Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Old photographs - Geneology

Gnomon School of Visual Effects

After visiting The Art Institute of California last week for preliminary talks and to finally meet the people I have been talking to for the last 8 months, I wasn't too impressed. The school hasn't been allowing me to choose the classes that I'd like to take in order to learn the skills necessary to get freelance work in LA immediately. They also screwed up my financial aide application and I had to reapply in order to even attend next week. Good thing I stopped by. The people running the show over there have dropped the ball on more than one occasion. Personally, if the student's standards coming into the school aren't being met, there's a bit of a problem with the school. Never the less, I start classes next Wednesday the 13th.

After visiting my school, I took it upon myself to investigate other visual effects schools in my area. I heard nothing but great things about Gnomon. (Pronounced "gnome-on") I was looking at their site yesterday and saw there was an open house scheduled for today at 2pm. I immediately signed up. http://www.gnomonschool.com/

I just got back from the open house with no doubt in my mind that this is where I need to be. The school is very well connected in the entertainment and gaming industry. These are my people! The Ai school also teaches culinary, interior design, fashion and industrial design. The Gnomon school is full of people who just work in visual effects so my networking is amplified by the students and instructors available to me there. The school is also well respected in the film industry. In addition to having a studio on site that is used by production companies, the instructors all work on active film/gaming/TV projects and utilize graduates and current students for work. This is a place I can truly shine and be appreciated for the work I'm capable of. One more plus!!! It's less expensive than my current school.



It's too late for me to apply for this semester, but they start a new one in April. Right around the same time my first semester with Ai will end. The school accepts international applicants and only 24 new students each term. Anywhere from 150-300 people apply each term, so it's a little hard to get into. Before I left, I scheduled an interview for January 19th. I've been told the acceptance is based on potential and self-motivation and I don't feel I'm lacking on either.

Wish me luck!

I'm alive and a Californian!

Just wanted to give a quick update. I haven't had much time to blog with New Years and needing to find a place when I got to California. Speaking of which... I have found a place and have almost finished settling in. I've got two great roommates (Michelle and Kayla) and there's also an adorable pit bull named Zoie. It's in Dana Point and the views are amazing! Below is a view from the back balcony. There will be more updates about the rest of my trip and New Years to come when I have more time to sit down.

No better way to start 2010!

Now don't be upset with me (Mom), but I did end up sleeping in my car for my first night of 2010. The image you see above is what I woke up to on the first morning of 2010. The sun had just come up over the desert mountains and highlighted the adjacent mountains you see behind the Shell. Even though I was a bit cramped and chilly, this was one of the most 'at peace' moments of my life. The world was so quiet and I couldn't think of a better way to start a new year, in a new place with new people.

After leaving my "hotel," I realized I was only about a five minute drive from the California state line. What I didn't realize, at that time, was the amount of empty desert to come before reaching the coast. Once I saw signs for "Mojave," I decided to pull off and get some gas, coffee and pee. On the other side of the rest stop, I saw a bird that looked like a raven. I thought, maybe home was following me. That, or it was waiting for me to die!

As expansive and long as the desert was, it was really very serene. I rather enjoyed the drive. I had some very strange road signs to see and played guessing games with myself to see how long it would take me to get to a town I saw down the road. The longest one was the exit for Death Valley. From the time I could see the town to when I got there was almost a full half hour. I've never seen a more open landscape.

Grand Canyon equals grand problems.

As I was leaving Flagstaff, I ran into two girls packing their hitched vehicle as well. I saw Ohio plates, so I asked where they were headed. They're sisters and one of them is an OSU senior and is moving to LA for an internship. I shared my story and we all had breakfast together at the hotel. Now I have another person I know in LA. And since her internship is unpaid, shell be waitressing at the Ruths Chris in Beverly Hills. Woo woo!


The roads were pretty clear west of Flagstaff and the storm was long gone. I was hoping the grand canyon would be clear considering I've never seen it with snow before. As I got closer to the park, the snow never lightened up. The roads were still clear so I continued toward the big hole in the earth. Of course after I pay to get into the park the roads are covered with packed snow. I had a little trouble making it up one hill. I finally reach the parking lot and as I turn in the trailer jack knifes and the rear of my car gets slammed into a snow bank. There was already a ranger there ready to help. (someone else had done the same thing 10 minutes ago) I got on my snowboard gloves and started digging the hitch out and unhooked the trailer. I was able to get the car out on my own, but had to dig the trailer out. "This grand canyon thing better be worth it!"





It is! It makes you realize how truely small you are.





I parked in pull-through RV parking to make it easier to get out. That doesn't work to well when someone else parks in front of you. I couldn't reverse uphill with the trailer attached. I had to unhook the trailer and move it out of the way by hand. The car needed a push even after that. Once hitched up again, it took six men to push me out of the snow and back on the road with the trailer. Through all of that, I still enjoyed myself. Next time will be in the summer and without hauling anything.

The wide open road ...and rocks ...and snow.

Leaving Roswell, I got to finally got to appreciate the wide open space in New Mexico (minus the fog). The sun had come out and the skies were clear. I opened the sunroof and down went the windows. "Now this is what I'm talkin' about!" I was completely amazed by the masive amount of space and the mountains and rock formations in the distance.



I thought to myself, I wouldn't mind having a ranch out here someday. I'd have to work it myself, so I wouldn't get bored. And I'd need a runway so I don't have to drive in. It might also be nice to build a mock ghost/old west town with a saloon, stables, barber shop and tannery. Kinda like Ted Nuget's home. No harm is wishing and setting goals right?


I made it to Albuquerque in fairly good time, and back on I40/US66 I went. What I wasn't expecting was the blizzard/Snow Storm sweeping across Arizona and New Mexico. I was also unaware of how mountainous the upper part of Arizona is. My poor car is being a real trooper and I owe her a detail and wash when we get to California. What I do appreciate about Arizona is their ability to name roads. Whatever is on that road is the name of that road. Wanna get to Walnut Canyon? Take Walnut Canyon Road. Wanna see Rock Springs? Take Rock Springs Road. Then I start to see signs for Meteor Crater Road. SOLD! I don't care if it is 10pm. The moon is bright and I can see for miles in the dark right now. I'm taking the exit! About six miles from I-40, there is a gigantic hill that leads up to a closed gate for the Crater. Damnit! I was hoping I could see the natural beauty without having to pay. I turned around quickly when the super bright motion-detecting spotlight shone on me. Maybe tomorrow.


I made it to Flagstaff and there are gorgeous mountains all around. There's about an inch or two of snow here, but I think that's normal for a 7000 foot elevation. I'll be off to the grand canyon tomorrow and maybe that crater. Check it out for yourself... http://www.meteorcrater.com/

Location:Historic U.S. 66,Flagstaff,United States

The truth is out there.

The weather has been something quite different than what I expected for the southwest. After leaving Amarillo, I set out for Roswell, New Mexico. The snow in the desert and the extra moisture brought in some unexpected fog. This was the thickest fog I have ever seen. At 55 MPH, my visibility was just above ten feet. Luckily, I had my GPS to show me where the road goes and if it turns in front of me. The only thing I couldn't anticipate would be animals or aliens. (I was more concerned about the aliens) For the most part, the road stayed straight into Roswell. As I watched my 'Distance to Destination' meter getting increasingly smaller, I saw no signs of life or lights or even any other drivers on the road.


My mind continued to play tricks on me and I kept imagining a grey body appearing on the road out of the fog. I got down to half a mile from Roswell and suddenly a huge bright white light appeared. It seemed to be about 60-70 feet above the road and was arranged in a four light pattern. I instantly slowed to 20 MPH and stared up into the light. I was thinking, this is amazing, but I'm really freaked out! As I creeped closer to the light, a large sillouette appeared and had arms/legs that reached over both side of the highway.


My heart skips a beat as this monstrous sillouette comes into focus. I laugh at myself as I realize the sillouette is road/exit sign and the light is one of four others that Roswell has around the exit. Due to high winds in New Mexico, their road signs are large cylinders that reach over both sides of the highway. The lights and their unusual light, shape and height... I'm chocking it up to Roswell having a sense of humor about themselves. They got me!


After waking at the Frontier Motel on Main Street, I decided to take in the sights, sounds and people of Roswell. I discovered that Roswell is the Dairy Capital of the Southwest. Having grown up on a dairy farm, I was glad to have been there for that alone. (Also explains why aliens abduct cows there.) For the most part, downtown doesn't look like it's changed much since the 50's. The old cinema has been turned into The International UFO Museum.


I walked through and there wasn't much to it. Mostly just documents and photos illuding to the existence of alien life. But no absolute proof. There was an interesting map at the entrance that had a pin for everyone who has visited the museum this month. I was not the only one who thought Roswell would be an interesting stop.


I stopped into a few shops and went through a blacklight alien walk inside one of them. It was very interesting and the craftsmanship of the models were really interesting. The people of Roswell are all believers, Native Americans and Hippies. I left Roswell knowing that I was the only alien there.

Location:Roswell, NM