I May Have Gotten My First Writer's Assistant Job Todayyyy!!

...that is all.

I've Got The Dreamer's Disease

So I'm in this twenty-something stage of life that is infamous for being so full of confusion and uncertainty.

As much as it may sometimes seem, I know I'm not alone in this struggle. I'd say most, if not all, of my friends are going through something similar. And I'd venture that anyone who had even the slightest ambition at my age has gone through it as well.

My personal story is this:

I just graduated from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree. I had an amazing college experience socially, educationally and financially. Meaning I had some of the best friends anyone could have, I enjoyed my major and had a passion for the things I was learning about and I was able to complete my degree without taking out a single student loan. I interned at some amazing companies and built up my resumé. I even studied abroad for a summer. Basically, if you asked me a year ago, I'd say that I could not have taken more advantage of my time at school.

The problem? I now want to switch career paths. I have always loved writing which is why I chose a career path in journalism. But earlier this year I realized my passion for writing was strongest when dealing with creative writing, particularly screenwriting. I always planned to go into screenwriting one day, I always thought it'd be a nice hobby on the side of an editorial position of a magazine. Now I feel differently. My goal is to be a staff writer on a TV show full time, write screenplays on the side and possibly freelance articles for a publication as well.

So that is my dilemma. I want more than anything to move into this film and TV industry even though I spent my entire college career preparing for a career in journalism.

So now what? I start all over? The networking, the dues paying, the unpaid interning... Ugh...

But I guess this is life. And I so want to follow my passion that I don't really mind. I'm attempting to look for things in and around Atlanta to get my foot in the door so I'm just really impatient and things aren't happening fast enough.

Living at home and not doing anything all day but job surfing is truly turning me into a bitch.

I'm also stressed because I'm not even sure of the path I should be taking to become a writer. I've done countless research on the internet and come to two conclusions: 1.) It's all about who you know 2.) Everyone pretty much takes there own path

Both points give me no advantage. I know almost no one in the film industry but after doing so much research I have decided to that for now my goal is to get on a set of some kind as a PA. From there try to become a writer's PA and then get on somewhere as a writer's assistant, then become a staff writer. In the meantime, write so many spec scripts and screenplays that if anyone should ever ask me for writing samples, I'll have plenty.

So I'm praying that some amazing opportunity presents itself and soon. And I'm praying that my faith, persistence and ambition will last until then...

Use it or Lose it, Right?

Isn't that what they say?

I find it necessary I start blogging again.

The motivation being many things; One of which being the fact I think not writing for the past few months has probably had a negative effect on my skills. (You wouldn't believe how long it took me to write that sentence.)

I figure if you don't use it, you lose it. This is going to sound ridiculous but I know there's truth to this because it's already happened to me once. Circa 2000, I was a pretty good singer. Ask my elementary school music teacher Mrs. (Ms.?) Parker. (I had zero knowledge on whether or not teachers were married back then.) Anyways, long story short, I used to have a fairly nice singing voice, now I don't. Like at all. I say that's because I never used my singing voice so I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen with my writing. Especially considering I want to make writing my profession.

So, I'm going to attempt to make writing more of a priority. Most post will probably read like diary entries, some possibly like film reviews, and maybe some will even be picture posts or pieces of screenplays I'm working on. We shall see. Stay tuned...

What is a "GLEE"?

I've recently fallen in love with the show Glee. 

Yep, four seasons in, I have finally jumped on this "gleek" bandwagon. My new passion for this show should be my guiltiest of guilty pleasures, but the more I watch it, the less I'm embarrassed.

Still, for all the looks I get when I tell people about my new favorite show, when I have Glee soundtracks blasting from my Volvo or why I have to be home by 9 on Thursdays, I feel I need to defend myself. So, as they say... this is for the haters.

The show defines itself as a comedy drama. And if it really isn't a perfect combination of the two, I don't know what is. (Okay, fine. I know I could name some but for the sake of this argument, please...) To start, the writing, which is the most important part of anything, is really good. In story lines and story arcs but also in dialogue. It's kind of smart and filled with what I can only assume must be musical and broadway puns that I don't always get; but it's also full of hilarious one liners, when delivered by Blaine, Kurt or Brittany, make an entire scene. 

Speaking of characters, all the actors are kind of amazing. Not including the girl who plays Tina Cohen Chang (sorry), they all have me believing in this world of McKinley High, full of the worst bullies, the most self-conscious teens and the most incredibly talented high school students you'll ever meet. Darren Criss, Chris Colfer and Lea Michele are probs the best, but truly they're all excellent. 

So I feel these aforementioned things are basics to keep an audience coming back to a show. Now, here are Glee's signature elements. The things that lead me to binge watch all three and a half seasons in two weeks...twice.

The show is silly in a way I haven't seen before in dramedies. It's kind of a ridiculous comedy. Sometimes events will take place causing me to roll my eyes or think "that wouldn't happen' but as soon as I do, there already making fun of themselves for it in some way. I love a show that can make fun of itself. 

Next, the singing and choreography. Absolutely at the center of my obsession. And this is something, I reluctantly understand, is not for everyone. For me, however, whenever the dialogue was slightly missing, or the one-liners weren't quite coming through, and I was just about to hit the "Back to Browse" button on Netflix, the Glee Club that is the New Directions, or even The Warblers, break out into an amazing rendition of a song I love or forgot I loved or didn't know I loved and I fall in love with the show all over again.

The music coordinators and composers on this show are nothing less than genius. And you might think I'm exaggerating but their talent needs no embellishment. The songs chosen play to strengths of the actors who sings the various parts. On top of that, they usually choose songs that play into the context of the show perfectly, making you wonder how that song could ever be about anything but these characters and the show.

You know that feeling you get when you're watching a TV show or movie, and something comes over you at some point that says you can let go and trust this movie or TV program to do what it needs to do. You don't have to be concerned that it's going to fumble the ball or disappoint you. It has your back and all you have to do is watch and enjoy. 

This is a rare feeling and almost unheard of in TV shows. Even more so on networks since requiring writers to put out 22 episodes regardless of what it does to a storyline has ruined some of the best shows. 

However, when I watch Glee, I am dangerously close to this feeling. I am not completely there yet, but I never thought I would be this close. 

The remainder of this season will be crucial. As is the problem with all TV shows based around high school students, eventually the characters have to graduate. This is what happened last season when half the cast graduated and went different ways. What they've done for the first part of this season has been admirable. They've managed now to get three of our graduates in one city (New York!) and some of the others hang around the school a lot for various plot points. And for the most part, it works. We get to split time between some new and old glee clubbers still at McKinley High. But we also get some of our old favorites in a new environment, facing new problems and dealing with different people. 

Now, it's clear they can't do this forever. After this season's graduating class, I'm pretty sure the audience won't care about the McKinley glee club at all. All of our favorites will have graduated. It'll be interesting to see what the writers do with it. But like I said, I'm really near throwing my hands up because I'm pretty sure/ extremely hoping that they will deliver whatever changes flawlessly. And I absolutely cannot wait. 

So, for those of you sleeping on Glee, you should check it out. Even if you don't like it, it's probably not for the reason you think. It really is something quite special. 

New York is not America...

So I've written about three blog posts in between this one and the last.

Ovi, I didn't post them. Things were/are just happening so fast here. When I type a blog, save it and attempt to publish it later, it no longer seems relevant.

So I plan to publish this one immediately.

This post will probably be a lot like word vomit. (Or if that grosses you out, my unedited stream of consciousness.)

I'm still trying to figure out the style of this blog. Viacom made us pretty much swear to not talk about cool things we see at work because you never know if the public is supposed to know that Emma Stone walked into the studio today (for example). So I guess this blog won't be like the one I had for France.

I don't know if this blog will be interesting if I just write about my life, sans cool work happenstances... but I guess I'll try.

Really this is a therapeutic thing for me anyways, right? Yeah, right. I'm a writer and all I want from life is to make people laugh through my words.

Moving right along...

Things are going well here... I got a job. Turns out living on top of a Forever 21 and across the street from an H&M and not shopping takes more self control than I could ever dream of having. So hopefully this job will allow me to have a little shopping change.

I now have roommates. They seem cool. One is reading 50 Shades right now and the other brought a shit-ton of movies with her when she came... So I'm pretty sure we can get along based off that alone. We also all watched the Emmy's last night...

Can I just say how jealous I get when I watch award shows. I just want to be in that entire world so badly... One dayyy...

Speaking of, I started a new screenplay the other day... I think I like where it's going. Not necessarily how slowly because if I was real, I'd be working on that right now and not writing here.

I always start screenplays and then they start to really suck and because I've always had to write them for classes, I could never just start over and stop working on them so I'm excited to see where this one will go without the pressure of a deadline or grade.

We'll see... Well I'll see, you probably won't because I share my screenplays with pretty much no one. It feels worse than standing naked in front of strangers. (which I don't make a habit of doing, just to be clear.)

I also think I officially decided I'm not going to grad school next year. To lock myself away for a month while in NY to study for the GRE when taking time off would probably strengthen my application anyway seems sinful.

My internship is going well. Well, on the work side of things...

I'm also meeting a lot of new girls at my job training so that's exciting. Still trying to make friends here.

Speaking of, my Kimmy came to visit me this past weekend. It was the most fun ever. Luff my bff.

Ummm... that's all I want to type for now. I's tired and I have work in the AM. I need to go grocery shopping.

Oi.

“The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.” ― John Updike

So, yeah, definitely NOT a true New Yorker. This place HAS to be some type of imaginary world because it's so far from anything I consider the norm...

I'm not exactly sure how I got here. One month ago, I was finishing up an internship in Atlanta, prepared to go back to school in the fall and graduate in December. I only had one class to take and planned on commuting the hour-long stretch down 78 twice a week. I need something to fill up my days so I was desperately seeking an internship to occupy the rest of my time (and boost my resumé while I was at it).

I was applying everywhere and just for kicks, I was even applying for internships in places like L.A. and New York. I assumed I wouldn't even be contacted and, for many, I wasn't. It's cool, I know you guys have family, friends and children of friends that you have to give internships to before you'll look at a stranger like me... nepotism is not a sin and I am not a hater I might be a little bitter, not gonna lie...

Anyways, a few companies did contact me for interviews and references and I gladly complied. Still, it wasn't looking very good and the school year was getting closer and closer. I knew companies were making selections, I just assumed I wasn't in the lucky few. I then get this email from a campus relations  coordinator at Viacom.

Hi Krystle,
I heard from Samantha in the Editorial department and they thought you were great and would like to offer you the internship for the fall! Congrats! Would you like to accept?

Umm, what? Of course I would like to accept. It's Viacom! But wait... you're in NY. I live in GA. You're offering me an unpaid internship, and I'm not a millionaire. Yeah, it seemed next to impossible and I guarantee you it would have been if I was not the daughter of two people that would literally find a way to move mountains for me without even thinking twice. I told my mom the good news about the internship even though I knew I'd probably have to decline the offer; it was still a proud moment for me. When I got home, my parents and I, semi-jokingly, threw around possible ways we could do this. Nothing was working out...

My best friend in the world was going to move to Philly in the fall. My parents were like,

"You can commute two hours everyday."

Next.

My father said he has a friend from college who has an apartment above their house in Harlem.

"But his son is staying there right now..."

Next.

My godmother (oh yes, we called in everyone for help), says she has a friend that rents her apartment...

"but it's being remodeled starting in September."

Next. Next. Next.

Options kept getting scratched off the list but the fact that my parents were entertaining the idea gave me hope. I began to google intern housing in New York and it turns out, there's this entire business niche for people that cater to students and interns that have to be in New York for short periods of time.

My hope began to rise again...

Looooong story short, I ended up in this place right in midtown, walking distance from where I have to work. I will be sharing the space with two other girls (who I've yet to meet so fingers crossed they're not crazy/filthy/rude/etc.)

Anyway, it's my first time being in New York for more than a four-day period so I'm anxious, nervous, excited and scared out of my mind all at the same time.

I figured I would be experiencing some very interesting (hopefully not too crazy) things during this four month period I'm here, so I thought I would blog about it.

Um... here goes?