Deadlines, Baby!

I just received the deadline for my thesis this afternoon (April 28), and this is how I feel right about now...

Who's with me?

-E

Big Apple or Golden Coast?

Lately it seems to feel like time is spinning on this rotating dial, constantly reminding me that my childhood is quickly dwindling into a thing of the past. I've just had my last midterm critique of my art school education and the calendar keeps reminding me that commencement is just around the corner. But what comes next? What is the logical course of action?

I have come to call New York my home, I've even vowed that I will never leave, and yet the more I look for jobs the more I am led towards LA. Is the move worth it? After applying to eight - yes eight - jobs at various production companies in Burbank and Santa Monica, the idea slowly began to grow on me. I began furiously checking Craig's List and the LA Times for real estate quotes and I did the math on how much gas would cost; I could rent a house for what I pay per month ... in Brooklyn.

It went without saying that the cost of living was lower out in La-La Land, but at what price? What about my life back home, where does it all go?

I then couldn't help but wonder, is the industry really only one sided? Is one side of the coin better than the other?

Happy Finals!

It's my penultimate college semester, and if only my life were like this ...

rather than this ...

-E

What I like to call 'pulling a Jessie Spano'

Caffeine pills kill.

Why take substitutes when you can just do the real thing?

Welcome to midterm season!

-E

The TED Is Coming to Pratt!

One of my favorite addictions (that I will opening admit to) is coming to Pratt this year! That's right, world -- the TED!

Who, pray tell, are they inviting, you might ask? Well, I'll just tell you ...

• Hosts
• Scott Heiferman
• Chris Kazi Rolle
• Speakers
• Dr. Haresh Lalvani
• Barbara Bush
• Nelson George
• Swoon
• Ben Bronfman
• Daniel Iglesia
• Dr. Prabhjot Singh
• Karl Chu
• DJ Spooky
• Nate Ball
• Ami Dar
• Tracie Morris -- (my old studio professor!)
• Sam Cochran
• Dr. Mitchell Joachim
• Fabien Cousteau
• William Katavolos

This is epid. That's right. EPID. I can't wait.

-E

Someone passed Pratt and wanted to make a blog about it...

Look At This Fucking Hipster >> enough said.

I have never recognized people on a blog until now. This is just pathetic.

But, on an even sadder note, I actually really like this graphic:

-E

I am legit ...

sort of.

By legit I mean that I have an office in the Chapel Hall building of Pratt. It's pretty cool. I have a computer, a water cooler, and a window for cats to crawl through. There are also shamrock lights that I can guarantee will be hung before the week is out.

-E

Emily leaves and Pratt gets cool!

This is legitimately my luck ...

I was perusing the www.pratt.edu and happened to stumble upon this little beauty ...

“Anna Wintour, legendary editor in chief of Vogue, will speak as part of the sixteenth annual Pratt Institute President's Lecture Series at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 19, 2010 in Memorial Hall Auditorium on Pratt's Brooklyn Campus. Wintour's lecture will be free and open to the public, however seating is limited and by reservation only. The lecture will be followed by a question and answer session with Hamish Bowles, Vogue European editor at large.”

Seriously Pratt? Not fair! You should have known that I wouldn’t be there and waited one more month. I dislike this chain of events. To continue with the not-fair factor ...

“Pratt Institute will present approximately 2,000 degrees to its graduating bachelor's and master's degree candidates during its 121st Commencement at 11 a.m. on May 17 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The Institute also will award honorary degrees to former New York City Landmarks Commissioner Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel; novelist Jonathan Lethem; architect Daniel Libeskind; The Museum of Modern Art Director Glenn Lowry; director Steven Soderbergh; and musician, poet, and performer Patti Smith. Smith will deliver the Commencement address and perform at the ceremony.”

I think this is karma’s way of telling me to never leave Brooklyn again ...

OH ... and I still have the plague. Beautiful.

-E

another sign that i'm growing up (unfortunately)

that’s right ... course registration. It’s just another sign that I am approaching thesis year (aka my LAST year) as a dependent New York college kid with no legitimate responsibilities. I guess I should be thankful now that my main stresser is a combination of finishing my play and organizing a 3-day class schedule.

Here are the options so far, interwebs. Check it!

3 Vampire as Metaphor Mon 9:30-12:20

3 Anthropology Mon 9:30-12:30

3 Child Development Mon 2-5

3 Cognitive Psych Mon 5-8

3 Perception & Creativity Tues 9:30-12:30

3 Democratic Vistas Tues 9:30-12:30

2 Thesis, Tues 2-4

3 General Psychology Tues 5-8

3 Abnormal Psych Wed 9:30-12:20 / 2-5

3 Italian History Wed 2-5

3 Child Development Wed 2-5

3 Logic Wed 5-8

3 Film’s True Stories Wed 2-5

3 Mass Media/Society Thurs 9:30-12:30

2 Thesis Thurs 2-4

3 Modern Political Thought Thurs 5-8

3 Economics Fri 9:30-12:30

E

** An update **

I just found out that I only now need 20 credits to graduate. That’s right. 20. A semester and a half. That is not kosher. So basically, I’m going to be able to take it easy, get a job/internship and enjoy my last year of freedom. Anyone want to hire me? I have some talent, I promise.

It's that time of year again...

... and no, I don't mean Christmas -- well I do, because Christmas is amazeballz -- finals have officially started. Call on the all-nighters, triple shot cappuccinos, eye concealer, messy hair, and beautifully crafted (or bullshitted) stories!

On top of the work, I'm getting together all of my Ireland paperwork and officially coming to terms with the fact that I leave in 39 days. Three. Nine. Thirty-Nine. Holy crap. I am not ok with this. Well I am, because Dublin is going to kick-ass, but I'm not because it'll mean I'm leaving home for a full six months. I haven't been away from New York for that long since I've moved here, and it definitely is weirding me out... oy.

I might be bald by the 18th, but at least the semester will be over.

-E

Watch out Dublin, here I come!

I have confirmed, paid, and registered. It's official!

After months of meetings, petitions, letters, phone calls, applications, interviews, and waiting, it has finally happened. As of 15 January 2009 I will be en-route to spend a semester studying in Dublin, Ireland through NYU's Tisch School of the Arts! I even have a one-way plane ticket in my name.

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I am the spokes person for anti-blogs because I can never keep myself interested in something long enough to stay committed. But that, my dear friends, is about to change! So, I Emily Ventker, am hereby declaring Operation Shamerock a GO. This is going to be my one-stop travel-guide to everything and anything, from New York to Ireland and back.

I'm missing a class with one of the producers from SNL to go to my Pre-Departure Orientation next week, so I'll do my best to keep things going until then.

BTDubs... I think that Elise summed it all up perfectly: "You're going to fucking meet Gerard Butler and get married. I hate you."

-E

Oh, ya know, I see dead people...

So today was just about like any other day. Woke up, bought a cup of coffee, got lost in a cemetery. The usual.

Don't get freaked, dear internet... I went on a field trip to Green-Wood Cemetery with my Brooklyn class and somehow ended up getting incredibly lost, past the point of saving. After walking around aimlessly, Adah and I ended up at an amazingly awesome diner called Nick's on the corner of 32nd and 4th in Bay Ridge. I think I had the best cup of diner coffee of my life. No lies.

Can we talk about the depressing image of the public lots? Just for a hot sec? Seriously?

-E