Category: Will

Willem: Being Performative at Boston University

By Willem Schiener

Salutations to whomever this blog post may find. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Willem Schiener; I hail from a small town in upstate New York called Geneseo. I’m studying public relations and film/television here at BU’s College of Communication.

Now, you may be thinking, “Oh boy, another performative male,” and while yes, sometimes I can have a flair for the dramatic, this blog post is for current or prospective students looking to find a place in which they can express themselves through different kinds of performances. 

Here at Boston University, there are many different ways one can perform. The most obvious place to start is the many theater organizations. There are four main theater groups here at BU: Stage Troupe, BU on Broadway, Wandering Minds, and BU Shakespeare Society. Each of these groups performs multiple shows throughout the semester and gives us non-acting majors a chance to grace the stage again.

Perhaps you’re looking for somewhere to make people laugh. Well, don’t fret. BU also has multiple comedy groups. If you are interested in sketch comedy, then look no further than Slippery When Wet, the sketch comedy team. If it’s improv comedy, then Liquid Fun would be more your speed. For any film/television majors wanting some experience in filmed comedic content, BUTV10 has two comedy programs, Terrier Tonight (live sketch comedy) and Pals and Friends (pre-recorded sketch comedy).

For those of you more musically inclined, BU also has many different choirs, bands, and a cappella groups. The best part of all these groups is that you don’t need a major in the CFA to join them. We all have passions outside of our respective majors, and here at Boston University those passions don’t need to be shelved or forgotten. The world is a stage, and BU is no different, so keep being performative.

Will: Gearing Up for Summer

Three more weeks left. Three. More. Weeks.

As soon as the sun comes out in Boston, it’s nearly impossible to focus on anything educationally important. Even during class, I find myself constantly thinking of all the activities I could be doing out in the sun instead: slack lining, running, laying, sitting, etc.

However, it’s these couple of weeks that end up being the most crucial in the semester. It’s the time of year when all the projects need to be turned in, the group papers need to be finalized, and the exams begin to flow over. And it’s at this point in time, that you’re strength of will is truly tested.

Even as I write this blog post, I catch myself looking out at the students lounging around on the COM Lawn. Such envy! But, I know that if I were to go outside now, when I have a blog post to finish, a video to finish editing, two papers to write, and a screenplay to critique, that I would hardly be able to enjoy myself.

Thus, the goal of lounging around on the fresh, green grass with nothing left on my plate to accomplish far outweighs the immediate temptation to ignore my tasks, head outside, and make things even more stressful in the days to come.

Happy Trails.

Will: The Long Road Home

In high school it always seemed like if you made it to Spring Break you were practically done with school. You left pale as a ghost, came back nice and crispy, and then just sailed through the last couple weeks of school.

In college, you’re still pale, you still get tan, but you don’t coast through til the end of the year. See Spring Break falls right in the middle of the semester more or less. And there’s a long 7 week stretch full of midterms and projects waiting for your return.

That being said, Spring Break in college tends to be a bit more entertaining than in high school. And getting away for spring break after spending a whole year in Boston... well, there’s nothing much better than that. Whether you’re going home, to Cancun, or sticking around New England, Spring Break always proves to be a very therapeutic escape.

Being in college also provides you with Spring Break options, something I didn’t really experience in high school. For instance, my comedy group, Liquid Fun, went on a tour around New England performing at different schools in the area. We trekked from Boston to Vermont, to Montreal, and to NYC. Surprisingly we didn’t get much of a tan.

Many other students also engage in something called Alternative Spring Break. ASB is organized through the Community Service Center and is extremely popular, often filling up within minutes of opening its registration. These trips are volunteer based and go anywhere from Virgina to Montana. It’s a great way to make a new group of lifelong friends and do something worthwhile with your break.

Or, you know, you could go to PCB.
Whichever path you choose, you’re gonna have a good time. Guaranteed.

Will: Managing Your Priorities

Alright, guys, here’s the thing.

College is all about setting priorities. Some nights, you’re gonna sit down in front of your computer and know that there is absolutely no way you’re going to get everything done. That’s just how it goes. So it comes down to being able to make a responsible decision on the things that are more important on that particular night.

The fact of the matter is, before you do literally anything, it’s crucial that you ask yourself if what you’re doing is important to your progression as a student. For example, choosing to watch Spring Breakers instead of studying for an exam wouldn’t be such a terrible decision on, say, a Saturday morning. However, choosing to watch Spring Breakers instead of studying for an exam the night before the actual exam..... not great. Not. Great.

The same goes with extra­curriculars. Sometimes your studies will get in the way of your extra­curriculars, and it is up to you to recognize when and how to adapt. Luckily, COM is a very experience­oriented learning atmosphere. Many of your professors and peers will encourage you to get out and get active with your passions and endeavors. And sometimes classes and your extra­curriculars may work well together, such as when you need somebody to write a profile about or a subject for a short film.

COM, in short, is a melting pot of passion and education. And the priorities that come along with it usually fall right into place.

Will: Breakfast at TIFF

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of interning for a company at the Toronto International Film Festival. Pretty awesome. I applied at the end of last school year, and while I was at camp all summer I had pretty much forgotten all about it. But on August 1st, I received an email informing me that I had been selected as an intern for the Creative Minds in Toronto Program. Creative Minds has programs in both Toronto and Cannes, which is hopefully where I’ll be headed next.

Companies who are at the festival contact Creative Minds asking for interns because while they’re at the festival, things are much crazier than usual and they need the assistance. I was lucky enough to get paired with APA, Agency for the Performing Arts, the fifth largest talent agency in the nation. I was able to sit in on meetings, attend their events and parties, and meet a bunch of cool people in a relaxed environment (**cough** Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson **cough cough**). And ultimately, the agents whom I was interning for told me that I would have a job waiting for me when I graduated.

What I’m trying to say is this: Yes, I had to miss the first week of school to attend TIFF. But, honestly, I never even thought twice about it. Sometimes, an advantage may appear as a slight disadvantage. But, if you’re ever in a position to do something awesome, do it. You might even get a job out of it.

 

Will: Move-in Mayhem

Alright, so you’re about to leave for school. Wow. Wow wow wow. You’re packing up your car, stuffing random socks into any extra pocket you can find, and looking in spots in your home you didn’t know existed for things that probably don’t. But that’s good, you gotta be sure, right?

Well, let me tell you something: as soon as you coast down Comm Ave to the front of Warren Towers or West or wherever, your first experience as an independent adult  is gonna come right at ya. Move-in…

It’s going to be nuts. It’ll probably be hot, it will be overwhelming, but it will be awesome. So I’ve got some tips for you.

1) Keep your cool, people.

Just remember that there is no rush. You’ll have plenty of time to figure everything out and everything will come together just fine because, well… it just does.

2) Tell your parents to keep THEIR cool.

“Mom, just chill out for a sec…” You can say that! It is okay to say that because more than likely your parents will be much more overwhelmed than you will be. Not only do they have to deal with moving you in, but they have to deal with you going off to live your own life and fulfill your dreams and yada yada yada.

3) Say “Hey” and smile!

There’s going to be about a million people there helping you move your things, check you in, and just be friendly so go ahead and be friendly back! If you’re happy and optimistic from Day 1 it’s going to make your whole semester just that much better.

Hopefully this helps and if all else fails, count to ten and go to your happy place.