Brain Storm

4 months is all I have to figure out my future. I am scared, but after thinking about it I think I know what I want to do. I want to start my own business. Not a normal business, have I ever been normal? But a documentary film company aimed for motocross riders, mainly freestylers.
One night I was watching a show on Jeremy "Twitch" Steinberg and he was commenting that he wished he could ride all day out on the dunes, be filmed, and get paid for it. Skateboarders and snowboarders get to go out and ride for one of their sponsors making a video showing off their riders, then these riders get paid for it. People get to see the final product out at X-Games, Dew Tour, and Red Bull X-Fighters, but these are planned out runs.
I want to be able to film freestylers off the tour circuit and out having fun. Take multiple riders out to the dunes, film them, then edit them together with music and throw in a few interviews and create something people will watch. Give the riders some air time for every FMX fan to enjoy.

Paris

Paris has come to an end. I have been back in the States for a week now, and I am still in reverse culture-shock. I want to walk across the street to a pasterierre, and get a pan au chocolat and a cafe con creme. I think Alterra coffee is too weak! That is insane. Alterra is one of the strongest brands of coffee there is. Esh...
I miss Paris, I want to go back to Sacre Couer and look at Paris below. I never got to the Moulin Rouge--Not to see a show, but rather to see the outside of it. A show at the Moulin Rouge costs 120 Euros. Plus... Its not like the movie.
The atmosphere for film in Paris is amazing. I went to Studio 28, which is one of the original theaters people went to see films. It is surreal going there. They have cinemas dedicated to playing old American classics, and theaters that are Art Houses. Art House isn't a dirty word in France either. We hear a movie is playing at an Art House, most shy away from it, but the French embrace it. They play movies in France, that will not get theatrical releases in the USA, and if the film does- it has been severely changed- ie. Anti-Christ. Warning: Do not go see Anti-Christ. It has nothing to do with religion, it is just emotionally jarring and will give anyone nightmares, even those who love gore movies. As Stephanie said, "It makes Tetsuo look like a Disney film." I look at a scissors and I scurm.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there, especially my Grandpa Benner. He has made it to Father's Day, and that is all we could have asked for. Though the outlook is grim (for the family members), we must remember soon he will no longer be in pain, but rather with Our Father in Heaven. We must cherish each and every day we have with our fathers because we never know we it will be the last time we see them. Every day I pray that my Grandfather with be miraculously cured, but now I know it is time for me to ask for peace for my Grandpa. That is all I can ask. I no longer want him to suffer, I want him in a place that is painfree. It will hurt us, but we must hope for the best for him, no matter how much it hurts us or makes us cry.
Give your father a hug. Tell him how much you love him. Caitlin if you read this, or Mom, give Dad a hug and a kiss for me, and tell him how much I love him.

Photos. Photos. Photos.

Marie Antoinette's Estate.

Cementary

La Femis

Versailles

Here are four new albums I thought I should share. I am loving Paris and maybe after I finish my homework tonight, I'll add more to the blog.

Short blurb.

New Pictures!!!

I have a lot to share. I just do not have the time to sit down and write it all down... Yesterday we went to Studio 28- the first real cine in Paris. It is amazing and to make it even better, we saw Looking for Eric, which played at Cannes. It was a great film. I recommend it. Something a little funny though- the thick British accent was sometimes too hard to comprehend and I found myself using the French subtitles to figure out what was being said! Talk about irony!
For those that do not know, Studio 28 is in the Montemarte District of France, also known as the Artist District. We were entertained by a gypsy balancing a fishbowl on his head while eating crepes and a drunk (or at least I hope) singing about cheese to our professor.
After the film we walked to Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) Cathedral. It is beautiful. We were there at 9PM, so we couldn't go in, but I want to go back so bad. It looks amazing. To top it off, the cathedral is at the top of the Amelie stairs!!! Amazing! If you have never seen Amelie- watch it now!
Today we received the chance to visit Cinematheque Francias. It is amazing. I wish it was bigger. They had more of Edison's inventions, and none of Lumiere's. It was frustrating. Then they didn't mention Bioscope or Edison forcing the Lumiere Bros out of the United States. It was like they wanted to make Edison look like the good guy, which i know is false. Edison actually was a greedy man, like all business men.
I did buy 3 bottles of wine today... all together they cost 4Euros. They are sitting pretty on my shelf right now.
So that is a brief blurb about the past two days... Now a video for your entertainment.

I feel like we are going to go back home and try to pay for everything with quarters- Steph.

Notre Dame is amazing. It is so beautiful- inside and out. The worst and best part is the climb to the top of the building. It is all done in circular stairs and its so tall! Everyone was so tired and Zach compared us to someone one was doing drugs. We were quite delirious. I am so sore. It was quite ridiculous.
The most zen part of Notre Dame for me was lighting a candle for my Grandfather, Lloyd Benner. It meant so much for me. So right not, there is a candle burning for my Grandfather in Notre Dame. How extraordinary. There was so much I saw, but it is so hard to describe.

Some extra pictures...

Here is the link to some more pictures that will not fit here.

MORE PHOTOS!

if that link doesn't work, try copying and pasting this:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2561388&id=8626184&l=c0fad6f696

A Brief Summary of the past couple days...

I have tried so many new foods while being here. I tried escargot, frog legs, crepes, creme brulee, and so much more. Some are interesting and others well... I don't know how to explain them.
I just came back from the Eiffel Tower lighting they do every night. It was so beautiful. The tower itself is UGLY!!! Beautiful from far away, ugly up close. But once it got dark and the tower lit up, the atmosphere changed. Then it sparkled- I don't really know how to explain it.
So for my birthday, one of my favorite professors came and lectured to us- fantastic! Then... we went to the Louvre. Mona Lisa isn't that cool. It's a painting on a wood board. The only reason it's so popular is because DaVinci actually kept and didn't give it away or destroy it.
I was more interested in the Medieval Louvre than anything else. You can see the former parts of the castle and the city walls and hear the history behind it before it was cut down and build over. The new Louvre is MASSIVE!!!! I took pictures trying to capture it, but I don't think I was able to show the massive size of it. We actually went back to the Louvre on Saturday, but we were kicked out because they closed at 6 and we arrived at 4:30ish... I don't think we even finished one wing. I think we will be going back soon cause I want to see the Egyptian exhibit and take some pictures for my sister. I think it is interesting that their are so many unfinished works in the Louvre that are considered priceless because of who did not finish them- Michelangelo, for instance. I really love the statute of the Sun King- King Louis XIV.
We walked by the statute of Joan of Arc and it was covered in flowers. I want to go back there soon and take a picture. That is one amazing woman.
So earlier today we went to the Picasso Musee. The museum itself was a maze, like his works. It was kinda intense. We kept finding random corners and dead ends while looking at his works.
Of course we have gone out, and going out here is a little different then going out back home. But some things do not change- i.e. guys wanting to get with girls. But it doesn't matter- all that matters is that we were having fun with our group. I have been a party pooper and heading to bed early the past couple days, but I feel a lot better then the rest of the group the day after.

I think I found my new home...

I am totally and completely in love with Paris. First of all- the metro system is amazing and organized! Even if you get on the wrong train, you can still get where you were originally heading to with ease!
I saw Roman baths that were recently unearthed.
I also went to my first film here in Paris, a River Phoenix movie (for those who did not know- American cinema influenced French New Wave). We also walked through the Latin Quarter. Amazing! We will definitely be heading back there. We will be heading to Versailles this weekend! I am soooo excited! And it sounds like we may make a trip to Italy next weekend.
So in a few hours, I will be heading to the Louvre for a walking tour of it. I am really excited for it. Did you know it use to be one of many palaces? There are so many palaces here in Paris.
I am in love with the architecture here. The architecture back home is so bland, but here- it is so intricate and beautiful.
The food, oh the food! It is amazing! No matter what you can't go wrong... actually-lie. Camenbert is horrible! None of us can stand it. You know all the expensive cheese in America? It's the cheap cheese here, that everyone eats. It is so good. The croissants are so flaky and the coffee is amazing. Though their version of coffee is espresso, which is fine. The portions here are usually smaller, but still so filling. The pastiserries are amazing. I have never seen so many crazy and delicious looking desserts before in my life. And every meal comes with bread and salad.
When you go to the cinema here, do not expect popcorn or a concession stand- most theaters do not have them...
The French are not bad as people make them to be. Attempt to speak French and be courteious and you will be fine. Everytime you enter a building say "Bonjour" or "Bon soir." Everytime you leave a building say "Au Reviour." Some of my group don't get this, but I have learned it helps out a lot. Also, the French love exact change! Try to give them exact change or close to. It helps things move faster.
My French is getting better. I think the survival French will help my French get better and I cannot wait.

Sunset...

I went to bed and saw this...
The random chick is my roomie- Stephanie. She was in a Pocahantos mood.

Pigeons can die...

Pigeons are too stupid for their own good. So I went to open the window- you know fresh air and like five tried to fly in on me!!!! They flew at me! Freaky! Then one was outside of our window and we had our blinds closed, so it looked like it was inside, not a good moment for me or Stef- my roommate. Everyone here is amazing. I guess I am a really smart American since I was able to use the metro system on my own yesterday. Supposedly it's too hard for Americans to usually use. I thought it was quite simple-quite superior to American transportation systems. Oh by the way... Madi would love it here, they all drive stick!
I love the view from my room. It is so amazing to say I wake up and I see the Eiffel Tower! I think it really hit me that I was in Paris when I saw the Eiffel Tower. I am excited to see it when the sun goes down soon. It is almost nine at night here, so another hour or so before the sun goes down.

Day 2 - View From My Room

So I looked out the window today and this is what I saw. I took many pictures of the Eiffel Tower. We had baguettes for dinner- yum... I'm not really sure what I had for lunch... It had seafood in it and it was decent...

Day 1 Part2...

Paris Opera House. The Metro actually stops under it. It was cool to walk under.


Bastille!!!


Anyone read any Shakespeare? Falstaff???

Start of Day one...

I decided to finally put some pictures up...

Maybe I should get a flickr... I'll add that website soon.

fact of the day: mcdonalds you get free wifi, but have to pay to go to the bathroom...

Interesting facts, I also learned the French do not like ketchup as much as we do. I am eating dry frites... aka french fries. Though, everything is made fresh as you order and ordering espresso is norm. The flight here was not bad, and I was able to stretch out and sleep- though I wish I was able to fly business where their seats turn into beds and they are given laptops. I did get to watch The Office (3 episodes) on the way over. The worst part of the flight was Chicago to Boston, we kept hitting air pockets and dropping- scary, but we made it.
Getting around Paris using the metro is very easy, but I did make a mistake- right train, wrong direction. I made it to the hostel, though I am not allowed in my room until 2PM/ 14:00. I figured I should get use to Parisian time. Even the employees of McDonalds have a full uniform- including special pants!
Yes, all the cars are tiny. In a bit, I will be walking around Paris to take pictures after I lock up my computer and backpack.

Post-production

So after spending many hours in the editing suites and after both my TA and professor complimented me on my dedication, I have realized I know what I will be doing in the future. I will work in post-production. I love being in my little bubble getting everything done, making sure everything runs together smoothly and seeing if other editing needs to be done.
Though, a few group members do not seem to appreciate the extra work I am doing and think I am overstepping my boundary. I know I am not, especially after both my TA and professor told me I was doing the right thing. One thing that really irritated me was that today, a day after original meeting went down, a group member decided to bring up what we should do about transitions in between scenes that transitions were not shot for. Ummm.... that was discussed yesterday- I was working on that. I know what is happening, I have transitions worked out, but no this person does not like that I am doing it- well post is my passion and I am going to do it no matter what, and if I didn't do it we would be so far behind we would not be able to make it for next week's premiere.

Work now, more blogging later

The Little Things

Since I have taken up editing and working on post-production, I have started noticing so many things in movies that have never bugged me before. Even if I try to watch a movie as a 'normal' viewer- I can't. I notice the dialogue not synched up to the actors jaw from an over-the-shoulder shot. I can tell you if the lighting is motivated, if the cuts between make sense. I also notice that I freak out if the shot is amazing. The perfect lighting set up, the perfect shot, and amazing camera work. There are few scenes that seem to impress me anymore. Do I still love watching films? Of course. It takes many people to make a scene, and think of all the people that are on teh set that are there to make this story work. I watch films so I can support others that love the same passion as me. Without the support of people, we couldn't have an independent or a Hollywood films.

Senior Year with a Bang!

This year has been a roller coaster- a never ending one. Up and down I go. The bang I used in my title is the moments that have rocked me this year. Finding faith, losing faith, and finding it again are some of the bigger ones. Without the cancer diagnosis of my grandfather, I don't know if I would have lost and found the faith. It was a hard time in my life and it still it.
If there is one thing I have learned- Faith can and will et you through anything.
There was a quote I heard today and it reminds me of my internship, "The poor are Christ in a particularly disturbing way." Think about it.
My life as a student has also changed majorly. Taking the production classes have taken over my life. I no longer have time to work or do homework on the weekends. I am always on set or auditioning. In between classes I am trying to find time to get in an editing suite to work on my part of the project. This class may be sucking all my free time away, but it has thrown my into teh real world of working in film. I cannot wait until I can work in film without having to deal with other obligations like classes and work.
In one month, I will be leaving the country for the first time ever, and by myself. I, Sara Benner, am going to Paris, France. In Paris, I plan on studying French New Wave Film and if my campus rep program lets me- continue to promote TOMS over there (since TOMS is all I plan on wearing while in France).
I am hoping to use this blog to write about my predeparture, my time in France, and then my last semester here at the University.