Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Working with Film: Advice for Women


Working in any business where you may be the odd one out, whether for gender, ethnicity, or religious views – it can be tough to assert your ideas, stay confident, and be delighted with the work you love. I am a recent college undergraduate in digital film and am working toward a masters in creative writing. My goal is to be a director and screenwriter because I love stories and I think they are an integral part of our lives. Being a woman in this business is not exactly the easiest task. In working with a business primarily run by men, women need to be careful so as to bring their world of ideas into one of the forerunner artistic mediums; if women are not rising to the call of film, then what ideas could be over shadowed? In production, easily the film crew could be working 16-18 hour shifts with one day off in the week. In these stressful work hours, people’s guards come down and sometimes the choices people make could end in terrible results: anger, depression, sexual harassment, and self-loathing. Women need to know how to work in this community while also remaining safe and knowing how to share their ideas with class.



Here’s a few suggestions on what to do if you find yourself in a film production:



1. Expect that men will flirt with you and that you need to set boundaries otherwise you may end up more of a joke than actually serious about your job.

2. Don’t let any uncomfortable advances toward you prevent you from your job and report this information to someone you can trust. You need to feel like you can do your job without being someone’s doll.

3. Be careful with how you present yourself. You don’t want to come off as the femi-nazi because no one will want to work with you and if you want to be the film tart, go ahead, but most likely you’ll lost the respect of many. You need to be serious and keep your head on straight while also enjoying what you do.

4. Be patient. Don’t tear into someone just because of an accident. Any unnecessary words on a film set can add more time to actually getting done and finally being able to sleep.

5. Be on your guard. You need to be conscious of what’s going on because many things on a set are dangerous including fires, heavy equipment in every direction, and sets with parts that are not finished – if you’re not paying attention, easily the objects of the set and the people can take advantage of you whether emotionally, physically, or mentally.

6. Communication is key so if there is something that needs to be said, think it over, talk to the person directly, and make sure everything is cleared before moving on. A tiff on a film set can be magnified to paramount size if not handled appropriately.

7. Try not to be intimidated. Jump in and help with whatever you can and don’t be afraid to ask questions. 

1.      



Friday, November 12, 2010

Come Home Flashy, Come Home.

My flash drive is missing. I'm not kidding. This is something I've dreaded for about, oh, I don't know, five years? It has everything from my freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior year. And I'm a writer.

My portfolio of work has greatly been diminished. So yes, I'm a little down. For a person who is generally pregnant on ideas -- it's like I've ultimately miscarried.

Terrible, I know. But if anything my friends, make sure to know what is precious to you and track it appropriately or it will fall victim to the big nasty world and you'll have no idea what sick person will take it into their hands and what they will do with it. Sure, this isn't a person missing, not a dog, or anything with a heartbeat. But it's my work. Surely it will turn up, right?

If not, let this be a post in remembrance of all the work I have done and to better years of writing and organization. I've written monologues about senile old women who think they're wolf trainers, time traveling high school students bent on resurrecting classical historical figures, papers on Metropolis and Lady Gaga, spec scripts for Psych and Glee, one full-length script and a short that I'm hoping to make happen this coming summer. Everything... lost. I spent all that time, and lost it.

Granted most of it has been graded and I should move on -- but wow.

Flash drive come home. Come home sooner than later.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Angela Aki -- Gift to Music

I just found the most divine song. I wish I was in fluent in Japanese; in fact, it is a tragedy that I can't understand it and am left with translation.

Angela Aki. A name musician with the most power I've seen in a long time. Her voice is an angel's. She can transition from different modes, tonalities, powers, and lyrics. I can't attest to how awesome her voice is. She is huge in Japan, and for a good reason. I love that she's here to be authentic. She doesn't dolly herself up to make fans and business spring; she is herself through and through. She has a story to tell. She believes in something huge and she sees people in such an adoring way. I am so thankful she is here with us for a time to share her sensational gift, her kindness, and my god, her voice.




I just listened to this and "The Death to Mortality."

Here's the English translation to "Requiem."


The last thing I saw was 2 bright headlamps from the opposite lane
In that night when it rained heavily
I lost my life just like that
I awoke to someone calling my name
It was a voice of unprecedented gentleness
“Open that crimson door in front of you
And cross over to this side” it said
“There’re some people I wish to bid farewell to
Can you grant me just a little bit more time?”
“In that case, let’s wait for one night only
This door closes for eternity tomorrow morning
So please take care”
After promising to return
The broken clock started to move
(Second Movement)
I broke the silence of the night
And returned back to earth
I have to bid farewell
Before dawn arrives
Travelling to where you are
“I’m coming to see you”
Returned to the hometown
With the nostalgic scenery I grew up with
I found mother lighting a candle silently, praying
“Mother, I’m home”
Mother goodbye
There’s a truth I’ve found only after accepting death
There are things I never said because I took them for granted
Not once, I could bring myself to say this
I could never find the words
Thank you for loving me, I am truly grateful
“Be well, Mother”
I have to bid farewell
Before dawn arrives
Travelling to where you are
I found you at the seashore
Tears flowing while gazing at the moon
“Oh, my lover”
My love goodbye
There’s a truth I’ve found only after accepting death
There are things I never said because I took them for granted
I could never bring this across well
That I found happiness having met you
Thank you for loving me, I am truly grateful
“Goodbye, my love”
If only I told you this, when I was still alive (repeat)
(Third Movement)
aeternam habeas requiem
(May you have eternal rest)
(Forth Movement)
With this, I came to the end of my journey
Finally pushing open that crimson door
I found, waiting for me, a huge silver ship
Waiting to take me for a ride into eternity

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fm20090227r1.html

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Bar Tending on Gig Salad

      

      Over the Halloween weekend, one of Gig Salad’s members proved what it takes to be a savvy businessman. In a situation that could have gone negatively for several people, Lawrence of Martini Express thought up of an innovative way to solve the problem tossed to him, and we here at Gig Salad would like to delve into this story, show you how a little customer service can make any company shine, and to remember that every client matters.
            The Story: The owner of Martini Express was contacted by a client via another website and everything was looking fine and dandy until she sent him her address – Chicago, Illinois – this would have been perfect, except that Lawrence resides in Rancho Cucamonga, California, a bit of a noble travel for a bar tender. What could have happened was that the lady planning this event in Chicago could have been left dry with a party of guests, and a nasty review could have been stamped onto the Martini Express profile. Instead, Lawrence opted for the professional outlook and used our website to find a bartender listed in Chicago to connect the earlier client with a service he knew he could trust. And there you have it, the lady from Chicago isn’t left stranded on Halloween, a Chicago bartender got a gig, and Martini Express didn’t catch any slack for being on the other side of the country. Now that’s what we call taking the right angle and making the most of an opportunity, for everyone.
In the below interview, the owner of Martini Express shares his insights with us here at Gig Salad on the above dilemma, on his work in bartending, and his feelings toward Gig Salad.

Interview:
Q: As with Gig Salad, what has your experience been with us and how has it helped you with bartending?

My experience has been very positive. Not only do I get 50% of my leads through Gig Salad, but the fact that I can get my reviews through a third party -- anyone can just make up their own reviews and post them on their website, but with Gig Salad it gives a sense of authenticity coming from my clients.

Q: In booking, what made you decide to help the client from Chicago?

As far as helping the client in Chicago, I understood she was not familiar with Gig Salad or was not familiar with searching for a reliable bartender. I knew that I could pull up Gig Salad, type in her zip code, and find a trustable bartender for her. She booked with me several weeks in advance, but she hadn’t given me an address to work with -- until two days before her party, which was in Chicago, Illinois. Being that I’m based in California, I couldn't attend her event.

After thinking over it awhile, I did a search on Gig Salad and found Sean Martinis Mobile Bar, I gave him a call, and found he was available due to an earlier cancellation he had. In the end, although I wasn't able to rebook for Halloween, the client from Chicago was not left empty handed for her guests. I figured it was only a gig on my side, but for her, this was an event. She wrote me back and thanked me for going out of my way and for helping in her dire, last minute situation. That alone was worth more to me than any fee I would have made that night.

Q: What brought you into pursuing bartending?

I went into bartending right out of the U.S. Army some twenty years ago, give or take fifteen years. No one wanted to hire me without any outside skills. I had a combat MOS and lacked any experience outside of warfare training. I was given a chance to bartend from an employment agency and jumped at it after being unemployed for over a month.

Q: What would you like to see with your career?

I'm happy now working for myself.  I had a unique idea as far as a mobile bartender service went, and after the recent recession hit... I went for it. I sold seven of my collectible guitars and purchased everything I needed to start my business. I'm happy just working gigs by myself, or with a few people that I can rely on, and I’m able to pay my bills. Maybe one day I would like to have a fleet of bars and trailers and people I could really rely on and grow my business, but I hold a high standard and for now, I attend every event myself to insure it runs smoothly and flawlessly. I strive to go above and beyond what the customer is expecting. If I don't blow them away with service, I haven't done my job.

Q: What do you like about Gig Salad?

I found Gig Salad and knew it had the right stuff, starting from the logo to the concept. It reminded me of the early days of eBay -- when no one knew about it. I was there, aka auctiontender... I sold Elvis Presley's bed.

I knew I had to get on board, Gig Salad was more than reasonably priced to use and was set up by people who knew what they were doing. There was a need for Gig Salad -- the name is even cool. There needed to be a place where people could hire true professionals in their industry as far as entertainment and service are concerned. So I'm sold, I have the license plate frame, I’m ordering the shirts and hats just to help get the name out there, and once the spark ignites, Gig Salad will be a wildfire, a common name in every household.

Q: What suggestions do you have for promoting strong customer relations, even with clients who may not end up using your service?

I couldn't improve on Gig Salad’s customer service, I mean you guys get back to me the same day if not the same hour with answers to any of my questions or concerns. In fact, when you sold out of the License plate frames, Steve (one of the founders) sent me his own personal one; you can't get better customer service, not today. It's partially to Gig Salad why doing what I do is so exciting. I feel I have a marketing partner that really cares about my needs.

Q:  As for helping the client from Chicago, what advice would you give for other clients searching for bartenders in their area?

As far as clients looking for professional entertainers or service personnel or anything gig related, there is nowhere else to go. It is all here. You could book a FULL CIRCUS including concessionaires if you wanted, where else can you do that?

Q: Do you have any further comments on this subject that you would like to add?

I have nothing really to add except my sincere gratitude for your existence. Thank you Gig Salad!



Monday, November 1, 2010

Failure?



Don't get me wrong, my distaste of failure runs deep. I'm having a hard time facing that word and realizing it is intertwined with success. Failure has a bit harder of a stench. I think we shouldn't be afraid of it, and we shouldn't let it conquer us. So what if you burnt a cake? Oh no, you played a flat note or two? And wow, someone stood you up?

Yes. It's not exactly the best of any situation. But don't let it consume you. There's other opportunities and in the end it is your choice on how you will translate the outcome of events -- was it really, honestly a failure? If things don't work, look for a solution. Things will fall a part, but try to see mistakes as opportunities, innovations, and a chance at humility.

None of us are perfect. And just as failure and success are intertwined, so are death and life and the meanings behind and within it. If you can only accept success, you're living in a dream world.

Failure.
Don't make it the end of you.

Illusion

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Starway Navigating

Clouds graze the skyline, buildings clutter up space, the ocean smells of waste, and everybody I know is buried underneath a clutter of internet jargon -- and now I'm searching through the highways of the deep underworlds of cyberhighways looking for those suppressed artisans, the talented at heart, and the dreamers. It's like digging up fossils, finding your method of preservation, and bringing it from the surface into clean air. I'm searching for people to connect them with places that will help launch their dreams, bring them to glory, and actually work in what their heart desires.


It's like reaching down into an abyss and trying to find as many lost lights as possible and bring them back into the night sky. Navigating through all the pollution, all the tricks, and all the frauds is no easy task. Finding and connecting people is a talent and one that builds over a series of years.


But through it all, I hope I can find a few stars hidden behind all these black holes.


Maybe gigsalad.com will be the way for you to be delivered from the piles of internet deluge.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Working at Gigsalad

It's a whole a new adventure in helping a company connect entertainment with the right venue. I've just started working here, and since I come from a fairly artistic background, I'm excited to see how I can help other talented individuals find the appropriate place for their dreams. I'm a skilled writer, musician, film entrepreneur, cake baker, novice photographer, and well, I just can't help but get my hands into the creative world.

I am just now figuring out what my role will be at gigsalad.com, but I've been hired for writing and marketing assistance. I hope to explore and come to a better understanding of all levels of entertainment, whether ballet, magic shows, florist work, puppetry, and caricature art. Clearly, this business is trying to open as many doors as possible for the creative at heart and I intend to use this blog to comment on the various crafts of the world from helping bands find the right venues to connecting Elvis impersonators to the right shows, festivals, and even films.

In a world that persists on online interaction, Gigsalad may be the next step in connecting talent with venue, a new type of networking both for those seeking a job and those needing to fill a space for creative development.

Peace, love & gigs

--Jennifer