MSU Moorhead Admissions

Hello, Spring? Are you there?

2010-03-08T09:30:00.002-06:00

The snow is melting, the snow is melting!!! ....But it looks like it's going to rain... :( Still, all the same, yesterday I saw the first bit of grass trying to peek out from under the snow. I don't honestly want the snow to melt really fast, because I am NOT looking forward to another flood. Helping sandbag my friends' aunt and uncle's home for 10 hours only to find out their home was most likely going to go under water with the new (at that time) crest prediction... Luckily this year Fargo and Moorhead want to be ready for it and are requesting to have 1 million sandbags by St. Patrick's Day. I already know a few people who have gone to help. Even Al Franken came to help sandbag the other day.

On a lighter note, it is soooooooooo refreshing to be able to go outside with just a sweatshirt on and NO COAT!!!!! I went to the mall with no coat on Thursday and I am pretty sure it was one of the highlights of my day!

This week it's supposed to be gorgeous out as well so hopefully I can walk to class with NO COAT!!! I think it's funny how we cold weather folk can get so excited over the little things. But it's true! Speaking of, I saw a Facebook group the other day that was for Minnesotans who don their t-shirt and shorts when its 30 degrees out. I thought it was actually fairly accurate. I've seen some people already start wearing their flip flops, and I hate to admit, I contemplated it as well. But common sense finally came around and I realized how crazy of an idea that is... I mean, there is still SNOW on the ground!!!!

All in all, I am soooo ready for spring. It is welcome to come any day in my book. Until then, I will keep my spring clothes and shoes handy. That way, I am ready to bask in it's glory the moment it arrives!!!

These Winter Months

2010-02-15T10:32:00.005-06:00

Feels like FOREVER since I wrote my last post. I tell ya, a busy schedule can make you well... busy. I just realized it has been since November!! Wow! How time really does fly by.

Well, since then, I had my portfolio review which went extremely well, and even completed my final film of the semester. I had to adapt a scene from a published work (I did a scene from the film "Hard Candy"). It was an experience I will never forget. Not only was it the largest project I ever tackled as a director, but also as an editor. 72 hours of post-production time (majority of it editing). If I wasn't working, in class, or walking to and from someplace, I was editing. In the end though, it was all worth it. The finished product I am content with and I even learned how to color correct!! That was one of the editing techniques I wanted to learn last semester, so I'm glad I could accomplish that.

Now, this semester is even more busy than the last. If I'm not at work, I'm in class, and if I am not in class, I am working on some film project or writing a script. I love it though. There isn't anything better than getting more experience!

Currently, I am working on our final film for Intermediate Filmmaking. There's a group of four of us and we are shooting on 16mm black and white negative film using the Arriflex BL camera. We begin shooting in 2 weeks, and it's very very exciting!!!

A New Kind of Review

2009-11-17T18:25:00.002-06:00

So, while many people are trudging through writing papers and preparing presentations at this time in the semester, I am preparing for a portfolio review. This semester I am up for a film review with all the work I have done so far in the program. I have mine Thursday afternoon in front of the film faculty. I am so nervous! On top of getting ready for my 20 minute presentation I am also trying to find one more actor for a directing project and also need to finish pre-production and production on my final film project for the semester. Oh yeah, and make a presentation for my women studies course... Ahh the life of a college student. The schoolwork never ends...

Neither does work because now the Christmas season has finally started at JC Penney. So has the SAME Christmas music. Every year they play the SAME music... A few new songs every year, but that's it. I know there's only 12 Christmas songs known to man, but even if they had a new mix by a different artist, I would take it!

And next week is Thanksgiving, and I am SUPER excited to see my family! I haven't seen them since the beginning of October!! :D

NOT Down For The Count

2009-11-10T17:32:00.004-06:00

This past week has been crazy busy for me. Between class, work, and film shoots, I'm surprised I was able to sneak in a nap today! In the midst of all of that this past week, I even sprained my knee(or at least that is what the doctor is thinking), but I'm still going!! I don't think I've ever been injured in such an odd way either. It was really awkward explaining the situation to the doctor.

Doctor: So, how did you injure your leg?
Me: Oh, me and my roommate were dancing in our room.

Yeah, and try explaining that at work as well. Very AWKWARD. Needless to say, no one is going to let me dance again for a while... Or at least until my knee is healed up. Slowly though, it's getting a little better and better I'm glad to report.

This past weekend I also was crewing on an Intermediate Filmmaking film shoot for my Practicum requirement. It was my first chance to do some script supervising as well as keep track of completed and needed shots on the shot list. I also got to use my boom operating skills again as well. I'm excited to see how the film is going to turn out. I will get to see the finished product in December!

This next week will be crazy busy again as well. By Monday I will have to crew on one film and direct another, and cut together a video reel of 8 minutes from films I have done thus far at MSUM. Next Thursday I have my film portfolio review, so by then I will have to have come up with a 12 minute presentation on what I've learned so far in the program as well. Soo nerve-wracking! Not to mention I am also putting in 18 hrs at work as well this weekend. Oy!!! Good thing I got my nap in today!!

Paranormal Activities and 48 Hour Weekend

2009-10-27T18:37:00.006-05:00

Good evening all!
This weekend was most likely most draining weekend I've had in about a year. To start off with, my roommates, a few friends, and I decided to go to the midnight showing of Paranormal Activity at the Fargo Theatre. Holy cow was that movie SCARY!!!!! I have never seen a movie that jarring. The movie was great, and the psychological effect played out on a lot of people in the theatre. It was a great way to kick off the Halloween season though!! I was too scared to sleep after the movie- I couldn't sleep until 4am!! And unfortunately I had to get up at 8am on Friday... :( oy!

I got up though, and that evening the 48 Hour Film Challenge began!! We broke into 5 teams- about 12 people in each, and were given our criteria at 7pm. This year it was:

Genre: Buddy film/Fantasy
Character: Jordan Gordon, system analyst
Prop: Bicycle
Line of Dialogue: This could get very complicated.

We moved out of the Center for the Arts and into my apartment in Neumaier and did pre-production Friday night. We got our final draft of the script done around 2:30am, then the director, cinematographer, and producer created storyboards and shotlists until about 4am. Then, at 7am we began the film shoot. We wrapped the shoot by 7pm (record time!!), and I was able to get some sleep Saturday night! Woohoo!
Sunday at 7pm we screened our film along with the other 4. Only 3 films had completed their film on time and one advanced to regions after judging. Our film won Best Soundtrack- the music was AMAZING! Our team worked really great together and every year it is a great opportunity to make friends and get to know colleagues. This year, my task was Prop Master... which didn't entail much, but I also did other random jobs. Went running for items, helped with some prop continuity, and did boom operating for 3 hours. It was an overall great experience despite my intense allergies from the cat on the location of our shoot. I can't wait for next year- maybe even this spring if I get a chance!!

Breathe of Fresh Air

2009-10-20T19:05:00.002-05:00

So, last week we had Fall Breather. So, I got the weekend off from work, headed to my grandparents for the weekend, then went home for Monday and Tuesday. So, I had to drive an hour through a blizzard -we got snow in the beginning of October! :'(
And I get back home on Monday and come down with a nasty cold... Which I STILL have. On top of that, my allergies were running ramped since we were tearing out our old carpet in the living room and putting new sub-flooring in. Yeah, not fun. So, I really couldn't breathe over fall breather. How much of a play on words is that? :D
But, the drive back to Moorhead was redeeming enough. I stopped in Grand Forks and had lunch with a very close friend of mine and even met up with my step-cousin at the lovely joint Cold Stone Creamery. YUM!!
Spending 3 hours in Grand Forks, I still had the one hour drive back to Moorhead. I was greeted by my roommate Mary, who gave me one of the biggest hugs of my life (again). After we unloaded my car (which I mistakenly packed pretty tight with tons of stuff), we decided to go out and grab some fast food and came back and watched 18 Kids and Counting: The First Granddugger (soo adorable!).
When our roommate Melanie came home, Mary and I greeted her the same way I was greeted. You know, it's crazy. We have only been rooming since the middle of August, and even now we miss each other like crazy over long weekends and breaks. We really have already become sisters in a way. It makes me happy to know we all have 2 more years together at MSUM.
And now this week, I have a few midterms. I was lucky enough to have one this morning in fact and it was the easiest midterm I think there ever could possibly be. My next one is tomorrow morning bright and early!
This weekend will be sooo fun though! This weekend is the 48 Hour Film Challenge!!!! Friday night at 7pm we are told what genre, line of dialogue, character, and prop our film is to entail and then we have 48 hours to plan, shoot, and edit it. On top of that, it can only be 8 minutes and not a single frame over! They will be shown Sunday night at 7pm in King Hall 110 (just in case you want to come see our amazing film!)

Singing in The Rain and Talking In The Night

2009-10-06T19:08:00.003-05:00

So, I liked that it rained the other day, but EVERY day? Ridiculous. I don't think it has been raining off and on like this in FOREVER! I miss the sun and I miss hearing the birds when I walk to class. At least it's not a million degrees outside anymore, but I have donned my winter coat and mittens already. That started October 1st. At least it wasn't in September but still. I think it's the wind that makes it so cold. Heck, even my roommate has worn her long john's under her jeans when we have to walk to class. But hey, at least she is staying warm. My mom sends me an email every morning sending me updates on the weather and where it's potentially snowing (somewhere on the west side of ND and east side of MT). Her positive morning messages always makes me smile. And even though this weather is absolutely insane, there is one bright side to having all this rain: I don't have to go out and wash my car, because Mother Earth is doing it for me :)
On another note, I have a funny story. I fell asleep watching desperate housewives around midnight Saturday night, laying in bed, because I was completely exhausted from work that day. My roommate got home around 1:30am from her date and told me she was back. Apparently I had an entire conversation with her while I was out cold. I know sometimes I may talk to people in my sleep, but never had I that much EVER! My other roommate even came in and I guess I wanted a hug from her and even sat up and gave her one! I actually did wake up around 3:30am and was so surprised to see my roommate back, because I know she always tells me when she's back. Needless to say, I was so confused. The next morning I asked the both of them about the night before and they told me the whole story. I was in utter SHOCK! I think I freaked myself out. Good thing we are learning about sleep in my Psychology class. Maybe I will learn something about it!

The Bright Side To Be Living On-Campus

2009-09-29T18:50:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I know not everyone may live on campus, but I LOVE it. Last year I lived in Dahl Hall, and this year I live in the on-campus apartments, John Neumaier. Not only does it have a full kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms (SCORE!!), it is filled with the best roommates anyone could have. Last year living in Dahl it was so easy to meet people, and everyone that lived around me was amazing. We all grew a bond, and by the end of the year not one of us wanted to move home. Each one of us shed AT LEAST one tear.
Yet this year, it's even better. Two of my roommates lived about 4 doors down from me in Dahl last year, and the other is a friend of one. I had no idea how blessed I was to have these girls as my roommates. Even within our first month together we knew we were going to be really close. Even now we are like a family. One of my roommates I didn't know that well until she actually moved in in August. Now, we are like sisters. Sure, there are the little squabbles like any roommates, but we are able to work through them. I love MSUM and living in Neumaier, and these girls make it that much more of an amazing experience.
I HIGHLY recommend people live on campus. It gives you an experience you just can't get living off campus. Plus, meeting people coming from other places makes you more well-rounded. Best of all, it builds friendship. So, when you want to go out to a movie, shopping, or out to eat, you have some really great friends to go with.

At The Movies with Kevin Costner

2009-09-22T17:00:00.013-05:00

So, over the weekend I went with our film program to the South Dakota Film Festival in Aberdeen, SD. It was amazing. We watched over 30 independent and student films Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday night we were at Northern State University where the public was able to see Kevin Costner discuss his acting and directing experience on Dances with Wolves. Then, Saturday morning we had a screenwriting seminar with Jim Mercurio (screenwriter for That 70's Show) and then a PERSONAL seminar with Kevin Costner. Try imagining being 5 feet from a man of his status, knowledge, and experience. I literally could HEAR my heart pounding. He was a great storyteller and gave a lot of encouragement. What I admired most was his reason for coming to the festival. He came for the students, he came for us. He came to share his experiences and what the business is like. On Sunday, I left Aberdeen with more than just experience of meeting Kevin Costner. I left with the experience of learning from someone so great and obtaining the knowledge he had to share with us film students.
Being back in the swing of things at MSUM, I am more excited and eager to take on any challenge. Thanks South Dakota!!

If you are more interested in SDFF check it out! www.southdakotafilmfest.org

Almost Over

2009-04-28T17:06:00.002-05:00

So, it is almost the end of my first year in college! Can you believe it?? I can't really grasp that yet, but when I think back on all that has happened, wow, a lot has changed, for the better might I add. This past week, we had Dragon Registration Days, and I realized that one year ago from this exact week, I was here on campus signing up for classes, learning about the Dragon curriculum, and getting my work study job with Admissions... Back then I was doing all that, and getting ready for Prom, graduation, and extra-curricular activities. Since then, I have moved out of the house (still miss my dog!), moved away from my hometown, created an entirely new circle of friends (and yes, i still have my friends from back home), found financial independence, and in general became more independent. I never realized how much it meant to gain all of that. Now, that I am moving back home for the summer, it's strange to think I won't have 30 girls to socialize with at any given time in the evening. All of us girls in Dahl Hall (an all female residence hall on campus) are going back home. These girls have become not only my friends but also my family. Luckily, Facebook exists, but my time in our hall will never be forgotten and our memories made together will always be there to look back on with a smile.

Spring is Here!

2009-04-14T17:05:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!
I'm so happy to report that spring is finally here!!!! It makes me so happy. Last week I was ecstatic with the fact that I could drive with my windows down, and today, I could walk outside in flip flops and no coat!!! Better yet, it's going to be 64 degrees out tomorrow! Woot woot!
If you haven't picked up on it yet, I love spring. It's my favorite season. It's when everything blooms and comes to life again.
On another note, final projects and papers are getting assigned and man oh man, I'm going to be busy! I shot half of my final film project last week and it went great, I'm excited to see the footage when it gets back from the processing lab! I'm shooting the last half on Thursday and then am also recording sound tomorrow and Thursday as well if possible. And I have to admit, this film has been and IS an adventure. It was my first challenge as shooting my own solo project, whereas normally it's a group assignment. I had to come up with a plot, types of shots, and what my message is. I would leak my idea out, but then what's the point of adding a shameless plug about our screening evening coming in the beginning/mid May? I'm sure that I will post about the date, so stay tuned!!

It's crazy to think that by this time next month school will be over!!
Now, go outside and enjoy this BEAUTIFUL weather!! I know we all have Spring Fever :)

9th Annual Fargo Film Festival

2009-03-03T17:00:00.002-06:00

Hello all!
I'm very excited about this week. Sure there are the downers with writing two papers and such, but starting tonight there is the kick-off to the Fargo Film Festival downtown at the newly renovated Fargo Theatre! I finally got my hands on a program and read the synopsis on some of the films and they seem really cool! There is student work from here at MSUM but there is also people from all around the country. There are people from 19 different states and 9 different countries coming and showing their work. Very exciting! The best part about the festival is getting a chance to meet and talk with these filmmakers. I think many if not most are independent but just the same, they know the trade! Plus, the tickets are cheap. You don't pay for each movie, you pay for each session (which is a few hours). Plus you can get dinner tickets and join the filmmakers as the festivities continue throughout the week. the festival starts tonight and runs through Saturday, with a 2 Minute Film Contest Friday night. Also, our professor Tom Brandau is showing his film "Mr. Brown" Saturday afternoon. His film won a $5,000 grant as an award from a Minnesota organization as well. It shall be exciting!!! Everyone should come check it out!!
Outside of the film festival though, I've been working on my own projects for my production class. We finished shooting on 16mm film the other week. We now are working on editing it and also am starting a new project. It's called a Postcard film. Essentially we are trying to express a film through what is seen on a postcard and have to show a journey and/or a destination spot but from a different point-of-view. It shall be challenging, but as always, our classes always spin out great films! Take care!

Up and At 'Em!... Rest... Up and At 'Em! -Repeat

2009-02-24T17:03:00.003-06:00

Man o' man!
So, last week was filled with joyous papers to write, and I was lucky enough and managed to get tons and tons of sleep this past weekend. Yet, what happened when I got back and started school again yesterday? Up until very late working on more papers! I swear, one minute you catch up on sleep and the next all that work of sleeping is gone! Well, it can't be all bad though, right? I mean, at least I put forth all the effort I can give and write great papers and am dedicated to working hard and at full force.
This past weekend at home was nice. However, as I was lounging all weekend at home, I couldn't help but miss Moorhead. It's weird because I have two homes now. TRF and Moorhead. I have always loved the community of Fargo-Moorhead, and now that I actually live here, I almost feel conflicted going back home to TRF. And also, I'm moving back home this summer... How will I survive without Moorhead? I am going to miss it so much! I can't imagine going back home (to a town on 8,000 people). There is just so many more opportunities here in Moorhead. Who would want to leave?

Busy busy busy!

2009-02-17T17:13:00.003-06:00

Phew! I made it through my BUSY weekend! Seems like every weekend I work it's always super hectic and just plain busy. Yet, my busyness didn't start on Saturday, it started on Thursday, and it's still going!
I am pretty proud of myself though. I wrote a 6 page paper Thrusday night and it turned out pretty impressive! It was a great paper, however, I do not recommend doing that. Do not wait until the last minute to write something, especially if it's that large of a paper. Luckily, it didn't require any research so I was lucky.
Friday... I'm trying to remember Friday... All I know is that it was busy. Oh yes, I remember now. I proofed my paper in the morning, gave a tour, went to two classes, worked in the office, and then went to a meet-and-greet for our guest screenwriter Jule Selbo. I felt really blessed I could meet her.
On Saturday in the morning she held a screenwriting workshop on campus. It was so much fun and I learned tons!!! I thought I knew a lot about screenwriting and after our workshop I realized how much I didn't know. Even in the workshop we were each able to fully develop with a story. It was really fun. The best part is that Jule is MSUM alumni. After seeing how much we learned from her and all her accomplishments, it makes me that much more excited for what I can learn here at MSUM and excited for the future!

Love Is In The Air

2009-02-10T19:45:00.003-06:00

Ahh... Only a few days away from the coveted holiday known as Valentine's Day. The festivities on campus this week are everywhere. The bookstore is having a sale where you draw a hug or kiss and you have so much percent off of your purchase, you can put an ad in our student newspaper to tell your significant other how much you love them, Thursday night there is speed dating (with tons and tons of door prizes) and also a Valentine's Day dance... I know there are other festivities too, but at the moment, it all escapes me.

To top it off it's getting warmer outside!! I'm down to wearing my jacket instead of my warm winter coat. That makes me smile. Sadly though, it's been raining since yesterday, ans this morning it was snowing! I feel lucky here though because back home in TRF they had freezing rain and school was canceled and the road conditions were deemed "deadly"... However, my mom always worries about the weather and she was the source of my weather information, so it very well could be not as bad as she made it seem. Gotta love mom's, right? :)

Sometimes when I think about it, I wonder if my mom is having a harder time with me being away from home than I do. Granted I miss home everyday.. and miss my dog Harley, but my mom has an equally hard time. She was super happy this last weekend I was home, and she told me countless times that she was. Also, whenever I talk to her on the phone after a few days... sometimes almost as long as a whole week, she will tell me how good it is to hear my voice. See, I am my mom's only child, so I think part of it has to do with that. My mom and I are really close, we always have been. I feel bad for my mom because I know she always worries about me, but I have always been self-sufficient. I'm doing just fine. :) It's comforting to always have someone that cares about you that much though. So be grateful for who you have in your life! We always have guardian angels in our life whether we know it or not. Somehow my mom still seems to watch over me. Every morning she sends me an email that always makes me smile and brightens my day, and that alone helps with homesickness. Never fear! There is always a way to get through it.

I am feeling inspirational and when I am I like to find a quote or two. So, here it goes:

"So many of our dreams at first seems impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
- Christopher Reeve

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
- Mahatma Gandhi

Why The Cold??

2009-02-03T17:05:00.002-06:00

'Ello everyone!
We all know that right now, outside in northern Minnesota, it's pretty cold out!! Today, I was walking outside and even my teeth hurt because they were soooo cold! I love the winter, it's always so bright out because of the snow, which is also sooo gorgeous by the way, but that darn wind chill just gets to me! BRRRR!! I don't know how Frosty does it!
Along with the cold weather, I have noticed this year, I have also been suffering from a chronic cold. I have been getting a cold about once a month. This month alone I have had bronchitis which came from a cold but then turned back into a cold. I swear I feel like a walking sickness. And I have even been taking care of myself. I take my vitamins, I get my 7 1/2 hours of sleep at night, and I have been eating well. So, what's with this chronic cold? I get it for two weeks, and then it's gone for two weeks... Maybe I'm just too vulnerable. When I was a kid I used to get sick a lot, but up until this year I used to only get sick once a year.... Hmm.. Any ideas?
But I am happy to report I am on the mend. My cold is finally leaving me and my ability to breathe through my nose and smell things is returning!! It makes me oh so happy to finally get better. It sure is hard to study and focus when your head is stuffed up.
My word of advice for the day: Keep yourself as healthy as possible and don't get too cold outside!
Cheers to our health!

44th Presidential Inauguration

2009-01-20T17:03:00.007-06:00

My fellow Americans,
Today marked a day in history. Today will "live in infamy". Today, our 44th President was sworn in, President Barack Obama. No longer will he be referred to as "Senator", but now forth as "President". I woke up and early turned on my TV in my dorm room, happy to find the inauguration festivities already underway. I watched and listened intently until my 10:30 am class. When I got to my class, our Professor gave us the choice to either have a regular class period or "go watch history in the making". For the most part, everyone raised their hands in favor of going to go see the inauguration on TV.
So, to my advantage, we all went over to the Comstock Memorial Union and were able to watch it all in the ballroom where the MSUM Democrats were holding an inauguration event. It was then at around 10:45 when the ballroom started to become flooded with people. People from on and off campus came to watch. The turnout was great. I was lucky enough to score a seat in the front with a friend and we watched ever so intently as Aretha Franklin sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee", and VP Joe Biden and President Barack Obama took the oath of office. It was empowering to watch it all happen. 50 years ago a black man would have been shunned if he stood up and preached for equality. But now, we have been able to move on and not determine people's greatness by just the color of their skin. It makes me proud to be part of this time in our nation's history, not only because it was the first year I could vote, but because it is a new year. It's a time for change and its also a time to take a deep breathe and shed away everything that has happened the past year and be able to move forward with great pride and happiness...
Cheers to a new year!

Back at MSUM

2009-01-13T17:24:00.000-06:00

It's crazy to think that it's time to start a new semester. Winter break seemed so short yet... so long. We had like 3 weeks off but man it sure went fast. I loved my winter break though. After the fall semester ended most of my days were filled with work and spending time with my family back home.
The semester started yesterday and I already love my classes. Being a film major, I'm taking 2 film classes this semester, one of which is a class where I actually cut and process 16mm film. Ahhh... Just like the old days! We have a room where we have a bunch of analog style editing equipment, it seems like it will be an adventure!!

Have a good day!