COM Ambassador Blog

I’m taking Production 1 this semester and after many reshoots and late night editing sessions, I finally had to admit to myself that I needed to spend more time on pre-production.

Before Prod 1 I had never tried to make a movie all on my own, but I figured I had an idea in my head of what I wanted to shoot so I’d just wing it. #MISTAKE. My first movie was a mess, to the point that I had to go back and reshoot the whole thing. I figured I’d share some tips that helped me out for my next couple movies:

1. Writing/finding actors

I put these together because one thing I learned from my first movie is how hard it is to get lots of friends together at once. It’s a lot easier to write a movie with the expectation you can get one or two people to act and work from there. If you need to have a scene with a lot of people, websites like doodle.com can help find a time that works with everyone’s schedules. (Make sure to offer pizza too, it’s amazing what college students will do for free pizza).

2. Shot List/Storyboarding

Making a storyboard is the most helpful thing you can do. When I had to reshoot my first movie I made a quick stick-figure storyboard, which made the shoot go much smoother. My last movie was longer, so I didn’t have time to make a full storyboard, but even just putting a plan on paper as a shot list was better than trying to go from what I had in my head, and made sure I didn’t miss shots I needed.

3. Pulling together props and LIGHTING 

For my first movie I needed a big pile of paper, so I figured I’d raid the recycling bins the day of the shoot. The problem? They emptied them 2 days before my shoot. Lesson learned, it’s better to get the props way beforehand. The other things to round up early are lights. More often than not, I found myself with 2 desk lamps trying to light a scene and wishing I had more lights. You can always take out light kits from FPS or even knock on friends’ doors and ask to borrow lamps, but the more light you have, the better. 

Deep within the depths of the COM building (in the basement), there is a vast, magical place just waiting for you to utilize all it has to offer. It is filled with experience, potential, and most of all, equipment which most likely equals a total monetary value greater than your own house. But don’t let that intimidate you! This is simply BU’s Production Services, formerly Field Production Services (FPS), and it is one of the greatest resources open to COM students.

So what is FPS? This service provides motion picture production equipment to students in COM while also facilitating post production facilities. They have over 50 camera packages, 40 sound packages, and 40 lighting packages, so their student-to-equipment ratio is incredibly low. When students need to use this film equipment for a class or a student activity, they are able to check out whatever they need right within the COM building itself. If you are interested in Film & Television or Broadcast Journalism, you are most likely to be among those who utilize FPS, however any student may find themselves in need of the resource.

FPS does sound wonderful and simple, but there are certainly some tips to keep in mind before making your first check-out. If you take the Production 1 class, an introduction to FPS is included in the syllabus, but here is some good-to-know information about FPS from a student’s perspective.

1. Utilize the people in FPS.

To reserve equipment, visit https://wco.bu.edu/. Your professor should instruct you what exactly you need to check out if you’re not sure, but the best way to thoroughly understand the equipment you’ll be using is to ask FPS itself. Multiple people work in their offices and each person really knows their stuff. If you’re unsure about what certain packages mean or do, you can ask about them in person or over the phone. Whenever I check out anything, even if I’ve used it before, I always ask them to make sure I have everything I need and that I’m planning to use them all correctly. They’re great resources for information and they’re great people in general. Sometimes a drop-off or pick-up which could take one minute turns into a ten-minute conversation, simply because the people there are so nice and interested in what students are working on. Definitely not a bad idea to give them a friendly hello!

2.  Reserve in advance.

When reserving any equipment from FPS, it is a good idea to make your reservations far in advance. Scratch that - it is imperative to make your reservations far in advance. What if every section of a class has a film project do within the same week? When this happens, every student in all of those sections will most likely look to film the weekend before. Reservations for that weekend will shoot up quickly, and although there is enough equipment for every student to finish their project, there is not enough equipment to complete them all at the same time. Be the first one to reserve and you will never run into a problem.

3. Set a reminder to tell you when your equipment is due back to FPS.

This one comes from a very personal place. Just a few weeks back, I walked into FPS with equipment in my hands, ready to return them to their home. They swiped my Student ID, looked at the computer before them, then solemnly said, “These were actually due yesterday.” My heart collapsed as I pictured my bank account dropping to $0, but I’m writing you this tip so you do not experience the same heart-drop-into-stomach feeling.

Luckily, the consequences were not as detrimental as I expected in that moment, so don’t freak out if this happens to you. FPS, which operates like a professional equipment rental service, must hold students accountable for the tools they borrow and prepare them for the deadlines and rules they must follow in the “real world.” The equipment is that which you’d find in the “real world” as well, and as you can imagine, that stuff is pricey! It is remarkable that students have access to such equipment so easily, but their high value makes their prompt return extremely important. Thus, for every 12 hours a piece of equipment is late, that student is charged $10. Not the end of the world, but still a consequence worth avoiding!

As soon as you receive a confirmation email about your reservation, set alarms on your phone for the required pick-up and drop-off times. Set a reminder. Set two reminders. You’ll thank yourself in the end.

Secondly, ask the check-out desk to confirm your return-time when you pick up the equipment in the first place. It can’t hurt to hear it another time from them!

4. Over-use FPS!

Again, it is incredible that we, from freshman year to graduate school, can utilize such advanced equipment for our films and projects. If you are interested in any sort of production, take advantage of this resource! Check out the cameras before your project is due just to get a feel for how to use them. Film for fun. Play with everything and see what you like or dislike. When resources like FPS are so readily available, it would be a shame for anyone to pass them up.

 

Good luck with any production work you set out to accomplish in the future and remember that Production Services are always there to help!

One thing you’ll definitely regret is if you don’t take advantage of the city and the events happening this month before the winter weather arrives! Before you know it, snow and ice will blanket Comm. Ave. and the only thing you’ll want to be doing is snuggling up under your comforter with Netflix… Here are a few things you can do before November ends!

Walk The Freedom Trail!

Attention history buffs! The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile tail that leads you to 16 historically significant sites. It is especially beautiful during the fall with the autumn leaves and cool breezes. Explore the trail with a group of friends and make the most of the last weeks of bearable Boston weather. http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/index.html

Newbury Street

If you haven’t made it down to Newbury Street yet, make the trip before it gets too cold! Lined with shops and restaurants, this area of Boston is a perfect place to spend your Saturday or Sunday. It’s also not too cold yet if you haven’t tried Emack & Bolio’s famous ice cream.

Harpoon Brewery

For those who are legal, a visit to the Harpoon Brewery is a must! I personally love seasonal beers (gingerbread inspired, pumpkin, octoberfest, etc.) so a visit to the brewery during the fall is always on my to-do list. Harpoon offers an hour tour of the brewery for only $5, which includes samplings of their beers.

Emerald Necklace Tour

If you love to bike, this is the perfect activity for you! The Emerald Tour is NOT for the beginner though. It is a three-hour tour and covers at least 15 miles. But if this is right up your alley, take advantage of the next few weeks!http://www.urbanadventours.com/tours/emerald/

Of course there is a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts on nearly every corner of Boston, but why not expand your horizons and discover a great new coffee spot?

Pavement Coffeehouse

In addition to it's awesome coffee and atmosphere, Pavement also has a delicious salad and sandwich selection. I love to pop over in between classes to grab a bite to eat, or even go in on a Sunday morning for breakfast and some homework.

Tatte 

Located in South Campus, Tatte looks like Pinterest lover's dream version of a pastry shop. Their perfect rustic aesthetic and genuinely beautiful pastries form a great little spot to get away from it all. Pro tip: get the mocha. They use chocolate shavings!

Blue State Coffee

A fan favorite over in West Campus, Blue State coffee is good food and drink with a good cause. A percentage of all profits go to charity, so you don't have to feel bad blowing all your money on caffeine!

 

 

Hey Com-mandos, it’s Aidan again. This weekend, something magical (and weirdly horrifying) happened to me. I’ve been a part of a production of a musical, Urinetown, for the past two months. This show sucked up all my time: weekends, nights after classes, all of it. But this Saturday, as the curtain closed on my final performance, another curtain opened, revealing all the free time I now have.

And it terrifies me.

What do I do with free time? Should I take up crocheting? Magic? Sleight of Hand? My mind is filled with anxiety and confusion over not having anything to do with myself. BUT, its going to be okay.

Some other COM students out there might be like me; always wanting to be busy to avoid that moment when you realize you have nothing to do. Before this week, having nothing to do scared me stiff.

HOWEVER, I am here to tell you today that free time is a good thing. All my com-rades, heck, all of BU: Take some time for yourself. Catch up on Netflix, go out and buy more underwear so you aren’t doing laundry every four days, eat all three meals that you should have been eating. Dare I say it, go to the gym.  Free time means more time to focus on the most important thing: you. So relax, all my scheduling nerds. Take this moment to take a breath, re-focus, and find ways to improve you. Take this moment to get your life in order. Then, when you feel all good and comfy, plunge into the next great challenge.

Fall is in full-swing at BU and aside from the foliage and midterms, it tends to be a pretty ‘future’ oriented time for students. College is an overlap of three types of planning: Class Planning, Internship Planning and Job Planning.

The first one, class planning, is pretty straightforward. The more you plan and register, the easier the process becomes. There is such a thing as too much registration planning though. If you eat, sleep, breathe on the studentlink planner that does not mean that you will get every class you stalked for the past month. It’s not the end of the world though either. The key part of registration is a balancing act. This is an act Donald really has down in his latest blog post:  http://blogs.bu.edu/comblog/2014/11/03/dj-a-freshmans-guide-to-registering-for-classes/ .

Internship Planning can be a little bit hazy for students, especially if they’re not familiar with the Boston area or the agencies, news stations, and production offices here (like myself). A good first step is an everyday Google search. Get familiar with the internship opportunities in the area and find a company that vibes with your personality. Don’t necessarily eliminate places that don’t fit your plan perfectly, but it’s also good to have a target company. Next run a LinkedIn search to find a BU alum at that company that you could potentially reach out to for an informational interview. From there head on over to COM Career Services, edit your resume and cover letter and apply, apply, apply.  This is definitely a case where the more time you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it. If it’s your first time trying for an internship don’t limit yourself, still apply to every place you even dream of interning at, but again – don’t be afraid to applying to those second or third row options. Just applying for internships is good practice for our third fall preparation phase: THE JOB SEARCH.

The job search can seem like a daunting never ending cycle, but the sooner you get on board, the easier it’ll make the transition. BU also has tons of helpful resources to ease this process. First, there’s a COM networking panel every fall and a COM Job Fair every spring hosted by COM Career Services. The networking panel in the fall helps you build connections before the job fair in the spring where you get a better idea of what jobs are currently available for you post-graduation. Another option is visiting COM Career directly. They can help you search the job database, prep for interviews and help get all your ducks in a row. Lastly, talk to your professors. Over your four years at BU, you will build invaluable relationships with highly-qualified professionals within the same job field you’re trying to break into. Don’t let these connections go to waste.

With that – happy future planning and don’t forget to soak up the last of fall, before that winter wind is here.

Registering for classes can be pretty scary. That’s probably why advisors are there to assist you when you register for your first semester of classes at orientation. However, when you register for the spring semester, you’re left completely on your own. But don’t fear - here’s a list of tips for getting through your first registration:

1. Make sure you’re completing as many requirements as possible. Now, that definitely doesn’t mean you can’t take interesting classes, but make sure you’re aware of what courses you need to graduate. For example, you may have already completed your history requirement with an AP test in high school, so you do not have to take more history classes if you do not want to. It would stink to get halfway through next semester and realize that a class you thought was satisfying a requirement actually wasn’t.
2. Think about how you function best in your daily schedule when picking times for classes. One of the best parts of registration is that you pick what time you want to take classes at. As someone who doesn’t study well during one-hour breaks in the day, I always try to schedule classes back-to-back so I don’t have breaks. However, if you eat snacks a lot during the day and get burnt out after a 90-minute lecture, you should schedule breaks. Additionally, if you are not able to concentrate in the evening, take more morning classes. Sometimes you have to sacrifice timing to get into a certain class, but for the most part, you have a lot of flexibility here.
3. Research your professors! This is arguably one of my most important tips because a professor can truly make or break a class. Websites like RateMyProfessors.com can be helpful to get a feel for what classes might seem like, but be careful when reading through comments. Some of them can be years old, and some students could write very negative reviews for very ridiculous reasons. My best advice would be to try to find other people who have taken courses with those professors in the past. Talking to them in person can give you a great feel for what the course and the professor are actually like.
4. Use the “Planner” option under the “Registration” tab on the StudentLink so all of your classes are pre-loaded when you go to register. When the StudentLink unlocks during your registration time, you have the option of registering for the courses you put into your planner. This is the quickest and best way to register for classes because if you don’t utilize the planner you have to individually search for each course one at a time.
5. Stay calm! Although registration can seem really scary, in the end your schedule will work out. You can always schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor in COM Student Services to find out what exact courses you need to take. Also, be sure to reach out to upperclassmen in COM or your COM Ambassadors who have registered before if you still have lingering questions. And even if you can’t get into a course you really wanted to take, always remember that most courses will be offered again and you will have plenty of time to take them before you graduate!

As a music nerd, I’ve asked almost every Kiwi I’ve met during my four months here, “What are some good bands/artists from New Zealand?” One of my bosses tried to give me some suggestions, emphasizing that I had to give a listen to Die! Die! Die!. So, when I found myself in Melbourne over semester break and saw that they were playing a gig, I stopped by the Ding Dong Lounge for a listen. Unfortunately, my wee eardrums couldn’t handle the splitting, dissonant rock and I dashed out of there after the second opener, hoping to save what cilia I had left. Clearly, Die! Die! Die! were not for me. Not to be discouraged, I continued my mission upon returning to Auckland.

I approached my other boss for suggestions, since I admire his style. Unfortunately, his jaded, pessimistic response was, “The music scene in New Zealand is dying a slow and painful death these days.” The optimist in me couldn’t accept that to be true, so that weekend I asked some guys I met at a party for some of their homeland favorites. A couple of them mumbled the names of some bands I swore were actually Australian—and they were. Bummer.

A couple of weeks later, my roommate’s coworker offered up some hip-hop artists, to whom, quite frankly, I don’t feel qualified to listen being the awkward, rhythm-less girl that I am. My coworker Hazel was finally able to suggest a couple of options that I ended up liking, but I knew if I was going to fill a healthy Spotify playlist that would remind me of beautiful Aotearoa once I’m back in the States, I’d have to turn to the Internet for answers. Here’s a playlist of some of my favorite Kiwi songs that I’ve discovered:

“Killing You” – BROODS

BROODS are probably the second biggest Kiwi act to gain some buzz in the States after Lorde. The brother-sister, indie-pop duo released their debut album Evergreen this August. “Killing You” has the potential to be a bit of a cliché, “I miss you” melodrama, with lyrics like “It’s killing me, it’s killing you, ‘cause I wish you were here.” However, the combination of Georgia’s stunning voice, accented by subtly sweet backing vocals, the pristine production, and ethereal ambience result in a moving, perfectly crafted pop song.

“Everything to Me” – Lips

Stephanie Brown, who performs as the electro-soul act Lips, is known for her “knack for capturing the bittersweet nuances of life and putting them to song” with a tinge of sly humor. This slow jam has a haunting quality that is simply hypnotizing.

“Bob Lennon John Dylan” – The Phoenix Foundation

 Indie-rock band The Phoenix Foundation have been one of my favorites since high school. However, I wasn’t the biggest fan of their last release, so I was thrilled when I listened to their new EP Tom’s Lunch and heard that they regained a bit of the buoyancy I thought they had lost with Fandango. This opening track is frustratingly catchy with tongue-twisting lyrics and a mangled guitar solo. Love love love.

“Whatever Happened to Our Love?” – The Dictaphone Blues

Dictaphone Blues are a psychedelic pop-rock trio based in the lovely City of Sails, Auckland. I bought this song on a whim and when it popped up on shuffle while I was walking to work, I couldn’t help but dance my way through St. Kevin’s Arcade, much to the entertainment of the lovely people having breakfast at Alleluia Café. Feel free to visualize this embarrassing scene as you enjoy the jam.

“Blueprint” – Eden Mulholland

Though currently based in Melbourne (traitor!—just kidding, it’s a lovely city, even if it’s in Australia), electro-pop artist Eden Mulholland makes the list with his infectiously upbeat “Blueprint.” I’m currently shoulder-shimmying to the giddy piano and driving beat as I type this, fyi.

“Girlfriend” – Streets of Laredo

This folk rock band from Auckland is one of my favorite recent finds. They’d seamlessly fit in on tour with the likes of River City Extension and Good Old War with their foot-stomping percussion and jangling harmonies. Lucky for you guys, they’re now based in Brooklyn and have been busy touring the US.

“Curious Creature” – Five Mile Town

Five Mile Town are a fairly generic, alt-rock band, who remind me of a mostly de-folked Lumineers with the vocals of The Hush Sound’s Bob Morris. But the harmonies in “Curious Creature” just make my soul soar (do you want to punch me yet?)!

“House By the Beach” – Cool Rainbows

Cool Rainbows are a psychedelic indie-pop band made up of seven live musicians and headed by Djeisan Suskov and his wife Emily. The innocently cute “House by the Beach” paints a lovely picture in mind as Djeisan croons, “Living beside the ocean in a house by the beach, the crashing of waves in the morning will take the place of all our alarm bells.” Emily’s soothing “oohs” and “ahhs” combined with the lazy strumming of guitars lull you into dreams of breezy, southern Californian days. Check out the sweet music video for the song that my coworker Hazel produced:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug3_1Ne8qfM

“Straw Into Gold” Tiny Ruins

Tiny Ruins’ Hollie Fullbrook has both the strength and vulnerability of the likes of Feist and Laura Marling, but also a bluesy tinge that makes her sound original. “Straw into Gold” is perfect for rainy, late-night listening, with horns that caress and soft percussion.

Listen to the entire playlist, sans “House by the Beach,” for yourself on Spotify!

COM Blog - Kiwi Anthems

 

I will be the first to admit I have a problem. In regards to my very specific pop culture loves of course. I can’t help but think about when my favorite people are releasing new books/albums/ movies and obviously it’s my duty to keep you in the loop. Here’s what’s on my mind as we approach the end of 2014:

Yes Please by Amy Poehler – October 28^th

Tina, Mindy, Lena and FINALLY Amy. I am so ready for this—I may or may not have had my copy pre-ordered for the last few months #noshame. I’m saying goodbye to any hope of sleep Tuesday night because I know exactly what I’ll be doing. Oh and PS, Mindy is coming out with a new book in the Spring, thought you ought to know.

 

Classics By She & Him – December 2^nd

Last week, She & Him finally announced via Instagram that their next album would be released in December. I get it, Zooey’s a busy lady with her show and all but it was a tease to announce at the end of the summer that an album was coming out “soon.” I couldn’t be more excited for this next volume, a collection of “oldies” covers recorded with a 20-piece orchestra.  Their sound has a full-bodied vintage feel, making them my absolute favorite band. If you haven’t heard of them PLEASE do yourself a favorite and check them out. The She & Him Pandora station is my absolute favorite for studying/walking down the street/anytime anywhere. If you go to their website sheandhim.com and tune the radio there to 1202AM, you can preview one of their tracks.

 

Wild – December 5^th

 

Although I admire Reese Witherspoon, I wouldn’t count her in my favorite category but nevertheless I’m really looking forward to the release of this film. Wild was always that book I saw in the bookstore sitting on the “staff recommended” shelf. Seriously, everywhere I went it seemed to live on that shelf so finally I decided to buy it and read it. It’s a truly empowering story about a woman who takes on all 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail by herself with very little training following a tough period in her life. Thanksgiving break (which is a few short weeks away!!) is a great time to pick up this quick read, so why not give it a shot— you wont be disappointed.

 

When I was younger, I always thought Halloween deserved the appreciation of a national holiday; I wanted to maximize candy collections by starting to ring doorbells at 7am with a day off from school.  This October 31 is a Friday, and although classes aren’t canceled on Halloween, there are still plenty of ways to get festive on campus.

No matter where you live, every residence hall is sure to have a way for students to skip the trick and enjoy the treat.  Danielson Hall will host a contest for the most creative costumes and painted pumpkins on Monday, October 28, at 8pm, and on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 8pm, Warren Towers will provide pumpkin carving, bobbing for apples, a pie walk, and treats.  If you want to sample treats from around the world, stop by the Howard Thurman Center on Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 2pm to 5pm.  Head to the Towers West Basement on October 31, at 7pm for Towers of Terror.

Want to support local organizations and do some good?  Create a group of at least three people and sign up for Trick or Can, taking place on Oct. 30, from 4pm to 6:30pm, and collect non-perishable goods for the Boston CANshare Food Drive to help those living with hunger.  Then on Oct. 31, from 1:30pm to 4:45pm, volunteer at the Tobin Community School Halloween Party; contact Kirsten Kuhn at bucsc@bu.edu to learn more.

Check out a screening of a Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus in the COM lounge on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7pm, or head to BU Central at 9pm on Friday, Oct. 31, to see Cabin in the Woods in Student Activities’ house of horror.

Lastly, on Halloween day during your walk to class, make a stop at Metcalf Science Plaza to see physics in action at the 10th Annual Pumpkin Pumpkin Drop at 12:30pm; show up early for pumpkin decorating.

It might be a trick to have to attend classes on Halloween, but between spooky movies, creative costuming, community service, and lots of candy, your Halloween week on campus is sure to be a treat.