People: Andrea Ajemian, Worcester Producer

Andrea Ajemian

This month I wanted to highlight someone that has had a major impact on my life. In case you don't know I am on the path to eventually becoming a film producer. Becoming a successful producer doesn't just happen over night however, especially if you aren't the child of a Hollywood Star, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Sometimes when I start to think about everything that needs to happen before I can start producing full length feature films I can get overwhelmed, but now when that happens I just remember Andrea!

Andrea Ajemian has been involved in film for the last 10 years, and in that 10 year span she's accomplished more than most in the film industry. An award winning actress, producer, editor and screenwriters, she truly is a jack-of-all trades!

She's worked in a variety of genres from drama to comedy and everything she touches you know will be quality. Her latest feature film is the teen comedy BoyBand: Breakin' Through in '82. If you love music, the 80's and laughing than you HAVE to check this movie out! (She's looking for investors, so if you want to help promote this movie you can email her at andrea@aafilms.com.)

Since BoyBand's soft release in 2010, Andrea has worked as line producer on a number of other made-for-TV movies. A Christmas Kiss is one of Andrea's latest works, a heartwarming Christmas movie that you and your family can watch this Christmas! It will be airing this Christmas, December 25th on  Ion Television at 11:00pm!

She currently just wrapped her latest big project Lockdown so keep your eye out for that!

In addition to all of her accomplishments she is also a genuinely kind, caring, and giving person. In a business riddled with greed and "one-up"ing, she is always there to support and help her peers. The next time you're thinking of watching a movie, or you're looking to make one be sure to contact Andrea!

You can visit her website www.aafilms.com for more information.

Song of the month: Calvin Harris--Feel So Close

Things: TweetDeck, A True Time Saver

At first when I was trying to come up with an idea for this blog, I kept drawing a blank. I've been so swamped with work that I haven't had much time to focus on my own social media presence. However, while working it came to me, so hopefully you'll find this thing as useful as I do!

TweetDeck

As a social media marketer, I find that I'm constantly on Facebook and Twitter for work, however, I also have my own personal Twitter and Facebook account. I found that constantly logging on and off or opening up a number of tabs was growing old. With so many social media accounts, it was becoming time consuming, frustrating  and a little confusing. I took a social media marketing class in college and I vaguely remembered the TA giving a presentation on something called TweetDeck. I decided to check it out. 

I became hooked immediately. I've been using it for about two weeks now and it has proven to be a valuable tool. So what is TweetDeck? TweetDeck is a organizational device for all things social media related. One can put all their social media platforms all on one page. One can connect their Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Google Buzz accounts so that they are easily accessible and all in one place. TweetDeck splits each account into clearly labeled columns. You can also tweet and update your Facebook status directly from TweetDeck, making it so that you never have to open a separate tab again! Unfortunately, Google+ hasn't gotten in on the action yet, but I'm sure they will.

If you aren't really into social media, than this probably isn't for you, but if you are, I would definitely check it out!

Song of the Month: Capital Cities--Safe and Sound

Places: The Bakery Bar. Not Your Average Bakery

It's been awhile since I last blogged. Life keeps getting in the way. I've been meaning to write this post for awhile and now with a few free moments, I suppose now is the time to do it! To preface this blog, I first should let you know that I'm a coffee shop junkie. While I'm a BIG fan of Starbucks,  I'm an even bigger fan of independent coffee shops. However, just because a coffee shop is independently owned doesn't mean I'm going to love it. Being from Portland, OR , I've grown up in a city with a coffee shop on almost every corner. I try to go to as many as I can, but there are a number that I keep coming back to. In a city with so many coffee shops, in order to stay in business, these companies need to not only have great coffee and pastries, but they must have a unique and welcoming atmosphere as well as a reasonable price. This post is about one such coffee shop that really is the total package.

Bakery Bar

Every Sunday my Mom and I go out for coffee. We try and switch it up every week, but we definitely have a few favorite spots. A couple weeks ago I asked her if she could only go to one coffee shop the rest of her life which one would she pick. Without hesitation she said the Bakery Bar and I couldn't agree more. This place really has it all! 

Patio and entrance to Bakery Bar

For my Mom, what really makes or breaks a coffee shop is the quality of their coffee. With so many good places to choose from, if the coffee isn't up to par it just isn't worth going back. Fortunately Bakery Bar caters to the quality coffee lover; serving renowned Stumptown coffee and espresso beans. The coffee is brewed fresh daily so you can always count on getting a hot cup of coffee without grounds or any bitter taste. They also proudly serve Dragonfly Chai. I'm a big chai lover, but sometimes chai's can be two sweet, or two bland. Dragonfly Chai is really the all star of chai, so when I get one at the Bakery Bar I know the chai I'm getting is going to be delicious. 

For me--having the sweet tooth that I do--what's important to me are the pastries. Bakery Bar, as you can tell by the name, doesn't cut corners when it comes to serving scrumptious pastries and breads. I'm not a big scone person, I find them to be rather dry and flavorless, but the scones at the Bakery Bar are to die for. They aren't your typical bland scone. Some of my personal and delicious favorites are the apple-bacon scone,  strawberry-lime scone and chocolate-cardamon scone. They also have a variety of amazing scone flavors for vegans as well! My dad's personal favorite pastry is the blueberry loaf with cream cheese frosting. Unlike many loafs, this one is moist, flavorful, sweet but not too sweet. In other words, just like everything that the Bakery Bar makes, it's just right! 

They also serve breakfast and lunch if your hunger calls for more than just a pastry. I've only had two items off the menu so far, but so far those two items were enough for me to want to come back and try more things.  I can vouch for the Veggie Scramble which consists of 3 eggs, leeks, mushrooms, goat cheese, garlic, basil and red peppers. Delicious. I can also vouch for the brioche French Toast made with seasonal toppings. When I went Strawberries were in season so my french toast was smothered in giant, juicy, fresh strawberries. 

However, what really seals the deal is the comfortable ambiance. A combination of rustic and industrial, the vibe when you walk in is welcoming, warm, and creative. One can come here alone to read, with a group of friends, for a meeting, any one is welcome and that's what makes this place so unique. 

Next time you're in the Portland area, be sure to stop by the Bakery Bar located at 2935 NE Glisan St. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Song of the Day: Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson--Winter Song 

People: Gamble & Burke

So, I've taken some time off but we're gonna see if I can't get this blog up and running again. I still  haven't decided if I will update the blog weekly or bi-weekly so we'll find out next Wednesday if I'll be doing a blog every week or every other week. The premise of the blog is still the same so you can definitely count on that! As usual, if you have any ideas or suggestions of things you'd like to blog about, I'd love to hear them! So, without further adieu...

Gamble and Burke

I was first introduced to electric pop duo Gamble and Burke  a little over a year ago when I was interning at Artigo/Ajemain Films in Worcester, Massachusetts. Since award winning producer Kaz Gamble works at AA Films as a music producer, I was fortunate enough to have the pleasure of listening in on various recording sessions. One day Daniel Burke stopped by to record their song Isolated (With You) and immediately I knew Gamble and Burke was a force to be reckoned with.

Following this catchy and chill song came another hit Let's Go Together. This song has a great vibe but is almost haunting in some ways. I know for my friends and I this was definitely our anthem last summer. The video for this song actually features the artists, unlike the video for Isolated (With You) which features the artists movie icon Eddie Murphy . Now with Fall just around the corner, this video and song will be a great way to escape back into that summer mentality while its cold and miserable outside!

Gamble and Burke is already incredibly popular in France and the duo is now planning on taking over the US airwaves! They have already begun to infiltrate, having a song on EA Games' Grand Slam Tennis as well as having a song playing in the popular (and my personal favorite) store Express. Next up is the radio, and I'm sure that it really is only a matter of time. Here is the video to their latest song. The video only came out a few days ago and already I'm obsessed. Enjoy : )


GAMBLE & BURKE - LAY LOW from Kaz Gamble on Vimeo.


To find out more about Gamble and Burke you can visit any one of these sites:
www.gambleandburke.com
gambleandburke.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/gambleandburke
soundcloud.com/gambleandburke
www.facebook.com/gambleburke
www.youtube.com/user/gambleandburke

Song of the week: Gamble and Burke--Let's Go Together (Hot Pink Delorean Remix)

Crazy.

Life is getting kind of crazy right now, so I'm going to have to postpone these posts for a couple week. Sorry! Enjoy the rest of your summer : )

Things: Bobble, Very Refreshing

I've been eager to write about this thing for awhile. I love it, absolutely love it. What is that thing? It's my Bobble. I was first introduced to the Bobble about 6 months ago when my roommate bought his. Clearly it was a water bottle but it looked different any water bottle I'd ever seen. 

What makes the Bobble different from most other reusable water bottles is that it has its own filter. Now, if you're from an area that has good, fresh tasting water, a Bobble may not be your biggest priority, but at the time of my Bobble discovery I was living in an area with not so tasty water. 

Variety of Bobbles

One Bobble filter is equal to 300 single use water bottles. As long as you change the filter about every 2 months, you can count on delicious, fresh water. Furthermore, the Bobble is BPA Free, made in the USA, and is made of 100% recyclable material. 

The Bobble comes in three different sizes, Small (13oz), Medium (18.5oz), and Large (34oz). I happen to have the small size and it works perfectly for me. 

Since getting my Bobble I have been drinking a lot more water. I'd say the only down side is that the filters are on the pricey side, costing around $7 per filter, but when you consider the cost of buying a new single use water bottle every few days, or in some cases, every day, it really isn't that expensive. 

All in all I'd highly recommend getting yourself a Bobble!

Song of the week: Hoodie Allen--Swimming with Sharks (Feat. VV Brown)

Places: Warner Bros Lot. Need I Say More?

As you could tell by the absence of my post last Wednesday, I've been on vacation. More specifically, I've been on vacation in LA! You may know by now that I want a career in film production, so when I visited my cousin who works at Warner Bros it was an amazing experience to say the least. So, here are some reasons why the next time you're in Southern California you should make time to visit the Warner Bros. Lot.

Warner Bros. Lot

First, I'd like to preface this blog by saying, unfortunately I don't have any of my own pictures to post. When you're on the lot, although it's amazing, pictures just wouldn't do it justice, and when you're in the museum you aren't allowed to take pictures anyway. Trust me, I wish I had my own pictures, but we'll just have to make due with what I find on the Internet.

As previously stated, my cousin works for Warner Bros. so fortunately for me I didn't have to pay to get in and take the tour. This also meant that we could freely walk around and investigate things we saw on our own time and at our own pace. However, my cousin did say that paying for the tour is worth it and the tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable.

Town Square in Gilmore Girls

Since we got to the Lot a little after lunch time, and after being stuck in the perpetual LA traffic, we were very hungry. My cousin gave us the option of eating at the Commissary or this little outdoor cafe. When we asked her which she preferred, she  informed us that the Commissary has more options but that the cafe is where the stars go to pick up a quick bite. Clearly after hearing this we went to the outdoor cafe! The cafe is located on the other side of the town square which played a fundamental role in the show Gilmore Girls. Gilmore Girls was my favorite show when I was in middle school and high school so it was incredible to be walking through the set. Right next to the town square stand houses featured in the hit show Friends! If you're aren't an avid fan, you may be wondering where the houses come into play since the cast all lived in New York apartments. The two houses that played important roles in the show were Monica and Ross' parent's house, as well as the house that Monica and Chandler move into at the end of the series.

Anyway, although we didn't see anyone famous at the cafe, I did have the best taco of my life!

Warner Bros. Back Lot

When you're walking through the lot it's a surreal feeling. It looks and feels like a city, but everything is fake. Walking down the street you keep thinking that busy city traffic is going to appear to run you over, but then you remember that there is no traffic because this isn't a real street and this isn't an actual city. Very surreal.

In addition to the pure grandeur of the Lot, the people that work there are phenomenal as well. Everyone is working hard, and it's clear that everyone loves what they do. (Although like any company, I'm sure there is at least one disgruntled employee haha.)

Since we went during the summer, unfortunately most shows were on hiatus and it was an off time for movie making so there really wasn't too much going on. If I were to go again (and hopefully I will!) then I'd probably go in the fall when everything is starting up again. Either way though, it's an amazing place to visit. If you're ever in the LA area be sure to make this a stop on your list. You won't regret it!

Song of the week: Nero-Guilt

Vacation Time!

So this Wednesday there won't be a new post because I will be in LA! See you all in a week for the next Places post : )

People: Demetri Martin. Comedian.

Demetri Martin

This week's featured person is comedian, Demetri Martin. I was first introduced to Demetri Martin about 5 years ago and have been a huge fan of his comedy ever since. 

One night I was having trouble sleeping. I got out of bed and turned the TV. Nothing was on expect a stand up comedian on Comedy Central. It only took one joke for me to realize that this style of comedy was different than any other stand up that I'd seen. Demetri delivers his jokes one after the other, in a very deadpan, monotone voice. His delivery is just as funny as his jokes!

As you can see from the video above, he's really different from most comedians that are out there. Furthermore, he's really brilliant! He graduated from Yale University in 1995 and got a full ride to New York University School of Law. However, after his second year at NYU he dropped out to become a comedian, and by the looks of it, it was the right choice!

In addition to his stand up, he also is a musician and often incorporates his musical talents into his comedy. Playing the guitar, piano or harmonica, Demetri creates a magical world where comedy is the mode of communication. 

If you watched the above video you can see how he pulls from his past to create comedy while playing music and cultivating creativity. Very cool. 

Demetri Martin doesn't just do stand up though. He has worked as a writer on Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show and many others. He has also played supporting rolls in a number of movies and shows including Flight of the Conchords.

So, the next time you're in the mood to laugh, while being truly entertained check out Demetri Martin. You won't be disappointed!

Song of the week: Mashup-Germany: I'll Be Missing You (Don't Raise Your Glass) 

Things: Envirosax, Conveniently Green!

In case you haven't heard, I recently decided to dedicate this blog to people, places and things. For those of you that have been following the posts, I promise this will be the last time I go over this. For those of you that are new to reading this blog, here's a quick run down. Every Wednesday I will update this blog with a review of a person, place or thing. I'm open to suggestions, so if you have a certain someone that you think is worth knowing, or a favorite place, or a great item that you want me to share with the world, just let me know!

So, now that you've been reminded feel free to read on!

Envirosax

I'm sure by now you've all heard of this little thing called Global Warming. Well it turns out that this little thing is actually a big deal! Although it's taken a while, finally people are realizing that we all need to do our part to save our planet. 

Plastic bag littering our oceans

One thing that people do on a weekly (and sometimes daily!) basis is go grocery shopping. By now we are all familiar with the question "paper or plastic?" If you have a choice, go with paper. Yeah, you gotta kill some trees, but at least the bags can be recycled. The plastic bags at the grocery store are not made to be recycled and the majority of them end up littering our planet; hurting our environment as well as endangering the lives of countless animals.  So, when you go to the grocery store and you hear that question, "paper or plastic?" wouldn't it be great to be able to say "neither"? Well, now you can. 

Now it seems like almost any store you go into is selling their own reusable bags in an effort to eliminate this needless waste. Some grocery stores, such as Fred Meyer have even held promotionals; such as a 10cent discount for every reusable bag you used per visit. While I applaud their efforts, most of the time the reusable bags sold at these stores are cheaply made, inconvenient and dare I say ugly? 

I realize that vanity should not be high on the list when trying to save the planet, but let's face it, 9 times out of 10 we're gonna go with the cool looking item over the environmentally friendly one. Furthermore, most of these stores put their logo in big, bold letters all over these bags. I love the environment but I don't necessarily want to be a free walking advertisement for my local grocery store, but now I won't have to thanks to Envirosax!

Snapshot of Envirosax website. 

A few years ago my sister got me my first Envirosax. This was when when reusable bags were starting to come into the mainstream. I thought it was a cool idea, but I was living on campus and so I rarely ever went to the grocery store, and if I did I was buying only one or two items that I could just stick in my purse. It wasn't until she gave me a new Envirosax a few months ago that I really realized just how awesome these things are! Now that I'm home I've been doing my own grocery shopping and I would recommend the Envirosax to anyone, every time. 

My Envirosax after a trip to the grocery store!

So what makes the Envirosax so great? Three things. The first being its durability. One large Envirosax can hold up to 44lbs. That's considerably more than a plastic or paper bag at the grocery store. I've purchased reusable bags at the store and theirs tend to break at the seams when they have more than 10lbs of groceries stuffed in them.

Another plus is that the bags are washable. While they discourage machine washing, a simple hand washing will do the trick! 

The bags have also undergone testing to make sure they are being produced in the most environmentally friendly way possible. This is important to me, and I'm sure to you, because it seems pointless to have the manufacturing process cancel out any good that would come from using a reusable bag!

Size comparison. 

Convenience is crucial as well. I know in the past, although I had reusable bags, I hardly used them because I always either forgot them at home or left them in the car, only to remember them at the check out counter. Not anymore! The Envirosax can be rolled up and is small enough to fit in my purse so I can take it with me wherever I go. There are other reusable bags that are made to be rolled up, but they can oftentimes be a pain and don't fold up as neatly and as easily as they claim. Not the Envirosax, it takes no time at all to roll up and it's easy too. Here's a little picture step by step I took so you can visualize the effortlessness. 

Step 1: Lay bag out flat.

Step 2: Fold handles over.

Step 3: Roll bag up "hot dog" style.

Once you have a long roll...

Step 4: Roll bag up towards the ties on the bottom of the bag.

Step 5: Once all rolled up, just snap the ties around the bag.

Rolling the Envirosax up literally takes no time at all. 

Finally, style. Envirosax makes a large variety of bag styles and prints. There is something for everyone. I love the two I have because they are reusable bags but don't look like reusable bags!

Clearly I like red, but if you can't stand the color red, don't worry, you'll definitely find something that suites your needs and your style. 

On top of all this, Envirosax's are affordable. They range in prices, from the inexpensive $8.95 to the more pricey $39.95. Either way, you'll be able to find something in your price range while helping save the planet at the same time! 

For more information you can check out Envirosax's website www.envirosax.com. Until next time, happy shopping!

Song of the week: Little Boots--Earthquake (Phinz Remix)

Places: The Portland Spirit, Anchors Away!

If you're reading this then you are reading the second installment of my new blog  People, Places, Things. Just To refresh your memory, or if this is your first visit to my blog I'll give you a quick synopsis. Every Wednesday I will be writing a new blog post dedicated to people, places, or things. I'm also open to suggestions. If you want me to write about one of your favorite people, places or things I'd be more than happy! Just let me know :)

So, now that your memories have all been jogged, let's begin!

Portland Spirit

Portland Spirit

This past weekend my Aunt and Uncle visited Mom and I in  Portland, OR. It had been years since the last time they visited so we made sure to pack their trip full of sight seeing. While we did quite a bit of adventuring, the one excursion that really stuck with me was our night out on the Portland Spirit. Although I've lived in Portland my whole life, this was the first time I had been on the Portland Spirit and it is definitely something that I would encourage all current Portlanders and any visitors to do at least once!

Salmon Street Fountain

While there are a number of various cruises you can do, we decided to partake in the Dinner Cruise . Although I'm sure the cruise would be great no matter what the weather, we were fortunate enough to do the cruise on a beautiful, warm evening. We met on the Portland Waterfront; in front of the Salmon Street Fountain where the Portland Spirit was docked. Boarding the boat (ship?) at 6:30, we were lucky enough to get window seats!!!

From left to right: Mom, Me, Aunt, Uncle

At 7:00pm, the Spirit pulled away from the dock and we were off! The Spirit has various routes, but the one we were on goes South along the Willamette River. Once it reaches the end of Lake Oswego (a suburb of Portland) it turns around and comes back to dock at Salmon Street. All together the cruise takes about 2.5 hours. 

Captain Morgan Lime Bite & Strawberry Mojito

Anyway, it's not all about the cruise, but also about the dinner! The Portland Spirit has a full bar. You can really get anything you want, but for each cruise the bartender  creates a special drink. The special cocktail for the night was a Captain Morgan Lime Bite and  Strawberry Mojito, and let me tell you, it was delicious. It was so delicious that I treated myself to two! It was not that strong (probably why I could have two without even a buzz).

After our drinks it was time to order. The Spirit has an option of two appetizers. This night it was prawns and mushrooms. They also have a house salad and you can choose from four entrees, either Chicken, Beef, Seafood or Vegetarian. We decided to start off with appetizers, ordering the mushrooms. I ordered the Beef option since, what can I say, I'm a meat eater!

Mushroom Appetizer

I'm going to be honest, initially I wasn't thrilled with the appetizer options. I hate seafood and I probably like mushrooms even less, but my family wanted to order them anyway. I was blown away. The mushrooms were soooo  good! I don't know what kind they were or what sauce they were in, but I had quite a few! Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised that the Portland Spirit got me to not only enjoy, but eat multiple mushrooms.

Beef entree

Our entrees were great too! Sometimes when you do these cruises you're paying for the experience and not so much for the food, but in this case the food was just as good as the view! My beef option, which ended up being medallions with potatoes and vegetables was very good. It was some of the most tender and flavorful beef I have ever had! The service was exceptional as well. Our server and busser were very friendly and informative. It was great talking with them. Also, the servers sing! You can inform them of any special reason why you're there (anniversary, birthday etc.) and they will serenade you with piano
accompaniment. The cherry on top of this great experience were the beautiful views throughout our meal.

View of Waterfront from window

After dinner came my favorite part of any meal...dessert! They had an option of three different desserts; cheesecake, Snicker's pie and Bailey's Irish Creme pie. My Aunt and Mom chose the cheesecake, my Uncle chose the Snicker's pie and I chose the Bailey's Irish Creme pie. I had a bite of the cheesecake and the Snicker's pie and they were delicious, but I think I made the right choice. My Bailey's Irish Creme pie was to die for. I still find myself thinking about it, wishing I had a slice in my fridge! If you still haven't been  convinced to go on the Portland Spirit, just do it for the Bailey's Irish Creme pie...it will be the best decision of your life. I promise. 

Bailey's Irish Creme pie

Once we were pleasantly fat and happy after our dinner, we decided to go to the top deck and really take in the views and fresh air. By the time we were done eating we had reached Lake Oswego and the boat (ship?!) was turning around to head back. The beautiful evening was turning into a beautiful night and the sunset was gorgeous. Although it was a little chilly on the deck it wasn't unbearable (but I do recommend bringing a sweater, no matter how warm it is on land, it's always a little cooler on the deck of a ship!).

Me steering the ship. The Captain is behind me.

What's really cool about the Portland Spirit is that you have the chance to meet with the Captain and steer the boat (ship?!) yourself! With encouragement from my Uncle I took the helm! Even though the Captain is there the whole time watching and guiding you, it's still a little nerve racking since the lives of over 300 are in your hands (although the chances of anything happening are slim.) It's worth it though. And if you go on the Portland Spirit I recommend doing it, it's pretty fun. You also get a fun certificate signed by the Captain too!

Once my time steering the Portland Spirit was up it was time to walk around the deck and take in the views.

  

View of the deck. Notice the two women who dressed up for the occasion!

Lake Oswego Rail Road Bridge

View of Sellwood Bridge 

Helm of Portland Spirit

Portland City Skyline

Portland Waterfront

Hawthorne Bridge

All in all the night was one that I'll always remember. Having lived in Portland my whole life, it was cool seeing the city and river from a different perspective.  I found a short video that tells a little bit more about the cruise. You can watch it to see the Portland Spirit in action!

If the Portland Spirit seems like something you want to do you can visit their website www.portlandspirit.com. There you can find cruise information, make group or event reservations, look at the event calendar and many other things!

Hope that convinced all of you to check out the Portland Spirit! 

Song of the week: The Hood Internet--Comfortable Up Here (Lil Wayne vs. Royksopp)

Until next time, this is Cassandra McCann for People, Places, Things. See you on the Sea!

People: Malcolm McCann, Happy Father's Day!

So, this is the first post of my People, Places, Things blog, but before I begin let me explain what the deal is.

After blogging for the last 6 months I found that I was struggling to find my niche. For awhile I blogged about social media marketing which is something that I am interested in. Then for awhile I blogged about life after college since I'm a recent graduate of Clark University! Still, as much as I was passionate about these things, something just wasn't working. I knew that I didn't want to just blog about my day, having an online diary just isn't my thing (not that there is anything wrong with that). I love crafts and baking, so having a craft blog seemed interesting but I don't have the time or money to bake or craft something unique every week (although I wish I could!) Then it came to me...People, Places, Things. Bam! That's it.

Here's the plan: Every Wednesday I will blog about people, places or things that are of interest. Sounds lame? Well...it's not. I'm also open to suggestions, if you have a person, place or thing you'd like me to research and blog about it'd be my pleasure!

Now that that's out of the way, let's begin!

Malcolm McCann

Although he isn't famous, Malcolm McCann is a person to know. He is one of the kindest, funniest most genuine people I know and I am proud to call him my Dad. In honor of this past Father's Day I'd like to tell you a little bit about my own Father. 

McCann clan, Malcolm is the little one on his Dad's lap

Born on July 21, 1944 in Montreal, Canada, Malcolm was the baby of eleven! As one can imagine, with such a large family there was always something going on. Since Malcolm was the baby, he knew many of his younger siblings a little better than the older ones since many of the older ones were married and out of the house. The 10th child was David. David and Malcolm were incredibly close, however, being the baby Malcolm took his orders from David. As Malcolm tells it, David had a knack for finding trouble.

There is one story from my Dad's childhood that has stuck with me. Although he's not exactly proud of it, I find it absolutely hilarious and it gives a pretty good idea what Malcolm's childhood was like. Malcolm can tell this story much better than I can, but for this post I'll give it my best shot! 

When Malcolm was about 8 years old and his brother David was about 10 David and Malcolm decided it would be cool to build a clubhouse. Being the ring leader, David summoned the neighborhood kids and told them of their plan to build a boys only club house. Everyone was extremely excited, but being kids, and being from a poor neighborhood no one had any money for supplies. They had hammers but no wood so the boys set out to find some. After wandering the neighborhood they came across wooden crates behind a convent. Making sure no one was looking, the boys took the crates and ran to someones house to disassemble the crates in order to build their clubhouse. Finally, after lots of hard work the clubhouse was finished. For the next few days the boys would hold meetings.  One day there was a knock on the door of the McCann household. Malcolm's Mother Theresa opened the door and there stood a nun. The nun informed her that there wooden crates had recently gone missing and that they had received word that Malcolm and David were the culprits and that they would not get the boys in trouble as long as they returned the wood within the next day. That night David called a final meeting in the clubhouse. Before the meeting started, David told Malcolm something very ominous. David told Malcolm to sit right next to the door and that as soon as he blew the candle out to immediately run and don't stop until he got home. Malcolm knew something was up, but he just didn't know what. Later that night, once all the boys were in the clubhouse David began the meeting. He informed them that this would be there last meeting and that the next morning they would have to take the clubhouse apart and return  the wood. As the meeting began to wind down, David spontaneously blew out the candle, and on cue Malcolm jumped up and bolted out, all the way home hearing screams and protests emanating from the club house. 

The next day as Malcolm and David were taking apart the clubhouse, Malcolm asked his brother what had happened the night before. Apparently David suspected that one of the neighborhood boys had told his parents about the club house and the stolen wood and that is how the nuns found out. Furious, but not knowing who the snitch was, David decided to get back at all the boys. The reason he had wanted Malcolm to run away was because as soon as he blew out the candle he had then proceeded to pull down his pants and pee on everyone! 

Good ol' fashioned fun...you gotta love it!

When Malcolm was 14 his family moved to Santa Monica, California. Malcolm immediately discovered that sunny California was for him, submerging himself in the culture. The Beach Boys  could be described as the soundtrack to his life. A surfer by day and drummer by night (his stage name was Flash too...) Malcolm has always known how to have a good time and not to take anything too seriously. 

This blog is going on longer than expected, but with 67 years under his belt, there's quite a bit to say! If you are still reading this I'll cut this short by saying that Malcolm McCann

Dad and I

Happy Father's Day Dad! I love you!

Song of the week: The Beach Boys--Wouldn't It Be Nice (The Girls Can Hear Us Remix)

The Unexpected

For those that don't know, film is my passion. I have always had a penitent for the arts and have always tried to be involved with the creative in anyway I can. This past spring I took an Independent Producer class at Clark University. Although I have made short films before, this class really was an eye opener.

Our professor encouraged us to each make a documentary. Not because it was an Independent Documentary Producer class but because in a college setting, making a documentary is a little "easier" than a short narrative film. While I enjoy documentaries, and I have made a few myself, I wanted to challenge myself with a narrative film.

Loving to write and having taken a playwrighting class in high school and a screenwriting class in college, I set out to write my own screenplay. The only problem was that I had no idea what kind of film I wanted to make! After much brainstorming I finally had an idea and I set to work.

With the script written, now it was time to cast the film, the only problem was that Clark is not exactly known for its great actors. Through auditions as well as some negotiation and persuasion I cast my 7 actors. Now came the hard part--scheduling and retention.

With 7 college students, it's hard to find a time when everyone can meet, and once you finally do find a time, it's usually only a 20 minute window of availability. As stated, I was under a time crunch, needing to film and edit my movie within a matter of two months, which seems like a long time for a 10 minute film, but when the actors can't meet and when the editing suites are only open a few hours everyday...it's not very long at all!

My actors were great, although acting isn't their passion they dove in head first and showed amazing dedication--willing to try anything for the sake of art.

I'm quite pleased with the end result. However, if I could go back and do it again I'd definitely film in HD, as well as use a boom mic in addition to lavalieres.  Although I've made films before, I'm especially pleased with The Unexpected and can't wait to finish the script I'm working on now so I can delve into filming again!

Tips for finding a job

As I'm sure one can tell from my blog, I'm currently on the hunt for a job. One of my Mom's friends use to be a recruiter and was kind enough to write up a list of tips to make the search for employment a little more manageable as well a more successful! So, with out further adeu here it is:

Surviving the Job Search and Making the most of new opportunities

Treat the job search like a job. 

·         Have a fixed routine combination of networking

o        Example:

o        Morning.   Job applications

o        Afternoon.  Networking (informational discussions). 

o        Exercise!

o        Later Afternoon.  Follow up letters.

·         Informational interviews,

·         Formal resume submissions

·         Meetings w/ recruiters (if applicable)

·         Take time to assess what you want to do, what jobs and where are in out and what is timeframe.

·         Take the time to develop a plan

o        Example:  These are the types of jobs I would be interested in Portland, but by xx date will look outside the area, based on xx criteria.  OR, I would move but on these conditions, etc.  Have a timeframe and back up plans.  Only compromise as a very last resort, or you will compound you problem.  This is harder than you think

Maintain a contact management system. 

·         After a contact, put a placeholder in the calendar for the follow up.  I used a simple calendar program, and set out a date a few weeks from the first call.

·         Start building a list of contacts you never know what a oppty that doesn’t exist today could exist tomorrow.  Great opportunities come to those who make the most of small ones

·         Reach out to your Network.  Use them liberally.  Use LinkedIn

·         Ask everyone you meet to suggest someone else to talk to.

Looking for new opportunities

·         Indeed.com as one-stop-shop aggregator

·         Yes, Craig’s list

·         Job data banks for project mgt

·         Univ resources

·         Set up profiles for auto contacts.

Create your own jobs

·         Suggest interim solutions e.g. internships

·         Look for transferable skills e.g. project mgt.. 

·         Consider volunteering but only if it doesn’t interfere with the search and has a possible job outcome

·         Don’t volunteer as a way to avoid looking

Ride the emotional wave

·         The only decision that matters is the next decision, past is past

·         Anxiety is normal. 

·         Ignore what you read about job search challenges

·         Accept waiting game. For everyone working one week = one day.  Read this frequently

·         Know that this too will pass and that change is good.

Resume

·         Focus on what you’ve accomplished, not what you’ve done

·         Make the accomplishments specific

·         Tailor for each specific job and have decoder ring

Interviews

·         Be well prepared with practice questions and answers

Well I hope that helps any of you out there trying to find a job. I've definitely found these tips to be useful. Sometimes it's easy for us to forget things that otherwise seem like common sense. Until next time...good luck on the job hunt!