Jimmy: Moviepass, and the Art of Moviegoing Bad Films

For me, The Oscar’s season is my “most wonderful time of the year.” I love going to the box office to see all of the year’s most critically acclaimed movies. But there’s also a pleasure of going to the movies to see something you know you’re not going to like.
I swear I’m not sponsored, but Movie Pass was the best investment I’ve made in a while. For only $9.99 a month, you get to see one movie a day for a month. Most large chain theaters participate (Regal, AMC, and the Brattle Theater in Cambridge do too). For me – a snobby, snobby film boy – I would have never paid money to see Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in theaters. But since I felt like I wasn’t paying for it, it was one of my favorite movie going experiences of the season! It’s cool when spending too much isn’t a factor in what you want to see.
That said, I had a good time watching some pretty bad movies. Here are some of my top clunkers. By the way, it’s only fun if you go with a friend. Save your alone movie theater experiences for something like The Florida Project (which was excellent!):
Justice League
Personally, I haven’t been following superhero movies for a while because they’re not my taste. But this is, like, CRAZY misguided. Henry Cavill’s CGI mustache looked pretty bad. Batman is kind of a psychopathic murderer. The color palette of this movie looks like when your friends were at an Applebee’s and mixed all of the condiments together in a cup. And who were Ezra Miller’s jokes supposed to be directed towards? Crazy
Loving Vincent
The concept seems cool, right? A biographical piece about Vincent Van Goh in which every different frame is an impressionist painting. But the gimmick wears down quickly when the canvass thin, Nancy Drew Mystery Computer game plot goes in circles. Also, the motion of the paintings looks really weird!
The Greatest Showman
Some really cringe-ey dance sequences (one in particular set in a bar) and non-musical theater music with ultra-generic lyrics. If you had a hunch that Hollywood romanticized Hugh Jackman’s character, check out this Entertainment Weekly Article. (tl;dr: P.T. Barnum was not a good dude).
The Room
Okay, while technically bad, The Room is really exceptional work of film. Most live screenings have a similar atmosphere to a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening, where audience members yell at the screen, dress up, and dance around. I used my Movie Pass to go see it and it was a blast. People were throwing spoons!

Carly: “How’s the cold?”

If I had a single dollar for every time I heard this question, I would have enough money to buy a Canada Goose jacket for everyday of the week. Coming from California, I expected to have a hard time adjusting to the Boston climate. Or rather, everyone around me assumed that I would have a hard time living in cold weather.

College shopping for my mother and me included an extra leg of work: buying winter clothes for the first time. My mother, frantic about her child’s ability to survive the cold climate, called every single person she knew on the east coast to get their insight and advice on apparel. She was determined, it seemed, to prepare me to present myself as if I had spent my entire life managing snowy winters. But the truth was that I had spent my childhood and adolescence in sunny Southern California, questioning the existence of four seasons and praying for rainfall. I had never even seen snow before.

As a result, my parents -- and everyone else who asked me where I was headed for college -- seemed to think I would have a hard time with the cold. It was a ripe topic for conversation before I left and when I returned over Thanksgiving and Winter Break.

Unbeknownst to my friends and family back home, I never actually struggled with the cold here on the east coast. In fact, I really enjoyed it during my freshman year at BU. Sure, some days were harder than others, and I cherished every break I spent under the warm, dazzling California sun, but I genuinely enjoyed living in a cold climate. I loved watching the leaves change, and I shed a tear during the first snowfall. I basked in the joy of a cold holiday season, and I absolutely loved experiencing New England culture when I had the opportunity to explore the east coast. I spent a weekend camping in New Hampshire under radiant fall foliage, and I also spent a weekend trekking across suburban Connecticut to reach the Mohegan Sun, a secluded casino and concert venue. Not only did I fall in love with New England, but also, in fact, a part of me felt complete, as if I had been waiting all my life to live among Northeasterners and their classic Colonial architecture. And as I finished my first year of college and watched the Boston skyline recede from the window of my plane home, it hit me: I was an East Coast girl trapped in a West Coast body. And then it hit me again: if I was made to live on the east coast, where should I go after school?

I wish I could take everyone I love and care about from home and move them out here. I wish I could stay in Boston or New York over the summer and still be able to spend time with friends and family from home. Sometimes I even wish I had my car and the gorgeous California coast line on cold, blustery winter days. Thinking about the two lives I have on each coast is so frustrating that I convince myself I’ll never be happy, regardless of where I end up.

But the truth is that I will have many decisions to make as I start preparing for my professional career. Do I want to pursue filmmaking in my hometown of Los Angeles, in accordance with my anticipated Film & T.V. degree from COM? Or do I try pursuing foreign policy and diplomacy in Washington D.C., as my classes for my anticipated International Relations degree from CAS seem to convince me? Or do I want to apply to jobs in New York City, a place I’ve called my second home since the fifth grade and a city that never fails to fill me with a special sense of excitement and hope? A city that houses some of my closest friends from college and my own older brother?

Thankfully, I still have time to decide where I want to live after school. Even still, much of the decision will be out of my hands, as it greatly depends on where (and if) I receive employment offers.

But wherever I end up, I know I’ll keep a part of each coast -- and the people I care about on either side -- with me.

Megan: Reflections on the Start of My Last Semester in Boston

As I start off my third, and final, spring semester in Boston, I have done a lot of thinking about what a fantastic experience I’ve had here, and all of the opportunities I have found, and friendships I have made. I’ll hopefully be spending the spring here at BU, the summer in London, and the fall in Los Angeles, so there is still quite a bit left of college, but not a lot of time in the home I’ve found here. But I’m not sad, because there are so many good things to come this semester, and so many fun things I want to do before I leave. And so, here’s a list of things I’m looking forward to, and things I have to do before May comes around.

  1. Looking forward to: My classes

This semester I’m taking three Film & TV classes that are both going to be so interesting, and perfect prep for my future. For example: my 2D Animation class, which is unlike anything I have ever done before, but will provide me with invaluable information as I look for jobs in my post-grad life.

  1. Have to do: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Now something I want to do: celebrate a truly Bostonian St. Patrick’s Day. I want the little bit of Irish in me to explode as I deck myself in green and dance around like a true leprechaun.

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  1. Looking forward to: My internship

This spring, I’m interning for Children’s Programming at WGBH, the PBS affiliate in Boston. This past weekend, I spent 9 hours on set each day while we filmed High School Quiz Show, where I learned all about filming a game show in a professional setting.

  1. Have to do: Go to Museums

I feel like as I’ve gotten busier with extra-curriculars and classes, I’ve stopped taking advantage of the truly extraordinary experience we get as college students: the opportunity to go to so many museums in the city for free. I need to make at least one last stop to the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts.

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  1. Looking forward to: Bay State

I am going to be a Producer on the nation’s longest-running college soap opera, which seems absolutely insane, but which is something I have been working for since I came to BU, which makes it so especially rewarding. And, we’re re-vamping the show to make it better than it’s ever been before.

  1. Have to do: Go to the Commons on a Snow Day

Whether I’m going to build a snowman or have a terrific snowball fight, what I really want to do is leave BU during a snow day and go crazy in the snow (since I’m not going to have any seasons in L.A.)!

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  1. Looking forward to: Spending Time with Friends

I feel so grateful for the friendships I have made during my time here, and friendship has always been one of the most important parts of my life. So, I have to spend my last bit of time here celebrating those friendships, and being with the people that have made me so happy over these last few years.

  1. Have to do: Take One Last Long Walk

If there is one thing I really know about myself, it’s how much I love to walk around Boston. Whenever I have a few free hours, and the weather isn’t toodreadful, I’m guaranteed to be walking from BU to my favorite destination, the Harbor (see my last post for more on that). I have to spend my last bit of time in my favorite place in the city.

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Arianna: Intersecting your Major with your Passions

Throughout my time in college, I’ve found that it can be difficult to figure out your exact career path, especially as a COM student, because there are so many different directions you could go in. Thankfully, coming into second semester of my junior year, I finally have it (almost) figured out.

The two best pieces of career advice I’ve ever gotten are:

1) “Do what you love, but prioritize what you love AND are good at, because if you pursue something you love but aren’t great at, you might grow to resent it. On the other hand, if you do something you’re good at, you’ll end up loving it no matter what.”

2) “Whatever you do, try to find a way to intersect your major and your greatest passion.”

As a Film and TV major, I’ve found it hard to narrow down my career goals. I love screenwriting, but I also enjoy production, even if it’s not something that comes as naturally to me as writing. After more than 2 years of trying to balance both, I have fully embraced my ability to write well and my passion for doing so. Here's an actual candid pic of me working on a screenwriting assignment:

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Meanwhile, through BU’s Community Service Center and my work study job at the BU Children’s Center, I’ve fallen in love with social justice and working with children. By participating in FYSOP (First Year Student Outreach Project) as a first year and as a staff leader, I've learned a lot about social justice, and try to incorporate what I’ve learned into my writing.

Additionally, through working at the Children’s Center, I have learned more about childhood development and my love for working with children has grown so much! I was lucky enough to spend a summer working at a day camp for children and creating a video for the company to showcase the program, which made me realize there is always room to connect working with children to working in the film industry.

It clicked that one of the best ways to cross-over all of these interests was to write for children’s television. Writing programming that is educational, inclusive of diverse backgrounds, and mindful of childhood development is something I have the knowledge, skills, and passion for, and with this career goal in mind, I can finish my last 3 semesters of college confident that I am pursuing something I will love.

As you continue your journey as a COM student (or in whatever major you choose), keep your passions in mind, and keep searching for ways to connect them to what you’re studying! Once you figure out a way to combine what you’re passionate about with your career goals, you’ll feel so much more confident and driven to achieve those goals, and have more fun doing it.

With Love,

Arianna

Jimmy: Producer Tales From Prod III: Part Two

In my last post, I outlined what I had learned from my first few shoots as a producer for Prod III. Now that my two films have wrapped, here’s some more knowledge I’ve picked up along the way!

Films cost $$$$$$

For Prod III films, production budgets will likely be anywhere between $2,000-$5,000. The school doesn’t provide any funds, so it’s up to the filmmaker (and the producer) to make a money plan. Some directors in my class decided to self fund; others reached out to family to make big donations. However, most turned to a crowdfunding platform. To be completely honest, It feels weird to ask people for money. I personally was a bit uncomfortable with it. However, once you reach out you’d be surprised to see who will support you. Old teachers, professors, second cousins will blast you from the past with their generosity when they see that their filmmaker friend is back at it.

Kickstarter and Indiegogo are two different platforms

One of my films used Kickstarter and the other used Indiegogo, and for different reasons. With Kickstarter, you risk losing all of your funds if you don’t reach your goal by the project deadline. With Indiegogo, you can still keep your funds if you don’t make it. While the “all or nothing” approach to Kickstarter is terrifying, it’s a good motivator. To be honest, I was kind of scared that we wouldn't make the money two days before my deadline. However, I think that people I talked to about the film were more scared about us losing the money than I was – which made them donate even more to the project!

There’s an easier way to make call sheets!

It’s a producer’s responsibility to plan the shoots and send out call sheets for each shoot. Studiobinder is an app that streamlines the process (I swear I’m not sponsored) . For their $30 a month package, the application will help you with breaking down the script, scheduling shoots, and keeping organized. Once you enter cast and crew contact information, you can import your schedule in and it will automatically make a call sheet based on all of the location, schedule, and other information needed for a particular day. It will then send out a message via email and text and ask everyone to “confirm the message,” so you can make tabs on who gets the memo and who doesn’t. It’s really a breeze!

You will learn to love driving UHaul Vans

Someone is going to have to move the film equipment back and forth from sets to FPS, and you’ll likely be a part of the moving effort. When I moved into Boston, I swore I would never bring a car here. Now, I can say that I’ve parallel parked a UHaul Van in Cambridge during rush hour. I am a fearless driver now, thanks to Prod III

Find someone who owns a car

There will be so many moments when you will have to move groceries or lug equipment half a mile. Having a friend with a car makes those moments so much easier. For half of my shoots I didn't have a car. They were some of the most difficult shoots. It’s especially good to have around sets in case of emergencies.

Know first aid!
I didn’t have to use it, but I got a certification just in case something were to happen. It’s the producer’s job to make sure the set is safe. It will totally throw you off schedule if someone breaks their arm.

Make your set the set that everyone wants to be on

When you have deadlines to make, it’s easy to get swept away with simply completing everything. However, storytelling is a collaborative process, and everyone should have a good time contributing to the effort. If you’re filming in the cold for 6 hours, take the extra effort to get handwarmers and pizza bagels. Bring blankets and extra jackets so no one freezes. Make sure the food is on time and that there’s something warm for people to drink. Crack jokes. Play music while you wrap and dance around. Take fun pictures to look back on. That type of stuff will do wonders for morale, and that type of energy will be reflected in the quality of work.

Grace: Preparing for Study Abroad: Tips and Tricks from an Organization Fanatic

Boston University’s study abroad program is one of the primary reasons why I decided to attend the College of Communication. Our unique program of study and internship is a truly unique experience I know I will cherish for the rest of my life. Next semester, I will be interning in advertising and taking classes in advertising and international relations while I study abroad in London, England.

Applying for abroad is easy, but the procedure once you are accepted may seem a little daunting. Read on for my tips and tricks on how to stay on top of your responsibilities and make the most of your abroad experience:

1. Make a checklist of items you need to complete before going abroad.

The hub page of your abroad program will list preparation details for you, but sometimes it’s easier to also make a list for yourself. Include key dates and event reminders, and cross off items once you complete them. I even ranked my to-do list in order of importance.

2. Plan excursion destinations with your friends.

If you know some peers in the same program, get together and make a list of countries or cities you want to visit. Wait to buy flights and train tickets until after you’ve received your class schedule, but at least have an idea of where you’d like to go.

3. Stock up on American items you might not find abroad.

Sounds silly, but I know it might be hard to find my favorite eye makeup remover abroad. To avoid these issues, bring along key items you can’t live without.

4. Avoid over packing.

Easier said than done, I know. But honestly, you will most definitely buy more souvenirs than you think. Account for this ahead, and avoid having to buy an extra suitcase for the flight back.

5. Adopt an open mind.

Abroad is all about meeting new people, visiting new sites, and experiencing new cultures. Read about the culture of wherever you plan to study, and challenge yourself to try new things when you’re abroad.

Safe travels, friends. You’re about to start an adventure of a lifetime

Sydney: Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming to College

  Although your high school and family members will try to prepare you for college, it’s impossible to actually be prepared for all the experiences coming your way. I had no idea what to expect coming into BU my freshman year. I only knew one person from my high school attending BU with me, so I came in eager to meet new people, but nervous about the unknown. Here are some things I have learned since coming to BU:

1.     You won’t meet all your best friends freshman year.

o   I met a lot of students my freshman year, from orientation, to FYSOP, to people on my floor, as well as through other extra-curricular activities. However, I didn’t meet some of my closest friends until my sophomore, and even junior year. Although I do have some good friendships from freshman year, I strongly encourage you to be open-minded and meet as many people as you can. Don’t stick to the same group you meet in the first few weeks of classes. BU is such a big school that you might miss out on some great friendships.  

2.     Stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t as scary as you think.

o   Although it’s frightening, sometimes the best experiences come from putting yourself out there and stepping out of your comfort zone. For example, I was pretty shy growing up. I never thought I would be so comfortable giving tours for the Admissions Office at BU, with group sizes ranging from 20-40 prospective students and parents. However, I wanted to share my experiences and my passion for BU, and applied to be an Admissions Ambassador freshman year. The Admissions Ambassador role has been one of my most rewarding experiences, significantly improving my public speaking and communication skills. This experience gave me the confidence to apply to be a COM Ambassador sophomore year. I am so glad I did not let fear or nerves cause me to miss out on these amazing opportunities.

3.     Time management is difficult but possible.

o   If you’re in COM, chances are you will have a lot going on. Between balancing classes, internships, jobs, clubs, and other extracurricular activities, time management is imperative. Although everyone has different organizational skills, you will learn that you can manage your time and fit in the activities that are important to you.

4.     Prioritize making time for yourself.

o   It’s easy to get caught up in your school work, making sure you have a job or internship, or trying to improve friendships. However, sometimes you really need to devote time to yourself. I personally enjoy taking walks on the Esplanade, on campus, or somewhere downtown. It’s really easy to get caught up in college life and trying to make other people happy, but taking time to relax and focus on yourself will positively benefit all aspects of your life.

These are just a few of the many things I have learned since arriving at BU. I still have some time left, and know there is a lot more learning and experiences to go!

Kate: Taking Advantage of your Sophomore Year

As a freshman, everything is new and exciting. New city, new people, new freedom. Junior year is another exciting year often with study abroad and classes relating to what you actually want to do. Senior year is nostalgic as you get closer to graduation. But then there’s that year in the middle of it all, sophomore year. Sophomores are known for getting the “sophomore slump” where everything feels boring and dreary, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
As opposed to a year in desolation and bleakness, look at sophomore year as a time for opportunity and trial. Sophomore year is the time when you can start figuring out what you really want to do. You can take that random Intro to PR class because maybe you want to change your major to public relations. Or, even if you have a major picked out, maybe you can add a double major or a minor. It’s also the perfect time to try out new classes and take that archaeology class that you otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to. There’s an endless list of classes at BU, so why not take advantage and find something that sounds really interesting.
Sophomore year is also a great time to get really involved. Many juniors and seniors are off interning or studying abroad, so now’s the time to get into clubs and extracurriculars. If you’ve always wanted to be a DJ on a radio show, join WTBU. If you’ve always wanted to write about cool places you’ve visited or any number of lifestyle topics, join The Buzz. If you’ve always wanted to write your own tv show, pitch a show to BUTV10. There are so many opportunities to try whatever you have always wanted to do, and there will never be a better time to take those risks. You can also get more involved with the clubs you are already in. Clubs and activities are great ways to meet more people and find your place which always seems much harder after freshman year.
It takes time to find your way after the excitement of freshman year, but looking at all the opportunities to take advantage of is a great way to stay positive and happy. It’s a stressful time, but doing activities purely for enjoyment is a great way to stay level-headed. Even if your classes aren’t what you expected or something isn’t working out, giving yourself this thing to look forward to will keep your head up. Take advantage of the “sophomore slump” and use it as your opportunity to have an amazing year.

Laura: What Can Happen in a Semester?

Every semester at BU is just as memorable as the next, but something about this semester felt different from the other two I have experienced. As a sophomore, I admittedly did a lot of reflecting on how much has changed since my first ever semester here last fall. I came to Boston this year reminiscing on memories of last year, recognizing that it was no longer going to be my first time doing everything. Woah I actually know how to get around the city, and how to use my dining points efficiently, and where the quietest study spots are (during finals do not go to Mugar- try finding a classroom in the law building!) I adjusted more quickly and looking back on all of the amazing memories a lot did happen this semester!

Here is a quick peek into what my life was like this fall: 

  • I got a library card at the Coolidge Corner Library and definitely recommend it.  
  • I fell getting out of the shower (Yup! Just slipped right out!)
  • I lived with seven friends. Very fun but equally loud and crazy.
  • I went to the synagogue in Brookline with my family for the Jewish high holidays.
  • I got offered my dream internship for the spring 2018 semester at an advertising agency. 
  • I witnessed not one, not two, but THREE weddings in front of the Boston Public Library.
  • I worked on two projects in Ad Club, one as an account executive where we worked on rebranding and one as a copywriter where I made mail templates to be sent out to students.
  • I saw Bleachers in concert at the House of Blues!
  • I started watching This is Us…. all the tears, I know, I asked for this. 
  • I celebrated the one year anniversary of when I met my boyfriend.
  • I went to Dry Bar for the first time and did not like it!!! 
  • I participated in a dance marathon for the Boston Children’s Hospital.
  • I tried oysters for the first time and discovered my favorite new restaurant: Saltie Girl.
  • I lost connections with a few of my good friends from freshman year but formed deep connections with the ones that I still had. I also formed deeper relationships with people who were just acquaintances in the past. 
  • I took my favorite class: Introduction to Creative Writing (CAS EN 202) where my professor always encouraged us to push ourselves in our writing and try new things.
  • I thought my friend Lexi broke my funny bone. She didn’t I am okay people.
  • I went to the Waterfront and Seaport for the first time.
  • I invented a new product for S’well for my COM 331 class. Shark tank here I come?

But as fun as all of these moments were, I noticed an over-arching theme this semester. 

I think I really grew up (woah, what, what is happening). 

Even when I would call my mom on the phone she would mention, “You have matured so much in these past few months! How did that happen?”

I honestly have no clue, but I think it has something to do with it being my second year and not my first. The pressure of making friends is no longer a worry of mine, I understand what it takes to get good grades and I have a lot of practice in time management and balancing everything I want to accomplish. Maybe something that made me become “more adult” is the way that I prioritized finding an internship and using my go-getter attitude to go for, and ultimately accept, my dream internship. I think any nerves I had about networking or simply talking to super-adulty (Laura, c’mon you’re telling us you’re an adult and you’re using the word “adulty”) professional people have evaporated, because I have realized for once that I’ve got this! 

And you do too. It might take time, but I cannot believe how much growth I have accomplished in just one semester and I think that I can only continue to grow if I keep pushing myself here at BU.

Daera: The Best Study Spots on Campus

With finals coming up, I wanted to take the time to share some of my favorite study spots around campus. Just make sure you leave a seat for me if you decide to check them out!

5. Kilachand First Floor Lounge
This is one of my favorite spots on campus for lots of reasons. First off, it’s a very clean cut and modern space. Sometimes, getting into the mindset of studying just takes being in the right spot. For me, that means the right temperature and a plethora of comfortable seating and table spaces. This lounge has couches, a fake fireplace, lots of tables, and a plethora of outlets. Plus, Kilachand is the honors college, so there’s definitely lots of brain power floating around the
room.

8/27/13 -- Boston, MA Kilachand Hall August 27, 2013. Photo by Cydney Scott for Boston University Photography

4. Marciano Commons
I know what you’re thinking, food is the ultimate distraction, but hear me out on this one. Marciano is one of the greatest dining halls in the nation and has great atmosphere. I don’t know about you guys, but I need to snack while I do work and there’s an abundance of food (which is healthy at that) at your fingertips in the dining hall. Another plus: outlets everywhere. Usually, you’ll find me camped out towards the back of the first floor if you want to stop by and say hello.

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3. Mugar 4th Floor
This isn’t exactly a secret spot by any measure, but I think it’s often overlooked. A lot of people hype up the second or third floor, but the fourth floor is by far the best. As you go higher up, the library gets quieter and for me the fourth floor has just enough noise to function. My favorite feature about this floor has to be the long communal tables! Not only do they have lots of outlets and chairs, but having other people in such close proximity helps you feel like you’re all holding each other accountable for doing work.
2. COM Lounge
Before I get into the benefits of COM lounge, let me give you all a strong piece of advice: get swipe access to COM the moment you matriculate. It gives you access to COM ~after hours~ (aka nights and weekends). Especially around finals season, the lounge empties out because most COM students have projects instead of finals. The lounge is not just great during finals; all the amenities are still there during the normal semester, but they’re a little more crowded than usual.
1. Theology Library
I don’t even remember when I found out about this spot, but I’m glad I did. Not only are there cubicles throughout, but in the back there’s lots of tables and tons of natural light. It’s in a great spot on campus, too, because of how central it is. When I was taking my religion class, it was a great space to focus on the topics at hand. It’s a very warm and inviting space and the tables and cubicles are both large enough to comfortably spread it. It’s a little more quiet than some of the
other places on the list, but even if you don’t like quiet, you should give the space a try.

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(footage of me putting in work in these spaces for the next few weeks)