faire du shopping

In an attempt to look more French and less like a tourist, my friends and I decided to do some shopping. Now, I know my money situation isn't that great since it's all going toward my rent and food, BUT I do think that a nice pair of every day flats are in order. In America, I love standing out and being unique and individual, but here I don't want to be treated as a tourist but as an inhabitant and in order for that to happen, I must look the part. I have a pair of fancy flats that Mom sent me (thanks Mom!) but they're really for dressier occasions, so just one pair of flats to get me through the year, I think, are sufficient. Goodbye sneakers!

The other day, Lucia, me, and another girl named Elizabeth who's also at a Cal State went down to Rue de Rivoli to check out the H&M. They had some cute stuff, nothing I really wanted. It's funny because all three of us are losing weight! Lucia is wearing a pair of jeans that she brought that were too small for her in the states, and now they're getting loose! As for me, a pair of jeans that were tight for me back home are now baggy and falling. Yay! I have to wear a belt. We all walk A LOT, and we go up 6 flights of stairs to class every day. I also have three short flights to my studio. Yay for hidden excercise! I'd like to buy pants later though when my current pants get really baggy, which I hope to God happens.

Oh! But I must say this, this boulangerie (breads, pastries and such..) that I go to sometimes across the street is really tasty and cool!! I was getting a tasty tart for dessert, and I had to repeat myself a couple of times, and she was like, "Oh, I understand, it's just this guy's talking (and she motions to this tourist by me) and I couldn't tell what he was saying, but I heard you, don't worry." And I thought that was so cool that she understood my French. Lovely. They make tasty sandwiches too.

Also, my prof made fun of me today in front of the class! It was a bit embarassing. She got a chair out for me because she wanted me to write on the board, and I'm short. And then she said I was too timid! Gosh, these French really speak their mind. Anyway, it was funny, and everyone was in such a crazy mood (even the prof!) because we were all tired. She didn't assign homework and just told us to go to sleep at 9.

you will not believe this.

I can't even believe it. In the post right below this one, I ended on these questions: "Does it get anymore cinematic than this? Can there be any more signs?"

Apparently, there can. God's turn around time on signs (for those who believe in them) is pretty fast since I was just an extra in an Indonesian film set in Paris. What the heck?! Seriously, this can't be happening!

I was walking home, when I saw a grip setting up some lights to light a street near my house. I asked him, "Excusez-moi, vous tournez un film?" (Are you making a film?) And of course the answer was yes, and I told him I was a film student. Then he told me the name of the film, but I didn't understand it, and I bid him "Bonsoir" and I went home. I watched, from my window, more lights being set up. And then it came, the decision, the moment that separates the shy, Prufrock Elaine and the brand, spanking new French Elaine, the Elaine who is the total opposite of American Elaine. I grabbed my coat and camera and went back outside.

I watched for a while the light set-up and the camera set-up across the street. The actors and some of the crew looked Asian while the rest of the crew was French. The director, a woman no taller than me, was the director. She was Asian too. I saw her directing the actors in English and another language. Inspiring. I watched for a while, then when I saw this guy (Asian) with a DV cam filming (most likely for behind the scenes), I made my move. I figured he didn't speak French, so I could at least talk to him in English.

I came up to him and started talking in French (to be sure), and he said he didn't speak French in English, so then I started speaking English to him. He told me the movie was called Lost in Love, that it was an Indonesian film. After, I watched a bit more, and I saw this much older man eyeing me. Probably a producer, I thought. I wasn't sure if this was either bad or good. The worst part would be he would tell me to leave, and I'd be fine with that since I could just watch the filming from my window. He came up to me and asked if I was French, and I said no. Asian? Yes. Indonesian? No. What are you? Filipino.

Our DP is filipino, the guy said (awesome!!!). His name--the line producer--was Yousef, I think. His accent was thick. He told me all about the film, and we sat and talked film industry. I told him I was more interested in screenwriting, and he told me, "No, get into cinematography. Work with a camera crew." I thought that was funny because that's what I wanted to do technically and just write on the side. During the break, he said, he'd introduce me to the DP and the rest of the crew.

He took me closer to the filming during set-up for the next shot, and he introduced me to the Indonesian crew: the cam crew (including the filipino DP), the script supervisor, the make-up girls and PAs. They were all really nice and thought I was Indonesian too. He introduced me to some of the French crew: this really funny AD who actually bisoued me, which was nice since he was cute too, and the art director.




I took pics, hung out like a PA except with nothing to do. It was really fun being part of a film set again, even though I wasn't really part of it. I love the camraderie, the work, the excitement. It made me miss my SFSU Cinema Collective. The sound guys, who were French, were really funny. And some of the French crew were passing out candy and putting the wrappers in each other jackets. I love that kind of stuff. I love being on set because it's fun work especially when you're with good people. I watched from the monitor the shots, and I actually stood behind the director! She's only 21--how AMAZING is that? But one of the girls was all, "Yeah she's 21; she's still learning."

It was past 12am already, and I was set to go home when one of the girls (dang I forgot her name!) she asked if I wanted to watch one last shot that was going to be filmed up the street. Why not, I'm already here, and I love this stuff. Once again, sleep is denied in favor for the love of filmmaking, we used to be out late filming for Collective. So I walk up with the rest of the crew up the street when one of the French ADs says to me in English, "We need you."

I was like, "What?" Then I realized, oh they probably need extras. It was late, and there weren't many people around, so they probably need people for background. He asked me, "Parlez-vous francais?" I said, "Un peu." And then another French AD asked, "Vous buvez francais?" (Do you drink French?) I told him that I didn't understand, and then he said, "Well, you will now." He told me to follow him, and we headed to a cafe/bar/brasserie. They told me where to sit down, and they said I could order anything. I ordered a beer with some of the other crew members who were acting as patrons as well. It was so cool! I've never been in an huge film with an adult crew, only student films. before. It was exciting, and lovely, and so...encouraging just to have this experience. I feel, again, that God is letting me know that I'm on the right track, that all this is meant to happen. Thank you God.

Yousef asked for my number and said that he'll send me a message about the next shoot tomorrow. He joked around, saying he'll text me the call sheets. He said I can hang around and watch because he wants me to learn. He actually is one of the main guys at this film school in Jakarta, and most of the crew are his students. They're here till the 15th. This is so freaking cool, you don't even know!

a shot from where I'm sitting in the cafe

movie night!

Wow! So, my landlord Chris told me that they're going to show Some Like It Hot at this roman type arena just 10 minutes away from my house, so I invited some friends to come. It was really fun, and I've never seen this film before, so that was pretty cool. They actually projected the original film with French subtitles and didn't use a dvd. That was excellent. It's funny because they do stuff like this--show films in public places--in San Francisco, and my friend Stacy would always invite me to see these films with her. I've only went once, and we saw the first Indiana Jones.

For the first time since I've arrived, I didn't feel like some tourist. There we were, us Americans surrounded by Parisiens watching Marilyn Monroe under the stars. And for the duration of the film, we were connected by this love of cinema. And the language that we spoke or our home country, all that stuff that divides us, melted away because we laughed at the same things, stayed silent while Marilyn sang, and applauded at the end of the film. I've never felt more at home thousands of miles away.

This morning, a Japanese film crew was setting up outside with their cam, taking shots of my rue and filming my landlord's band. Outside, my landlord's band is playing "La Vie En Rose". Does it get anymore cinematic than this? Can there be any more signs?

All this is happening for a reason, and it's all beyond me, and it's happening, unspooling like film. Thank you God.

ooh ooh ooh!

Okay, okay, okay. Sorry again for the multiple postage. But it's late, I'm not sleepy yet, but here's my first film clip to show! It's me with my friend Lucia. I love how she's all, "Hi...uh...family!" She's hilarious. It's not amazing (quality wise), but it was very impromptu. Enjoy these 20 something seconds!

french girls

If Los Angeles is high school, and San Francisco is college, then Paris is graduate school. Or maturity and adulthood. Seeing the girls here my age realized this. There have also been many other moments in which Paris has changed me, but anyway...

The girls. Oh. Dear. God. Some of the girls here are so gorgeous and dress up very nicely as well. Everyone here dresses really nice, actually. No one goes around Monoprix in their pajama bottoms and Uggs and hoodie. I've seen hoodies, but only on some little girls. The girls here my age dress like women, and it's nice. They exude this confidence through their style of clothing, their hair and faces. They look natural and don't look like they wear too much make-up. And they make it seem so effortless.

After seeing all these girls all I could think was, “I've been dressing like a kid all these years!” I'm 21 for crying out loud, and it's now that I finally realize this. I guess I don't want to grow up just yet, but now, wow, I want to dress like a woman and not a little girl. I want to wear skirts and dresses and flats and look like I'm going somewhere important. I want to carry a leather bag. For the first time in my life, I want to try wearing make-up. I don't want to look like a slob anymore, haha. Paris, look at what you're doing to me!!!

If I come home looking a bit Frenchified, looking like I have some style and class, then I will be excruciatingly happy.

Okay, I must mention this: bisous. When French people greet each other, they kiss (a bisou) each other on the cheek or brush cheeks against each other. Chris, my landlord, was showing me this cinema up the street, and this gorgeous girl with long brownish-blonde hair walks in wearing a dress, tights, and boots, and she bisoued Chris. Mes copains americains et moi say “bisoued”, as a Franglish verb, pronounced “bee-sued”. Then Chris introduced her to me, and she BISOUED me!!! She brushed her cheeks against mine, and I did the same. It was so nice!!! Man, after some of that Parisien rudeness, that little bit of Parisien love makes it all go away. Hee hee. I think I blushed like a little girl when she did that to me.

What happened today:
1. First French exam
2. Ate a panini with Keisha at outdoor cafe, and it was DELICIOUS.
3. Free Louvre day for students. More photos with Keisha and Lucia.
4. Drank hot cocoa while Lucia munched on a crepe, while watching the Eiffel tower sparkle.
5. Walked along the Seine at night. Watched the Eiffel tower sparkle once again.

prendre des photos

Hey all, so I've been taking as many photos as I can, and I just realized that I should carry my cam with me everywhere, because you never know when you'll need it. And I've already had moments when I wish I had my cam. I'll put up links to different albums in my Photobucket so you can check them out. All the albums' titles are self explanatory, so enjoy, I'll keep adding on to them and creating more.

It's important to me to organize this all now as it happens instead of leaving it to the summer when I arrive back home. Right now, in between uploading photos, I'm studying for my first exam. Wish me luck!

list of amazing things

Hey all. Hopefully you got caught up to date with my super long posts. I hate long posts, and my posts will usually never be that long, but I was without internet, and this is my second week here so there's a lot to write about, and I want you to know what I'm up to.

Here's a list of things that are amazing:
1. All the office supplies here. They use fountain pens and write on graph paper. LOVELY. I am in school supplies heaven.
2. Eating a sandwich with your friend in front of Notre Dame.
3. When your landlord brings you fresh mini croissants, pain au chocolat, and homemade jam.
4. People and tourist watching along the Seine and St. Michel.
5. My academic advisor giving me great advice, telling me all the cinema classes I can take. Yay!

Yup yup!