Music Festivals

There is nothing like the buzz at a good music festival to add some great memories to your summer. It was looking like my summer would come to a close without seeing any live music. Then, a Penn State friend of mine who is living in Santa Monica this summer invited me to join him at a charity festival that included one of his favorite bands. I was excited enough already to check out some new bands, but I became even more excited when I learned it would be held at none other than Paramount Studios.

It was called the Billabong Design for Humanity. The festival featured the bands Imagine Dragons, Walk the Moon, The Lumineers, and The Joy Formidable. I went into it not knowing a single song by any of them and walked away a big fan of them all. If you like music festivals, I recommend checking these bands out. 

Besides good music, the festival featured a variety of artists. They had an art gallery set up with a silent auction going on. They had graffiti artists decorating walls to take pictures in front of, and they had unique merchants selling items such as "jammy packs". It is a fanny pack with a speaker on the front that you can plug your phone or ipod into.

The festival drew in a large crowd, including a few celebrities. I spotted Ben Nemtin of The Buried Life, Sophia Bush of One Tree Hill, and Lea Michele of Glee.

All in all, it was a really fun night. I look forward to attending again next year!

Weddings and Sunburns

This past weekend, my Irish roommate was a bridesmaid in a wedding, and she invited me to join her as her date back in May. The bride had joined us on our trip to Vegas, so I was acquainted we her. The ceremony was held in a beautiful Catholic church just north of Simi Valley followed by a reception at the beautiful Spanish Hills Country Club.

It was a bit awkward at first. While I was happy to be a witness to the beautiful ceremony, I felt like I was encroaching on something personal. My only connection to the couple was as a friend of a friend.

However, once the reception got into full swing and I joined my date at the bridal party table, I felt more comfortable.

Both families were Hispanic, so some of the speeches tested my knowledge of Spanish, which I'm sorry to report wasn't strong. Although, I am holding to the conviction that had I been given a written copy of their speeches, I would have been able to translate it.

The food was delicious! I chose the vegetarian option and it was layers varying squashes wrapped in roasted red pepper and topped with some sort of sour cream or cream cheese. I also tried a bit of my friend's chicken. It was so juicy, and her mashed potatoes were perfectly creamy. My compliments to the chef.

After eating but before dancing ensued, my friend and I took the opportunity to pop into the photo booth they had set up. It was a really cute idea that I may steal for my own wedding. Guests could gather into a curtained off area (that accommodated many more than your average photo booth) to take photo booth pictures, with a variety of props if they so wish, and then paste them into a photo album with a cute little message.

Shortly after, everyone was invited onto dance floor. The DJ went through a few Top 40's before the band took back over and the real fun began. Let me tell you, Hispanics can dance! And I cannot. The groom's brother was such a sweetheart and tried to teach me, but it resulted in me learning nothing and him just spinning me around the dance floor. The groom even stepped in for a little bit, but my feet just do not move as quickly as they are supposed to. I need to take an agility class or go back to my high school basketball practices. Maybe I should start running more sprints. Quick was never an adjective I would use to describe myself, but I didn't realize that would hinder me off the athletic fields. Regardless, I made a valiant effort and certainly enjoyed myself.

My Irish roomie and I followed up our wedding date with a beach day. We headed back to Malibu to meet up with some friends of hers we have hung out with before. They're fun people, so I'm glad I got to see them again before my summer in L.A. comes to a close.

One thing you need to know about California beaches, they can be pretty breezy. It was a particularly windy, though beautifully clear day. I was a bit chilly lying out in my bathing suit and didn't want to get out of the suns rays to lie under our umbrella for fear of getting too cold. So I stayed in the sun...for all 5 hours we were there.

After my great victory over the sun in the deserts of Lancaster, you would think 5 hours on a beach wouldn't be an issue. What is that compared to a whole day in the desert sun? Apparently, I did not do as well in my reapplying because I am burnt to a crisp. This is easily my worst burn since the blistered and purpled shins I came home with on my senior class trip. It is an all encompassing burn that makes it hurt to sit, stand, and lie down. There is not enough aloe vera in the world for me right now. My body is radiating so much heat, I could be used as a space heater. I hope I recover by the end of the week or it will be a long drive home.

Heather: 1 Skin cancer: 1

Long Time No Talk

So it has been awhile. I got really busy with they film festival I was working on and time just seemed to get away from me.

I am now 21. I love it. I love being able to just go to a bar and hang out with friends. I love being able to hit up happy hour. I love being able to just crack open a Guinness to wash down my chips in salsa as I watch TV.

Vegas was definitely an experience. I'm holding to my silence (though if you ask me in person I am quick to spill the beans). I look forward to my next trip there!

After Vegas, my life became consumed by the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles. It spanned from Friday, July 6th, to Friday, July 13th. I was a photographer for the festival. I did mostly red carpets, but also got pictures of the actual festival itself and the after parties. It was a surreal week, just working red carpet after red carpet, going to parties in art galleries and on rooftops. Most films screened at the Downtown Independent or Hayworth Theatres, but one, Heathens and Thieves, screened at Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live. L.A. Live is also home to the Staples Center, along with many other shops and nice restaurants. It is a really modernly beautiful place. The ESPYS also happened to be taking place there on the same night. I spotted some tall, athletic men that people were taking pictures with, but none that I recognized. I did get to meet Patrick's Swayze brother, Don Swayze, at the screening as he is one of the main characters in the film.

I definitely enjoyed working with the festival. I met a lot of great people between those in the industry and the other interns I worked for. Below is a slideshow I put together as a part of my internship with some photos from the festival.

After the festival I took a little mini road trip the Phoenix to visit one of my best friends. After doing so much running around L.A. it was nice to get out for a bit. I always enjoy visiting the Phoenix/Tempe area, and when I am only a six hour drive away as opposed to a six hour flight away, I couldn't pass up the opportunity! I got to do some thrifting, experience the night life on Mill Ave., and just relax. While the festival was fun, I felt like I was always going, going, going. My weekend retreat to AZ was a great way for me to unwind. It was also a much needed escape after having my phone stolen.

Yes, my phone was stolen during the festival. You never think it is going to happen to you. I was working the red carpet during an after party at an art gallery. The gallery is set up so that there are two wings on either side of the door before you walk into the main area. The red carpet was in one of those wings, so I was off to the side by myself. I set my camera bag down (for the first time that night) underneath a table that separated the gallery from an employees only area. I wasn't getting much action on the red carpet, so I had my phone out and was texting. A group of people came up to get their pictures taken, so I set my phone down in the front pocket of my camera bag. While I was taking pictures, I notice another guy make his way over. He looked like someone who had just drifted in off the street. Once I finished with the group, I turned to him and asked if he wanted his picture taken. He mumbled something about not having cash and waiting for his girlfriend. I didn't really follow what he was saying, so I just let it go. I turned my back to him to take pictures of packed gallery. After a few moments, he taps me on the shoulder and asks how much it is to  get a picture. I told him it was free and to jump right up. He did and through the scarf that he was wearing over half his face. I thought it was odd, but I also thought he was odd. He took off, and I went to go check my phone only to find it gone. I tried calling it and tracking it but he had turned it off. It is so frustrating in this day and age how little can be done to recover a stolen phone.

My trip to Phoenix provided me with a great opportunity to get out of my head after that experience. It also gave my a chance to plan out my road trip home! This friend will be joining me as I make a weeklong drive home. I am beyond excited! More details to come!

What Happens In Vegas...

Stays in Vegas.

The Entertainment Capital of L.A.

I am lucky enough to be living with a Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A., employee this summer. She said whenever I wanted she could get me into the park for free, and last Thursday I decided to take her up on the offer. I invited two other art department interns to join me, and we spent the day riding roller coasters and exploring the studios.

We first met up with the girl I'm living with. She took great care of us! She gave us free water and four front of line passes, each one being valid for up to 5 people. Our first, and probably my favorite, ride was the new Transformers 3-D ride. The special effects where really good. If you have ever been to Universal Orlando, it was similar to the Spider Man and Hogwarts ride. They had some of my favorites from Orlando, like The Mummy and Jurassic Park. One thing that makes the Hollywood park different from its Orlando counterpart is the Back Lot Tour. We got to go around the actual Universal Studios that they use for filming. It was so cool to see all these sets and props I had seen in movies before. It was especially interesting to see how fake the New York set looked in real life, but it always looks so real in the movies. That's Hollywood for you.

After a fun day in the park, we took off for the desert for filming. We were on location for the next few days in Lancaster, CA. It was HOT. And sandy. Go figure. I think I went through about ten bottles of water an hour and a whole bottle of sunscreen, but I came away with only a bit of pink on the back of my neck.

Heather: 1 Skin cancer: 0

Pausing

Have you ever had those moments where you just pause and kind of take a step back to look at your life? I've been having a lot of those lately, and I like what I am seeing.

They are most common while I am driving. It's not what I had expected. I'm not surrounded by a concrete jungle like I am in New York. Most of my driving takes place around mountains and rocky hillsides. It's such different scenery than what I am used to when driving around PA and NY. I find myself constantly marveling at my surroundings and thinking, "I actually made it. I'm in California. I'm living in L.A." Ever since last fall, I knew I wasn't going to be anywhere but L.A. this summer, but sometimes I still find myself surprised that I actually made it happen.

I've had those moments during my internships as well. Last Thursday, there was a Arts Walk in Historic Downtown LA that showcased over 30 art galleries. One of my internships, Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles, works with the Los Angeles Center of Digital Art. I got to take part in the Arts Walk by assisting at LACDA gallery. I worked the red carpet, photographing gallery viewers as they walked and posed on the red carpet. I walked around the gallery taking pictures and filming the event.

That was when I had another pause. Here I was, working as a videographer at a trendy art gallery in downtown L.A. Seriously? Now if only I could get paid to do that. Obviously, I had my own moment on the red carpet before the night ended.

On Friday, I was on set for my internship in the art department. The scenes took place at a craft shop that was packed with rows and rows of supplies. It was cramped and hectic and so, so great. There were so many people. There were easily 30 people there, and they all had a job today. It was such a different experience from anything I'd ever worked on. At school, we have three person crews. Sometimes there are upwards of 8 people on set, depending on how many actors you have. I loved the atmosphere. It was like I was living in the film Living in Oblivion.

However, that was event the best part. I was setting up a "doll aisle" with various doll parts that I was sure I would have nightmares about later when I notice a group of people stop at the end of my aisle. They are being introduced to the director, but one stood out to me. I wasn't sure at first, because his back was to me, but he was wearing a hat that I had seen a certain actor don constantly. My suspicions were confirmed when he turned in my direction, and I was experiencing my third celebrity sighting. Standing before me was Josh Hutcherson best known for his role as Peeta in The Hunger Games. Apparently he is friends with the one of the producers and just wanted to drop by and check out the set.

My final internship has been enjoyable, due entirely the the people I am working with. I have been organizing cast and crew documents and updating the credits list for the film Beyond the Mat. This past week I got to meet the two leads of the film, as they are also producers. They told the other interns and I some tricks of the trade and how to get our start. It was useful advice that will definitely help me next year when I take the big leap.

I'm sure I am not done pausing for the summer, I just hope they continue to be in moments of awe and joy. I encourage you to pause as well and just take in your life for a moment. It's an interesting feeling.

Firsts

I've experienced many firsts in this past week.

I had my first celebrity sighting of the summer. I went to The Grove to apply for a job at a few shops, and discovered that is where they film Extra. Imagine my surprise when I learned I could come to The Grove everyday and see Mario Lopez's beautifully dimpled face. On this particular day, he was interviewing George Lopez about his new dating show.

I had my first day on my two internships. As a part of the art department, I have been working to make rocks out of paper and plastic. Once I taped giant balls of paper together, I melted layers of trash bag plastic around them, and then painted them to make them look more life like. Today, I finished up painting a bunch of props white for the opening scene in the film. It's fun getting crafty, and I'm learning a lot about what goes into making a film from the art department.

My work with the film festival as been primarily working on a social media outreach. I have been working with a team of interns to promote the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles. I get more and more excited for it each time my supervisor talks about the networking opportunities it will provide and the penthouse parties we will get to attend.

I took what is sure to be my first of many trips to Santa Monica. It is easily my favorite part of California that I have seen so far. It has everything, a pier, a beach, and great shopping. It is also where a friend of mine from Penn State just moved into a great apartment.

I booked my first trip to Vegas! The weekend following my 21st birthday I'm hitting the road with some friends to celebrate in style. We booked our weekend at Planet Hollywood, located in the center of the strip. I remember being 16 and having this crazy fantasy of celebrating my 21st birthday in Vegas. I never thought it would actually happen.

And finally, I am currently watching the Tony Awards for the first time, and it makes me want to get involved in Broadway productions. Or at least go watch them all.

The Bu

I had done a decent job fending it off, but the sun and it's powerful rays caught up to me this past Tuesday on my trip to Malibu. My shoulders and knees turned into tomatoes, but, with the help of my wonderful Aloe Ocean Potion lotion (say that ten times fast) I am getting back to my normal paleness.

It was a beautiful day! Not a cloud in the sky, a gentle breeze, and warm sand. The water is pretty frigid, but nice to walk in. I relaxed on an uncrowded beach with my Dublin roommate and the little boy she babysits while we ate lunch.

Malibu is not at all what I expected. There is no real town like in Santa Barbara. It is mostly just and endless strip of beach, some areas public and some areas private with beautiful houses. I picked out a few I wouldn't mind buying. If anyone wants to pitch in $5-10 million, let me know. I will happily accept housemates!

Before taking our trip to Malibu, we started the day with a nice hike up to a mountain top that boasted a breathtaking view of Simi Valley in all it's glory.

I did hear back from my interviewer at Voltage Pictures. Rather than bring me in early and have me writing script coverage, he said he passed my resume on to an Assistant Editor of the feature The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman. I looked it up on IMDB, and it has a few recognizable names in the cast such as Shia LaBouf and Rupert Grint. I am beyond excited at this opportunity. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, because I imagine there is a good chance that nothing will come of it. However, the fact that there is possibility has me dancing in my head.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the completely different world that is Beverly Hills. I was driving through West Hollywood on the way to an interview and was thinking how different it was from East Hollywood. Then I crossed into Beverly Hills city limits. Everything about it is so well-kept. You definitely get what you are paying for when you live there.

I also happened upon Paramount Pictures studios on my way home. I was tempted to leave my resume at the gate, but the traffic flow wouldn't allow we to make a left turn onto their lot. Typical L.A.

Meeting the Pacific Ocean

Have you ever nailed an interview while simultaneously shooting yourself in the foot? No? Well then, you must not be Heather Maggi.

I had my interview with Voltage Pictures on Wednesday. They are an Academy Award winning production company. I walked in and loved the atmosphere of the office immediately. It was very relaxed, I mean the guy that interviewed me was wearing jeans and a Captain America shirt. It reminded me a lot of my internship last summer in Dublin. He took me into a small corner conference room with floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the street corner, and I sat at a table made from a slab of wood. Too cool.

Things seemed to be going well when he asked me what I was hoping to learn from the company. I dove into a speech about my passion for post-production. He explained that they wouldn't have any projects in post until July, then had to excuse himself for a phone call. I admired the view while thinking how the timing of the their projects was another similarity between this summer and last summer. When he returned, he told me that it was great to meet me and to definitely stay in contact, and they'll get me back in come July to intern in the post-production department. That was that.

I walked back to my car cursing myself for putting so much emphasis on editing and wondering what I was going to do for over a month. I had that offer from the reality TV production company, but I hated to return to them and say, "I accept your offer...but only for a month." After thinking it over, I decided to email my interviewer the following day expressing my interest to learn about all aspects of production and inquiring about the possibility of coming in sooner than July. He had been on top of replying to my emails up to this point, so I figured I would have my answer soon enough.

In the mean time, I met up with my Dublin roommate for some California exploration. Thursday we went to the Griffith Observatory, and I got a great view of L.A. and the Hollywood sign while also learning all about the solar system.

Afterward, I went back to her house for the night. We got up early to meet her friend for a hike at Lizard Rock. I got to see a more natural side of California, and it was beautiful, complete with pretty flowers and a waterfall. Once we cleaned up from our hike, she and I hit the road for an afternoon in Santa Barbara. We made a quick stop in the cute town of Ventura for lunch at a 50's diner she frequents when she and her mom make the trip. After Ventura, I got my first look at the Pacific Ocean. I was literally driving right next to it! One swerve and I'd be driving in the ocean (provided I didn't get hit by any oncoming traffic), hence why the 101 is also known as the Pacific Coast Highway. What a relaxing  drive it was. We explored the shops on State Street before heading to the beach.

However, after all our time there, we had not happened upon Shawn, Gus, or their Psych office. I did a quick Google search and much to my dismay, Psych is actually filmed in British Columbia.

If you're keeping track, you will realize it is now Saturday, and I still hadn't heard back from my correspondent at Voltage Pictures. Not one to sit around, I continued to peruse Entertainment Careers for internship opportunities. I came across one for work in the art department of a feature film from June  4th to July 3rd. I'd never given much thought to the art department, and decided to look into what that entails. Turns out, the art department covers everything from carpentry and architecture to set dressing and costumes. It sounded like a fun new opportunity and a great way to experience on the set of a feature film. I applied to that, along with a few others, before joining my friend for a Memorial weekend barbeque. While we were sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows at the end of the night, I couldn't resist the urge to check my email. To my delight, there was an invitation to an interview at a coffee shop on Monday. I guess we'll see just how artsy I can be!

Finding "To Be Named Later"

It was a long weekend. Each day I started hopeful and each day I ended disappointed, but never defeated. After searching again all day Saturday to no avail, I ended up crashing at my Dublin roommate's place so she wouldn't have to drive me all the way home yet again.

The next morning we broken the unsuccessful monotony of car shopping by heading up to Oxnard for the California Strawberry Festival. It was the most delicious festival on Earth. They had Strawberry everything. I didn't know where to start. Following the suggestion of another girl that joined us, I went with the strawberry pizza.

She did not lead me astray. It had a sweet shortbread crust with a layer of a cream cheese/fluff mixture my mom makes for fruit dip. They piled on tons of fresh, chopped strawberries, a dash of whipped cream, and topped it with a whole strawberry.

Besides strawberries, the festival featured rows of tents where artists from all over showcased their works. I picked out many gifts for my mother and myself. Unfortunately, until I have a disposable income, they had to remain at the booths.

Before leaving, we snagged some strawberry smoothies which may have been the best decision of the morning. They were tart and refreshing with just the right amount of thick creaminess.

After the festival, we went back to work. We decided to stop at a used car tent sale we visited on Friday with the hope that they would be more willing to stay within my budget since it was the last day of the sale, and they needed to move those cars. The dealers recognized me as soon as I walked in. One called me over to show me a new used car he had just brought over, a black '09 Pontiac G6. I was looking it over when a Toyota dealer went up to my Dublin roommate. He knew what I wanted, because he had worked with me for a long time on Friday, and he knew the Pontiac wasn't it. He had my friend call me over while he pulled around the car he had in mind for me. It was another car they had just brought over today. I fell in love with it the moment I laid eyes on it. There sat my soon to be baby in all it's blue glory. It was small. It had low mileage. It was relatively new. It was a Toyota. I knew it had to be mine, but I was skeptical. This guy had already gotten my hopes up on Friday with a little silver Mazda, only to be dashed when he couldn't get the price low enough after all. I didn't want to get attached only to be let down again. I voiced this concern, but he promised this time it would be different. Okay.

I gave it a test drive, and it drove like a dream. It had it all, cruise control, power locks, power windows, air conditioning, heating, auxiliary port, cigarette lighter to charge things, and conveniently placed cup holders. When we arrived back he took me into the tent. They knew my price, they knew there was no wiggle room, so there was less song and dance and more talking behind the make-shift walls. They sent a manager over to me, to feel me out I'm assuming. I gave him my story; poor college student, trying to survive in L.A. and land an internship that will take her places. Lucky for me, he also had a daughter in film whom he was using his connections to help, so he sympathized. He went back behind the curtain and after what seemed like years, he returned with a smile on his face, and I became a the owner of a 2007 Toyota Yaris, to be named later.

        

The Many Lessons of L.A.

There are many things I have learned in the short time I have spent in L.A. The first, L.A. is huge and terrifying. Getting lost seems like an inevitable occurrence. The second, the more time you spend in a place, the more if begins to feel like a home. When my friend picked me up from the airport and drove me back to her apartment where I am living until August, I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into. There was so much to get accustomed to, so many new streets and highways to learn. However, after spending the next day around East Hollywood, places started to look familiar. Certain street names were starting to stick out to me. Certain businesses were becoming landmarks.

While I am learning more about my surroundings, I am also worried I may never get to put my new found knowledge to the test. I teamed up with my roommate from Dublin last summer, and together we did some serious car hunting from noon until 9 pm. After being led from one shady, back alley dealer to another from the cars we found on cars.com, only to discover them dented and stained, we started stopping in at dealerships. We stopped at one after another, each sucking you in with cars that seem too good to be true. Turns out, it's because they are too good to be true. They say they can get you a deal, however the deal isn't up to them, it is up to their boss. When you add on taxes, document fees, and licensing fees, a car that started in my price range quickly leaves it. After 9 hours, I headed home empty handed and heavy hearted with only one source of enjoyment, my fourth lesson.

At one of our last stops I met a salesman who taught me how to drive using a manual transmission. I only stalled out once when I didn't realize I needed to step on the clutch before the brake. It was exhilarating, like learning to drive all over again! He volunteered to teach me because the only car he had in my budget was a stick shift. It was tempting to get the car so I could continue to practice, and if I was in Athens this summer I probably would have gotten it. But I'm not in Athens. I'm in a very large city that I am very slowly getting familiar with, which has a lot of stop-and-go traffic. The last thing I need is the added pressure of perfecting my manual transmission driving.

One less pressure I have is what to eat for breakfast. My final lesson has been the growth of my taste buds. I have actively avoided oatmeal for as long as I can remember, but finally decided to give it a try. To my surprise, it wasn't half bad. Inspired by my broadened breakfast pallet, I decided to leave the tomatoes on my In-N-Out Burger at lunch, and you know what? It was tasty. 

The Night Before The Night Before

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Do something everyday that scares you." I'm about to take that to a whole new level this week. Wednesday I take off for a whole summer on the West Coast. Terrified doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. I have to find a car; I have to nail an interview to get my desired internship; I have to find a paying job, all the while learning to navigate a city that is so unfamiliar it might as well be another country. But hey, I adjusted to Dublin easy enough!

So here goes nothing. In 36 short hours, I will begin my next adventure. As terrified as I feel, I am that much more excited. Be sure to watch those credits closely!