COM Ambassador Blog

Richie: A Summer at the Cannes Film Festival

Hey everyone! I was just recently notified about my acceptance into an incredible internship program at the Cannes Film Festival and wanted to let you guys be the first to know!

How I found out about it:

Over a whole year ago I walked past the Film and Television Department in COM, probably giving a tour, and saw a flyer advertising an internship program in Cannes. It immediately grabbed my attention and I decided to “Google” it as soon as I got home. A quick search let me know I had missed the application deadline for the 2011 Festival, but I was not discouraged and decided I was definitely going to make it in for 2012.

Applying:

That following fall semester, I began preparing everything I would need for a solid application. With a trip to COM Career Services’ resume workshop, a recommendation from the amazing Katie Gallagher at COM Student Services, the completion of a few short essays, and an application video shot by a few of my friends, I was able to build a strong application in time for an early decision deadline!

What the program consists of:

Creative Minds is actually broken up into three different programs

The Network connection allows its participants to attend pitch meetings, strategic workshops, and different networking events to create relationships with industry professionals.

The Filmmaker Institute has its participants actually create a short 5-minute film within a week. A panel of industry professionals will then judge the short films, awarded prizes, and obviously, the knowledge of how to craft a good story. Students are put into groups and provided with a camera, laptop (with editing software), and a microphone.

The Internship Experience is the program I was accepted into! Interns will be placed with a supporting partnership company while in Cannes and be able to make great connections to hopefully launch their careers in the future. This program is the most competitive of the three as it includes follow-up assistance with post-festival job securing, access to exclusive parties and networking events, and a chance to work for companies such as: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, AMC, and Summit Entertainment, to just name a few!

Obviously the program seems amazing in terms of industry experience, but I have to say I’m also ecstatic as it will be the first time I have ever travelled to Europe or any sort of film festival! The famous beaches of southern France, the large amount of celebrities attending the festivities, the exclusive industry parties, and the opportunity to sit among the best filmmakers in the world as they premiere their work is absolutely incredible! As an aspiring Filmmaker, I don’t think I have to explain anymore how excited I am to be able to partake in such an incredible event.

The program will last from May 14th-May 28th. I’ll definitely let you all of you visiting the COM Blog know how it’s going while I’m there!

If any of you are interested in Film or Television, I’d definitely recommend you start looking into applying for next year. It’s never to early to start preparing and making your dream become a reality!

Tiffany: Sweet Spots for Building a Snowman on Campus

BU’s unique, city-like campus, at a glance, doesn’t appear to have huge patches of grass like the typical college campus. But that is exactly what we love so much about BU – a place where you can feel like you are safe and at home while still living in an active, exciting city.

However, if you do ever get the urge to spend some time in a sizeable spot of greenery, there definitely are a few sweet spots on campus. When the weather heats up, students tend to flock to these spots to throw the old pigskin around or simply soak up the rays and get their tan on. I, however, like to visit these spots in the wintertime when they are rather unpopulated, but filled with fresh snow. They are the perfect spots to make snow angels and build a snowman! Excuse the native Californian in me who still gets extremely excited at the first snow of the year.

Whether you prefer to lay out in the sun and tan, or like me, make your own Jack Frost, here is a list of the best places to do so on campus:

COM Lawn

We are the only college in the university that has our very own beautiful lawn and fountain right in front of our building. It couldn’t be more convenient to be able to soak up some sun right before class or have a snowball fight after.

BU Beach

Located right in the middle of campus behind Marsh Plaza, BU Beach is a popular spot for throwing the football around in the snow or sunshine. If you are lucky, you might even catch BU’s quidditch team practicing here.

Nickerson Field

Right in the hub of popular freshman housing in West Campus, the athletic field doubles as the biggest message board you’ll ever be tempted to post on. Students often write messages in the snow for all of West Campus to see and when we play against our cross-town rivals in hockey, the field often has BC Sucks etched into the snow!

Stuvi 1

A bit more secluded and quiet, the lawn right in front of the high-rise student apartment building is perfect if you are in the mood to feel like a kid again and just play around in the snow. It’s where I built my first ever snowman!

Steph: Night at the Movies

Alright, first COM Ambassador Blog! With the Oscars just around the corner, I’ve decided to talk about all the seriously awesome movie theaters there are in the Boston Area. If you’ve read my bio or know anything about me, you know that I’m crazy obsessed with movies—and Boston has some of the best places to go see them! Here are my favorites:

Regal Fenway

Located about 10 minutes from where I call home, Warren Towers, Regal Fenway is the perfect cure for the mid-week blues. My friends and I needed a break from homework one Wednesday night last semester and decided to walk over to the Regal Fenway and see 50/50. Even though 50/50 was an emotional rollercoaster, (I laughed, I bawled, I swooned over Joseph Gordon-Levitt), it was definitely awesome to be able to catch a quick movie on a weekday. So college.

Coolidge Corner Theater

Coolidge Corner is one of the cutest areas I’ve seen around Boston, and the Coolidge Corner Theater doesn’t disappoint when it comes to cuteness. From the outside, you can tell that the CCT is a cultural landmark, with its neon lights and art-deco style exterior. If you’re dying to see that indie flick that isn’t playing anywhere else, chances are Coolidge Corner will be more than happy to indulge in your indie needs. You have to be prepared, though—my friends and I tried three times to go see A Dangerous Method starring the genetically perfect Michael Fassbender, and it was sold out every time, because it was playing in their 14 seat theater. Talk about intimate. Other fun stuff includes midnight showings of old horror movies and the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show.

AMC Loews Boston Commons

If the Coolidge Corner Theater were a one-bedroom studio, the AMC Loews Boston Commons would be a McMansion. The place is MASSIVE, and so beautiful. Not only does it have a concession stand that would satisfy any sweet tooth, it also includes an ice-cream stand where you can have custom-made milkshakes. As you make your way to your theater, constant reminders of why you love movies surround you. Famous movie quotes are painted onto the ceiling, and vintage movie posters advertising Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and James Bond are framed on the walls. Larger-than-life black and white portraits of Marlon Brando on the set of The Godfather and James Dean on the set of Rebel Without a Cause lead you to your seat. For someone who loves movies as much as I do, it’s a magical place.

Somerville Theater

The Somerville Theater is a bit far off campus, but it’s definitely worth the trip. Located in Davis Square, the Somerville Theater is very reminiscent of Coolidge Corner Theater in terms of old-time charm. The main theater is a converted stage theater, complete with gold curtains and balconies. The other theaters are just as quaint, with light fixtures shaped like owls. And it isn’t just for movies—the Somerville Theater also continues to host live performances. And if you have some time after your movie, you can make your way downstairs to the Museum of Bad Art. Yup, it’s exactly what it sounds like.

So if you’re craving some popcorn and a good movie, there are tons of options at your fingertips. See ya at the movies!

Lauren: The Perks of Being a Rep

Hello everyone! I’m so excited to be a new COM ambassador and I can’t wait to share my thoughts and experiences with all of you! My time at BU has been amazing so far, and I’ve truly enjoyed every minute! What’s so exciting about this school is that there are always job and internship opportunities, not only within the BU community, but throughout Boston as well! Recently, I’ve had the chance to serve as a BU Campus Rep for American Eagle Outfitters, and I’ve discovered just how much fun I can have while gaining real, hands-on experience with advertising and promotions!

Being a campus representative is definitely a great way to get involved! I work for the Youth Marketing Connection AE Student Union program and I’m mainly responsible for helping to plan and attend all the free giveaways that we have around campus. Part of my job also involves promoting these upcoming events through the program’s Facebook page, AE Student Union at Boston University, and my own personal Twitter and Facebook accounts. My job has also given me the opportunity to gain more knowledge about social media! I’m proud to say that the official American Eagle Co. Twitter account, @american_eagle, recently tweeted back at me after I wrote about one of the AE Student Union events! I felt like such a celebrity!

The AE reps at BU are always holding giveaways on campus, like the “New Year, New You” event that happened this January at the Fitness and Recreation Center and the “Aerie Undie Gram Giveaway” we had for Valentine’s Day! We’re also busy now planning a ton of upcoming events, like the “Break Away Spring Break Giveaway” (where we’ll be giving away colorful sunglasses and t-shirts) and the “Break into Spring Campus Hunt” (where we’ll be hiding tons of gifts all around campus for lucky individuals to find)! I love working at these events and getting the opportunity to meet all kinds of BU students!

My favorite part of my job, however, is getting free AE gear! I’ve received comfy American Eagle scarves, flip flops, water bottles, Frisbees, coupons, gift cards and more! I have to say it’s a pretty nice deal!

But it’s not all fun and games! The campus representatives are also responsible for creating and executing a marketing plan. Although this can be difficult, learning about what it takes to make a marketing plan is an important skill that will definitely help me in my future career! This opportunity has given me the chance to get real event planning, marketing, advertising and promotional experience. The time commitment hasn’t been too overwhelming so far, and this job looks great on my resume too! I definitely suggest that students, especially those majoring in Public Relations, Advertising or Mass Communication, look into getting campus representative positions! You can go to the BU Career Link or the Job Board Listing on Student Link to check for any new opportunities!

Jon: Please Don’t Stop the Music

What’s up guys? We’re about three weeks into the new semester, and as classes start to pick up, it’s great to have something to de-stress and take your mind off of all the work that is quickly piling up. For me, my a cappella group fills this role in my life. The BosTones are one of BU’s premiere co-ed a cappella choirs, and I am so glad that I’ve been able to dive into the group as a freshman.

I sang all throughout high school, and I loved being able to hang out with a bunch of great people and make awesome music. Naturally I was a little distraught over the idea of finding another group like my high school choir, which had been a part of my life for the past four years. However, when I got to BU I was blown away by the size of the a cappella community, and since all the groups were so welcoming I decided to audition for as many as possible. Fast forward a few weeks, and I was a new member of The BosTones, a jazzy, poppy, belty, and crazy group of people.

The thrill of the stage is great, but the truly wonderful part of being in an a cappella group isn’t the glamour, or the performances, or the recording sessions – it’s the people. Being able to know that on Tuesday and Sunday nights I’m going to walk into the Mugar Library (yes, we have a practice room in the library, and no, we don’t get shushed by librarians, it’s sound proof) and hang out for a few hours with a great group of people who all love coming together to have fun, support each other, and make some sweet music. Everyone in the BosTones is brought together by a love of singing, and I’m glad they’re in my life. When college gets crazy and hectic, as it sometimes does, it’s great to know that I always have BosTones to come back to.

The BosTones are just one more reason I love BU: there’s a student group for everyone. For me, it’s a cappella music, and for others, it might be gaming, or student government, or even Kendo (a Japanese form of fencing). No matter what your interest, you’ll find it here, and you’ll find people who are just as passionate about it as you are. I can’t end without a little shameless self-promotion, so if you want to see some of what The BosTones do, check out our concert footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOZo55830tA&list=UUTX5kWZUchPOI2KVfWWRUuQ&index=8&feature=plcp. Also, congrats to our two new members Harry Meltzer and Jun Tsuboike! We’re looking forward to working with them.

That’s all for now! See you at auditions…

Julianna: A BU Style Guide for any Occasion

What to wear to your first day of classes as a college student:

It’s like the first day of pre-k all over again, minus the Power Rangers backpack. You’re a whole lot of nervous, but also really determined to have the best day EVER. Hold on a sec, and put down that curling iron and brand new fall cardigan. No need to glam yourself up on the most important day in September. Why? Because Boston is as hot as the Sahara Desert. I hate to be the bearer of bad news ladies, but you won’t be breaking out that new fall wardrobe until the middle of October, the earliest. So if you want to appear all calm, cool, and collected on your first day of school, then dress the part (emphasis on the cool). Wear a pleated chiffon maxi skirt with a tucked-in loose cotton tank. Belt it at the waist and strap on a pair of leather gladiator sandals. If a floor-grazing skirt is not your thing, then wear a white tunic button-down in a light-weight fabric over a printed sundress. A pair of classic Sperry Top-Siders is perfect for this look. For the guys, you know that you actually care about how you look today. I mean, come on it’s the first day! So remember to shave and put on a pair of chino shorts with a v-neck tee. Your shoe of choice this semester will also be the Sperry Top-Sider.

What to wear to a normal day of classes:

So it’s past the middle of the semester. You are now a certified pro at this thing called “college life,” and your new best friend is the Venti coffee. Get dressed, wash up, and be in lecture in T-minus 10 minutes? Psssh. No problem. Here’s how to roll out of bed and look decent on a time crunch. Comb that wild Ke$ha bed-hair and slip on an embellished headband. If all else fails, hide your rats nest under a knit beanie. You have no time to fidget with pesky buttons, so throw on a boatneck jersey top, skinny jeans, and velour loafers. Stay warm and get some insta-glamour with a black faux fur vest fur. Guys, layer a half-zip sweater over a thermal top with jeans and a pair of Converse. Oh yeah, don’t forget to get that morning gunk out of your eyes. Ew.

What to wear to your part-time job/internship:

Time to network and make that résumé golden, so dress to impress! A navy or black blazer is your business wear must-have. Wear it over a stretchy wool dress, and cinch it at the waist with a thin bright-colored belt. Try a suede pump or a ballet flat. Why not try a fashion risk by color-blocking an outfit? Skip the boring black trouser, and get a pair in mustard color with a skinny cropped leg. Wear a royal blue button-down shirt , nude flats, and a statement necklace. Boys, style that classic oxford shirt and black trouser with a gingham print tie. The next day reverse the look: wear a gingham print button-down with a solid-colored tie.

What to wear while out and about in Boston:

Whether you’re hitting up the Pru or exploring the South End, dress with comfort (and style) in mind. Boston has some bi-polar temps, so everyone should master the art of LAYERING. Girls, try a bright long-sleeved top under a faded chambray shirt. Wear ultra skinny black jeans or an a-line skirt with opaque tights. Try an olive green utility jacket, a chunky scarf, and a cross-body bag. Invest in a pair of black combat boots, such as Dr. Martens. I basically live in my combat boots, and I’ve learned that they go with almost anything. Guys, why don’t you get yourself a chambray too? Yay, chambray shirts for everyone! Get it unisex clothing! Charcoal colored chinos rolled at the ankles, canvas sneakers, and a neutral-colored utility jacket completes your look.

What to wear to Sunday brunch:

Respect the Sunday brunch. It will instantly become your favorite meal of the week. Whether you and your crew keep it economical by choosing to go to the dining hall or pretend that your lives are The Hills and go to some mildly “classy,” yuppie-filled cafe, just know that it’s totally okay to bum it out. So ladies and gents, bust out your beloved flannel button-down, 1,000 times worn-in jeans, and the band tee that makes all your friends super jealous. Girlitas, throw on something knit, such as a cute ear-warmer or circle scarf. Just don’t get too comfy in your brunch attire by staying in your fuzzy slipppers. Lace up those beat-up Chucks, and go off and nom on some bacon!

Kaitlin: Bending Over Backwards for Yoga

Hello friends! I’m so excited to be writing as a COM ambassador for the first time. I hope you’re getting excited about starting your COM journey with all of us! It’s going to be an amazing experience that I’m sure you’ll never forget. And with that, there are few moments in our lives that can truly be considered milestones. Finishing high school, entering college, obtaining your first job, getting married. But for me, my biggest milestone so far in my life was reached last weekend. After 200 hours of training in six months, I officially became a certified yoga instructor.

I’ve been a yoga practitioner for quite sometime now, but I have Boston to thank for my pursuit of a teaching certification. At the beginning of my freshman year, I started to miss going to the yoga studio all the time as I did back home on Long Island; I had the blues. So, I started to explore the Boston yoga scene on the internet, eventually leading myself towards Back Bay Yoga Studio (BBY), which is right off of the Arlington T stop on the Green Line. First off, if you’re looking to begin practicing and don’t know where to start, this is the place to go. BBY offers an awesome new member special, which includes two weeks of unlimited classes for only $25. This is exactly how I got my start. I found myself going everyday, sometimes more than once, diving into the awesome facilities the studio has to offer, and learning from the city’s best and most well-known teachers. I learned so much, and I automatically rediscovered my deep passion for the practice.

My decision to go through teacher training wasn’t a hard one. I was profoundly inspired by my main teacher Ame Wren, and when I learned she was leading a training with the studio’s owner Lynne Begier, I called my dad right away, and told him I was investing the $3,000 that I barely had to my name into the training. It was the first time I found myself so incredibly excited and ready to begin a new journey.

But it wasn’t so easy.

As I mentioned, it was a 6-month long endeavor. I often found myself in the studio for more than 20 hours on the weekends. I was assigned various book reports and other extra homework on top of my work here at BU. Nonetheless, I cannot explain how worthwhile the reading and writing was. I had the pleasure to work alongside thirty wonderful people, all of whom were going after the same achievement as me. We shared unlimited tears and laughs, and I feel so lucky to have them all a part of my life!

This experience transformed the way I think, look, act- basically my whole way of life. I pay so much gratitude to every thing I learned about yoga, myself, and the world around me. I’m so eager to start teaching, of course, but I also simply look forward to growing my own practice and to continue expanding my mind and keep learning.

If you’re interested in starting yoga, please don’t hesitate to let me know! I’d love to help out and give some suggestions on where to go, who to see, what to wear, etc. Among the stress that comes with being a college student, sometimes all we need to do is sit on a mat, close our eyes, and breathe.

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Taylor: Living on a COM Floor

The Stalker Phase. After most freshmen receive their acceptance letters, the nerve-breaking energy drifts from waiting near the mailbox everyday to scavenging as much information about BU as humanly possible. Students find scouring the university website and Facebook pages a good prep for answering typical questions that family members, teachers, and random individuals commonly expect them to answer. However, there’s one question that invariably enters young freshies’ minds, “Where should I live?” Unfortunately, a majority of U.S. universities are not designed like Hogwarts; there’s no sorting hat involved in dorm selection. Instead, there are great options for resident placement including specialty floors; the best in my possibly biased opinion would be the COM floors.

COMmonalities and Interest. College is truly an adjustment, however it’s easier to adapt to a new environment when people with common interest surround you. Living on a COM floor aids in course discussion with other students. When taking COM101, a required course for incoming freshmen, living on a COM floor gave me ample opportunities to continue class discussion and verify concepts.

COM Together. Anticipate social gatherings in cozy dorm rooms to watch the Oscars, Emmy’s, New Girl, Betty White specials, SNL, NBC Thursdays, and football games. There are a plethora of personalities housed on COM floors. Being a current resident of 11C, the only coed COM floor, I take pride in considering my floor mates as family. Discussions from room to room are very different. Some involve criticizing political oratories, others may be screaming matches analyzing the recent play by plays of a sports tournament, or group editing of a BUTV10 or WTBU radio story.

If you are curious about the format of dorms at BU or have questions about residence life check out http://www.bu.edu/housing. I’m so “Rhetty” for you guys to be housed within this TerrierNation!

11Cer,

Taylor W.

“TomKat”: Meet Our Newest COM Ambassadors!

Hey all! As you can see, our COM Ambassadors have been busy blogging away for the past few weeks telling you everything from their first week of classes to their adventures studying abroad!

Each year, we have a new roster of COM Ambassadors ready to meet and assist prospective and incoming students at Boston University's College of Communication (BU COM). With that being said, it's time to introduce some of our newest COM Ambassadors for this upcoming year.

Julianna Flamio:

Year: Sophomore

Major: Magazine Journalism

Hometown: Eastchester, New York

Jon Mayer:

Year: Freshman

Major: Undeclared (Advertising Track)

Hometown: Carlisle, Massachusetts

Kaitlin Daddona:

Year: Sophomore

Major: Public Relations

Hometown: Southold, New York

Taylor Walker:

Year: Freshman

Major: Undeclared (Broadcast Journalism Track)

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Lauren Haslett:

Year: Sophomore

Major: Advertising

Hometown: Mount Laurel, New Jersey

Stephanie Semet:

Year: Freshman

Major: Undeclared

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Daniela Vasquez:

Year: Sophomore (Transfer Student!)

Major: Public Relations

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Alexa Galloway:

Year: Freshman

Major: Undeclared (Broadcast Journalism Track)

Hometown: Santa Maria, California

You may recognize Alexa from COMlife.

Our newest CA's come from a wide variety of majors and backgrounds and are excited to begin blogging for you guys! They are also working on a COM Ambassador Video and Profile to place up on our website! Look out for their profiles coming in the near future!

Signing off,

TomKat

Daniela: Into the City We Go

Hey everyone! As a new COM Ambassador, this is my first blog, and let me just say I’m so excited for this semester. It’s only been two weeks, and already my schedule is crazy hectic. As much as I love everything I’m a part of, taking a break every once in a while can do wonders to your mindset.

Boston is one of my favorite cities in the world. I grew up in the suburbs, and even though I had Miami and Fort Lauderdale nearby, it’s not the same as actually living in a city. When I came to BU, I told myself I was going to take full advantage of what the city had to offer me, everything from concerts to internships. Sometimes though, it’s difficult to find those precious free moments. These past couple of weeks have definitely been like that. So yesterday, after a long weekend of work and studying, I decided to put everything on hold and enjoy a stress-free night.

Last night, a couple of my friends and I went into the city to watch a movie. Instead of just walking to the Fenway Regal, we took the T downtown to the AMC Loews Theatre by Boston Common. I had never been there before, but I liked it immediately. It was a huge theater, practically empty since it was a Sunday night. The walls were decorated with classic movie posters and large black and white photographs. I looked up to find famous quotes beautifully inscribed on the ceiling. We bought our tickets for Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, which I was dying to see after reading the books. We got some ice cream and made friends with the people who worked there, which got us about four extra scoops each!

When the movie ended, it was too late to take the T back. So we walked. There’s something really beautiful about a quiet city in the middle of the night. The chilly air kept our legs moving as our voices echoed in the silent streets. We passed by the Fairmont Copley Plaza and stopped outside the entrance. It was built in 1912, one hundred years ago. We admired the huge golden lions that guard the hotel and decided at once to go in and explore. It’s a beautiful building. Golden lights flood the hallways and the lobby. Everything was polished and classy. We walked around slowly, talking in hushed voices, completely in awe. As we were making our way out, one of the managers came out and politely inquired what exactly we were doing. We told him we had never been inside and were just about to leave. We were then subtly escorted back outside, in the classiest manner possible. We burst out laughing as we walked away, all agreeing that was probably the nicest, most sophisticated way we’ve ever been kicked out of a building.

We kept walking through the streets, until we turned onto Newbury and then finally Commonwealth Avenue. We talked about our happiest memories, and I thought in the back of my mind that this night would have to be added to my list.

I feel very lucky to have such simple opportunities like this. Life moves so fast; it’s easy to get swept away. In everything I do, I’m always looking ahead. But it’s nights like those that remind me how important it is to look around.

So work hard and get involved as much as you can in the BU community. I know I wouldn’t have my schedule any other way. But if you ever need to relax or clear your mind, take a walk around and explore. It might just be exactly what you need.