I think I’ve allowed myself to be a little too whiny lately. By that I mean I’ve allowed all of the complaining I’ve been doing — internal and external — to become the excuses for not getting stuff done regarding my writing career. That’s not to say I don’t already have a writing career, but you know the one I’m talking about: my creative writing career. Being a copywriter is great and all. I mean, it sure beats customer service, right? But is it the thing I want to be doing for the rest of my life? Hardly. So that begs the question: Why aren’t I doing everything within my power to further the career I want?
That’s a good question and the answer is simple: I’m lazy, maybe even complacent. It certainly can’t be due to a lack of opportunity. Every other day, Buzzine sends me 30 story ideas. A hungry writer would jump all over all of them to get his or her name out there. But here I am with my nice apartment and five-mile commute to work and everything I need to get by. I don’t exactly have a fire lit under me.
Well, all that’s going to change.
I look back on my life and I see all of the missed opportunity and potential for success that I traded for inconsequential distractions. In many ways, I’ve squandered my 20s. I don’t want to look back on my 30s with even more regret. Buzzine is an awesome windfall for me. I’m going to immerse myself in everything it has to offer. With that said, the next three days are going to be very Los Angeles-heavy for me. Here’s what’s coming up for me:
Sunday, November 9: Behind the Camera Awards
From the media alert:
The Behind the Camera Awards pays tribute to the brilliant behind-the-scenes talent whose individual work contributes to the quality of a motion picture and to the lasting impression that it has on movie audiences. In honoring this group of individuals, the Behind the Camera Awards recognizes their creative contributions and ability to consistently enhance the movie-going experience and bring audiences back for more. Honorees will be director Kimberly Peirce, Stop Loss; producer Shauna Robertson, Pineapple Express; screenwriter Jenny Lumet, Rachel Getting Married; cinematographer, Wally Pfister, The Dark Knight; production designer Martin Laing, City of Ember; costume designer Albert Wolsky, Revolutionary Road; property master Russell Bobbitt,Iron Man; stunt choreographer Doug Coleman,Get Smart; special make-up effects, Drac Studios,The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; and film editor Jim Page,Eagle Eye.
A lot of celebrities are confirmed to be there, like Harrison Ford, Anne Hathaway and Ryan Phillippe. There’s also going to be a cocktail mixer beforehand and a dinner catered by Wolfgang Puck afterwards. When this came down the pipeline, it definitely got me excited, but it also filled me with trepidation. Full Disclosure: Celebrities make me nervous, but not in a starstruck kind of way. It’s more like the nervousness I get at job interviews. It’s the feeling of not being sure that your definition of the job applying for matches the definition of the potential employer. So when you start talking about the things you’ve done or what you bring to the company, it isn’t valid until the interviewer validates it. That’s how I feel when I talk to a celebrity as an entertainment journalist.
I don’t really know any other entertainment journalists, so I don’t really know how they behave. So I imagine that when I’m standing there, talking to Harrison Ford, I’ll be asking myself, “Do I seem like an entertainment journalist or do I seem like a fan?” Then, of course, there’s the panic when the conversation enters blank spots in my celebrity/movie knowledge. Ugh. Well, what can you do? This is how you learn.
Monday, November 10: Quantum of Solace Screening
I don’t have to do much here except drive out and see the movie. Buzzine already has a review ready to go and this screening opportunity is a professional courtesy of the film’s PR rep for my writing an article regarding the technology in movie. Here’s a link to my article titled “The Technology of Solace.” I know, it’s not the most clever title, but it gets the point across.
Tuesday, November 11: Shaun White Snowboarding Video Game Launch
If you’re a gamer, then you probably already know that The Flying Tomato is getting his own game. From the media alert:
In celebration of Ubisoft’s newest video game, Shaun White Snowboarding, Ubisoft, MTV, and Target will bring together celebrities and LA’s hottest VIPs to show off their gaming skills on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and the Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo. Shaun White Snowboarding is taking full advantage of the Wii Balance Board™ accessory and featuring its own unique storyline and a road-tripping adventure with Shaun White. Guests will enter a world of total freedom where they can create their own experience and choose when, where, how and who they want to ride with. Developed in close collaboration with Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White—the most successful snowboarder in the history of the sport—Shaun White Snowboarding is the next-generation game that redefines the action sport game. Open bar will be provided.
If you know me, then you know that I love video games. Even though I’m not a big console gamer anymore and even less of a sports-gamer, I think it’s important for me to cover as many video game events as I can for Buzzine since I’m the only writer on staff that’s into gaming. Plus, there’s gonna be a bunch of celebrities and one in particular that I’m interested in catching up with: Tatyana Ali. If you haven’t checked it out already, here’s my interview with her from 2004.
Plus, there’s an open bar. That’s worth the drive right there! 😉
Speaking of which, that’s probably the most daunting thing about the next three days: the drive. Tomorrow won’t be so bad, but Monday and Tuesday are going to be killer since I have to dash out to the west side and Hollywood to make media check-ins at 7 and 8. Sure, it seems like I’ll have plenty of time, but traffic into and through LA can be treacherous. Then you have to allow time to find parking and the walk from the parking lot, etc. Oh well, I’ll just have to suck it up.
I’m going to do my best to turn these articles around in one day, so if you happen to run into or call me over the next couple days and I’m all cranky, that’s because I haven’t slept. Fair warning. 🙁