Directive. « Mprints

Directive.

WALL-E was wonderful. Before you read this next paragraph i assure you there will be spoilers, but fear not, per usual, if you skip this paragraph and go on to the next i’ll be talking about something completely different. Damn it if i don’t love that adorable little robot that looks like Johnny Five’s son. It only took a moment for me to realize this would be much more than a children’s cartoon as the sound track to one of my favorite musicals played through the credits to reveal it was coming from WALL-E’s little chest tape player. The animation was amazing and the most enchanting part of the movie was before any of the real story began and WALL-E was just trying to get EVE’s attention. Besides all the obvious cute stuff i give the movie props for bringing up some real issues. Usually i would argue they were beating us over the head with some things, including the idea of American’s being apathetic and egocentric however, the other parts of the movie were redeeming enough to make me overlook it…and well they’re right, lets not lie. Towards the end i started to get a little restless, but there were other factors at play here, mostly that it was a late showing. If you have not seen it yet GO! Well worth it to see it on the big screen, unlike Wanted, which i also watched this past week. Not a total wash, the action all be it kinda ridiculous was cool and the witty remarks got a laugh or two…not worth two hours of “Angelina Jolie is so hot!” Yes, i know, mmhmmm i get it, i’d totally do her in a New York minute too. Sorry, i’m over it.

Between the two movies, that i must add i willingly and happily attended, i managed to; go to a swanky party at unsaid location where there was flowing champagne and Belvedere (please don’t tell Tito!), attend a beautiful wedding, sleep in..sorta…, take some skyline shots for work and get accosted by a Vietnamese homeless woman. This is why it took me so long to post, i’m still recovering!

Friday night at the party Jake, Meredith and i scanned the rooms to find, a) we were in fact the youngest ones there and b) if we wanted to sit it was going to cost us roughly $200 American dollars. We stood, for the most part. After our second drink the room began to fill up and a booth by the door became vacant. Quickly we swoop in knowing eventually someone is going to ask for a credit card number to run or tell us to move along. It was right about that time a woman with a clipboard came around, we thought for sure with the orders for us to get out. She sat next to me and began to point out a gentleman wearing all black with a backwards baseball cap…oh no!…the muscle! Not at all, instead she explains he is one of the owners and would like to extend an invitation to the Playboy Party coming up as well as the Dolce & Gabbana Party. Sweet, we were saved…for the time being. As she gets up she asks, “Oh, and who’s Birthday are you celebrating?” Looking back at the wall, we were definitely sitting in a booth with a “Happy Birthday” banner proudly displayed as well as balloons free floating…how did we miss that? Without missing a beat Meredith simply looks up and smiles and points to me….oh yeah it’s my Birthday! Then Mr. Black Baseball Cap comes over with three glasses and proceeds to fill them with champagne, again and again and….well i go close my tab because there was no logical reason in buying anything else. When i return Jake and Meredith have been replaced by about five other people i have never seen before in my life! Crap, too much champagne! Then i spot them at a roped off booth with Baseball Cap! He had sold our table out from under us for some good cash money from what i understand, thank goodness we hadn’t really paid for it or that would have ruined my Birthday! So behind the velvet rope, if you will, we continue to drink Belvedere and Champagne and fight off creepy kids as if we were interested just to stay in the hip spot in the club. i would like to apologize now to Jake and Meredith, 1) jerk of the year should have been punched in the face 2) i wish i would have seen who grabbed your purse because 3) if i had not had so much to drink i would have taken care of 1&2!

Saturday was ushered in by the worst hangover headache in the history of mankind. Okay, not really but i just didn’t want to move… even my eyes! The wedding was at 6p though so i had to get out of bed and make myself presentable at some point and let me tell you after Friday nights escapade that was going to take a lot of work. Finally around 3p i get a move on and am out the door by 4:30-5p and on my way in yes, the same “see through” dress i wore to the last wedding. The dress= way too cute not to wear and really if you can see the outline of my legs OH NO!!!!! We’re not all living on the FLDS Ranch. Besides all of that and the heat wave of the century, the wedding was beautiful and i got to eat great food, visit with Austin’s fam, got them to dance too, wish Billy and Gretch the best in life and see the best wedding photographer in Austin! That’s right i knew the wedding photographer, lets just hope she got my good side. That time of night when the bouquet was to be tossed found me standing smack dab in the the middle of the single girls politely telling everyone around me “i don’t want to catch it…just so you know…” Gretch gave it a toss and the room went into slow motion. The beautiful bunch of flowers was in trajectory right towards my face. Heather took a slight step left to avoid even getting a breeze for the air-born flowers and i just shook my head and shrugged my shoulders as i put my open palms up in front of me ready to cradle the flowers when they plopped right into my hands. Then from no where all i see is a clinched fist right in front of my nose. This girl had lunged from the back of the crowd to obtain the very symbol of happily ever after i was avoiding. Unfortunately she dropped it and a scuffle ensued on the floor right in front of me and all i could do was shrug and look up to see Austin shaking his head at me. Not in disapproval, i think more in a “Really?!?!” like he couldn’t believe what had just almost happened either. After sending the Newlyweds off to happily ever after and Austin off to the after party (yeah their wedding had an after party..what?) i retired to a night of comfy shorts and some TV.

Sunday, after sleeping in…sorta…watching yet another movie and some tv i met Ashley for some Chipotle and then went to capture some images to spring board our shoot coming up at work. It was about 7p with plenty of sun time left as i headed down town to a Chase parking garage i knew would give you a clear shot of the Capitol from a previous photo taken after one crazy night at ACL. i park stroll down the street and head for the elevator….the door was locked. Okay, the stairs won’t be that bad, it’s only 7 flights. On the 3rd floor i stop and try to swallow (that’s what she said) the Chipotle that is making it’s way back up and realize i’m so very out of shape and should probably never eat anything, much less Chipotle, ever again. 6th floor, almost there…no roof access? umm what? i exit on the 7th floor only to find i’m caged in! WHAT, a quick call to NYC for some answers, no luck. i know we were at the Chase parking garage I KNOW IT! With absolutely no view of the city i make my way down stairs again…this direction piece of cake..mmm cake..NO! Defeated i walk back to my car and decide i’ll just find a new great location. Back in the car i turn the corner and what the deuce! It has to be THAT Chase parking garage. Man they’re not kidding when they say there are over 9,000 ATMs across the US. i decided i’m not going up unless i can get to the elevator…victory. Bingo, i’m in the right place and get the shots and head down to get street locations now. On Congress with prime parking i snap some shots on 6th and Congress. Then, right after being asked for money, a homeless man tells me i’m going to need a permit. Thanks man, i’ll let the film commission know you’re looking out for them. I make my way towards 7th to get some good tree coverage and avoid the ginormous Starbucks taking over the shot. i’m about to cross and in front of Art House a woman sits on the bench talking very loudly in her native tongue (not English or Spanish…i understand those… most of the time) As i make my way across the street her loud talking turns in to yelling. She’s probably not yelling at me in particular…just at anyone who can hear…right? I stand on the corner and take a few shots and the yelling has stopped. Oh good, or is it? i then notices she is standing right next to me. Now, if you know me you know that i don’t scare to easy, i’m from a boarder town, and that if i can shoot footage of the desolate conditions of Rio Grande City with packs of wild dogs running around then i’m solid. Well, not so much this time because she proceeds to grab my shoulder and and turn me around so she can yell right at my face. The only thing i gathered was “i had the poison” ? Trying not to show fear, but i’m pretty sure she could already sense it, i scream at the crossing signal (in my head) to TURN!!!! It does and a speed walk to safety…thus ending my picture outing a little early. Good news they liked the shots i got and 7th and Congress will be are location, so this time i’ll be prepared and won’t go down without a fight…i’ll show you “poison!”

That’s all really…sorry it’s a week late, but nothing too crazy happened this week. Shooting starts at 5:30am… it’s been a while since i’ve been on set, i hope it’s like riding a bike…like all great things in life, you never really forget. Pictures will be up shortly…i swear, i’m just trying to keep you hooked. are up! enjoy !