No break for the wicked

December 18, 2022 MiaLeave a comment

young man sleeping on an open book — Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com

It’s not that I’ve had a busy year. On the contrary, it’s been quiet until October, when my filmmaking studies at Helsinki Design School started. The assignments aren’t as complex and time-consuming as the graphic design course. There is a lot of writing and analysing of movies. Two meetings in a row, we had about directing and screenplay writing. The latter is the most exciting subject for me. I’ve studied it before, so it’s a bit familiar. This week we had about casting, where two Finnish professional actors told us about the actor’s point of view of the movie and television business. They also played a scene that one of the students had written. There is a big difference between amateur and professional acting. An ordinary person goes through the script quickly, but a professional actor takes the time and, well, acts. This education has been fascinating and will continue to be so when the next meeting is in January. There won’t be a break in the assignments, but they’re not stressful, so it doesn’t matter.

If this year was quiet, I wouldn’t have that in 2023. Besides my studies, I’m going to a few concerts. First, the Robbie Williams one in March, and then in July, Pet shop boys. But wait, there is more. A sudden, surprising twist occurred. It was something I didn’t expect. My teenage dream will come true on June 27, 2023. The British band, Take That will come to Finland. The tickets will go on sale tomorrow (Monday 19th). They were here 29 years ago. My mother didn’t let me go at the time. I can’t let this chance go by. They’re a trio now when they were 5 at the time. I’ve only seen their concert in the movies and on television. It’s much easier to buy concert tickets nowadays, so I’m sure I’ll get a ticket. There will be a busy week at the end of June and the beginning of July 2023. First, Take That and a week later, Pet shop boys. So a lot of travelling next year.

Before all the above, Christmas break is upon us. I’ll be going on a cruise to Tallinn with dad. Maybe I will still post on this blog this year, but that will be after the holidays. In January, the Bloganuary begins again, which I will participate in. If I don’t write here this year anymore. Have a jolly good Christmas, and give peace a chance.

A bit of this and that

October 18, 2022 MiaLeave a comment

surfer inside a wave — Photo by Kammeran Gonzalez-Keola on Pexels.com

Aquadynamic is a problematic word to make a post about. But I can describe my current emotions. If you haven’t noticed, it was a month ago that I posted on this blog. I don’t know, but somehow I haven’t had the right feeling to write anything. Let’s just say life has come before everything else. My filmmaking education started at Helsinki Design School last week. The first meeting was last Wednesday and Thursday. I think it went well. My schoolmates are OK, I guess. Getting to know people is difficult when you hardly have any breaks. Lunch break, perhaps, but we have different tastes. Since it’s in Helsinki, I like to walk in the city alone. I know the centre by heart since I’ve been there many times. I do some sightseeing and go to school. Two flies at one hit, so to speak. The education in itself is engaging. I already know something about filmmaking since I’ve studied screenplay writing, but a repeat doesn’t hurt. There will be something new too. We get assignments that we have to do to pass the course. The good thing about studying film is that you can watch movies or movie scenes. The problem is trying to analyse scenes. That’s what the assignments we have this time. We have two tasks since it was two days. The deadline is November 18. Our next meeting is on Nov. 17. Before that, I have no contact with my schoolmates. They all have WhatsApp, but I don’t. Maybe I should get it, too, so I don’t get left out. I don’t have any use for it, but perhaps I could make an exception this time.

Another thing I’ve done recently was going to an ice hockey game. The local team organisation turned 100 years old last Saturday. The organisation contain several different sports teams. One of them is an ice hockey team. It was an anniversary match, so there were celebrations before the game started. There were former players, including Saku Koivu. If you follow ice hockey or the news in general, you might know who it is. He used to play in NHL, in Montreal Canadiens, to be exact. Anyway, it was a beautiful ceremony. The match was won by our team in overtime, 1-0. I don’t go to games that often. Maybe once or twice a year. But when I do, I enjoy every moment.

100 in balloons — `Photos from the event. Photos by me`

number 100 formed on ice rink — `Photos from the event. Photos by me`

I’m going to see the movie ‘Amsterdam’ tomorrow afternoon (October 19). It features Christian Bale. I don’t know what it is about, though. I want to be surprised. I watch almost anything that Bale is in. There are only a few I haven’t seen, and one of them is ‘American psycho’ That movie is too creepy for my taste. It’s pretty expensive to go to the movies. I belong to a movie panel where they send surveys to take, and then you get small amounts of money. When you “collected” 10 euros, you get a free movie ticket. Sometimes you need to pay 3 euros, but that’s a small price to pay. I’ve already seen 4 movies this year. Tomorrow it’s the 5th time. I also went to the movies during covid, but not so often. I choose what movies to watch. Sometimes it’s not worth going to the movies because they will be shown on TV or streaming services anyway. Nothing beats a movie theatre, though. It’s for the big screen that makes a movie unique. Life without entertainment is no life at all.

I already have plans for next year. I’m going to see Robbie Williams again on March 5. The last time he was here was in 2017. I thought then that I wished I could see him live one day again, and the day did come. It will be the first time I’ve seen an artist twice. When opportunity knocks, take it, I would say. To think that I didn’t like big crowds when I was younger. I never thought I would, but I guess age makes you braver. You get used to it when you get out of your comfort zone more often. It’s pretty nice out there, after all.

My unearthly plans for studies

July 1, 2022 MiaLeave a comment

I must be crazy for applying for the 3rd time for the same Helsinki Design School, but there I am again. I didn’t get a job after studying there for the last two. A lot of new experiences, yes, but that’s about it. This time it’s about making movies and the things that go with it. Some might think spending money on this school is wasted, but it’s my money. I don’t have time to study for more than a year. I get to go to places that I wouldn’t usually get to. Last time I got to go to an advertising company and a print company. Maybe it’s just another education to fill my resume, but at least I do something. It’s a part-time education, so I can search for employment or do something else on the side. I love learning new things. Call it unearthly, but that’s the way it is.

One of my first educations after elementary school was screenplay writing. There was also about filming and editing. I’ve loved movies since I was a kid, so it was natural that I applied for education about them. At the time, I thought about becoming a screenplay writer, but then my interests got elsewhere. I’ve seen behind-the-scenes footage for different movies a lot of times. People think it’s easy to make movies, but there are so many things you need to do. I studied the subject a long time ago so this education I’m going to will be a good update. I only recently realized that what I’ve studied in the past has a lot to do with movies. There are writing, graphic design and photography. The only thing that is missing is sounds, music and wardrobe. There are a lot of exciting things to study in the training program.

The education takes 11 months. Meeting in school two times a month and self-studying. There will also be visiting a film studio and professionals as teachers. There will be early mornings for me again, but in a way, they can be pretty nice. The education begins on October 12 and ends in August 2023. I’m looking forward to it. At least I have that if I don’t find something else to do. I don’t study anymore to get a job; I learn for myself. It’s only a plus side if I do get something else.