We never truly realize how attached we've become until we reach the end. I'd grown to love all my co-workers and the fun work environment they'd created but alas my time was done. They surprised me with cupcakes and a card. I'm gonna miss A Smith & Co. I am I am....

Sprinkles cupcakes from A Smith.

Saturday, the last official day of Grady LA, started very early and was literally the day that never ended and the day I got to be a soccer mom and cart people around all day. Don't get me wrong, I loved it, it was just a long day. I took a friend of mine to the airport, stopped my Chick-fil-A for breakfast, went the car rental to pick up a friend, got blocked in at Enterprise(it was a mad house), the friend I came to pick ended going back another way but I managed to pick up 3 other friends instead, and I came back to the apartment at 10AM only to find out that we had to move out by 10:30...Our morning became a mad dash to leave Oakwood and after a call persuading them to change our departure to noon we were out of our summer home at 12:30. Then after some car shuffling and confusion we used some Universal tickets procured in various ways(we won't get into that) to spend our last day riding rides and spending time together at Universal Hollywood. It was a lovely day that ended all too quick. And after playing about 20 mins of Ellen's game "Heads Up" (prolonging the inevitable) we said our goodbyes in the Oakwood guest lot outside the gate. Yes, tears were shed.

This summer was incredible. I had a wonderful time experiencing so many great things and spending time with so many amazing people. California has truly stolen my heart!

My musings from Grady LA have ended. But the musings of a post-grad have only just begun.

So until we meet again friends...

West Coast//East Coast

This week. I changed coasts over a period of days. It was kind of crazy but I feel so incredibly blessed that I was even able to do it in the first place. All right, let's get on to my crazy week in LA/GA, shall we?

This week my internship started and ended bright and early with continuing my research for their future projects. Although the work has remained the same I've been extremely thankful for such a chill work environment that makes me feel comfortable and appreciated. Places like that are hard to come by sometimes...Thanks A. Smith!

Tuesday we had class which was composed of our pitching sessions. It was really cool to see how diverse our projects were. They ranged from intriguing dramas to chilling American Horror Story-esque mini series' to complicated stories of futuristic romances, very entertaining. However, I pitched a potential documentary following a girl or guy who willingly chooses not to pay for college housing by moving from building to building living "on campus" but for free. Crazy? Maybe. But if I could find someone passionate enough it could definitely be interesting. After that we got the chance to be part of a studio audience again at Chelsea Lately...once again not very glamorous waiting in line BUT we did get to sit quite close which was super exciting for my roomie Emily. And all too soon it was over and we were leaving. It's amazing how quickly a 30 min show will go by. I swear I blinked and it was already over.

Chelsea Lately!

Later on, a friend and I went to a hang-out at a park for a church called C3 Silverlake. And this church was just so incredibly welcoming that if I do in fact move back to LA I think I would definitely consider making C3 Silverlake my church home. Crazy to think about but exciting! The message I heard the first day was something very powerful all about being rejected because of choosing to follow Christ. We studied in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  

- Sometimes you will be rejected because you're not what people expected AND sometimes you'll be rejected because you're not what they remembered.

AMEN!

All I have to say is finding a place where you belong in such a big place can be hard but nothing is impossible when you're where God wants you! When I got home me, my roommate Jenna, and our honorary roommate Sam watched The Phantom of the Opera and sang the night away(we all knew the words by heart). Though the songs we sang were not entirely audible or on key it definitely stands out as a highlight out of my many evenings in LA, it was adorable and I loved it!

Wednesday I interned in the morning and came home to pack up for my trip back to GA. It was sad because I didn't want to leave or miss anything but GA called as one of my best friends from college was getting married....So I began to pack...it was an odd experience to pack knowing I still had one week left in LA and to realize truly how fast time had gone. To give you a visual aid....here's a pic of all the tickets and papers I've accumulated from events in the past few weeks...

My junk. My memories.

My flight from LAX was at 6:48 Thursday morning and when it's typically advised to get to flights a couple hours early...guess who set an alarm for 3AM? And guess who woke up 20 minutes late? But alas all things worked out. I've always been leery of plane flights since after this trip I can count on one hand how many times I've actually flown in a plane. However, my bags got checked, I got through security and I touched down in good ole GA at 2:15, greeted by the first rain I'd seen in weeks! It never rains in California. Of course my day was shot due to the time difference but I got a chance to not only get some of my favorite southern fast food at Zaxby's but to also visit my second family and my best friend for the evening. And even though my visit was brief I loved seeing them!

Friday evening was Jodi and Jeremy's rehearsal dinner. It was brief and lovely. Then I went to Zaxby's for a second time to see my dear friends and meet my best friend Mae's Corgi Cap n' Chubs (aka my nephew)!

Church friends and Cap n' Chubs!

Saturday was the big day! I saw my best friend of the past 3 years marry her best friend. We met at community college and all I have to say is, "Never overlook those transitional periods in life. Just because you don't think they're great doesn't mean God can't use them regardless." Anyways, the wedding was beautiful! It was outside at a country club and it was sweltering at the beginning but once time passed by the sun went down and it was relatively cool (I mean we live in GA) for the wedding! It went by in a flash, tons of pictures, great friends, and all in all just a happy day! Congrats Jodi & Jeremy!

My bridesmaid bouquet.

Then all too soon I was back in LA ready to embark on my last week! My roommate picked me up at the airport and then after a quick nap we were off to LA's warehouse district to polish off filming for our group project....it was great fun! After all of that was done we went to Santa Monica to have dinner with my roommate's cousin who was in town. He was the lead singer in the band "Collective Soul." It was super cool and I think I speak for all my roommates when I say we totally felt like groupies hanging with all these musicians for the night and it was SUPER cool!

No words. This is insanely gorgeous. Seriously.

What would a silly group project be without a fun picture, I ask you?

Front Row//Future Planz

Here we go a couple of weeks left and so much still to do...

My internship is still the same. The show ideas change but the Youtube hunts continue. But I love youtube and have been an avid youtube watcher for a while now. In a sense, I've been training for this internship my whole life!

Tuesday we went to HBO (no big deal). The office was AMAZING. But sadly, no pictures were allowed...they even had a little POP version of Eddard Stark sitting on an iron throne. We screened The Normal Heart  and then had lunch with the film execs for a Q & A. Then after that we talked Jenn out of class in exchange for double class time Thursday and spent the day in Santa Monica.

Santa Monica was beautiful and overcast. There was a glimmer of rain but alas we live in California so it was simply a glimmer and nothing more. After some beach time we went to the Third Street Promenade for some shopping and lunch. Our day concluded with a guy yelling at us advertising free ice cream sandwiches from an Old Spice truck. So it was a pretty perfect day.

Santa Monica Pier.

On Wednesday my roommates and I got a chance to be a part of the studio audience for So You Think You Can Dance! And let me tell you, being a part of a studio audience isn't as glamorous as people might think it is. We had to be at the studio by 7:45 to wait in line for the taping of the opening routine. Somehow we got to sit in the front row! Unfortunately, a lady in the back complained and actually asked me to sit down because I was blocking her view. Ohh the trials of being tall...then after that we were free to gallivant until we came back for the taping of the show live for the East Coast. We went to brunch and then The Grove, never knew you could go to The Cheesecake factory and just order a strawberry lemonade and sweet tea but we did. Then we sat in line on the pavement in the hot sun for a few hours....when we finally got in we were seated right behind the judges which was pretty cool. During the show I was simply in awe of how smoothly it ran as a live tv show. As someone who is intrigued by production it was insane how well choreographed the crew was during filming. In the end even though it was a tiring day I wouldn't have passed up the experience to see these talented dancers perform!

Opening chess piece dance routine at So You Think You Can Dance.

Thursday we had class and after class I decided to peruse the internet for a little-known film called Snowpiercer. I had been invited by some friends to see it the night before but unfortunately because we were heading back from the show I couldn't go but since it had such great reviews (and because I'm me) I had to watch it for myself. It was amazing. I've been describing it like this: If Hunger Games and City of Ember had a baby it would be this film. But now I think I'll also add The Raid because of it's structure in defeating each train car as they move to the front of the train to defeat Wilford, the one who runs the "eternal" engine. All you gotta know is it takes place in the future, after a failed experiment to end global warming the world has been sent into a second ice age, the only thing sustaining life is a train where the rich live at the front and the poor are forced to live at the back, and one young man incites rebellion to change it all...it was a crazy two hour ride I wasn't expecting but it was extremely original and although it left me squeamish and anxiety ridden through the majority of it I enjoyed it nonetheless. Beware, it's not a film for the faint of heart. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

After my internship on Friday I went to see the film Boyhood in theaters. I saw the trailer back in April and it blew me away and after I got to experience this amazing feat in film history in theaters I was blown away yet again. This film was shot over a period of 12 years and follows the life of a young boy through his childhood. It's as simple as that. It's beautiful in it's simplicity and shows life in it's truest form as the actors never change. This type of continuity has never been attempted and words simply cannot express how in love with this film I am. Time goes by so smoothly and effortlessly that even as I watched the film when he reached 18 asked, "Where did the time go?" It was beautiful. Just watch it.

Boyhood pictures at Arclight Cinemas.

Sunday was the UGA Alumni mixer at Yamashiro in Hollywood. Tried sushi for the first time. SO GOOD. Talked to some UGA Alums which was super intimidating...the only way I could think to open a conversation was to say, "Hello sailor." Luckily, I didn't say that. Overall it was a super swanky and fun night. No complaints and I even made a few contacts. I guess I know how to mix...

Yamashiro in Hollywood.

Also, for all who are interested in my future and life's goings-on. You who may be wondering, "Are you going to move to California? Are you coming back home? Do you have a job lined up for fall?" The answer to those questions are, "Yes. Yes. No." My plans for the future are something I've definitely prayed about and given some very careful consideration. Right now, it's not feasible financially for me to move to LA (even though I really want to). So I'm gonna move back home for a year to save and hopefully by this time next year I'll be moving to this place that I've fallen in love with in a few short weeks. Sound good?

Movie Walls//Mini Pies

The end is nigh dear friends I literally have one weekend left before one of my best friend's weddings on the 26th. I'm freaking out. So for now no more time talk. Onto my week...which is what I know you all want.

I started off my week right with an informational with Helen Caldwell (Script Supervisor, Breaking Bad). And you dear reader might be wondering how did I get in contact with such a cool person? Literally, the most typical way for anyone to get in contact with anyone in this industry a friend of a friend knows her and gave me her number many moons ago before I came to LA. It was fantastic! She's such an amazing person and had an incredible amount of wisdom to pass on. And an apprenticeship might be in my future....fingers crossed.

We went to TBS/TNT on Tuesday to chat with people in the industry to hear how they entered into the industry and what their current jobs are. Yet, another inspiring experience to add to the myriad of talks we've had while in LA. The common factor in most of these talks is that one key experience/connection that catapults their careers and in this industry there's only one direction to move and that's up! I think I can do it. I just need to find my one experience. That's what I'm praying for.

Movie wall at TBS/TNT.

On Wednesday, right after my internship I was off to Beverly Hills to the Paley Center again but this time for the premiere of the new tv series Manhattan. I don't think I'll ever get over how cool it is to not only go to premieres but to see famous people. There was a reception beforehand and as we walked into one of the rooms to get free drinks as I looked around I realized there was a ton LOST relics and that's my show. Needless, to say I was sufficiently entertained even if the premiere had been canceled. Luckily I got the best of both worlds. The main person I was excited to see at this premiere was none other than Olivia Williams who's not only been in some Joe Wright (aka one of my favorite director's of all time) films but also played Jane Austen in BBC's Miss Austen's Regrets and Jane Fairfax in Emma. And after screening the pilot for a fantastic show that I'll definitely be following from week to week there was a gift table. One thing I will never turn down is free stuff. They were handing out gift bags with free shirts and boxes with mini, baby pies. Too cute!

Paley Center.

LOST relics.

John Locke's casket.

Remnants of Oceanic Flight 815.

We did some shopping in on Fairfax on Thursday after class. Shopping here is fun and a different experience, let's just say that. Also, shopping trips initiated by boys are sure to be interesting as well.

I've begun to look down as I walk because of the cool sidewalk art!

Saturday was the we had the Writer's Guild Workshop which was interesting. I was excited to hear from the writer of Castle which I'm pretty sure I'm the only one on this trip who was. I swear that show brings out my inner middle-aged stay at home mum. Who cares? I love it anyways! Afterwards, me and my roommates ventured to Fat Sal's for lunch. Yet another food outing that has left my life changed. The food was pricey but delicious. The amount/variety of things you can put on a sandwich makes its namesake well-deserved. Next time...I wanna try a Fat Shake.

Fat Sal's Glorious Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

Internship this past week was the same. I watched Youtube videos....so many Youtube videos and I continued my research. However, at the end of the week I got to sit in on a creative meeting that lasted over 2 hours during which we watched over 10 minutes of vine videos. Kind of perfect if you ask me, sitting in a conference room watching vine's on Youtube. That's our industry folks and it's pretty sweet.

Ended the week with another visit to my favorite neighborhood hipster church Mosaic. I wouldn't be me unless I gave Jesus a shout out on here and plus the lesson was really good. So here's what I got for you friends...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding... - Proverbs 3:5

Trust is an essential element to a relationship with God.
- If you don't trust people you won't trust God.
- And the prerequisite to a relationship with God is to say "yes" no matter what.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28

- God wants to move us from being a person to a people.

Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!" - Exodus 24:7
- Do and obey seems redundant but it's not an accident. Trusting the Lord before we understand.
- Literally meaning we will say "yes" and then understand. Order of do and obey is not an accident.

Last but not least remember to trust God no matter what...

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. - Job 13:15

Well that's all I got friends. Until next week...

P.S. Shout out to Zach who told me not to blog...in class (I didn't listen) and gave me verses to look up...in class. Thanks friend.

Guardians of the Galaxy//IMAX

A few weeks ago I heard that Marvel Studios would release 17 minutes of footage from Guardians of the Galaxy as part of an exclusive first-look event in 150 IMAX theaters across the U.S. and Canada.  And as I currently live in the city I do there were about a million theaters showing this exclusive first look. We chose the Chinese theater, which was an amazing experience in itself! The footage I saw was incredible and it slightly kills my soul a bit that our departure date and its release go hand in hand. But let's get technical for a second...after I watched the footage in IMAX, as part of their promotion, I thought about this marketing approach and I was impressed. Honestly, it was genius. This not only satisfied the fans hunger for more footage but also gave us a chance to experience the film in the most expensive format. Now that we've experienced "the best" the transition back to standard seems unlikely. I know I'm gonna see it in IMAX 3D after yesterday. So basically, we got a free treat in exchange for a hefty return on the non-existent investment. Well played higher powers that be, well played. I feel sufficiently manipulated, in the best possible sense (of course).


Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/guardians-galaxy-get-imax-preview-715415

Viral Plague//Teen Wolf

Let me first say that this week did not feel like a week at all...and it wasn't. I went to internship one day, toured the FOX lot, was out sick/stayed home for my second day of internship, toured the Teen Wolf set, went to Hermosa beach for the 4th, and topped of my weekend binging Teen Wolf and went to The Grove.

On my one and only day of internship I continued research and youtube video watching which resulted in my new found obsession with Scientology(I know...I have a problem) and got to experience the loveliness of food from a place called Cabbage Patch. I had a grilled veggie sandwich that changed my life, believe me. Plus, it's fun to say, "I ate a cabbage patch."

On Tuesday we went to the Fox lot which was pretty cool. We toured the lot and got a chance to see the Modern Family sound stage. The lot was super nice and I loved the murals on the side of each stage building! While, I've only seen a few episodes of Modern Family it was still neat to see the trickery of sets. Everything is smaller, the plants aren't real, and the fridges hold fake food. After our tour concluded we adjourned to the commissary to watch the World Cup. What an experience. Boys like their sports, they do....they do. Even though US lost I think it's pretty cool that I can say I watched the World Cup US 2014 game on the FOX lot. I mean, not many can say that, am I right?

FOX lot.

Seven Year Itch mural.

Modern Family set.

Wednesday was my sick day. I woke up an incubus of viral plague and called in sick to my second and final day of internship this week. And with a cup of Emergen-C I stayed home, slept, vegged, and watched a TON of free movies On Demand. In the end my sick day film list included: Jumper, In Time, bit of Avatar, my personal favorite Oblivion, Place Beyond the Pines, and Beasts of the Southern Wild. It was a good day.

Thursday, we went for a little set visit for Teen Wolf. This was a particularly new and unique experience because we got to see the behind the scenes offices. As we toured we got to see concept art, storyboards, floor plans, wardrobe trailers, and then the sound stage. While seeing all the cool sets I was impressed at the sheer size and scope, even though I had no idea what the locations were. After my tour I took this as the perfect opportunity to binge watch the show...and now some delayed fangirling is happening. Typical for me. I love how I was taking pictures of things I didn't know and now I'm recognizing things little by little as I watch and it's too much fun. Nothing like a set visit to put a binge watch in motion.

Teen Wolf art.

Stiles' jeep from Teen Wolf.

We rented a party bus to go to Hermosa and after a sparkly, hot, sweaty ride(the AC did not work) and hour long commute, we arrived. And there we stayed. The sun was hot, the water was cold, and the company was fun. Spent 5 bucks on a lunch that never came. Watched fireworks on the beach and a house performance that'll leave my life forever changed...pop music and celebrity impersonators. Guys, I saw "Miley Cyrus" and a wrecking ball! Life changed. The ride home was eventful. The party bus had a pole and let's just say there are things that I'll never unsee nor would I want to. It was a fun, weird 4th that's for sure.

Saturday I finally got to experience The Grove. Fountains with synchronized music and stores with high prices. It sure was a pretty place though.

The Grove.

Community//Yahoo

Yesterday, I first read on a not-so-reliable source that Community had been picked up for it's sixth season by Yahoo.com, which was a bit of a wild card. There was some dispute as to whether or not if it was true but then other reliable sites started to report on it too. I have to say (personally) I'm ecstatic! This show holds a very near and dear place in my heart as I too went to a community college prior to UGA. And while my experiences weren't nearly as exciting or unique, surprisingly, a lot of things about this show mirrored my experience in a special way. The show's pop-culture and film references, homages, and witty dialogue are a thing of beauty(I don't exaggerate). There are some references that I didn't even understand until I went to university, which is crazy since the show is about community college but I digress...

Community's cult following is the chief contributor to keeping this series alive.

In the article Joel McHale is quoted saying, " 'The reports of our cancelation have been greatly exaggerated.' — Mark Twain (The other version of this quote has been wrong for years). #SixSeasonsAndaMovie is real. Thank you Sony. Thank you Yahoo. Thank you Dan Harmon. And thank you to the greatest f%$#ing fans in the history of the human race. It’s the internet. We can swear now."

This series has been through a lot from characters leaving, schedule changes, and now the transition from television to internet. However, as a fan, it has been an incredible ride because of how much that has actually worked out even amidst all the drama. I think this transition and unique journey for this show will make history. It's sad when such good quality shows have to go through so much to get shown but the dedication to making this show happen makes it all worth while.

All I gotta say is #SixSeasonsandAMovie might be closer than we think....

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/community-returning-sixth-season-yahoo-715857