May 2008 - Posts

I know who I am, but who are you?
30 May 08 10:59 PM | Lin_See | 1 comment(s)

Internship Day 2:

Excuse me but I'm a little depressed right now...I just found out that the guy I'm basically working for is 3 YEARS YOUNGER than me...and so much farther in his career...

That kind of makes me sad...oh well, I guess that's how it goes...I just feel OLD...and I'm not...

Brianna and Matt got here....FINALLY....and amazingly we managed to cram all of our stuff in the room and still have room to live and breathe and sit and walk a little:

Yeah, so it's not so bad...we'll survive.

Today was the second day at my internship and while I still felt a little awkward because I don't really know everything yet, it was even better than the first day.  I do get a little frustrated and paranoid though because I'm not totally sure what I am supposed to be doing at all times and I want to do well.  I guess I just kind of wish I knew everything already, but I guess that comes in time.  In the meantime, here is the intern workspace:

 

That's our desk, and that's my computer, sandwiched between two printers.  It's small, but we don't really need much more, most of our time is not spent here.  Well, except when we're making copies.

And this is the "Intern Duty" list we posted above it to remind us what we are supposed to do.  It mostly says things like - Make Coffee, Keep Refrigerator stocked, Keep dishes cleaned up, Turn on Lights in the morning, Unlock Bathrooms, etc. etc.

 

And here is the door to the writer's room (I hope it's okay that I took pictures of it, I didn't ask, maybe I should have...oops...) I mostly get a kick out of the fact that they've labeled it "Situation Room."

Here's another one of the door, the copy machine where I spend a lot of time is to the right and to the left is 'The Room' and also Nick Wauters and Eric Wallace's office (they share one).

 

Anyway, those are just some pictures from inside.

Today I got to ride around in a golf cart again, this time Scott Sebert (my boss) took me through the backlot and we saw Wisteria Lane from 'Desperate Housewives' -- they were actually shooting there today, we didn't see any of it, but it's kind of cool knowing they were back there shooting.  

I also got to spend some time talking with both Scott and Ed Fowler, the Writer's Assistant about random industry things.  They kind of explained how writer's contracts work to me and told me about how the schedule works for writer's on tv shows, like they don't get hiatus like actors do.  And they told me different things they do when they aren't writing for the show, like if they get breaks and stuff and different ways they find to bring in money and pay their bills.  It was really interesting and they were so nice about answering my questions.  Everyone so far has just been really really nice especially when it comes to answering questions and just providing insight into the way things really work in the industry.

One really cool conversation I had today was with Thania St. John, one of the EP's on the show.  She asked me about my background and told me that she thought it was an "honor and a priviledge" that I came out here just for this internship.  I was like - Hellooooo, it's a freaking honor, priviledge, opportunity of a lifetime for me to be able to do this.  Then she asked me about my thesis/seminar paper that I'm working on for my master's and when I told her it was on product placement her eyes lit up! It was so cool, she was actually impressed that I was studying product placement and made sure to tell me about the big product placement deal on the show this season.  She told me to come to her office sometime and she would be happy to talk more about the deal and the way these kinds of deals work with me.  Awesome!

(Sorry, I would provide more details about the show etc. but I had to sign a confidentiality agreement so I can't, I don't want to get in trouble for telling things I'm not supposed to so if I'm overly general about some things, sorry)

I also got a chance to "proofread" an outline for an episode today.  John Herrerra the Script Coordinator, probably just out of pity or wanting to give me something to do so I felt useful, gave me an outline that had just been turned in and had me proof it typos and errors.  Um...there were TWO typos...ha! Oh well, it was fun and I DID feel useful when he asked me to do it, so everyone wins!

Wow, well, it just seems to keep getting better at least in terms of the internship.  Living situation is going fine, but poor Brianna, her internship seems to be falling through the cracks.  The guy at Warner Brothers basically told her he didn't have much for her to do, and that so SUCKS.  She is looking for more internships and I have faith she'll find something.  She's good, and she's a hard worker, that WB guy doesn't know what he's missing out on.

Well, it's been a long day (I went in at 9 and got off at 7 -- yessss!!) and I'm tired.  Tomorrow we may hit Santa Monica and Sunday, I think we may TRY to hit the premiere of 'Kung Fu Panda' SCADOOSH! 

Filed under: Intern, L.A., Backlot, Writer's Room

James Van Der Beek and them sisters from Sister, Sister...
28 May 08 08:10 PM | Lin_See | with no comments

Internship: Day 1

So far...so AWESOME.

Okay, so the verdict is still out on how I feel about living in L.A. (although, I do think living in a motel room with 3 other people may have some influence over that opinion).  I can definitely say, I absolutely love being on the lot at NBC/Universal.  It's like stepping into a completely different world.  The studio lot is actually it's own city, the size of which I am much more comfortable with than that of L.A.

That's my visitor pass. I actually get a REAL pass in a day or two when I turn in all of my paperwork.  It was pretty cool driving through the gate this morning.  It only took me about 35 minutes to get there, not a bad commute at all.  Although if you consider that it's only about 9 miles away, that may not actually be a great commute.  But I am definitely pretty confident with the freeways.  Or at least the 101, considering that in the 30 some odd hours and 6 or so trips I've made on the freeway since we got here, I don't think I've gone over 45 mph yet.  But the surface streets are a killer.  I hate them.  L.A. is not like other cities I've driven in.  The surface streets are insane, I really don't understand them.  And quite frankly, L.A., or rather Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, and Universal City (the places I've been so far) are just a giant jumbled mess to me.  I couldn't go anywhere if I wanted because I don't understand the way these businesses are or where they are, I see signs and buildings and doors, and yet....how do I get to them?

Okay, so driving through the gate was cool (yes, I am easily impressed), then I have to drive back to the Muddy Waters lot (I forgot to ask what Muddy Waters is) and to do this I have to drive past Amblin'.  Amblin' freaking Entertainment, except now, in addition to the Amblin' signs -- there's the GIANT gate sign for Dreamworks.  I'm sorry, but if I see Steven Spielberg someday out there I swear to God I will abandon my post and accost him....ha ha...okay that's not entirely sincere, although....

At any rate, back on the Muddy Waters lot this is where I go:

Yup, that's the trailer where the magic of Eureka happens.

And just behind it....

Okay, it's from my car so it's not a great pic, but that is part of the backlot which is where the Clocktower from Back to the Future is and a bunch of other stuff too. I'm sure I'll get to see more of it as the summer wears on.   Not only is that right behind the trailer, apparently they are shooting the '24' movie back there too.  Holy crap! Jack Bauer is mere feet away.

Okay, okay, I realize I sound like a total fangirl here, but come on, let's face it I'm just a kid from Missouri and all of this is new to me.  We all know I would never freak out and run up to famous people I saw on the lot, I am just not that brave or stupid.  I do want to do well at this internship.  But it was really cool to see them setting up for the MTV Movie Awards, walk through the post facility for both Eureka and Law and Order, see the Mystery Machine,  and see the trailers outside of where they are shooting Land of the Lost.  Apparently they are also shooting the TV show 'Life' around the lot too.  The Eureka trailer is right next to the accounting office for The Mummy 3 (or is it 4?).

So all in all, a pretty good day.  I may not end up loving L.A. itself, but I already love my internship and I already love just being there behind the scenes on the NBC/Universal lot.  It's amazing.

Total Drive Time Today: Approximately 1 and a half hours

Total Gas Cost so Far: Still around $350

Theme Song For the Day: Busting up a Starbucks by Mike Doughty
 

Point of no return, go forward in reverse...
27 May 08 08:44 PM | Lin_See | with no comments

Well, it's official.  I want to go home.

We got here 5 hours ago and I'm ready to go back home now.

This will last awhile, a week or two probably.

I have mastered the 101 though, so that's something (or rather, I think I have, tomorrow will be a real test).  Oh, but let me recap the day...

We drove from Kingman to Needles where we found our first over $4 gas:

 

Then we drove through the desert:

 

Then my "low coolant" light came on in my car and so we had to pull over at a rest stop somewhere in the middle of the desert so I could add coolant:

 

A few hours later we hit the 210, which wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be, from there we hit the 101, again not as scary as I thought it would be. Finding the hotel really wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be.  We are right on Ventura BLVD. in Sherman Oaks which really is not as glamorous as I'm sure we all thought it would be:

 

Okay, well let's just be honest, I don't think any of us had any false impressions about what we would get for $350.  But I thought the studios would be a little more...

I don't know.

Oh well, it only took me an hour to find the gate for my internship and I only got lost about 12 times.  I call that a success.

I am excited about starting tomorrow, but I'm nervous, very very nervous.  And nauseous.  I guess it will all pass.  The sooner the better.  I feel like I should feel more at home here, but I guess that's something that will come with time.

 Total Miles Today: 330 give or take 100

Total Gas Cost: Somewhere around $300

Current Theme Song: "Setting Forth" Eddie Vedder

Current Mood: HOMESICK!

 

Filed under: Sherman Oaks, Studios, Homesick

Here we go, life's waiting to begin....
26 May 08 10:29 PM | Lin_See | with no comments

I had planned a whole blog entry here, my first on this ole' MJF Internship blog, about being on the road to L.A., there were some Gilbert Grape references and comparisons planned, but then...

Well, then I suddenly found myself stranded on the side of I-40 at the Oklahoma/Texas state line.  Locked out of my car.  That's right, LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR.  How on Earth did you manage that Lindsey?

Oh my...

It's the kind of thing only I would do.  There I was, with my parents and my grandparents, and my friends voices all ringing in my head saying "Pull over and rest if you get tired!!" and well, yeah, I was tired.  My eyes were drooping and my legs were cramping.  There was nothing in sight, no exits coming up, no gas stations -- nothing.

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But at the state line between Texas and Oklahoma, the shoulder is very wide.  So I pulled over.  I got out of my car, leaving my keys in the ignition (the car was turned off thank God) I stretched and went around to the passenger side to gather up some trash and get it out of the front seat.   A couple of minutes stretching, waking myself up, and I'm ready to go -- I can make it the next 100 miles to Amarillo, no problem.

I shut the door and walk back around to the driver's side.  As soon as I put my hand on the driver's side handle I hear "CLICK" and all of the doors are locked.  My keys, my phone, everything locked safely inside.

PANIC!

I freaked a little, I had no idea what to do.  I'm standing there looking around trying to see if there is ANY thing nearby that I could walk to and ask for help -- NOTHING.  So I stand a little while longer thinking surely a sheriff or trooper will drive by.  Nothing.  No one stops, no police, nothing.  But I did have my bluetooth earpiece on.  My stupid, ridiculous earpiece that I HATE, actually saved me.

I started pressing buttons and finally it started ringing. I had no idea who I was calling until they picked up - it was Brianna.  A complicated series of phone calls gets me in touch with my parents who call the OK highway patrol and locate a locksmith 60 miles away.  Meanwhile, a nice couple from New Mexico have stopped to help me.  They head up the road a few miles to find a gas station and come back with the sheriff from Sayre, OK.  He's got a locksmith coming from 15 miles away, even better.

 I'm standing there with the sheriff, trucks and cars whizzing by mere feet away and this is what he says to me:

Sheriff: You're lucky none of these hillbillies came and messed with you.

Me: Um...yeah?

Sheriff: Have you seen 'The Hills Have Eyes?"

Me: No?

Sheriff: Well that's probably a good thing, that movie is here, this place, those hillbillies back over there (he points directly behind us).

Yeah, so at this point I'm thinking -- is this guy for real? Is he really the sheriff or is the sheriff's body stuffed in the trunk of his cruiser?  And I'm REALLY glad now that I didn't accept his offer to come sit in the cruiser with him.

Ultimately, I was in my car about 40 minutes later and back on the road. 

Road Lesson #1: NEVER leave your keys in the car for ANY reason.

Road Lesson #2: BEWARE of small town sheriffs...

In addition to being completely emotional about leaving home for the first time ever, and everything I've ever known, my nerves were completely shot by the end of the day yesterday from that fiasco.  Luckily, today went incredibly well, we made a quick stop early in the morning at Cadillac Ranch:

 

Then proceeded to drive 700 miles to Kingman, AZ where I am right now at a cheap hotel, that is surprisingly roomy and nice for the price:

 

Tomorrow, it's 348 miles to L.A. and then a practice drive to the studio before CRASHING for the night.  I am exhausted, who knew sitting in a car doing nothing really could be so tiring.  I am shaky, and swollen, and sore, and tired.  But it will all be worth it.

Total miles today: 700ish

Total Gas Cost: Somewhere around $250

Current Road Theme: 'Self Destructive Zone" by Drive By Truckers

Current Time: BED TIME!
 

 

Filed under: Arizona, Road Trip, Cadillac Ranch, Texas, New Mexico