It’s kind of strange thinking I am graduating in two weeks and bringing that up this sucks but I got to rip the band aid off quickly. I was not accepted into the film graduate program offered by GSU. Now don’t worry this isn’t going to be a feel bad for Andrew blog don’t even feel bad for me for a second because I don’t. Of course, now I was devastated when I woke up to the email that morning because mentally I was prepared and excited to start more intense and immersive classes for the next two years meeting peers and building new relationships. Getting to work on projects and learn even more, yet that isn’t going to happen, and I am officially wrapping up school soon. How I look at it is that something else is going to come up that I might’ve had to turn down if I was in school. There is always the chance I can reapply, but I don’t know if I will, I only had the idea of grad school around December last year, so it wasn’t that heartbreaking but now after confirming I am not going it is more like an “oh… so now what?” Since I have been in school pretty much my whole life.

Based on the title for this blog and being the artist that I am it is my understanding that I don’t really know what is next for me, when the next big chapter is going to start in my life. Well, I guess the next big chapter is finding out what the next big chapter is but that is getting too meta, and I have said chapter way too many times in two sentences. But what really is next for an aspiring filmmaker? I plan on finishing up Writer’s Block with our third day of shooting happening April 22nd which won’t be as intense as the prior two days (or I hope not but you never know on an indie set). After that third I’d say about 95% of shooting will have been completed with a quick scene at a bar and pick up coverage of one of my actors that we missed during our first two days of shooting. Then all the principal shooting will be complete at that time we will be moving into the editing stage. Depending on how soon we can get that fourth and final day of shooting this film could be done by mid-summer.

Once Writer’s Block is complete, I will start submitting it to film festivals and attending them if it gets accepted to start getting my name out in the film world. I’ll probably be getting ready to shoot another short film later this fall since I won’t be attending school. A goal of mine now since I will be done with school is to make two solid short films a year and have them enter the film festival circuit. It is crucial that I start showing my work to more than my friends, family, and peers. I need people who are established in the industry to notice my work and name so hopefully they see the potential that I have and give me a chance with a bigger project.

I have four short scripts under my belt ready, one feature with another one I plan on starting to write this summer. Which I plan on doing a lot more of, I usually write a short script once a year, I need to buff those numbers up. Even if that means I’m not going to keep the work I just need to get into the practice of writing more. Polishing up my older scripts as well is on the to-do list. Realistically I am a waiter, and a former college student with a film degree now. I don’t want to be a waiter much longer. I have been doing it for almost three full years and just want to jump into my career. I have a very good close friend who works as a focus puller in the industry who told me that I can tag along on certain days with him whenever he gets a gig so I will be doing that as much as I can. Learning so much on professional sets along with hopefully making new connections with people in the industry.

I want to take a step back though and rest on the fact that I am wrapping up school which is a huge accomplishment. I do believe in going to college not just for the education but the memories and relationships you build from them. I had a blast going to Georgia State and met some great guys that I hope I can stay close with. I am going to enjoy my summer since no one really had one last year and visit family and friends. My roommate and I got invited to the Cannes Film Festival last year but because of Covid we didn’t end up going so I hope that we can attend this summer in July. That would be a huge trip. 

I am sorry I don’t have any pictures to go along with this blog, I hope while you were reading this you felt the ambition and passion that I have in hopes for the upcoming years. I do believe in goals and a goal of mine is by the end of next year that being 2022 I have one of my short films accepted into a festival where a room of strangers can watch it and either love it, hate it, or says meh. I really enjoyed writing these blogs and I hope you enjoyed reading them as well. Hopefully soon you can watch something of mine on the big screen!