COM Ambassador Blog

Jimmy: Top Podcasts for FTV Students

Tired of listening to “Lemonade” on repeat while trudging up and down Commonwealth Avenue? Download some podcasts–more specifically, these film and TV centered podcasts to keep you up to date on trends and personalities!

The Vulture TV Podcast

I follow this one religiously. Based off the TV criticism website, The Vulture TV Podcast has a new episode every week about the most talked about shows and general TV trends. The hosts are powerhouses: Vulture Senior Editor Gazelle Emami, New Yorker and RogerEbert.com TV Critic Matt Zoller Seitz (who is a HUGE name in “TV Theory and Criticism”), and NY Times TV Critic Margaret Lyons. Each one of them is extremely well researched, and knows probably too much about TV. I constantly use it as a litmus test for what I should be watching, what names I should know about for class.

This podcast is also a great way to gradually learn TV history. If you’re a FTV major, it can be intimidating to talk with professors who assume you know and understand the impact of old shows like “Roots,” “Mary Hartman, Mary Harman,” and “The Larry Sanders Show.” The podcast has a bunch of special episodes dedicated to discussing the cultural significance of important programs, so you’ll get those extra points when taking Understanding TV.

Favorite Episode: “What Makes ‘Sesame Street’ Special”

This episode came out the week after PBS announced that “Sesame Street” was moving to HBO and talked about the implications of that decision. They review 48 years of content to discuss every boundary-pushing moment in “Sesame Street” and how important the pastiche of pop culture references is important for making children culturally literate. Full disclosure: I got teary eyed in the dining hall listening them talk about Mr. Hooper’s Death. Well worth the listen.

Austin Film Festival On Story Podcast

As the name implies, this podcast takes panel interviews from the Austin Film Festival and condenses them to a rounded hour format. The guests featured are Film and TV juggernauts and industry legends: Breaking Bad’s Vince Gilligan, “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, and “The Sopranos’” David chase among many others

Favorite Episode: “Paul Feig”

“Freaks and Geeks” has a special place in my heart. In this episode Feig talks a lot about drawing from his own life, restructuring and heightening real events to highlight the humor for a TV format. He’s also a funny and humbled dude.

Scriptnotes

Scriptnotes is hosted by John August and Craig Mazin, both accomplished Hollywood screenwriters and script doctors. This podcast was extremely helpful for me when I took Storytelling. With over 300 episodes, the podcast answers questions about formatting and industry standards I didn’t even know existed. They cover TONS of ground. Episode examples include: “The Job of the Writer Producer,” “How to Cut Pages,” and “Egoless Screenwriting.” In every show, they also review fan scripts and give specific advice on air, so you can see their process applied.

Favorite Episode: “Groundhog Day”

They spend the whole episode deconstructing the script to “Groundhog Day” and what makes it so great. I liked “Groundhog Day,” but I never thought THAT deeply about it. It’s pretty awesome.

Nerdist Writer’s Panel

If I told you to, “Listen to a podcast hosted by Netflix’s “Puss and Boots” series screenwriter, I would understand your apprehension. But don’t be fooled. Ben Blacker has tons of industry credits and knows how to elicit really great responses out of talent. Every episode, Blacker brings on a different celebrity writer. The conversations are generally silly, and biographical. Get to know the fun backstories behind favorite writers like John Green, Charlie Day & Glenn Howerton, or Corinne Brinkerhoff (a COM alum!).

Favorite Episode: “#167: Bojack Horseman”

Blacker interviews “Bojack Horseman” series creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg and production designer Lisa Hanawalt. They’ve been friends since high school, and their chemistry proves that. The interview itself is very comprehensive. Waksberg gives a lot of insight to the show’s darker moments, and how he balances the cynical philosophy of the show with shameless animal puns. Good stuff.

Carly: Black Mirror Episodes Ranked

Black Mirror: if you haven’t heard of it yet, you have now.

The British television series is a science-fiction anthology similar to The Twilight Zone in that each episode is a depiction of some sci-fi or dystopian society. With Black Mirror, each story provides a look at innovative technological devices that have enhanced society but at the same time become a tool for destruction.

Given that it is an anthology, each episode is a completely different story. That gives the audience the ability to pick and choose between different episodes rather than watching in order.

The stories are incredibly creative and diversity is plentiful. Episodes like the critically acclaimed “San Junipero” are more lighthearted, and tell a heartwarming tale of love. On the other hand, episodes like “White Bear,” are darker and touch on themes of vengeance and morality.

The underlying theme across the show is modern technology and the horrifying role it can ultimately play in our society. Some are merely entertaining, others are more gruesome. Some have deeper messages woven into their narratives and others just seem to enjoy the destruction. Below are a list of each episode ranked in order from worst to best, followed by their season and episode number.

13. The National Anthem (1.1)

12. The Waldo Moment (2.3)

11. Fifteen Million Merits (1.2)

10. Shut Up and Dance (3.3)

9. The Entire History of You (1.3)

8. White Christmas (2.4)

7. Be Right Back (2.1)

6. Nosedive (3.1)

5. Play Test (3.2)

4. White Bear (2.2)

3. Men Against Fire (3.5)

2. Hated in the Nation (3.6)

1. San Junipero (3.4)

Think these pictures give you a good idea of the journey on which you’re about to embark? You aren’t even close. And before you ask, yes that is Jon Hamm in “White Christmas” and Domhnall Gleeson in “Be Right Back.” Better get to it and hang on for dear life -- Black Mirror is a roller coaster of plot twists, innovative ideas, complex characters, and ominous predictions about our own future.

Tyler A: ASBean: How to Properly Spend Spring Break

What do you first associate the words “Spring Break” with? The beach? Parties? Sleeping your life away? What about volunteering? The Community Service Center’s Alternative Service Breaks program (or ASB) give students a chance to travel somewhere new in the US or Canada and provide meaningful service. There are over twenty trips that address a variety of topics from environment to homelessness to gender and sexuality. Each one allows students to engage with the community, gain new perspectives, and bond with people they may have never met otherwise.

This was our last day at Friedman. We may be smiling, but we were dying of sadness inside.

Last week, I was lucky enough to join the ASB trip to Chicago, IL with eight other students and a faculty chaperone. Our trip focused on the abilities focus area, which primarily focuses on advocacy for and destigmatizing people with disabilities. We spent five days volunteering at the Friedman Place, a supportive living community for individuals who are blind or visually-impaired. And it was the best time. Ever. Our volunteer experience mostly entailed getting to know residents and just making their lives more enjoyable so that we were more acquainted with people of another background and could understand the challenges they face.

Remind me to never sit on a glass box that’s 1,353 above the ground ever again.

I could write a novel to discuss the questions the trip raises, the things I learned, and what I’m walking away with, so I’m not going to do that today (but you are welcome to ask me all about it!). Instead, I just want to express to you all what a great experience ASB is and how you should take advantage of it. For a reasonable price, you are getting an invaluable volunteer opportunity, making lifelong friends, and exploring a new place. And by that, I mean we did have time to explore the city. Do not fret.

We went bowling one day! Are we cool or are we cool?

It is very important to be involved within COM and gain that professional experience you may need upon graduation, but as humans, we have an even greater responsibility to the world we live in. We should take advantage of opportunities like this to understand populations we wouldn’t normally connect with, give to people and places who may need it, and have fun!

Registration for ASB 2018 won’t be until November, so take your time considering the opportunity, but mark your calendars! You won’t want to miss this.

Katie: It’s Never Too Late to Explore Something New

Growing up, my entire life was focused on theatre. I went to rehearsals for two shows at a time, six days a week, with dance classes on Sundays to supplement that one free day. My 7th grade best friend had to make me a playlist of “real people music” for my iPod, because most of my music library was dominated by various Overtures, Entr’actes, and Finales. All of my friends were in theatre, and I never thought I’d be interested in anything else. Especially not sports.

While my parents watched the New England Patriots play on Sundays, I stayed as far away as possible. I was totally ready for the game food, for sure. But the game itself? No, thanks. I’m good with my “In the Heights” soundtrack. Despite the fact that we spent free summer nights watching farm team pro-baseball and every New Year’s Eve watching farm team pro-hockey, I was more interested in the fried dough than the actual games. The Tom Brady jersey I’ve had since age 12 was simply for showing off at school, where I hoped nobody would actually mention last night’s great play.

This all began to change when I moved to Boston sophomore year of college. Friends had extra tickets to Red Sox games. BU Hockey became a part of life when I joined The Daily Free Press and sat next to the sports editor. My whole life I had avoided sports pretty much like the plague, and now it was all starting to make sense. The fandom and the team spirit radiated through Boston. But it wasn’t until my boyfriend began religiously watching the Patriots that I started to as well.

What all of this rambling is getting at is the idea that it’s never too late to pick up a new hobby. Now a senior at BU, I take back what I said as a kid about football being boring. There’s something really special about a whole community of people coming together and rooting for something bigger than themselves. This Super Bowl was one of the craziest games ever, and I had the opportunity to witness it! I’m the first to admit that it isn’t worth being stubborn and avoiding something just because I disliked it in the past.

This isn’t to say that theatre wasn’t or isn’t still an integral part of my life. I used to write a theatre blog, and I spent a summer in New York interning at a theatrical public relations agency. I still listen to “In the Heights,” too. I certainly don’t forget where I came from, but it’s nice to have a new sort of hobby that brings me closer to my dad and many of my friends. It’s nice to be in the know, and it’s never too late to find new interests!

Daera: Surviving 8 AM’s

My first college schedule was awesome. I got my mom's approval on it, which is kind of a family tradition. When she went to college, my grandmother put her schedule together in the most magical way: my mom was done with classes by noon and had Fridays off. The first time she told me about that schedule, I knew I had to follow in her footsteps (I have a tendency to follow in my moms footsteps which is why I debated becoming an English major for a while and why I played the flute for seven years, but I digress).
My schedule first semester went like this: Monday and Wednesday I had class from 8-10, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-12:30 and Friday from 8-11. This semester it’s almost identical, except for the fact that I have class from 8-11 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It’s really not as bad as you think. To prove it to you here are my top 3 reasons for taking morning classes and my top 3 tips for surviving them.
Why I Take Morning Classes...
You can use morning classes as a way to go to bed early without seeming weird for not being as social as other people. I don’t know about you but I love sleep. Like if I had to choose between money, chocolate, and sleep, I would probably choose sleep. Most doctors recommend that at my age, we get about 9 hours of sleep and I follow that rule. I am in bed by 10pm and let me tell you it is great. If you’re like me and miss using the excuse “my mom said no” to get out of plans, you can now just say “sorry I have class in the morning, I need to go to bed” and nobody will question you! (It’s also a great way to keep yourself on a healthy sleep schedule but that’s not as important)

You have the rest of the day to yourself once you’re done with classes. No more rushing to fit in meeting with your teacher for office hours in between your busy schedule. You have time to seize the day! Last semester, I was always free for lunch plans. Literally always. Plus, you can do your homework during the day while your friends are in class and use the night to binge watch The X-Files before it goes off Netflix. (More information coming about managing your homework during the day)

It gives you a reason to get out of bed and lets you have the day to yourself without feeling overwhelmed. I deal with some fairly severe anxiety and it’s often really difficult for me to find the motivation to get out of bed. Even if I didn’t have anxiety, I would struggle to find the motivation to get started with my day with enough time to get ready and be productive even before I need to go to class (especially in the winter when it’s cold and windy). Having morning classes forces you to get started early, and then carry that motivation throughout the day!

...And How I Survive Them
I am not ashamed to embrace my love of napping to motivate myself to go to class. Sure I wake up early, but I can catch up on sleep later. Yes, napping can sometimes be a way to avoid work and can be considered a bad use of your time, but when I take a nap during the day I always feel like I can manage it because of how much time I have left in my day. Why not take a nap from 11-12:30 if I still have hours of free time afterwards.

Try to stay active and stay as far away from your dorm as possible. Your dorm seems like the perfect place to study, right? The quiet study area is just close enough for you to go back and grab materials you may have forgotten but far enough for you to avoid the comforts of your bed...at least that’s what you think. The reality is, you need to get yourself up and out. I like to take everything with me for the day and not come back until I’ve completed a certain amount of things. Sometimes you need to go grab food or go to FitRec to work up some energy, but that’s okay! I live in Kilachand Hall, all the way and East Campus, and I try to walk at least to the School of Theology Library to get some work done. If I’m feeling really motivated, I go to the 26th floor of StuVi or the College of General Studies Lounge and I take a walk through Brookline on my way there; that way I’m getting outside and getting exercise, but I have a stopping point.

Stay organized as much as possible. Lay out your clothes the day before, pack your backpack, and set as many alarms as possible. My alarms go off in 15 minute increments from about 6:45 to 7:30 and I’m not ashamed. It does help that my roommate is either never there when I wake up and when she is, she is a very deep sleeper. Even if I don’t find the motivation to lay out your clothes, at least have a rough idea of an outfit you could put on so you’re not scrambling. The most useful thing I can suggest, however, is to pack your backpack the night before and charge your computer. You’ll thank me for that one.

Hanna: Hothouse Goes Guatemala

A week ago, I was telling my photographer to get a tighter shot of the woman leading a female empowerment workshop for International Women’s Day. We were in Santa Cruz, a community on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, and the sun matched our spirits as we created a video that would hopefully bring the village increased funding for education and economic growth.

Yesterday, I was stuck inside my bedroom as snow and wind knocked against my window and barred me indoors. It was yet another snow day and I couldn’t help but text my filming team, “Why did we come back from Guatemala to THIS?”

After a bit of complaining about the ice and the cold, we realized that we should instead focus our energy on gratitude. After all, if it weren’t for our times in snowy Boston, we wouldn’t have earned the trip to Guatemala in the first place.

Yes, for this spring break, Boston University funded a trip to Guatemala for six students and the professor of Hothouse Productions. Hothouse is a class within COM, but to call it a “class” is a gross understatement. In Hothouse, students operate within a pseudo-production company. The executive producer? Professor Garland Waller. The network and source of funds and resources? Boston University. The production team of producers, photographers, editors, writers, managers, and more? Students.

Each year, Hothouse creates videos for real-world clients, all of which are non-profits or organizations involved in social justice. It’s genius – students work in a professional team, practice the role they hope to turn into a career, and use all they have learned in COM to give back to the world. Many thanks to Professor Waller for creating and leading such a program with such grace and compassion. If you want to use your Film and TV skills to make a difference, Hothouse is a class for you.

For the entire semester, my team of two producers, two photographer/editors, one photographer/location scout, two writers, and a production manager worked through the post-production process to plan our shoot. Our main client was Amigos de Santa Cruz, an organization who has helped the impoverished community of Santa Cruz establish self-sustaining education, health, and economic systems. Our video would play at the Guatemalan Embassy, various fundraisers, and online in an attempt to bring awareness and support to the mission. As we planned, we didn’t know what to expect, but we knew we were part of something important.

While I won’t go into the details of our experience (there are too many amazing moments that would take all day to write) I will highlight the takeaways for which I am most grateful. Firstly, Hothouse has given me true professional experience I know will transfer into my career. Professor Waller trusted us with each step of the process, critiqued us honestly and constructively, and supported us through every stressor or challenge that came our way. As a producer I was forced to balance kindness with authority when it came to leading the team, and I had no choice but to trust my own creative opinions and put them forward without hesitation. No other class has offered such a real-world opportunity, and much of the difference comes in that we were working with real clients, for a real purpose, with real people. To have had such an experience before even receiving my diploma is incredibly unique. I cannot wait to share these videos with prospective job options.

Next, Hothouse and Professor Waller have shown me that I can use my passion, my skills and my career to make a difference in more ways than expected. As the production rolled on, talks of future documentaries, charity-oriented production companies and Guatemala-inspired stories hijacked our conversations. We were energized to do more, and now we realized we could do that in this industry. Whether it be through a video for an organization we believe in, or through telling a story we believe should be told for the sake of greater good, we saw Professor Waller dedicate much of her career to creating a positive impact and that alone inspired us. Not a single student walked away without considering how they can do the same with their own careers, and I truly believe every Film/TV student should study with Professor Waller to learn from her example.

Finally, Hothouse introduced me to people who are more than wonderful teammates. As we worked on the project and filmed for only a week, we immediately grew close enough to know we would want to work with one another again someday. For me, this is so indicative of COM in general. This college is not a competition. It is not a place to prop yourself up and spring forward to individual success. COM is a place that brings you to creative minds and devoted friends who want to work with you and support you all in one. This Hothouse team came together around a common goal and with a common passion. In the end, we came out with a project we were proud of, a group chat that will not quiet down, and friends we will hold dear even after graduation. While the professional experience has made me feel secure about my future, my confidence comes mostly from knowing I will never be alone out there. Whether working together or cheering each other on, Hothouse and COM have given me a strong, smart and energized group of wonderful friends. I couldn’t be more grateful for that and I cannot wait to see where we all go from here.

Alex: Your Token CA Abroad Blog Post

Hello from across the pond!!

So I know the abroad blog post is definitely not a new concept. But after trying for an hour to come up with any topic other than study abroad, I realized it’s the inevitable subject for Abroad CA’s for a reason—because BU’s study abroad programs really are that great! I’ve only been in London for about a month, but I’ve already found that choosing to study abroad was the best decision I could have ever made.

Before I left for London in January, I found myself in a really weird emotional rut. I wasn’t enjoying Boston like I had in past semesters and found it hard to appreciate the city I used to love so much. I think I had only felt homesick once in my first two years at BU, and even then that only lasted for, like, 20 minutes so I knew that something was up. Because I was feeling so funky in my post-sophomore slump, I started to get really nervous that moving to an entirely different continent would be a bad move.

Thankfully, I was so, so wrong.

The BU dorms are located in South Kensington, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods I have ever set foot in. Seriously, the housing here can even put Brookline to shame. I live in Sorbonne House and have the most incredible view of the Natural History Museum right outside my dorm window! There are so many cute cafes and coffee shops in the area too that make South Ken so easy and fun to explore. I’ll be honest-- the first couple of days were a little overwhelming but soon enough I was taking the tube and wandering the city with complete ease.

(These apartments are just across the street from my dorm!)

The classes in the London Program have been unlike most of my classes back in Boston. The classes run for four hours twice a week, which was a little terrifying at first since I can barely get through a three-hour class in Boston. I’ve actually looked forward to going to my classes in London though! I’ve been on weekly field trips to museums throughout London for my art history class and even got to visit Cadbury World for my PR class (We got free chocolate bars!). The professors here have been so invested in our learning and make sure that we take as much as we can out of the class.

(The Wallace Collection, one of the museums I visited for my art history class)

One of my favorite parts of being abroad is how easy it is to travel. In the UK, I’ve visited Bath and Windsor Castle, which were absolutely beautiful. I just got back from a trip to Portugal this past weekend and fell in love with the beautiful architecture and friendly Portuguese people. I’ve already booked trips to Italy, Iceland, and Dublin and I can’t wait to visit so many other places and learn from these different cultures.

(Sintra in Portugal is hands down one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited!)

I’ve been able to do so much during my month abroad and I still have so much time left! Even though I was so nervous about leaving for London, I am so happy that I did. If you’re still deciding whether or not to apply to or accept a Study Abroad program, I highly recommend that you do! A massive location change may seem intimidating, but sometimes it can be the perfect remedy to finding out more about yourself and the world around us.

Kate W: Foods You Should Always Have in Your Dorm Room

Having food in your dorm is super important especially being a crazy busy BU student or with the always unpredictable Boston weather. Sometimes it’s just impossible to get the dining hall, but that definitely will not stop you’re stomach from growling in the middle of class or on your walk down Comm Ave. That’s why it’s always important to keep these snacks or small meals on hand in your dorm room.

Fruit:

These make for a great breakfast-on-the-go or mid-day snack. Not only does fruit taste good, but it is also healthy. Fruits are very easy to come by at BU especially in the dining halls where you can take an extra apple or two to eat later on.

Popcorn:

If you’re a film/tv major like me or even just a movie lover, movie nights are very frequent, and no movie is complete without popcorn. So, for the nights that you spend with your friends in the dorms watching Netflix, this is exactly the snack that you need to have readily available.

Late night study snack:

This can be any guilty pleasure snack that you keep around in case you need a quick boost of energy while studying. Buying them in bulk may also be a good idea since staying up late to catch up on homework seems to be a common circumstance at BU. You will probably get hungry and doing homework is bad enough, let alone doing it with a growling stomach. So, the easy solution is to keep a snack in your dorm that makes you happy and can help you focus on your work. My personal snack of choice is animal crackers.

Peanut Butter:

Peanut butter goes with everything. Whether you have left over pretzels, vegetables, or bread, peanut butter goes well with it all. It can easily turn a quick, boring snack into something more delicious and that you actually enjoy eating. It is kind of hard to take peanut butter on the go, but it’s a great option if you only have a little bit of time or if the walk outside from your dorm to the dining hall seems a little too difficult with Boston weather.

Ramen:

Ramen is the stereotypical college food for a reason. It’s no 5-star meal, but it is easy and if made right, it can taste pretty good. Your only kitchen resource of a rented BU microfridge is pretty limiting, making Ramen one of the best options for days when you’re snowed into your dorm. It’s also a great late night meal especially if you don’t have a lot of time to eat because it’s super quick and easy to make. Basically, ramen is a college student’s dream and should be eaten often.

Stacy: How to Enjoy Your Last Semester of College:

It is hitting us seniors at all different times... and it hit me during this past week on Spring Break with all my friends... that WE ARE GRADUATING! While the real world and future opportunities are exciting and around the corner, leaving college can be sad, depressing and a little bit scary. Never again will all my best friends be in the same place for a significant amount of time, and that's not fun to think about. But, be an optimist and make the most out of these last few months! Here's how I plan to spend the rest of my college career:

1. When faced with the option to either go out and do something fun... or watch Netflix and chill at home... GO OUT! Having fun, making memories & spending time with all your friends will make you happier in the long term, no matter how comfy your bed is or how cold it is outside.

2. Take pictures! Don't get crazy and let pictures ruin enjoying the moments... but stop for a minute here and there to document your day. Looking back later you will be very happy. And if you're not the photo taking type, you can always journal things down to make sure you don't forget things.

3. Eat at & venture to new places! As a senior, there are still so many restaurants I haven't been to that I have always wanted to try. Stop re-visiting the same places and take more adventures out into the city.

4. Think about the legacy you are leaving behind. Whether it's the TV show you work on for BUTV, or your role in PRLAB, you are leaving something behind. Pay it forward and make sure you are leaving the organizations and student groups you love better than when you found them. Make your legacy a great one!

5. Have fun! Be an optimist, enjoy your friends and make every day a different one. Try new things and live in the moment... you're only an undergrad once!

Eliza: Things You Should Definitely Do When Moving Off-Campus

When I returned to Boston this spring semester, I wasn’t returning to living at BU. Instead, I was venturing out one tiny step into the real world and moving into an off-campus apartment in the depths of Allston. I took this tiny step into the real world because, in all seriousness, a vast majority of the nearby parts of Allston are mostly populated by BU undergrads, so it still feels like home.

Here, I strive to lay out some of the things you should make sure you do as you move off-campus. Making it a smooth transition can make sure you feel at settled before classes start.

Do be sure to get a checking account set up, and get check books! A lot of landlords prefer to receive rent in checks, so make sure you have them for when the time comes around.

Do talk to your roommates about paying utilities (if you have them). Also, make sure someone is setting up wifi, or else that first week is going to be seriously lacking in Netflix binging.

Do plan who is bringing what for the kitchen. Moving in is hectic, especially if you’re going to have a lot of roommates, and it only gets more hectic if three of you all bring a blender (not saying we did this, not saying we didn’t).

And on that note…

Don’t overpack! Moving into a big off-campus apartment after years of living in a tiny dorm may make it tempting to bring a ton of stuff, but a cluttered living space can make for a lot of unneeded stress.

Don’t feel like you have to bring everything to Boston with you! There’s an Ikea relatively close, and most likely a roommate who lives nearby will have a car during move in week. Just go buy things once you’re here!

Don’t spend all your money on take-out! There are so many great options in Allston for ordering food, but it adds up. Take advantage of that kitchen you were so excited to have, once upon a time.
I’ve been so happy with my choice to move off-campus, and making sure to do little things like this made the process so much smoother for me. If you can make it work, Allston is definitely worth the extra walk.