This is an attempt to document a 3-year study of masters in film in Barcelona, Spain. From 0% knowledge of their language to living alone in a foreign land.
P.S. If you don't find anything that interests you nor find anything in common with the author, if you don't have anything good to say, then YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS IN THIS WEBSITE. So sod off!
I will miss this site, and will definitely come back to read old entries and amuse myself, but I am happy with the new one. So change your links now! :)
Goodbye multiply..
You've been a good site but i found a better one. xx
p.s.
would like to thank my past readers for 2009! im sure ill have more exciting news to share for 2010. besos!
You wouldn't believe where I will be celebrating New Year's eve! Because I can't believe it as well. In less than than 24hours, I'm stepping on new grounds together with my man and 6 amazing german girls for 2010! Gaaah! The word ecstatic is even an understatement!
I know I'm already backlogged with new posts. But hey, its the holidays, i have an excuse. Wishing everybody an awesome New Year's eve!
I am 7 hours behind Philippine time. As I am writing this, my family and friends are already celebrating back home.
"Our hearts grow tender with
childhood memories and love of kindred,
and we are better throughout the year
for having, in spirit, become a child again
at Christmas-time"
The turkey is inside the oven for about 2 hours now. 6 more hours before Christmas, and For a moment, I realized my blessings has outnumbered the Christmas lights. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! FELIZ NAVIDAD!
Action star and senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. wants to beat Hollywood movies to a pulp. If he had his way, the current onslaught of Hollywood movies in the Philippines would be reduced to one movie per month.However, Revilla added, “A lot of people would react negatively and I know it’s against the GATT [General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade].”
Revilla suggested the drastic proposition when asked a hypothetical question about Hollywood movies being shown during Christmas time, which is usually reserved for the Metro Manila Film Festival. “How else can we revive the local movie industry if we give up the holiday play dates? The rest of the year, Hollywood movies beat local productions at the box office.”
How do you revive the local movie industry, you ask? How about you start by making films worth seeing first? Thanks.
ETA: Revilla stars in one of the Metro Manila Film Festival entries this year, Ang Panday, which he also produced. “We have somehow perfected the use of special effects… We want to show the whole world that Filipinos can make films like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings,” Revilla toldManila Bulletin.
IS HE FREAKING SERIOUS? Brilliante Mendoza said in a CNN interview that Philippine cinema needs to stop trying to be like Hollywood and I agree wholeheartedly. Why try to make things that will look sub-par in comparison with their obviously superior technology? Compete with good storylines, with compelling plots, with well-developed characters, with good acting. They’re trying so hard to be something they aren’t, they can’t even get the basics right.
I couldn't have said this any better. Bong Revilla's statements may it be commercially or politically inclined just makes me cringe and feel sorry for him.ARGH.
Remember about the interesting idea my friend and I came up with? It's nothing extravagant, but we have a feeling we'll both have a lot of fun doing it. We did a camera testing, all is good except for the lighting, so daytime would be the better option. Got a clue now?
Don't mind my facial expression. This is just a camera test.
Her name is Iris Wildfeuer. She is a 1st year film student like me, but we're both in a different class. A pure German. She speaks German, Spanish, French, and English fluently. And yes, I envy her for that. While she can squeeze herself in smoothly with other language speaking countries, I am stuck with people who answer you with a blank "nothing" at a time you feel so left out and asked them what they were talking about ---not that everybody is like that.
I'll just take comfort in the conclusion that people who never tried learning a different language and living in that world will never understand how difficult it is, that's why they are of no help in any way. AMEN.
Well, you'll get to know a lot of that sweet girl in my succeeding entries.
We have a 3-week break from school, and I am off for a white Christmas. And till I receive a confirmation from my parents, I might be spending the holidays in 3 countries at once!
The famous Sagrada Familia is only 3-blocks away from where I live, so literally it is indeed my playground. It is also where I attend mass every Sundays. It may not have the best park but it definitely has the best view. And for the holiday season, bazaars are present around the area.
Wherever you walk around the city, you will always encounter a person walking his/her dog and believe me, I've seen already from the smallest to the biggest to the ugliest to the most beautiful dogs in Barcelona! And it only makes me wish I had one to walk around with me as well. But if I can't even take care of myself alone, how much more if I'll get me a pup right?
But I really want to get me one someday!
Kids are the most adorable creatures when they are in their winter clothes. I just want to squeeze them! They're like walking cotton-balls, They are the cutest!
Been planning to take more "kids in winter clothes" pictures and put it into one whole album. If I had a kid, I'll probably have so much fun dressing him/her up with winter clothes!
This small wooden log with a smiley painted on its face is called Cagartió. I read that kids in Catalunya would gather around the log, feed it and then lightly tap it with a stick as they sing a song so it can literally crap out candies and small presents similar to what we call stocking stuffers.
Which Simpson is this?
And about the friend of mine that'll keep me warm for the winter is actually a scarf! a furry one and is currently my favorite! and I was the one who ate that tuna :P
Now excuse me while i need to compose 10 more stories for my script 101 class, and prepare for my speech this Monday to defend the script for my 8mm film this January. Will probably take a break from the internet for a few days.
La clase era muy interesante ayer. En mi manera a la escuela, era treinta minutos temprano. Entonces, decedía comprar dos plátano para comer mientras que caminaba. Cuando llegué en la aula, todos me miraba. And I thought to myself, ¿estoy tarde? Pero es solamente seis y cincuenta la clase empieza a las siete en punto! Entonces nuestro profesor dijo algo a la clase pero no entiendo nada.
ENGLISH:
The class was very interesting yesterday. I was 30 minutes early so I decided to buy some food as something to eat while walking myself to school. When I arrived in class, everybody was looking at me, and I thought to myself "Am I late? But it's only 6:50pm and classes starts at 7pm!" Me and my professor exchanged our "Hola's", I sat down, then he said something to the class which I did not understand at all.
Quick information, our professor for this class (SCRIPT 101) is actually the director of our whole school. I could have dug my own grave by now, luckily enough, he's been so nice to me and seems to understand my difficulty with the language.
During our break time
ME: It's so bad I really didnt know that everyone is suppose to come at 6pm today instead of 7pm.
JUAN: Yup. Because we need to catch up with our lessons due to the long holiday we had last week.
ME: That was really embarassing!
JUAN: No te preocupes (no worries). It was all good. But you know after you walked inside the room and sat down, Walter (professor) was like "So nobody told her?".
JUAN & GORGE: And we we're all like, "Uh-ooooh". We're so sorry.
So that was what happened. It is something inevitable for now anyways. Gorge is from Mexico, and his name is pronounced as "Horhey". I need to emphasize on that for Spanish speaking people are very specific when it comes to pronunciation. AMEN.
On the lighter note, I think I'm starting to re-build the lost artistic side of me. I think I want to draw and paint again. Inspiration is all around me, all I need is to express them artistically. One time during class I was scribbling through my notes and Alex (classmate) drew his own version of it. we we're both kinda impressed we ended up drawing and scribbling on our notes! Alex is originally an animator (3D, 4D, all types) before he decided that Directing is really his passion. Someday I hope to take a picture of his awesome scribblings!
This is one of my scribblings. I could use some sketches for a film story board. But be nice about it, I'm just starting to pull the strings out of me.
I even wrote a stupid note beside it. LOL.
Please bear with me if I have to write in Spanish. I have to do this for my own good in learning the language faster. No worries, I´m doing the extra effort in writing the english version as well for you to read. :)
Ayayay! I am officially celebrating my one month in España. Ok maybe not exactly today, it was actually three days ago. But who cares!
En un mes yo (in one month I)...
Already went from one barrio to another using the train metro ALONE. Include the fact that I went down to the wrong stations numerous times and YES, the fall, the horrible fall! I fell off the stairs from one of the stations and my shoe flew a meter away from me.
Walked myself along the streets of Barcelona and allowed myself to get lost ---as if I had the choice right?
Drank the night away with fellow Spanish friends, and found myself talking in 80% Spanish and 20% english during our conversations. Because when im sober, it's always the other percentage around. They did understand and laughed with me as well! or maybe they were just drunk too; not that it matters. haha.
Got my ass grabbed by a stupid bike-cycling moron. DONT ASK.
Managed to get out of a club unscathed. I don’t mean this in a conceited way but, drunk guys can be total assholes sometimes. Especially foreigners with _______ nationality.
Met an amazing woman from a different class who now turns out to be my partner-in-crime ---and she’s German! Because I love them as much as I love Spanish people. :)
Ate the country's famous Paella, and I know how to get away in buying food and stuffs speaking in Spanish. "Un Durum de pollo por favor. Para llevar!" Oh yeah.
Already did a short film together with the class shooting around the streets of Barcelona. And my Spanish film terms/vocabulary has increased to 40%! And I kinda like everytime I say "Acción!" with ze accent.
Not bad, not bad at all for a month. I’m slowly starting to feel like a resident and less like a tourist. And by next year 3rd week of January, I will have my first ever film shooting as the ---DIRECTOR.
I have a feeling 2010 will be full of surprises and excitement. Game on.
Tired from what seems to be a long trip, and my eyes squinting from the sun’s glare outside, I stare at my phone clock ---10:01am. And I hear the captain’s voice “...more or less we will arrive in about 50minutes”.
The view itself makes me shiver in coldness, and the sight of miniature snowflakes stuck outside of my window only reminded me of how stupid I was to bring very little clothes.
This entry is not entirely about Germany itself for I will be back again for the holiday season and have much more exciting stuffs to share. This entry is more about seeing the world in its entirety. For already a month now I am surrounded with Spanish speaking people, I dived in and allowed myself to get drowned into their culture, their way of living. And the next thing I knew, I was in a country speaking entirely a different language, and practicing an entirely different culture ---Germany.
I was in a town and their houses were built in such beautiful structure but unfortunately, I broke my #1 rule in travelling, and didn't bring my cam.
Cologne, Germany
These times you wish your parents could have taught you multiple languages when you were still young.
These times you wish those stupid Babylonians never created the Babel tower at all, and the most impossible of all,
these times you wish you were born with super powers ---a super multi-lingual power that is.
Already met a whole lot of interesting people in this journey. But most of the time, the friendship needs to be put on hold due to the language barrier. Before I left I was hanging out with Spanish speaking friends talking about anything under the roof for five hours! And in less than 24hours I find myself hanging out with German speaking friends talking about God knows what.
For that matter, I have probably mastered the art of glance-be-cool-and-smile move. Trust me, it works if you don’t speak their language! And did I ever mention that I had a lot to drink and puked all over Cologne? What a first huh. I don't even know if I should be proud of that. haha.
Now I need to go to study for my first Spanish examination tomorrow. Next post, will be a celebration of my one month stay/study in Spain. CHOW.
I can't believe my blog has reached more than 10,000 hits! I always thought nobody would care enough to read the nonsense stuffs I write on my blog. I mean, you do realize that most of the time I don't make sense right?
Well I didn't really create this site to earn attention from readers but I created this for my own personal gain; to practice my writing, and to serve as my personal "cache" of memories that is always fun to read on and look back to.
But WOW,
Thank you.
Now I feel pressured to post stuffs that makes more sense. It's amazing and kinda weird to know I have readers all around the world from Europe to Asia to America. But most especially, there have been people sending me private emails about how I inspire them, how my life and my writings has inspired them, and that they never get sick of reading my entries. One guy was nice enough to say that he always makes sure to read my blog every Saturday. Awww. Thank you so much! You all know who you are!
And for that, I have a little something for you readers. It's not little really, but me and a totally awesome friend of mine who is also a film student came up with this really interesting idea. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you about it right now because we are still at the stage of brainstorming. But I have to say its pretty fun and we are both very excited about it. If your a constant reader of my blog, I am pretty sure you'll like it as well.
For now, I'll be leaving for Germany again for the weekend. So hopefully I can tell you about the exciting news by next week!
But before I sleep, I'd like to introduce you another friend of mine who will keep me safe and warm for the winter:
Oh look! she ate my whole can of tuna too!
P.S. if you need or want to send me private messages, feel free to email me at: christina_elloso@yahoo.com
The holiday spirit is here! And in less than 13 hours my time, it is already December 1, 2009. Boy time flies fast! December has always been a special month for me. Besides the holidays and Christmas day, my man and I will be turning one year on December. Couldn't be more special :)
Sundays is always a time to thank the Lord for all the blessings. I have to admit, He gave me more than what I asked for, more than what I imagined. And I always find the time to thank him for that.
Sagrada Familia at night
I hope you know that the weather is freezing cold already. I won't be spending Christmas and New Year in Barcelona though. Will have a white one ;)
Yesterday the city was jampacked with foreigners from British to Germans to name it! Because La Liga Barcelona vs Madrid was held in Camp Nou. Every bar in Barcelona was filled with people watching, drinking, and cheering for the game. And of course, FC Barcelona won. 1-0. The dream team!
Camp Nou is the biggest football stadium in the whole of Europe and is located in Barcelona. It is FC Barcelona's training ground.
And this is the closest that I could get to the stadium.
For the meantime, I don't think I can afford a ticket especially on a good fight. And tickets were sold out in just a couple of hours! But before La liga ends, I'd like to be watching live inside the stadium. Imagine the intensity! :)
I know I'm suppose to post an entry about food in Barcelona but, I'm currently nursing a "desynchronosis" (for the sake of learning a new term) In short ---JET LAG. From my recent weekend trip to Germany. Don't get me wrong, I love travelling but I just don't like those long hours in airports and airplanes. It drains the hell out of me. It was all worth it though, I had an amazing weekend! I can't wait for the Holidays! :)
Now I'm back in Barcelona. Back to school. Somehow, school never fails to remind me of the reason as to why I am here. Why? Well yesterday we did a pre-shooting for an 8mm film and boy I was lambasted with unfamiliar Spanish words! Apparently, Their terms for camera shots, angling, and the shiz, are way too different in English. So today is spent imprisoned in my own room studying the terms and definitions in Spanish. How could I have spent my days inside my room ---to think this is Barcelona!
But it's ok. SPAIN, by the way, is known for its very long holidays. There's always a time to catch up :)
I ate an ice cream on my way home from school today. Yabang! Guess my body is getting accustomed to the cold weather little by little. And this afternoon, I went out to buy food wearing a long sleeves, coat, leggings, and ---slippers! No, it’s not because I wanted to show off, it’s because I was too lazy to wear boots; because all my shoes are in high heels!
Expectedly, my toes received a lot of what-the-hell-is-she-thinking stares from people who were too covered from head to toe. I’m starting to feel really “at home” already. Maybe even too much. haha :)
One more thing. I don’t know what’s wrong with my built-in human navigator, Every time I take a different road for the sake of discovering new passages and familiarization of the city, I always end up going 2 times farther from what was supposed to be my destination. From my school to my house, the usual path is the RED straight line. Very easy. But because I wanted to try a different road, the result, is the RED dotted line. I got lost actually.
I don’t even know why im explaining this to you. Let’s put it this way, If there will be a job-hiring for tour guides, I’ll probably be the last resort. LOL!
***
A story-board/script of a 2min and 30 8mm film I thought was to be passed this Monday, is actually on Nov.30 (next next Monday). Thank you so much for saving my weekend!
Believe it or not, I'm still updated with the jinkee-pacquiao-krista issue in ze Philippines. Not that I'm airing my side, will just leave you with this interesting trailer. Interesting because the Cinematography effect is a plus and it kinda works for me :)
I hope you know that my Spanish is still unforgivable. Every day in class is still a struggle. Yet thankfully, everyone in school is nice enough to understand what it's like.
As every curso becomes más interesante, the more desperate I feel to already know how to speak their native tongue. It's like, i wanna learn this and that, i wanna know why it's like this and that, yet because of the language barrier, I am left with no choice but to accept that in learning, it takes double time and a lot of patience. I not only have to learn my Spanish, but I also need to read everything in advance.
If I didn't care enough to learn, I wouldn't mind speaking to them in straight English and demand they speak in English as well. But there is nothing more fulfilling than to be able to speak their native tongue. To be able to have one decent conversation in Spanish is more than enough!
The following are for an 8mm film the class is going to produce
I was talking to my brother last night and was asking for prayers. So to whoever is reading this, please pray that in a month or two, my Spanish will be decent enough. Will do my part.
