September 29th, 2014- It’s 11:30 PM. The New York skyline is proudly on display, and I struggle to keep my heavy eyes open for a midnight screening of Gone Girl. We wait outside of the Walter Reade Theater with all the other David Fincher enthusiasts and at the age of 14, I think to myself “how I on earth can something this cool be happening to me”.
For the month of October, Lincoln Center was home.
The New York Film Festival is a huge launching pad for many Oscar contending films and from 2014-2016, that festival was my obsession. I remember the hours on end staring at a computers screen in a virtual waiting line trying to get that hot ticket that you pray won’t by on standby. I remember the countless train rides to NYC to get to Lincoln Center and all the dinners afterwards with my dad discussing the movies we just saw. Those Octobers for three years are all there in this one photo.
After one movie years ago, my dad and waltzed around the Lincoln Center to the their amazing fountain, which truth be told is one of my favorite spots in NYC. While during the day it is gorgeous, it becomes immaculate at night. I got lost in the bursting water and my dad took a picture and there’s no photo I love more in this world.
When I see this photo, I feel everything. The hectic chaos, the elation, the disappointment that the New York Film Festival brings.
It makes me miss not being able to have those types of Octobers anymore as I’m now out here, but I can use this photo to bring me back to the New York nights at Lincoln Center that I will never forget. Even as a film student here at Chapman and the amazing experiences out here, sometimes you miss the hustle and bustle of New York and its film festival. it’s only when you’re gone form it, do you realize how special those Octobers were because in the moment, you’re just so caught up in it all. Two years removed from my last time at NYFF, I now realize this.
I now sit on the sideline as my parents keep up the NYFF tradition. I’m able to recommend them movies they need to see there and they try to get to as many as they can. After every movie they see, they always call me on the drive home and tell me how the movie was. in a way, it makes me feel like I’m there with them and I can still experience NYFF 3,000 miles away.
Octobers aren’t the same as they used to be, but it’s time now here in California to find the new thing to remember Octobers by. The weather here stays constant, while the leaves begin to change back home and NY night get just a little bit chillier. It’s a change of pace with California Octobers, but i look forward to finding the beauty in them the same way I did in New York and its film festival.
Dirty Water 
Brendan, your draft two and draft three of the memoir project look pretty similar. Keep in mind that each week the idea is to draft a “gainful” revision. The word “gainful” is key here as it emphasizes the importance of these drafts to not only improve the context of the situation, clarity of detail, and sense of the story, but also to add meaning content overall that will land your final draft over the minimum word length: 1,250 words minimum for the memoir writing project.
If you had attended our workshop class yesterday myself and your peer group members could’ve pointed out some of the following suggestions to you in person:
I think this piece has a lot of potential, but it needs expansion. The context can expand a great, for one thing. Tell us more about where are you from. And where are you now. That would help us understand that this was something you did routinely with your dad. Take us back into this experience with more detail. Allow some memories to unfold as scenes. And be sure to tell us how this influenced your interest in film, and also that this is the career path you are pursuing. Do you hope for one of your films to be shown at this film festival one day. Can you imagine that?
LikeLike