Iowa City

Here I am, finally, in Iowa City. As mentioned many blog posts ago, I was accepted into the University of Iowa's filmmaking program and that time has finally come. Iowa City is nice so far, besides the fact that you can't go 5 minute before somebody driving nearby honks.

Honk honk honk!

So rude. So I won't be driving here. Instead I'm taking the bus everywhere. The bus will be extra important, as I don't live on-campus. I requested to live on-campus but now I am somehow living off-campus. Go figure. I requested temporary housing, which is a hell hole, over living off-campus and didn't even get that. Luckily I love my apartDORMent at The Lodge.

From my bedroom, I have a wonderful scenic view of the Walmart across the street.

My film classes seem fun, but we're not being trusted with very high quality cameras or complicated projects. My first project is to take three pictures and write about them. I'm thinking about making three flip books to hint at the fact that I'm not a photographer and static images don't do it for me.

I'll also be working on an abstract film since I won't have the opportunity to do it for class and I don't want to wait till next semester. It is called 'Welkin's Gate'.

Last week, I was interviewed for a job at City Channel 4. They told me, based off my work, that I'm qualified. If for any reason I don't get the job it is because my schedule is so spread out. We'll see!

'Inception': Lazy People Beware

Granted I'm not a huge fan of titles with one-word ('the' doesn't count), 'Inception' is an exception because the word is original. Also "inception" means original which is something that everybody in the movie theater knew except for me.

9 out of 10 critics say that 'Inception' is genius and an all around great movie. The remaining 1 didn't like the movie because they were "too lazy to follow the multiple, complex plots". Perhaps they don't know Christopher Nolan.

In Nolan's film 'Memento', the movie plays backwards like that episode of Seinfeld because the main character has short term memory. In 'The Prestige', a large portion of the story is a flashback from Christian Bale reading Huge Jackman's journal who is in turn reading Christian Bale's journal... AHHHHHHHHHH!!! I watched that movie six times in one day to catch everything.

I have so far seen 'Inception' twice. It was much better the second time because I followed it better. But that, and I always stress this, is what makes a great movie! Wanting to watch it multiple times and having a different experience. Having to think about the movie after seeing it.

But if you don't like movies that make you think, go to Twilight saga 'Eclipse' instead.

The first time I watched 'Inception' I was a little overwhelmed by the music. It seemed distracting. But the second time it fit a lot better. Probably because it was explained to me that a portion of the soundtrack was actually the "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien", which is the song they played to signal the countdown to the "kick", slowed down. Here is a video that will explain it further.

Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Cobb, was likely based off of Leonardo DiCaprio's other character, Teddy, from 'Shutter Island'. As a matter of fact, I watched 'Shutter Island' and then 'Inception' and they fit together quite well. Try it, I'm serious.

As a huge fan of Christopher Nolan's work, I can't help but to give 'Inception' a subjective, yet well-deserved, 91 out of 100.