Category: Activities

Jason: Docs, Concerts, and Skiing Down Comm Ave

Can you guys believe it’s already almost March? I feel like time is flying!

So I promised I’d tell you all about the project I’m working on. A few weeks ago I began work on a new documentary. Over the next four months I’ll be following Boston University student and musician Peter Hung. Peter is an international student from Taiwan and soon to be BU graduate, who is spending the next four months on his  final attempt to land a record deal with his band Surefire before his visa expires 30 days after graduation. This project is extremely exciting because Peter is risking his ability to stay in this country, but also the respect and financial support of his family.

I’ve already filmed a ton of material including Peter’s comeback concert last Saturday. My team and I had a three camera set up: an overhead of the crowd and stage, one on stage toward the crowd, and another at Peter and the band. That was my first multi camera shoot and it went great- and more importantly the footage looks awesome. I’m working on the website and first teaser video now, and let me tell you: this plus my three classes- I’m definitely keeping myself busy.

Bad news is Lady Gaga got hurt and needs surgery so that concert won’t be happening. Good news is Matchbox Twenty is next weekend and I’ll get to go home to Connecticut for the weekend so I’m looking forward to that.

I hope you guys checked out the last COMlife episode! I ski down Commonwealth Avenue so that makes the entire episode worth watching. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWtKXiahWp8

How is your second semester going? For the seniors, I hope the stress of college selection has calmed down a bit. And for the juniors- get ready for some fun times!

As always, let me know if you have any questions about anything!

 

Kaitlin: Finding Me at BU

When I first came to BU, I wanted to be a broadcast journalist.  This dream came from years of being editor of my high school newspaper, and wanting to “spice it up a little” with lights, sounds, and video.  I imagined myself studying for hours on end how to be the best. I thought about those really intense classes where the professor tells the students that they have 45 minutes to go outside and write, record, and produce a story that could go on air.  I envisioned taking my career to the Air Force and becoming the best damn broadcast journalist they’ve ever seen.  I wanted to be there.

Then the worst happened.

I went on air for my first time with BUTV and absolutely hated it.  I hated the idea of having to get my hair to look perfect on camera and wearing more make up than I’m comfortable with and making sure the color of my shirt didn’t fade into the green screen.  So, I had to figure out what the hell I was going to do.

I didn’t know too much about public relations, but what I did learn from my COM 101 class, I loved.  I was particularly drawn to the idea of working in the music/entertainment industry.  Who wouldn’t want to follow around their favorite band for the sole purpose of making them look good?  After a meeting with my very own COM Ambassador who gave me a little more information on my perspective major-change, I decided to do it.

Over the course of a few hours, I became a PR major.

This was really exciting for me.  I joined BU’s awesome section of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and did a really awesome job with it.  I learned a ton about what it means to be in the PR field, even before taking any PR-centric classes.

My favorite thing about PR was the social media aspect.  By watching intently my junior and senior friends, I started to pick up really quickly how to be an effective presence online.  My Twitter bio changed to include my aspiration to be a PR professional, I found myself making tons of connections on LinkedIn, and yes, I even got a Facebook after refusing to do so for a while.

In a way, I became obsessed with it.  I found myself celebrating each and every like or new follower I got, to the point that it started taking over.  I don’t think this is necessarily a negative thing, maybe because it still kind of does rule my world, but I’ve certainly recognized that over the past few years my online obsession transformed quite a bit.

I noticed this the other day when I went to my Twitter page.  I noticed that my bio still included information about me being the Vice President of Public Relations at BUPRSSA, a position I passed down at the end of last year.  I started to evaluate why I decided to step down from this position, and from PRSSA in general, and it became glaringly obvious to me.

No longer did I care about retweeting about the latest in mobile technology, or connecting with the top agencies on the web, or writing posts about how to effectively manage your social media profiles.  Those things seemed so boring to me, and without really noticing, I started to pay more attention to the things I was really drawn to.  Now, if you look at every single page I manage, they include posts on yoga or healthy eating or recovery.

I certainly don’t see this change as one that demonstrates disinterest in PR or ingratitude for the Student Society.  In fact, I attribute all of my success online to everything I’ve learned on my PR journey so far.  There’s no way I would’ve been known as a “yoga and health guru” or been able to grow my blog following to thousands of people without the things I learned in PRSSA and my classes at BU.

It took a little while to really find my place, but I’m certain that I have.  I’ve found deep passion in the things I’ve learned here in Boston, which I can bet is a serious goal for each and every one of the professors we cross paths with.  There’s going to be humps in the road, plenty of them in fact, but don’t look at them as mountains you won’t be able to climb.  Instead, try to see them as speed bumps, there for control and safety in getting you where you really need to go.

Tom: Traveling All Around Europe for Dummies

Hello all! And “Cheers” from across the Atlantic, where I am studying abroad at BU’s London Internship Program. I arrived in London a little under two months ago and have been having the time of my life: from taking in all the culture and theater London has to offer, along with getting to travel around Europe on the weekends!

Now the thought of traveling around Europe and studying abroad can seem daunting but with a few tips, you can make travelling around Europe easy and seamless (and most importantly… cheap). This is precisely why I have titled this short guide: Travelling Around Europe for Dummies.

Plan, Plan, PLAN.

  • When choosing to go to a specific city, make sure you know what you want to do and how long you want to stay there. As a travel tip, get together with your travel companions the day before to plot out what you want to do and how you are going to navigate the city (walking, metro, bus, etc.). Also make sure your hostel (the cheapest and best way to book places to stay) is near all the major sights.

Pick your travel buddies carefully

  • When you are choosing to book a trip with a group of friends, make sure everyone is on the same page with what you want to do. I was lucky enough to have great companions for all the trips I’ve been on so far – but some other friends were not as lucky on other trips.

Make a Checklist… But be flexible

  • The greatest suggestion I have for travelling is to make a checklist for everything you want to do. For example, when I went to Paris, some of the things on my checklist were “See the Eiffel Tower, Visit the Louvre, Eat a Crepe, and buy a Baguette.” Make sure you allot enough time to do everything, but also be flexible.Some of the greatest things you’ll do abroad will happen spontaneously (such as when I found the beach in Barcelona or stumbled onto a parade in Paris).

No matter what happens… Stay Positive

  • No matter what may happen, always stay positive and remember you are having a once-in-a-lifetime chance to travel. Many people don’t get the opportunity to gallivant around Europe like BU Study Abroad students, so take in everything that the cities have to offer and don’t get worried if you don’t do “everything”.

Those are my top tips for travelling which have been helpful in my weekend trips to Paris, Barcelona, and Cardiff. I’m looking forward to the rest of the semester travelling to Rome, Venice, Dublin, Prague, and more! (and of course, getting to find all the hidden gems of London).

Thinking about going abroad? Shoot me an email (tschrank@bu.edu) and I’ll offer you plenty of tips and advice.

Cheers,

Tom

 

Lauren: Why Every College Student Should Have a Pinterest Page

Pinterest has been taking the world by storm, becoming one of the fastest-growing social media sites.  Users can create visual boards and upload their own images or “re-pin,” pictures from other users.  I’ve found so much inspiration while browsing through Pinterest and have collected so many great tips and suggestions!  Every college student should take time to find their own inspiration from Pinterest.  Look for:

1. Dorm room design ideas

Give your dorm room a makeover with ideas from Pinterest!  They have tons of organizational tips and great DIY crafts that you can complete on a budget.  How perfect for college students!  Take a look at this board from USA Today for inspiration!

http://pinterest.com/usatodaycollege/creative-dorm-rooms/

2. Food recipes

With so many drool-worthy pictures of food on Pinterest, you’ll stomach will be growling before you know it!  Pinterest contains lots of delicious, super easy recipes.  They even have quick snacks that you can make without using an oven or stove!  Give your taste buds a kick and try something new from this board!

http://pinterest.com/heathermcd/food/

3. Fitness tips

Lace up those sneakers and let Pinterest get you into shape.  They have everything from treadmill workouts to cardio tips, weight-lifting exercises and even work-outs you can complete while watching T.V.  You’ll find tons of great resources for healthy eating too!   Take a look at this board for some motivation!

http://pinterest.com/tiffallison/fitness/

4. Inspirational Quotes

If you’re ever having a rough day, Pinterest is here to cheer you up!  They have hundreds of quotes that can lift your spirits and help you get through your day.  Here’s a collection of some of my personal favorites!

http://pinterest.com/laurhaslett/quotes/

5. Careers advice

Nervous about an upcoming interview?  No clue what to wear to the first day of your internship?  Fear not!  Pinterest has all the answers, with great tips on networking, the job hunt, and everything relating to careers!  Take a look at this board for more tips.

http://pinterest.com/kristenjacoway/career-tips/

So, what are you waiting for?  Give Pinterest a try to today and find your own inspiration!

 

Tiffany: Producing Elements XIII–A Hip Hop Dance Competition

On Saturday, February 16th, a year’s worth of hard work and planning will come to fruition as my dance team, Fusion, hosts the largest hip hop dance competition on the east coast for the 4th year in a row. For an entire year now, my fellow teammates and I have been working out logistics with our show that include, but are not limited to, carefully selecting teams to compete for the $1000 cash prize, recruiting exhibition teams including crews who have been on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, coordinating with lighting and sound production, promoting the show, and so much more.

I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to head such a large production within the confines of my own school that supports its student organizations with a plethora of resources for success. The planning process has taught me a lot about teamwork and has allowed me to implement many of the skills that I learn in the classroom such as design for promotional material, branding, and budgeting. It is opportunities on campus like these that I believe have refined my skillset and given me a unique experience to put on my resume.

My dance team has not only given me the outlet to dance and introduced me to a group of amazing friends who share my common interest, but has also has also given me real world event planning experience that will be invaluable as I enter into the work force in a few short months. It has been a crazy roller coaster ride of a year planning this show but I am nothing but excited to see it all come to life. Wish me luck!

Hannah: New Semester, New Experiences

Hey Everyone! I’m Hannah, one of the new CAs, and being new basically sums up the past month for me. As you all have probably heard, the first semester of college can be a bit overwhelming for freshman including myself. After spending those first couple months hibernating with my studies, I am finally ready to branch out. As you will quickly learn, I basically want to do everything. Here are a few of the new extracurricular activities I have picked up in the New Year.

Greek Life- It’s official, a very German girl can be Greek! Coming from a big family (3 sisters, a brother, and 2 very rowdy dogs) I need to have people around. At first I was hesitant and a bit intimidated by the formal recruitment process. In reality, it has been one of the best decisions I have made. No matter the sorority, I feel so welcomed by all the girls. Even in my first weeks, I already feel right at home.

Boston Cares- Boston University has a wealth of opportunities on campus, but the city of Boston also has some pretty amazing extracurricular activities for students to get involved in. Thanks to my writing professor, I found Boston Cares, a volunteer network that sets up a calendar of events that you can sign up for based on your own personal schedule. It’s super convenient and an amazing way to get out into the city. My favorite event thus far has been volunteering at JVS where I help prepare refugees for job interviews and entering the American work force. I highly recommend looking into the organization.

Finally, I’m new to the COM Ambassador community, and I couldn’t be happier! I love meeting prospective students and who doesn’t love showing off how awesome COM is? With all these new opportunities as well as a few great classes (even if one is at 8am) I feel like this year is off to a great start! So there you have it, being the new kid on the block isn’t so bad after all. Hope everyone is off to a great new year and embracing all of the amazing new opportunities this time can offer!

 

Will: Embrace Your Place

As I sit at my desk, looking out at the glorious combination of snow, wind, and more snow, I feel thankful. I’m so fortunate to live in a city that keeps everything interesting. Boston must know that it’s filled with hundreds of thousands of college students, all of them yearning for adventure, because it never disappoints.

Last night, I made the long trek through more than a couple of inches of snow from one side of campus to the other. I saw only a handful of people at a time when Comm Ave is usually bustling with students on their way to hang out with friends, cars filled with business people on their way home from work, and the T, the 57 bus, and the BU shuttle going every which way. I thought how unfortunate it was that so many people weren’t experiencing what I was experiencing! Granted, I am from Wisconsin (I deal with winter’s fury a little better than the next guy). In the moments that I stood still, knee deep in icy powder, glancing around at the serenity around me, I realized how lucky everybody here really is (and not only because Friday classes were cancelled).

People found great, productive ways to spend their snowy Friday. Snowmen were popping up everywhere over campus, probably the products of Floridians and Californians who didn’t experience the building of snowmen in their youth. Marsh Plaza was home to an entire army of Snowmen and Snowladies. It broke my heart to see a few of them tumble over with the blustery winds – may they rest in peace. A few students (and by a few I mean a couple hundred) – conquered the Esplanade in what was named Snowbrawl 2013. Boston PD didn’t have quite as much fun, but it isn’t a real snowball fight until the police show up, am I right?

I found that a blizzard is a great way to catch up on things you usual don’t have time to do, like sleeping and homework! Just kidding, it’s actually a great opportunity to put on some long underwear, make some hot cocoa with that Kuerig machine (that doesn’t really exist because everybody knows those aren’t allowed in dorm rooms, silly!), grab all the blankets, and read a book, write a poem, watch a movie, or anything else that suits you. The only thing that could’ve made it better was a fireplace. If only I lived in StuVi2 where every room has a fireplace, a butler, and king size beds. I’m kidding they don’t actually have fireplaces.

You can make Boston as great as you want. You can look outside and see inconvenience and frigid temperatures or you can look out and see opportunities for new experiences. As always, make sure to help others have as great a day as you are having. If you see an ambulance with its tires spinning, go out there and give it a budge. If you see somebody get hit in the face with a snowball, help them seek revenge. And if you see a snowplow coming, just get out of the way!

Happy sledding,

Will Dowsett

Kevin: Top 5 Scary Things as a Freshman (and why they shouldn’t be)

1. College Classes

There’s no getting around it, college classes are a big change from high school. As long as you stay on top of things, they can actually be easier though. You won’t get the “busy work” you might have gotten in high school. There’s a whole level of freedom that’s really nice, but that means it’s up to you to keep up, and if you don’t do your reading then you’ll be behind come test time. So stay organized; get binders, folders, notebooks, whatever you need, and come up with a system. When finals week comes around and you’re sifting through a semester’s worth of notes, you’ll thank yourself for being organized.

2. Upperclassmen

You remember freshman year of high school; the pep rally chants of “sit down freshmen,” getting shoved into lockers… (Ok maybe that sounds like a John Hughes movie but you get the idea). Now you’re going into college and you’re going to be a freshman all over again. Well don’t worry, college isn’t like high school. Everyone is excited to have new people on campus! When you join clubs and groups on campus you’ll realize that nobody cares what grade you are, they’re just excited that you share interests. So don’t be afraid to join clubs because you think that senior with the “President” nametag seems intimidating, they want you to join! Lots of upperclassmen will be more than happy to offer you advice or help if you need it, too! (Like COM Ambassadors! #subtlenamedrop)

3. The T

Ok so maybe this one isn’t for everyone. For those of you who are like me, from a small town where you’re more likely to see Sasquatch than some form of public transportation, the T can be a little freaky at first. The first few times I went on the T, I had no idea what I was doing. I got on at a subway station, but when I looked out the window suddenly I was above ground… it can be confusing. You’ll quickly learn that the system is made to be easy to understand and you’ll get the hang of it after riding it the first few times (and maybe a couple unplanned adventures around Boston…). My suggestion is to walk as much as possible though. It’ll really help you to get a feel for the city, and you’ll find a lot of cool things you didn’t even know existed!

4. Dorm Life

Living in a dorm depends a lot on what you make of it. My advice would be to make friends with your floor. Leave your door open during the first couple weeks and make an effort to meet as many people as you can. You’re going to live with them for a year, so it’s great to have friends right down the hall. I’ve met some of my best friends because they live a couple doors down from me. Just be friendly!

5. Office Hours

All professors have office hours, and if you’re willing to take advantage of the chance to ask them one-on-one questions, it can be a great chance for you. Not only do you get to ask questions, but also having the chance to know the professor can be great. Even if you just go to chat, a lot of professors will be glad to get to know you. BU is a big school, and if you sit in the back of the class and never interact with the professor, you’re missing out. So be sure to go visit office hours and volunteer in class, I promise you’ll see a difference in your grades. The professors are just people who are excited to meet you too!

Abby: How to live your life and still read 400+ pages by Monday

In light of recent events (aka, I was assigned over 400 pages over one weekend and still wanted to live my life), I decided to construct a “how to” that I hope you will never have to use but will prove helpful if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

Read while doing laundry- From start to finish, doing a load of laundry usually takes about an hour.  I use to put my laundry in the washer, go back up to my room (and wait at least 5 minutes for the elevator), then have to head right back down in less then 20 minutes (another 5 minutes in the elevator.)  This is a lot of wasted time, my friends!  So I had a stroke of genius and decided to bring my reading down to the laundry room with me.  An hour later, I had plowed through two whole chapters and even did reading check questions.

Read while eating- Another place that I sometimes feel takes up an unnecessary amount of time is taking a trip to the dining hall.  While eating with friends and socializing is fun and a necessity of college, it is not always practical.  If I go to the dining hall with a group of friends, I expect to spend at least an hour to an hour and a half there.  With a lot of reading on your plate this is not the best idea.  Instead, bring your work with you and multitask.  In the beginning of the school year I thought it was nerdy or lame to share a meal with your laptop, but this is college! And if you look around you will notice that more people then you think bring their work with them to eat.  A couple dinning halls on campus even have quiet rooms or study areas that are specifically designed for this purpose.

Some foods to avoid while also trying to read- soup and cereals (too many drips) and sandwiches or anything involving both hands (you will lose your place when your book flops shut.)

Read on the T/BU Shuttle/Other Public Transit- At first, reading while on the go seemed impossible to me- I mean who wants to lug around huge texts when all you have to read is a couple pages?  With the popularity of e-readers, this option is more do-able.  If, like me, you don’t have an e-reader(I personally prefer real books to e-readers, but that is an entirely different blog post), you can take a picture with your phone of the passage you need to read.  I will also add that this requires some precautions.  Be smart about using your phone in public- you don’t want to get it stolen! And reading too much on a tiny screen may cause your eye to twitch… Even with all that in mind, it gets the job done.  If the passage is available online, another option is to print out the pages you need to go over and take it with you.

*This method works best if you have a short passage or excerpt from a text to read.

Read at FitRec- Okay so you’ve caught me- I don’t go to the gym as often as I should. But every time I do go, I see at least one person reading while on a treadmill or elliptical.  (Don’t they only do that in romanticized movies about college??) Personally, I am not coordinated enough to read, understand what I am reading and, oh yeah, run all at the same time.  But if you are gifted with this talent, go for it!

How to not fall asleep while reading (not that that has EVER happened to me…)-  So far I have found that the best way to avoid getting sleepy while reading is to change up where you read.  Read for 15 minutes sitting at your desk, then for 15 minutes on your bed (but not lying down), at your roommate’s desk, then sitting on the floor, in a chair that spins, while pacing the length of your room, at a booth in a coffee shop, on a couch in the study room… You get the idea.  One other thing I have found to help keep me alert is to take tiny breaks.  During these breaks don’t just sit there and think of how much more reading you have to do.  Get up and do some jumping jacks, take a shower, dance to some fun music, call your mom, re-organize a desk drawer, paint your fingernails, or microwave some popcorn.

* REMEMBER- Sometimes part of your education is the problem solving needed to get it all done and not just in the words you read. So don’t stress if you miss a couple of pages.

Anneliese: How Did I End Up Here?!

The last Sunday before winter break at 11:30am, I found myself decked out as a flapper, dancing with a stranger, and downing straight-up grenadine from a wine glass. (Point of reference: Grenadine may look pretty, but it tastes like bubble bath mixed with cough medicine.) No, this wasn’t a Dude, Where’s My Car? situation, where I was left muddled after a particularly chaotic night. In fact, I was participating in schoolwork—acting in my friend’s film for her Production I class, to be more precise.

This is just one of many strange and enthralling situations I find myself in, thanks to my life as a film major. I’ve had so many wonderfully bizarre experiences around Boston, courtesy of my enrollment in COM. At times, I may be stressed to the point of eating a spoonful of peanut butter to procrastinate on my work, but I will never be able to say that I am bored as a BU COM student. Here’s a countdown of my four weirdest and most exciting moments as a member of COM’15:

Stalking “James Franco” outside of CAS

To this day, I’m not sure if this is fact or fiction, but rumor has it that James Franco attended last year’s Redstone Film Festival at Tsai. I attended last year’s Redstone Film Festival. I was (possibly) in the same room as James Franco and hadn’t even known it! Thankfully, a photog for the FREEP, (short of The Daily Free Press, our on-campus newspaper), had the decency to shout loudly into his cellphone as I passed him on the street, “We have people posted at every exit of CAS, just in case Franco exits!” As soon as he had hung up the phone, I planted myself in his path and demanded, “Franco?! As in James Franco?!” He explained to me that James had purportedly been working on a project with a film professor at BC and swung by BU when he heard about the festival. Needless to say, I spent the next 45 minutes skulking around CAS in the dark and the drizzle with my friend who was armed with a camera, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the sexy Harry Osborne himself. Sadly, I never did.

Bay State Memories

I work on COM’s soap opera, which is the longest running college soap opera in the country, and there was no way I could choose only one Bay State memory for this list—oh lord, the things I have witnessed! My first day onset kind of created the mood for the entirety of my experience working on the show: One of the Executive Producers marched up to me and asked ever-so sweetly, “You—what’s your name? Can you take down your hair?” I told him my name and awkwardly yanked the bobby pins from my bun as the 1st Assistant to the Director moseyed up beside him. “She’s perfect,” she had said. And the EP exclaimed, “Congratulations! You just won the role of dead Whitney!” It had turned out that they killed off a cast member and let her go abroad without filming the scene where her boyfriend discovers her body, and I was the only girl with hair color similar enough to play her corpse. Congratulations, indeed. I’ve had my share of death experiences on Bay State, since I have witnessed many creative murders, and have even participated in the murder of Dean Elmore—err President Bennett. The big question surrounding his death scene had been: In which direction should we splatter the fake blood to make it seem most realistic? No doubt, a heated debate had followed.

Being serenaded by Viggo Mortensen in Elvish

Okay, so it’s not as if Viggo Mortensen gave me a private concert and serenaded me to sleep with his ethereal voice, BUT the situation was almost as good. Last March, I attended a triple feature Lord of the Rings marathon that Coolidge Corner Theatre hosted in honor of Viggo Mortensen’s achievements in film. Though they weren’t presenting him with his award until the next day, he made a surprise in-person appearance right before The Return of the King started rolling. He looked so adorable with his floppy, grey locks and infectious smile as he sang that I was racked with guilt for not being able to sing-along like the more dedicated fans.

Interviewing my favorite filmmaker, Taika Waititi

All of my friends know (and probably many acquaintances) about my New Zealand obsession. I’m obsessed with the country and the culture to the point that I’ve gorged on as many New Zealand films, books, and TV shows that I could order from Amazon.com. One New Zealand writer-director whose work I love and admire—to the point of his becoming one of my favorite filmmakers, regardless of NZ-affiliation—is Taika Waititi. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005 for his wonderful short Two Cars, One Night; he directed and co-wrote a few episodes of Flight of the Conchords; he has most recently directed MTV’s version of the British show The Inbetweeners; and he has two hilarious feature films Eagle vs. Shark and Boy. It was at a long awaited, 2012 Boston screening of the latter where I weaseled my way into interviewing Taika. I had cornered him on an online Reddit Q&A and asked for an interview at the screening, and he had consented. It was a dream come true (literally—I had dreamt multiple times about interviewing him about his work). I don’t know what made the night more perfect: The fact that my feature ended up being published on Popmatters.com, or that he kissed me on both cheeks and called me “love” after I thanked him for the interview.

Since I’m only a sophomore, I look forward to seeing how many more bizarre, film-related adventures I can add to my repertoire before I graduate. I’m certain there will be plenty more to come. All of you, my COM peers, should be on the lookout, too—on Facebook, the COM corkboards, and on various Boston websites—for exciting ways to infuse film into your everyday lives. You never know where you might end up!