write, graduate, write

I sliced my right pinky finger up really bad with a papercut the other day, and it's taking a long time to heal. Never knew papercuts could do so much damage. I was walking out of self defense class, and I reached in to grab my ringing cell phone when a handout for aerosol self-defense sprays scared the hell out of me. The reaction was quick, it felt like a black hole formed in my stomach taking my breath, all light, all good away. It bled so quickly! I was almost transfixed by it.

Ever since I got the cut, it's been really hard to write longhand. The band-aid hinders me from naturally forming my hand's writing stance which takes a semi-fist post when I'm really into what I'm writing, which is all the time. I knew then that if even one small thing like a papercut could bug me, could you imagine if my hand got cut off? I don't want to, but I considered it for a second: it would be so hard for me to write even begin to write. I could learn to write with my left, but it wouldn't be the same. I could type, but even then I feel my voice would be different. It's interesting to me that I do so much writing with my hand rather than my head.

There was a Cinema alumni panel yesterday that I didn't go to. Figured it would be equal parts helpful and depressing. Like the year before, and the year before that. All the advice was the same, and none of it applied to me. Anyway, Cat got a job, and she's telling me how everything's run at the studios where she works. That's been helpful. I will come to LA ready. I want the experience to shape me just as Paris made me who I am now. What am I supposed to become? To do? I'll figure this out in time. \

By the way, I found my graduation dress:
I think it's cute and old-timey. It's coming in the mail. If I don't like it, I'll have to look some more.

Napa Day Trip

My good friend Stacy is leaving in a couple of weeks to work at the Cannes Film Festival, so as a graduation/bon voyage gift, I took her on a day trip to Napa Valley. Which is fitting since we saw Francis Ford Coppola speak, and she was the one that really got me my seat and ticket. Coppola talked about how his day job as a winery owner has really helped get his personal films made, and that if we want our own films to be made, we should get day jobs.

So this past Tuesday, I surprised Stacy by telling her that we'll go to the Rubicon Winery in Rutherford to visit Coppola's winery. It was originally the Niebaum, and then the Niebaum-Coppola when Coppola bought it, but now it's the Rubicon.

It was a beautiful drive, and when we got there we had just missed the tour by 10 minutes and the next one would be an hour or so later. We decided that if we were planning on drinking, we better get some food first. The lady at the desk was so nice, and she recommended a restaurant that sounded really expensive. It was across the street, but she really made a point for me not to cross the highway since there have been so many accidents. She told me where to go to make a safe U-turn. It was really caring of her to be so insistent.

Opting to save our money though, we drove down the highway and closer to town to eat at Taylor's Automatic Refresher. Their burgers and fries are so good. They use these spongy yellow buns for their burgers. Mmmm. Stacy is Chinese and from the Midwest, so it kind of gets her upset when she doesn't see Asian people like us around. It made her so happy when she saw a Japanese couple come to Taylor's, haha.

We chilled there for a bit, then headed back to the winery. We looked at all the artifacts before our tour started, mostly film stuff in the main lobby like zoetropes, magic lanterns, and even Carmine Coppola's Oscar from TThe Godfather II!
For the tour, it was only me and Stacy and our guide Ken. At first we thought we were late for the tour, but they just thought no arrived yet! Pretty cool that we beat the crowds and got our own personal tour guide. The cost for the tasting and tour is $25 and that includes 5 tastings and access to the museum part of the Rubicon estate. You get this "passport" looking guide that has some of the history and a section where you can write about the wines you tasted.

Ken took us to this giant room filled with large barrels and told us about the history of the estate starting with Gustave Niebaum. He then showed us some of the grounds and even pointed out where Coppola lives when he's here. We told him we were film students, so he was really into talking about Coppola. He even said his son was a film student at one time, but decided to go to culinary school.

Ken dropped us off at the tasting bar where there were some people there, and he said that if we wanted we could go to Mamarella's--the other bar at the end of the mansion. We said we'd stop by. Jennifer was our wine server, and she was so nice and sweet. She told us about all of the wines and was really talkative. I guess because we were super talkative and all the other couples were just into drinking. Stacy told her we were film students and she said that the people who work here have a inside joke because Coppola bought a section of the estate after The Godfather II and the remaining estate after he made Bram Stoker's Dracula. So the ongoing joke is that he bought this place with "blood money".

These are the wines we tried:
1. Captain's Reserve Chardonnay 2007 ($30/bottle)
2. Captain's Reserve Pinot Noir 2006 ($38/bottle)
3. Captain's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($52/bottle)
4. CASK Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($75/bottle)
5. Rubicon 2005 ($145/bottle)

I'm not a wine snob, and I've always didn't care about the price reflecting the wine, but OH. MY. GOD. That Rubicon at $145/bottle was AMAZING. Me and Stacy just looked at each other speechless and Jennifer who was there to read our reactions just smiled. It wasn't tannic, and it was full-bodied and rich. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. At that moment I realized what a beautiful thing wine is. It hit me then and there and really opened my eyes. Like tea, it has a rich history dating before Christ, and I've always loved things with history. God, I'll never forget that wine. When I get some extra money somehow, I'm splurging on a bottle of Rubicon 2005. I read a little about it later, but supposedly 2005 was a very good year.

Jennifer recommended we try some of the Sofia wines since they're best cold and it's such a hot day. We went to Mamarella's to see Ken, and he was there behind the bar. He immediately took out 2 cold wine glasses and poured us some Sofia Blanc de Blancs which is a sparkling white wine named after Coppola's daughter, Sofia. He said he was sorry that he didn't think anyone showed up for the tour and for making us wait. We only waited 5 minutes, not that bad, but we accepted the free glass of wine anyway. It was really nice of him. We talked a bit, and learned that Ken's kids were in a scene in Mrs. Doubtfire! They were the two Asian boys who watch Robin Williams change disguises for the social worker from across the street, haha. I remember that scene perfectly. The bar soon got crowded with a large group, so we went outside and sat and talked. Stacy calculated that we drank 3 glasses of wine each! So we stayed and talked and drank water and just enjoyed they weather until I was okay to drive.

All in all, what a great time! After this experience, wine will never be the same to me again. It was like watching Sideways with a new pair of eyes. I think I appreciate wine more than ever.

Coppola on Everything Cinema

So Tuesday was probably the best day of the semester EVER. Francis Ford Coppola came to speak at our school, and guess who was second in line to get into the theater. MOI! Thanks to my good friend, Stacy, who was first, I actually cut in line. But I don't care. I usually am good about that stuff, being fair, but I'm letting this one time go.

We sat second row center. When he came out, he was greeted with much applause and a standing ovation. He wore a gray suit and light orange button down shirt, and when he sat, you could see his orange socks. Lovely. I was pretty much face to face with the man, and sometimes he'd make eye contact with me which was AMAZING, it was like he was giving advice only to me, haha.

Besides being one of the greatest directors of our time, he is funny, humble, and so amazingly down to earth. He was brutally honest about the state of cinema today: the crossing over from film to digital; independent film; the hardships of financing. He also gave some great advice on writing and directing. I think my favorite bits where the stories he told about his screentest with Marlon Brando, working in San Francisco, and his childhood. Hearing him speak was like listening to an older and much wiser person giving you advice on your future.

I sat there, letting it all in and furiously scribbling in notes and quotes into my notebook. I think he noticed. I think the quote I liked best that I scribbled down was the one he ended his talk with:

It’s not worth thinking if you have talent. You have passion; you do what you love. It will take care of itself. Do beautiful things. If you do beautiful things, money will come, it will follow.

Coppola coming in and speaking could not have come at a better time what with my graduation around the corner.

time to breathe

Things have been getting crazy. Classes feel like they're winding down, and before I attack a paper and a take-home midterm due on Thursday, I wanted to write.

Easter weekend was great, I went to Tilden Park in the east bay for my nephew' 1st birthday. He's adorable. Looks like baby Orlando Bloom. Ate loads of delicious food. I was also given ONE job: hide the Easter eggs.

Turn out I hid all the eggs on a hill infested with poison oak. Woops. Nobody got it, but a lot of kids were upset when they found out they couldn't have even more sugar in their bodies. YOU'RE WELCOME, PARENTS.

I've been walking a lot, specifically in this area where LOADS of people walk dogs. Even canine rescue centers take their dogs there, so you'll see one person walking as much as 10 dogs. It's really hilly and pretty, a great walk, and plus I get to see all the dogs!! I really want a dog, preferably one from a shelter. Anyway, this will do since some dogs come up to me and say hi. One time, this one dog thought I was his owner! I kind of looked like her, and we had the same built. He realized I wasn't her, and he ran away, haha.

Today's a really cool day because Francis Ford Coppola is speaking at my school. WOW! I'm getting there early. Next week, Disney ABC is doing a presentation for internships at my school. If I could land something at Disney, who's based in Burbank, that would be great. Kuya told me I could live at his house in Northridge which is close, and I won't have to deal with a huge commute to my parents' house near Orange County. That would be perfection.

I've been talking to people who are ready to graduate, and everyone has some sort of plan that's pretty laid out, whether it's moving to another city to find work, leave the country to work abroad, or apply for grad school. My plan is pretty similar with Susie's: Find whatever job that will support ourselves and let us have our weekends to do the things we want, learn from the job, and make decisions from there.

I've found that I'm not good at long range planning, but I more comfortable with planning (or having an idea of a plan) for the next couple of months and having a framework of goals within that year or so. My friend Stacy has the next 3 years already planned. I can't look that far. I guess my goal is to be able to sustain myself, be happy, have time for the family and friends, and do work that I love.

update: returning to nature

Sorry it's been a long time. Remember how I used to update daily on my Paris blog? That was certainly a different era.

So this whole camping trip in a couple of weeks has got me thinking how much I really want to get back into nature. During break, I asked Kuya to take me to REI so I can get fitted with some decent hiking boots. I even got a lifetime membership there. I got the Merrell Sirens, and they're super comfy and light.

Yesterday, I went on a very basic, level 1 hike at Lands End. I use the word "hike" loosely because there were people there "hiking" in Converses which have no support at all. I LOVED it. There were people out walking their dogs--there was this huge, adventurous German Shepherd going up inclines even I wouldn't dare do--and it was beautiful and sunny, and it was just probably one of the most favorite things I've done in this city which is not saying much since I haven't done too much here.

Anyway, I'm super stoked for camping and for hiking longer and more challenging trails. I even bought a California hiking trails guide book. Didn't realize there were so many trails!

Currently waiting to hear back on some film internships for the summer. Wish me luck!