Life Update August 2013: New beginnings and things that never change

It has been almost a month since my last post and many things have happened since that time. This summer has been fantastic and I've learned many things about myself and where I need to go in life and how I can get there. Next week school will start again and while I will miss the pleasures of summer it's time to get back to work as there is much to be done. Our monuments project will pick up again as we still have to make brochures and then continue onto more museums and then onto more monuments. Now that I think about it I'm getting excited again! I love working with everyone and overall I'm excited about the road to come next year and by the end I hope to look back at everything I accomplished. Onward...

Michael

Summer 2013

It's summer. The wonderful time of the year filled with beautiful weather (for the most part) as well as water, pools, vacations, spending time with friends and the like. So far this summer I've been to my school's graduation as well as a few graduation parties. Afterwords I went to Smith Mountain Lake located in southwestern Virginia on vacation for a week. It was very relaxing and refreshing to spend a week there. Upon returning from the like life has been fairly bland for the most part and I've just spent my days in front of the computer watching YouTube videos. I really need something to do with my time and make it more productive. I want to try and finish all 120 episodes of Lost this summer but I don't want to do it all at once. I also miss all my friends. Most of my friends have graduated and have moved on with life and the ones that I do have left I miss very much and think back to the great times we have had...So for now summer is very bland and I wish I could do something more with my time. I know I have many things just over the horizon it's just a matter of them coming to me, or me going to them. There are a few things that I'm really excited about and some things and memories and events that are in the back of my mind that I miss very much and I wish I could relive them again soon....Things are changing.....

-Until Next Time
Michael

Fantastic Culminating Experience

Today put a good close on things. I was happy I had this last day. The day started out with breakfast at a pancake house which was really fun. It was really fun to eat with everyone for one last time (for this year at least) After that we went to this museum that I personally have never heard about before but it was pretty cool. Even thought there were some parts of the museum that could have been spiced up a little bit to say the least all that mattered was the fellowship that we had together. That's probably going to be the hardest part over the summer is not being able to have these experiences day in and day out. Sigh..But next year will be here before we know it and then will start this whole process all over again going up to DC and such. Soon.....(and I do need some time to rest and relax :-) All in all it was a great close to things and I'm glad we had all these great experiences over the past year. Everyone who was involved is amazing and I would not have worked with anyone else. :-) I can't wait until we do this again and from the looks of it summer we won't be completely distanced...:-)

Finishing out the school year.....
Michael

Wrapping up the year (Last Thoughts)

Wow. Just Wow. This year has been simply amazing. I've made so many memories and made some new amazing friends and overall just have had just an amazing year. Granted the year had it's shortcomings but overall it has just been fantastic. Today was the last day I had to be on a film shoot with the seniors on the tech team before they depart to go the beach. This was the last time I would see them before graduation and the last time we would be together to film this movie. It was really bittersweet knowing that I would not have these moments with these exact opportunities ever again. I really am going to miss all these memories that we have shared. I am ready for summer after Monday and ready to begin a new chapter and chart a new course. I love these memories we have had and I will cherish them forever and remember the times that we shared together knowing that those were once in a lifetime opportunities.

Until the end of the year....
-Michael

Washington DC Filming Wrap

It's a wrap! Over two months of production later and it has come to a close! I remember when these videos were just a thought and I was just thinking of the opportunity to do these videos and how awesome they would be...My expectations went through the roof. The experiences I had in Washington DC were better than my wildest dreams and I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend doing the videos with. To those of you who worked on the videos with me...Thank You. You guys are simply amazing and I love being with all of you. Now starts the editing process that of which includes a long editing sessions. But once the videos are done they will be worth it. All in all it was a great experience that was awesome beyond my wildest dreams!

-Michael

Update on Washington DC Film Project 5-11-13

It's been a while since I've last updated on the progress of these wonderful filming trips to Washington DC. The last time I updated was when I had just finished the first day of production. There has been so much done since then! Since that first shooting day on April 9, 2013 we have had one regular shooting day and then an overnight trip where we stayed in a hotel and did some filming at night as well as film two seperate memorials during the day. I have had the great opportunity of working with a great crew and spsnding time with some awesome people who have become some of my best freinds. This Thursday is our last day of shooting for this year and then next year we'll be continuing the project next year and I could not be more excited! Another plus side to that is that I get to have a very small class next year just comprised of the people that we have been filming with. I'm sad that the year is ending because I'm going to miss everryone but there are still some fun times to be had! Excited where all of this is leading!

Until Next Time!
-Michael

First Day Of Production Recap

Wow, it's been almost a week since the first day of production in Washington DC on the Monuments Memorials and Museums project. The shoot went well for the most part however I learned some things just from practical experiacnce. The first thing that I learned this that I need a proper crew to handle equiptment. I needed a dedicated boom operator as well as a reflector holder. This could have saved me in the long run. I had to fix multiple issues of the boom being in the shot as well as the reflector constantly blowing away. Lucky for me I was able to manage these things in post and everything turned out decent. For the next round of shooting this coming Tuesday I will have a full crew as well as I will have the tallent not stop and start as much as possible. I am learning many things and things are coming along nicely!
Until Next Time
-Michael

Off to Washington DC Again Tomorrow!

Tomorrow it begins! Tomorrow we begin principal photography on our series of videos involving the memorials in Washington DC. I'm really excited to be working with a great group of people to get the project done. Tomorrow we will be spening the day at the Jefferson Memorial getting B-Roll as well as getting shots of the tallent. I also hope to get footage of some other memorials that while we won't have tallent I can still get B-Roll. That is still to be determined. Anyway I'm really looking foward to the first day of production. The weather looks beautiful and I don't think I could have asked for a better day to film! I'll give an update tomorrow on how the shoot went.

-Michael

DC Film Project: Day 1

Today was a day of preliminary testing and walking around Washington D.C. Although not everyone in our group was able to come we did get many things accomplished like seeing the monuments and gathering information about them. I also got down some lists of shots that I liked and thought I could use. The weather was very cold but the four of us powered through and got many things done. Dispute those cold temperatures we were able to stick together and have lots of fun and fellowship with some of my best friends. I'm truly blessed to be apart of this project and I couldn't ask for a better crew to be working with. I can't wait for the next trip up there!

Until Next Time
-Michael

Doing The Right Thing Is Hard

Doing the right thing is sometimes one of the hardest things to do. However just because it is the hard thing doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. In this culture of always having to "fit in" and having to do something just because everyone is doing it. I would challenge people to chart their own course and make something for themselves. Don't worry about what your friends will think or how they respond because in actuality most likely they are doing the wrong thing. So I would challenge people to chart their own course and make informed decisions for your life based on common since and the things of honor and integrity and morals. Granted these things won't be popular at the time at which you make the right choice but will ultimately pay off in the long run.

Take Pride In Your Work

Recently in our culture I've noticed a trend in the way people work and how the work ethic has shifted from doing the best that you can do to doing things just to get by. I'm here to give you encouragement to take pride in the work that you do. For students I would encourage all of us to do our very best work not just for the fact that you should set your standards very high for your work but also that would go for life in general. For adults I would do the best in whatever job you have. Demand excellence in every aspect of your life from your relationships with others to your schoolwork to everything else in life. In this culture quality is hard to come by. By standing out and being something of quality and being someone who takes pride in their work you stand out to people in a good way so that people will look at you and say "look at the work and quality that the person has" you will stand out and it will lead to exceptional things down the road for your job and eventually your future wife or husband.

New Camera Slider!

I ordered this a couple of days ago and today it finally came! I shot this video today and I will say this is by far one of my favorite videos to date that I have done! Enjoy!