Eclipse...Sweded

Here is our final for our TMA 105 class.  I was a little nervous because no one in my group seemed to be taking initiative, so I ended up writing the script with some collaborative changes once we started filming.  We did filmed it in about 8 hours and then Collin (the guy who plays Edward) edited over the weekend. Everyone did a fantastic job!  


Unofficial and probably spelled wrong credits:
Collin Barkdull: Edward
Kirsten Merrill: Bella, Alice
Kirsten's Husband (whoops): Jacob
Mark Heizer: Charlie
Emily Steffensen: Victoria
Ben Hawks: Victim
Special Appearance by Nick Dixon, our TA, as Jasper

Through Blue-Eyed Lenses

Here are some things I've seen mainly on campus.  I started taking pictures with my iPhone to practice composition.

This was CREEP-y in the HBLL

Action!

So part time nursing was officially too much.  I was doing 14 credit hours of film (which does not factor in all the time you need to spend on projects) plus 24 hours of nursing which took up my whole weekend.  I also had to pull a couple of night shifts.  It was too hard to maintain for where I want to be in my life right now.  So I've decided to save the working-woman until I have to and so now I am a full time film student.  Okay wait, I actually got referred to an editing job for independent study by a friend the same week I turned in my two week notice.  I had an interview and got hired the same day :)  So now I am a part time film editor too.  It is definitely a blessing and I will learn a lot.


My last shift was sad because my first patient passed away.  He was experiencing some respiratory distress and went on a bipap just to maintain an O2 sat of 89-92%.  It was a sweet experience because the family was able to prepare, but it was such a strange way to pause my nursing career.  I think I'm able to say that I did 8 months-which isn't great, but it's better than being a new grad.  I actually will miss the wound care dressing, IV placing, antibiotic hanging, TPN checking, Feeding tube replacing, Wound Vac troubleshooting, butt wiping, PICC line sterilizing, pill passing, IV flushing, foley inserting, and whatever surprise handling I did over these few months.  I wish I kept a better record of each shift's experiences, but there are definitely moments that stick in my mind.


So far this semester has been crazy but fun.  We got right into filming and so far I've done an action film, silent horror, a Swede of Eclipse, and a silent documentary.  In TMA 185, we are currently working on our final fiction films and our final documentaries.  I'll put the stuff online as soon as I can.

My Identity as a Filmmaker

My mother has exposed me to the older classics.  Through her, I gained an appreciation for black and white films and Old Hollywood actors.


My dad is more than willing to see any movie with me.  This has had an influence on my filmmaking because I have learned from tasting some bitter as well as the sweet.

This book was the first that I remember wanting to write a screenplay for it.  It is a darling book with tons of potential.  Fortunately, things get remade all the time because the film that is out now does not do the book justice.




My old acting coach, Rick Macy, I believe plays a role in how I view acting and film.  Because I recognized him in a church film when I was younger, I learned to appreciate the art of acting as well as the work required going into film.  One memorable experience was when we acted out the teacher's scene from the 6th Sense.

An episode of this TV show was filmed at my home when I was a little girl.  That was my first peek at what it was like behind the set and I loved it.  I remember there was hallway where the Angel reveals herself and how they set up the lighting.




Barbie World Tour  This clip may have inspired what I did with my dad's old camera when I was younger.  I did a lot of trick photography and stop motion.  Besides reverse footage and magic tricks, I filmed our Chihuahuas acting out a play and a full stop motion version of The Fly, as well as other short stories, with Barbies.








The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will always have an influence in my identify.  I want to incorporate that influence into my stories.  I would like to write films that use symbolism or include situations in which good principles may be taught.

My media exposure has included things as diverse as Bringing Up Baby to The Simpsons.  So far, I haven't seen many of the film recommendations from our professors, so I look forward to opening new doors.  I am attracted to period pieces, thought provoking dramas, romantic comedies, comedies, and well-rounded films such as Pirates of the Carribean.

Hair

Before

So I noticed my hair wasn't growing...nay, it appeared to be shortening!  So, I finally threw in the towel on hair-growing and decided to cut it off.  It turns out it wasn't so bad, but here is to being dramatic anyway.

After

So long sweet summer...

Work has been crazy, but good.  One day after a night shift in May, I woke up to a phone call and it was my supervisor.  She asked if I wanted to do day shift.  Groggily, I accepted, and I'm really happy that I did!  Although the days are much more hectic and packed full of zit-producing stress, I have learned so much more.  I've put in Foleys, changed central line dressings, started IVs, admitted patients, administered blood, changed wound vacs, performed dressing changes, and still have been able to draw some labs!  A couple of shifts ago, I even figured out there was some occult blood in some dark and stinky poop :)


So now the count down begins!  I'm all signed up for my fall classes and I just have to make the move at work.  Will they let me stay?  Or will I have to give it all up?  Other decisions such as where to live or what to do also hang in the air...


I had a film friend recommend a couple of movies that he thought I should watch before school.  Gattaca-interesting story, Once upon a Time in the West-pretty cinematography but super slow, and some Hitchcock films were included in his recommendations.  I still need to touch the Hitchcock, but so far so good.
The link below will take you to a video I was in from Quiet Dignity.  Some film people are in charge of it.
Segments from Junior High

On my Own

My Hospital

Last night was my first shift without a preceptor!  Whoever made assignments was nice to me because I got all my same patients back from the night I worked before, except for one.  That meant I only had 5 patients to look out for instead of 6.  I felt really good!  It was a slow night, besides my labs in the morning, (No one's PICC would draw so we had to poke most of my patients and my phlebotomy skills were failing me!) so my paper work was done and I was ready for report.  I think I gave one of the best shift reports too.  It felt good to be free!

After being up all night...

However, to mix things up, I received a call this afternoon that a day shift spot is open.  It will mess up the classes that I planned to take this summer, but since I probably would have been crazy for taking classes anyway, I accepted the position.  I'm nervous because day shift can get really crazy--but on the bright side; no more messy sleep schedule, one less patient, more people available to help, doctors on staff, more experience, and free nights  to hang out. On the downside, I'll have to miss church sometimes and I was starting to like the staff/routine of nights.


So I went into my last room to finish my rounding on the patients this morning and one middle aged guy was awake and sitting in his bed.  I talked to him a little bit and explained how the next shift would be coming in a half an hour.  He asked me to come over to the side of the bed, so I did, and he gave me a hug and kissed me on my cheek to say thank you (he sort of missed and got my neck, but I appreciated the gesture).  Although you could focus on the potential for germs, patients are people too, and it was a perfect ending to my first independent nursing shift. 


It is so beautiful when I drive home at 6:30 in the morning-It's weird to have to go to bed!