On the Mind

Isaiah 61:1-3 [In parts]

" ...the Lord hath^canointed me to ^dpreach ^egood tidings unto the ^fmeek; 

-^gbind up the brokenhearted

- ^bcomfort all that ^cmourn;

- ^hproclaim ⁱliberty to the ^jcaptives

-give unto them^abeauty for ashes

- ^bjoy for mourning

-praise for the spirit of heaviness;"

I choose to accept it.

Sunnnnnnnnnnday

Happy 1 year.

Happy 61 year.

I believe in sparkling eyes.

Some Gabba.

Bahahaha!

Oh cousin. 

"We Can Do Hard Things"

New household phrase. Constituted regularly.

Try it.

Why?

Because we CAN do hard things.

We can set up a Drive Inn movie event,

We can talk to really scary police officers,

We can make cardboard cutouts of people,

We can clean our ridiculously cluttered room,

We can screen-write and direct a fiction piece

We can compose, choreograph, dance, film and animate a french film,

We can log long interviews,

We can run 7 miles in one night,

We can work 30 hours a week,

We can learn statistics,

We can live through nightmares,

We can breath, thus, we can survive.

Inspired by this. Implemented by this. Held together by this.

Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?

The answer is yes, Louis, yes.

A city of romance.
Photo credit: Merk.

A city of music.

A city of poise.

A city of rebirth.

A city of mischief.

and more mischief.
Photo cred: Merk

Mercanbrack mischief.

You get the idea.

I believe in Louisiana.

Alden LeGrand (Buddy) Richards

"It is not easy carrying the name of a legend.

Let them be responsible for their own problems.... For this reason, I never attempted to rebel in the name of individuality. I will carry my name in pride and let others worry about their misinterpretations if they wish."

Papa's journal

January 1983

I believe in father figures and patient daddies.

Internship

I was SURE I wanted internship. I blocked off the time, I worked around a schedule, I budgeted out the expenses, I informed those who needed to be informed and then for some reason it still didn't work out.

In an ideal world, I would be settling into a nice studio apartment in either California or New York right about now, ready to start what I call "internship" at a great company. I prolonged graduation for this opportunity, I didn't commit to anything over the summer and I made sure I wouldn't get preggers until after the experience. Yet, somehow, I'm sitting here in my Provo apartment typing you that yes, I'm quite disappointed in myself.

I've loved the opportunities that have risen to take the place of internship but oh how I long to be doing what Bri Borup, Greg Barnes or even Ashley Moser get to do. I'm VERY happy for them but at the same time, wish I were sharing a similar experience and had one of those irresistible personalities. Most of all, I don't break commitments. It's not my personality. Guilt succumbs me. So I feel morally obligated to regretfully inform you that nobody wanted me this summer. Little do they know, I don't give up so easily.

HOLD UP! There are a plethora of reasons to celebrate.

I'm still lame but if I WERE in California, I wouldn't have all of this:
-A job I adore at the Motion Picture Studio
-A new spacious apartment
-As involved with our Louisiana project
-The time to make a United Way video
-A chance to finish animating Sophie
-Sleep
-Money
-A Fesler asleep on my bed


New plan:
Attempt to prolong graduation (again.) Either continue teaching film, attempt to be awesome in SFA, intern with Yo Gabs, get a non-student job (somewhere like Campaign for Real Beauty) or get pregnant with a beautiful baby boy named Elliot.

If none of those work out you can officially deem me boring forever.

I'll design the trophy.

You lived today, look at the progress we made.

Everybody is asleep. 

-Erika.

Taste of success.

Super Secret [Agent] Project

Unless you heard the pitch of my capstone idea, you probably have no idea what it's about.

And in some ways that is rightly so. 

I give the wishy washy answers when I tell people about it because the subject is quite delicate. Also, I find more people surprised that I'm a non-fiction student who is successfully shooting a documentary capstone. I don't know why that's unheard of but I can definitely see that it can be a daunting task to accomplish.


I've got to get over the secrecy though because capstones are supposed to show our peak of artistic expertise. Usually you flaunt your project; make websites, fan-pages, youtube trailers and have multiple screenings. But this isn't just any story. Real hearts were broken, families torn apart, regrets left to live with, ugly controversies to choose from and for a reason (that is beyond me,) God trusted me to document it.

It had to have been from a Supreme Power because He gave us intuition. Intuition recognizes authenticity which leads to an open heart. These ladies now trust me and I hold power that I can hardly handle. My next step is off a cliff. . . and all I can pray is to fly.

Slob

This morning Dave and I pledged to become ‘clean people.’ 

You know, the kind that apologizes when visitors come over and the guests really have no idea what we are referring to as dirty. Yep, future us. We are making this decision in part because it is due and nobody likes slobs. Plus, I don’t want to picture ourselves as the trailer-park-bearded-lady-crusted-ketchup-stains-on-the-hairy-belly people that come to mind when I think of the word slob. So wish us luck in our “Quest to Less Mess.”

I believe in fresh smells.

Pretty is not enough. Pretty is nice. It’s Fine. Pretty can turn heads, but beauty? Beauty can change the whole world. Pretty is what you are, but beauty is what you do with it. Pretty lifts the spirits; beauty makes them soar. So smile. Be bold. Show your beauty. When you put pretty into action, there’s no limit to what you can do. Be a force of beauty.

--Anonymous

Miss Provo 2006 is currently deciding on a quote to send out to all of the winners of the Miss Provo Pageant of the past 30 years (hoping to build the relationship between past winners and current contestants.) This quote is on her top 5 (and is the best in my opinion.) It is especially important for those who are so closely connected to their body image to have soft reminders that true beauty is worth more than the drastic dieting techniques.

Sophie

Scratching the surface of wacom drawing.

New Orleans Night Life

The pose at the end says so much about her.

I believe in smooth jazz.

Mignon

"Now, let me ask you a question. Because I watched some of your videos and I was really really impressed with the work and I don't know if it's your team or your school or what but some of the videos I saw are all around social justice and community development, is this what this program concentrates on?"-Mignon

"Where we come from, we're film students connected through a social entrepreneurship program. That helps link us with non-profit organization and provides the opportunities for us to do it with them."-Jennie

"That's it. Right there. That's it. I got it. So the partnership brings this piece in.
So, as film students, how interesting is that for you to be linked to non-profits and to see the kind of work non-profits do? Is that meaningful to you? More so than doing something not on this side?"-Mignon

"It gives us an opportunity to give back and so that's really rewarding too. That's why we're in film, because this is a very powerful medium and it gives these organizations a step up at the same time."-Lauren

"So you really are like us.
You're doing the same kind of work. You're just doing it through media. 
Right? That's great! Look at how you're telling these stories, you're putting them out there for anyone who might want to see them. Anyone will have access, that's fantastic. 
That's great. . .we have something in common."- Mignon

What a compliment BYU.

Why serve?

Let them feel as cool as they are, for once. 

BYU Experience changed my mind about a lot of things and the only payment I could do in return was try and make them a rockin' video. Watch at least 10 seconds, please. If you like it at all, would you please repost it? Or have a friend watch it? I ask only for a few reasons. . .

1. I needed a job and the offer for Y-serve needing a videographer was inspired. I have loved working with this company because it has prepared me for the work I want to do for the rest of my life.
2. Soon, you will see that my boss has gone the extra mile to make my family have an unforgettable experience. Just wait on this one. . .
3. This film not only is of my favorite event with Y-serve but it is my last film with them. Do it for Coco, do it for serving, do it for mankind.

I believe in authenticity.

Why You Should Run The Dirty Dash

The dirty dash is for all running levels. It's super intense if you want it to be or it's super casual and you can just have fun.
Each person from my office that decided to run had a good time, what else can you say that about?
The scenery is gorgeous.
Got kids? Bring em! Kids had just as much fun as the adults.
Fun yet not too dangerous. I was worried about Lizi's weak ankles but they are feelin' great!

There's my shout out. Peace out, yo!