Read this whole epically long post, OR ELSE.

Jeez, has it really been four days? My bad.

There's a lot to write, so I'm breaking it up into neat little sections, like a textbook. Gee, you're welcome.


Voting Absentee

My absentee ballot arrived yesterday (Tuesday), and I filled it out immediately. Obama/Biden. Check. Ban on dog racing. Check. Some other questions. Check, check, check.

I hope it's much more monumental in the long run than it felt just filling out a form at home on my sofa.

And because I didn't get a fun, li'l sticker at the polls, I've attached one to my blog, above, to fill the void.

Now I have to track down some Democrats to chill out with on election night here in London. I've already told my housemates that if Obama loses, I will probably be A) in a drunken rage, B) bawling my eyes out all night, or C) outside wearing a sandwich board that reads, "WILL MARRY THE NEXT ENGLISH MAN I SEE." I'll be sure to take pictures in any case.


My Second Production Job

That sounds like a screwed up children's book, dunnit? It could be part of a series: My First Teddy Bear, My Second Production Job, My Third Poledancing Class... Wait, what?!

The casting gig went well on Monday! The work was pretty easy, and it almost felt like running an audition back at Emerson College: signing in the actors, having them fill out casting paperwork, and making sure they knew where to go. I also ran a couple of errands for the producer and director and met Mark Goldthorp, currently of Avenue Q, all in a (half-)day's work.

The production company seems to work on a range of commercials. The one they were casting on Monday was for an independent grocery chain in the Northwest, which'll shoot over three days--but they also recently did a two-month shoot through seven countries for Emirates Airlines. That's the kind of range you get in production, and I can't wait to take a big step like that eventually. Speaking of...


The Upcoming Interview

When I got home on Monday night, I had an email from Nickelodeon, the love of my young life, inviting me to an interview for their Facilities Assistant position on November 11th! That feels like decades away at this rate, but hopefully I'll have some work before then to keep me busy. The folks there already sound incredibly nice. I'll be meeting with someone from HR and two production executives, so good Lord, the pressure will be on, but I'm stupidly excited to make it to an interview like that!

(Monday was also, coincidentally, my friend Amy's first day working at Nickelodeon in LA! Congratulations, chick!)


Networking

Then last night I went to a Women in Film & Television networking event, the first I've ever attended. The organisation is prominent in the States, particularly in New England and New York, and I've always been tempted to try out one of their events. Film London advertised their London meet-up, so I jumped at the chance to meet some more industry professionals.

I can't say "networking" comes easily to me yet, since I get nervous and assume that everyone attends for the same reason: to get ahead, in one way or another. It feels like shameless self-promotion--but I find that it helps to go into it feeling naturally excited to learn new things about people and be a willing listener, rather than jumping at the chance to talk yourself up.

Thankfully, the folks I met were very friendly--and then we were all distracted by an awesome demonstration of prosthetics and model-making from an industry pro named Paul McGuiness. He brought two brilliant dead body replicas--one standard and one that was mutilated, bloated, and disgusting--plus brains, lungs, tongues, eyeballs, decapitated heads, and more, all incredibly lifelike. It was awesome! I took a prosthetics make-up class at Emerson, so that's an area that I've always had a secret yen to try, and I'm always completely engrossed when learning more about the processes.

(In fact, I'm kicking myself for not buying a signed copy of The Winston Effect when I saw it in a store the other week. Maybe I'll buy it if it's still there next time.)

I guess this was always going to be the link-heavy section, eh?


Sherlock Holmes

If I don't get to work on this feature film at all while it's shooting here, it'll be an epic failure that'll haunt me for a the rest of my life. And by that I mean, eh, I'll be a little bummed.

I don't believe in fate by any means, but ever since I literally ran into the set, I've been running into connections to the production as well: I've met someone who was working on it, and before that I even found out that its production company produced the last feature film that I worked on back in Boston. I'm trying to hone these connections and see if I can eventually get in touch with someone in their production office, but it's not looking probable just yet. This is where the networking run-around gets exhausting, when all you really need is a little luck and good timing.


The Best Heading Ever

I'm so focused on the job hunt when I post, aren't I? It's not my whole life--I swear! In the meantime, I'm working on reconnecting with some old friends and planning to hang out with one of the other Making the Band PAs on Thursday night, which'll be pretty hip.

Daniel's sick these days, so there's been a severe lack of kissing lately, and if I can hold off getting a cold, too, it'll be a miracle (I've been downing vitamin C like a madwoman, though).

I'm really looking forward to the weekend, 'cause we'll be heading to the village (yes, village--smaller than a town) where his dad lives and owns a pub, so it sounds like I'll get to meet his whole family (possibly including his baby niece!)--and dog (!). Maybe I should be nervous, but I'm not. That's probably the most refreshing part of being with Daniel: it's incredibly comfortable, and I can be myself, 'cause foremost we seem to be really good friends already. I haven't had to worry about nerves.

Knock on wood!

I try to avoid cheesy mentions of relationship stuff, but I want to remember the good times, too, you know?

Jesus. What a long post, and it's only Wednesday. If you've read this far, you get a gold star. Or an "I Voted!" sticker.

Till next time!