I really hope Moviewatcher is a word...spell check says it isn't.

I've been putting this off because I feel like it will either be the longest blog ever, or I will feel like it's never finished because that's how movies are for me. In American culture, going to the movies is as regular as breathing, and yet it still manages to be a big deal. We go out of our way to make it happen with people that are important to us, or we, sometimes, go alone because some of us are addicts that may need to seek therapy... except film is my therapy...oops.

I can't remember what my first film was, but I do remember which one inspired thoughts of becoming a filmmaker. Man Without A Face (1993) directed by Mel Gibson. It was Gibson's first time directing, and it absolutely changed how I looked at movies forever. I, of course, was far too young to be able to see it in theaters, but I've watched it countless times since about the age of 9. It was the story, the acting, the film score, and a little later the directing that has made this the film I go back to again and again to remind me why I started down this road in the first place.

I've recently discovered that there are different kinds of moviegoers and moviewatchers (not sure if that's a word but by now it should be). There is the social moviegoer - a person of almost any age that calls up a bunch of friends and sort of uses the movies as a reason to hang out. Then there is the escapism moviegoer - teenage or above individual that watches a movie or goes to the movies to escape their reality for a couple of hours. There is the hopeless romantic moviegoer/moviewatcher - usually a girl or woman teenage or above that watches movies to take notes on how to find "The One." These, by the way, tend to be the ones that annoy me. There are the cult moviegoers/moviewatchers - people that watch movies to continue a previously started storyline such as Star Wars - Star Trek - Harry Potter - those sparkly vampire movies that make preteens act like those small dogs that bark at too high of a pitch, Chronicles of Narnia! and so on. The film critic moviegoer/moviewatcher has to be one of the easiest moviegoers to upset - all you have to say is "that was a pretty good movie" and then they turn into a tomato that finds a million things wrong with the film... usually the actors/actresses performance and their latest haircut. There is the film geek - people like myself who watch movies because a certain director, cinematographer, screenwriter, etc. is involved with the production of the film and they go to bask in the glory of their genius. They also tend to randomly say under their breath, "that was a fantastic shot."

I have been all of these at one point or another, and I still am. Movies serve all moviegoer needs...well maybe that's because they are moviegoers and they are going to the movies...hmmm so yeah...and of course all of we moviegoers watch movies because we want to feel something, and movies are always about relationships...about overcoming the odds... about love always conquering and evil always being defeated...well unless you watch No Country for Old Men...but anyways... I want to be a part of it all. We love stories because we love thinking about our own story and how it's being written. With film, stories can be experienced in a way that isn't like any other. By this I mean the theatre stage doesn't allow for close ups, cutaways, and dream montage. I think my story will be a pretty worthy one if I spend it telling other people's stories. Not just because everyone wants to be heard, but because there are a few that deserve to be heard above all others. These are the stories I want to tell... and I hope to tell them well.

"So tell yourself you can."

I could never be a teacher... or at least the kind of teacher that operates within a classroom setting... not because it isn't a rewarding and respectable job... because it is. It's because I have no patience whatsoever. If you've ever been in a car while I'm driving, I'm positive you've discovered this.

But teachers are amazing! I say this because I've been blessed with a few epic teachers/professors along my education journey. The great teachers are the ones that not only really teach you something within their subject area, but also inspire you to be something more than your current state.

They are usually easy to spot because they are the ones who sincerely love what they do. They look forward to walking in the classroom and changing at least one or two students before they walk back out. This may sound dramatic or idealistic, but I'm positive that all my favorite teachers were like this on some level... and I'm so thankful for them.

Sixth grade is one of those grades where everything and everyone around you is changing, and I was no exception. Thankfully there was Mr. Clanton. He taught social studies but even more than that he taught me how to believe in myself. He played chess with his students after class (sometimes during), and I never thought anyone would ever be able to beat him. I told him this one day, and he told me as long as I told myself that I couldn't then I wouldn't "so tell yourself you can." I was the first student to beat him, and now it doesn't seem like that big of a deal but then it was everything.

I personally believe that teachers aren't just there to make sure you memorize a bunch of details, but they're also there to help you discover something about yourself... about your talents and capabilities.

I have no interest in becoming a professional teacher, but I do have a great amount of respect for them. I know that even though graduating college is just a few months away, every teacher I've ever had, in and out of the classroom, is responsible to some degree. Thank You.

Me vs. Nature - All Meese shall be called George...

One day after I graduate Berry College, I want to pack my car with lots of shiny camping stuff - Ya' know the usual - a tent, a sleeping bag, food, matches, a hatchet, bug spray (because bugs are evil), and one of those nifty survival handbooks - and just start driving west.

I use to love hearing those stories about Native American boys that got sent out into the woods for weeks at a time to prove that they could be a man... and even though I have no interest in being a man I think the Natives had something there - humankind vs. nature. I think when someone does this they most definitely have to change or learn something about themselves. I've told a few friends this and they asked "wouldn't you want to take at least one person with you?" and I say "no! that defeats the entire purpose..."

I would go alone, and I would take a journal to document anything that I learned about myself. I would have the campfire and the wildlife to keep me company. I would probably have to take a cell phone so family and friends don't say annoying things like "I'm not going to let you go." Because then I would have to sneak and go - and that's annoying.

I've recently read Jack Kerouac's On The Road and his other book Big Sur - and these books fed the fire that had already been started when I was a child while reading Jack London's Call Of The Wild and Sea Wolf. There's something about Jacks taking on the world...

Of course all of this literary wonder was inspiring, but there is something definitely wrong with the entire picture... all of the protagonists are dudes...

My dad taught me how to navigate through woods, hunt, load and shoot a rifle, use a hatchet to gather firewood, and use a pocket knife to whittle down an end of a long stick or limb to cook food on. I grew up very close to woods and went hiking in them for the majority of my childhood. I really feel like I can do this.

I've always loved the idea of being out in the wild all alone, but I think now there's something else driving this growing need home... and that is - I don't feel like an adult. I have no idea why that would be other than I only live an hour away from home. I don't feel like I've actually transitioned from being a kid to being an adult who knows exactly who they are. I need to conquer something!!! And what's better than conquering or overcoming nature?

Nothing... that's what. I'm not sure how far I would go until I turned around... but something tells me I'd reach California and probably start heading north for Canada. Have you ever seen a moose? One of the strangest things I've ever seen... and I think it's a shame that the English language gave the goose the plural form "geese" but wouldn't give the moose his plural "meese"... it isn't fair so I call them meese to myself... and I name all animals I come in contact with George.

Summer Time... again.

Sooooo the last time I posted was last summer, and now that another summer has rolled around I guess I should update...

I graduate Berry College December 10th.

I am planning on going to grad school at FSU to get my masters in film production.

I am officially obsessed with watching movies and then discussing them in detail with anyone that doesn't get annoyed.

I still haven't tried everything on the Starbucks menu, and I feel like maybe I'm not being as adventerous as I should be...

I'm starting to think that my life is strangely similar to Johnny Cash's life - now that I've read his autobiography Cash - I have a list of reasons... not kidding.

Feeling sort of sad that I'm leaving Berry so soon (arrived August 2009) - am I missing out on the traditional college experience by graduating early? I'm saving myself a lot of money... which always cheers me up.

Death Cab For Cutie has been my favorite band for over two years now, and my best friend/ boyfriend bought me their new album today "Codes and Keys" - Ben Gibbard's lyrics just keep getting better and inspiring my own writing.

I've done a lot of filming since August of 2010, I've decided that it's definitely going to be a major part of my future. It captures life in a different way than my poetry - some might argue in a more powerful way (not sure about that yet).

Most of my friends are married or are getting married... very strange for me.

My driving still makes people pray - I think God gives kudos for that...

I know this isn't the total update so I will be posting again soon.

Summer Time

Well I have survived my first year at Berry College and was somehow convinced to stay on campus and work this summer even though I am not taking any classes. You would think one would want to depart from campus after being stuck here since August, but I actually surprise myself when I say, "I like it." Scratch that... I love Berry College. I think I love the campus because it is spacious, beautiful, and I can now walk to wherever I need to go since I escaped the castle for the summer. If I had went home, I would have had to look for some job that I know I would have hated and would not be getting as many hours as I am here.

I've decided that since I am taking any classes this summer, I will focus on personal goals... not that classes wouldn't be a personal goal... I think.

Goal one: work out 5 days a week.

Goal two: work on my screenplay... it's my baby.

Goal three: Explore Rome, GA as much as possible... afterall it will be my home for the next two years.

I think three is a good number for now... will update the list if anything exciting happens.

I have some new roommates for the summer... I should probably get to know them a bit as well.

The Perfect College Schedule

Rarely does a college student get the exact schedule that they want for a semester. If they get the classes that they want, then the classes are usually not at the time that they want. So I am very thankful that not only did I get all the classes that I wanted, but I also got them at the most perfect times of the day (for a college student anyway). I don't have to wake up before 8 am on any morning during the week, and my latest class is over by 3 pm. I have time in between classes to get started on homework, or goof off.

Hello World

I graduated high school this past May, and I am about to begin my fourth semester of college... not because I am one of those dual-enrolled, over-achievers that does way more than they should in order to enjoy life, but because I hated high school. High School was and still is viewed as something to check off the list so that I can say I am progressing in life like a normal, functional individual. So when I saw the opportunity to skip the senior year of high school and attend a community college instead, I was more than happy to look like one of those over-achieving pains.

Now I am attending Berry College in Rome, GA and I must say that the education process couldn't be more suited for someone like me. I love to learn, I need a set up schedule, being in a room with lots of books on any given subject tends to make me giddy, and I find professors to be rather interesting creatures. Another plus is that Berry College has the largest college campus in the world so I may indulge in my long hikes through unknown woods and secretly call myself an outdoors woman. Which would make most people I know laugh because I have an irrational fear of bugs buzzing around and maybe even "about" me. Living in a dorm with a room-mate seemed daunting at first, but I have settled into that nicely as well. My room-mate is highly OCD and needs for things to be a certain way while I am more of "it is what it is" sort of gal. So we get along perfectly in that it doesn't bother me that she constantly cleans and organizes, and it doesn't bother her that it doesn't bother me.

The most noticeable change in my behavior is that I am a bit of a Starbucks junkie now, and that I don't feel like I stop for anyone or anything until I drag myself to bed at two in the morning. I have told myself that this comes with the territory and for the most part it appears that this a theme among most college students. Other than the lack of sleep, missing old friends, and occasionally feeling homesick I am perfect for college. I have always wanted to say this but never felt it appropriate until now... Hello World.