The new guy...

...dances while he's asking me questions.

It's strange but also good for a laugh once he's gone.

Give me 16 millimeters of love...

So today I completed my first group project in my cinematography course. It was great. The class was split into 5 groups of 4 or 5 people. I gravitated toward the 4 kids who are "CCSF Film Students", figuring they have at least more understanding about what to do and wouldn't be all bitchy. Turns out, it was a good decision.

Some groups came back after last weekend telling us it took them 8 hours to shoot 4 setups. This just didn't make sense! What were they doing the whole time!? We weren't shooting to be artistic or anything, it was just to practice some rack focusing! Anyway...

My group started this morning around 9:30am. We did my shot first, which simply involved a couple guys on steps with a closeup shot of the guy at the top of the steps, then a tilt and quick focus on the guy at the bottom of the steps. It looked great and we moved on, it didn't take more than 20 mins. The same with the other shots we did. We were done by 11:30am.

Now we just have to wait about two weeks when they're going to be shown in class. Hopefully mine came out alright, it looked good and in focus through the viewfinder and mathematically everything was calculated alright. So, there shouldn't be a problem.

Maybe once we get a workprint I'll load it onto YouTube for everyone to gasp and awe to no end at my focus pulling skills.

Where was I?

I've recently started listening to a lot of Belle & Sebastian. I don't know how I've missed them until now, I was in high school when they broke out and listening to all types of music, and somehow they totally sneaked past my radar. They have elements of Syd Barrett, Elliott Smith & Cat Stevens and all things folk/rock. Listen to them, their new album is pretty good, but I've been listening to their 1997 album "If You're Feeling Sinister" the most :)

Tab...it's the new Red Bull

I was at the Big Apple grocery store at Polk & Clay yesterday checkin' out some of their choice goods, when in the refrigerated beverage aisle I suddenly saw a gleaming red can that just shouted at me "TAB!". I immediately looked down at the bottom shelf and there it was, a small, cylindrical can marked with the quintessential Tab logo with a plaid Tab red pattern covering the entire thing.



Words could not express the thrill and then confusion I felt when I inspected the can even more and saw a little green word "energy" below the logo. What? What is this? Energy? As if Tab alone wasn't enough to get me goin', they went and doubled their formula.

I've yet to have any for fear that I might get an aneurysm...the results will be in tomorrow.

You know you're from Concord if...

You know you're from Concord if...

- You remember when the "Staples" at Treat & Clayton was "Lucky"
- You remember when "Longs Drugs" on Treat was "PayLess"
- You remember when "TJ Maxx" on Clayton was "Alpha Beta" and next door was "Thrifty's" (with the cylinder scoop ice cream, mmm)
- You remember when the Dome Theatre was "Century Theatres" and used to show big budget films (Jurassic Park was awesome in that theatre)
- You know that "Taco Acapulco" (next door to McD's on Clayton) used to be "Taco Bell"
- You remember when "Nation's" on Clayton was a "Mel's"
- You know that the gas station across the street from Burger King has a pump that gives you more gas than you're really paying for.
- You've looked at those two water tanks above Turtle Creek, but have no idea how to get there.
- You've used the euphamism "White Trash Burger" or "Tweek Burger" when suggesting a trip to "1/4 lb. Big Burger"
- You've met and befriended Leslie or Tony at "Diablo Foods"
- "Diablo" is pronounced 'Die-a-blow'
- You remember that the gas station and Starbucks used to be empty lots, and a good place to do burnouts.
- You've made a late night purchase at the "Drive Thru Liquor"
- You've purchased Concord High sports gear at "Sports 4 All"
- You lived near De La Salle, but didn't know one person who actually went there.
- You had nightmares about the Naval Weapon Station being bombed.
- You've been excited upon seeing snow at the top of Mt. Diablo.
- You swore that Pittsburg and the Monument area were the worst ghettos you've ever seen.
- "Roller World" was the place to be on a Friday night
- Monte Gardens was nicknamed "Muddy Gutters", and you always spelled Wren Avenue wrong.
- Only the Latinos knew what "El Dorado" meant.
- Ygnacio is pronounced "Ig-nay-she-oh" in Ygnacio Valley Road.
- Walnut Creek is full of yuppies and Clayton is full of hicks
- You remember the ice skating rink and movie theatre at the Sun Valley Mall
- You remember when Sun Valley Mall used to have more class.
- You've bought a burger at Nation's, then gone to Jack in the Box for curly fries, then made a U-turn to 7-Eleven for a Super Big Gulp
- You've made a special trip to Clayton because that's where the closest Carl's Jr. is.
- You've had your hair cut by the old guys at "Hairs The Place" or "Holbrook Haircuts"
- You've seen that old bearded guy riding down Clayton Rd. in his "trike" motorcycle with all the flags on it.
- You've experienced the joy that is "Barney's Hickory Pit"
- The people living on the hills above Cowell Rd. were considered "Rich Folk"
- You remember the "Capri Theatre" (or "Crapi") before it was a church.
- "Park 'N Shop" was of no use to you until "Fry's Electronics" moved into the place where "Levitz" used to be.
- Cheese Zombies were possibly the greatest things you'd ever tasted.
- You were confounded by "The Spirit Poles"
- "Memory Lane" was the best place to buy baseball cards and old records.
- "Kasper's" had some pretty good hot dogs, but the "Hot Dog Palace" was where it's at.
- You've made it from Kirker Pass all the way to Galindo driving on Concord Blvd, without hitting a red light.
- You still wonder if there's anything in that water tower at the corner of Concord Blvd & Denkinger.
- The yearly carnival held in the Concord High parking lot is the best place in town to get shot.
- "Skipolini's Pizza" is the only valid reason to ever venture into downtown Clayton.
- You've gone to Buchanan Airfield at night and yelled at the top of your lungs.
- You've taken I-680 to go from Willow Pass Rd. to Monument Blvd.
- You've gone on a bike ride along the Contra Costa Canal
- You have no idea what "Contra Costa" means (and even if you do, you're saying it wrong like this "Cahntra Cahsta")
- You knew all about the Elks Lodge, but had never set foot inside.
- You thought "Peppermill" was a classy joint.
- During your driving test you had to take that one really tight corner at 15 mph, then you vowed never to take it that slow ever again.
- J.J. North's was the funnest place to go out to lunch with a huge group friends.
- You went to DVC right after high school and were instantly disgusted upon seeing all the same people.
- Your town's former mayor looked like a burned out Tammy Faye Baker. This is the former mayor:
- "Pixie Playland" was your favorite place as a little kid.
- Concord Little League was way better than that handicapped J.O.B.L.
- You played or cheered for Concord Cobras Youth Football and all your coaches were Raiders fans.
- "Matt's Game Exchange" used to be cool.
- You know to never park your car over night on Detroit Ave.
- You've seen Colfax St. go from a 2-way to a 1-way then back to a 2-way street.
- AgainWhat was with those "Spirit Poles"?
- "Water World USA" is the only way to remind people where your town is.
- "WCC: West Cape Cod" made you laugh until you cried, they were a local gang.
- You've been to Clayton Valley Bowlnuff said.
- You remember that dive "Bourbon Street" used to be called "Lindee's"
- You don't understand how the "T.R. Grill" stays in business.
- You remember the original "The Old Hangout", then the new "The Old Hangout" then new NEW "The Old Hangout"
- You've seen the "Eyeball" on Marsh Creek Road
- You've heard rumors about "legal drag races" goin' on every weekend somewhere down Marsh Creek Road.
- You've driven through downtown Martinez and said "This is really nice"
- You've been to the Saturday Flea Market at "Solano Drive-In"
- You've never actually gone to see a movie at the "Solano Drive-In"
- You thought you were gonna score at Cowell Pool
- You never knew about the ammunition explosion that took place at Port Chicago in 1944 and killed 300 people.
- As a kid, at night you saw the lights of the oil refineries and chemical plants and imagined you were living on another planet.
- You've witnessed that drawl the older Concord natives speak with.
- You've been to or have laughed at "The Singing Flag" for 4th of July
- You remember when Pleasant Hill's fireworks were impressive.
- Taking either Clayton Rd. or Concord Blvd when heading downtown was always a flip of the coin decision.
- You remember when the BART train's last stop was the Concord stop.
- You could go to Lyon's anytime during the weekend and find at least 20 people from school also eating there.
- "Memorial Hill" was a good place for a picnic, and a sunset.
- You swear you'll never move back