End of Term 1

Well, the end of my first term at the London Film School has come to a close.  What a ride it has been!  Apart from the surprise of my US Federal Loan being withdrawn since the first day of school, everything else has been wonderful.  The London Film School student body elected me as their Student Union Welfare Officer.  This role consists of providing paid, volunteer, and internship opportunities to the student body that are presented from internal and external sources. I also had the chance to meet English Film Director and Producer, Danny Boyle.  He did a Q&A at our school and talked about the films he made such as Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, 127 Hours, the Academy Award winning Slumdog Millionaire, and Director of the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony.  That is one of the benefits of the prestige of my school because well known filmmakers are attracted to LFS and love coming to talk to its students.

Because my academic foundation in Anthropology, I have been finding ways to stay involved with anthropological organizations.  I was accepted for an internship with the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) Film and Video Archive Department in London.  The RAI is the world's longest established scholarly association dedicated to the furtherance of anthropology in its broadest and most inclusive sense.  I will be assisting with cataloguing the archives, but I have been brought on mostly to help with the upcoming summer RAI Film Festival.  Preparations for the festival are needed and constant stream of ethnographic films are being submitted, which need to be registered and organized.  This will give me a chance to get to know the filmmakers and see films that I envision myself directing in the future.  It is quite a privilege and achievement for me to be brought on board the RAI.

School has definitely challenged me in many ways.  The bar is set quite high at LFS and although in first term the instructors have cut us some slack, they will not be too easy on us next term.  In the beginning of the this term, our class was broken up into four groups and our final projects were to create two film on 16mm black and white film stock.  My roles on the two films were the Assistant Camera and Editor.  However, I also assisted as a Producer. When a final cut of our films were completed we had our films screened on the projector in the school's cinema where the faculty and invited professionals in the filmmaking field critiqued the films immediately afterward.  This was quite intimidating because our whole group had to sit in front of the entire audience to listen to the critique.  Although the critics were blunt, they meant well and the purpose is to learn how to correct our mistakes in the areas of directing, cinematography, producing, and editing.  I found the feedback to be invaluable and l am already looking forward to next terms films.

US Federal Loan Students Are Left Stranded In London

This is the fight we are up against with the US Department of Education Foreign Participation Team whose actions put us in this very difficult situation.  We have been working tirelessly to get the word out.  We created this video and a Press Release which will be sent out to news media oulets to put pressure on the USDE.  Please visit our blog to read the Press Release and spread the message.

http://theyleftusbehind.blogspot.co.uk/

London Scholar Welcome Conference

On the 6th of October, I attended the London Ambassadorial Scholars Welcome Conference at the York Gate, District Headquarters.  This gave the London based scholars a chance to get to know one another.  Many of the scholars who I met are pursuing MA's in their chosen field and I quickly discovered that most MA programs in the UK are typically a one year commitment.  In some ways I feel lucky that my MA program takes two years to complete because I have to opportunity to gain more exposure of the English culture.  I also learned at this gathering that the District Governor, Eve Conway, who happens to be a BBC news journalist, also was an Ambassadorial Scholar.  She studied news journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.  I met her and found that we had much in common considering that I am from Illinois and that my focus of study is somewhat related with her profession.  I asked her if she would be willing to offer a tour of the BBC and she agreed.  I look forward to visiting one of the biggest media organisations in the world. 

From the left, District Governor Eve Conway, Foundation Chairman - Mike Hodge, and Stella Russell

Rotary Shelterbox Project

Just another great deed of the Rotary Club....During the time spent with my Rotarian hosts in Otter Valley, I was delighted to learn about the Shelterbox project. The project was launched by the Rotary club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall which the Otter Vally is active in supporting.   Shelterbox is intended help with aid response to most disasters in the form of food, medicine, and shelter to help people survive the immediate aftermath.  Where I work at in Central America, disasters arise from earthquakes, tsunami's, and floods.  The Shelterbox project has motivated me to advocate this program to areas of Latin America where I plan to continue my work.  I included a Youtube video about the project to provide more information to spread the cause.

http://www.shelterbox.org/

Ambassadorial Link Weekend in Exeter, Devon

Carrying the London 2012 Olympic Torch at the evening Ceilidh

Presentations at the 800 year old Civic Guildhall in Exeter

I traveled two hours, southwest on the National Rail, to the beautiful and historic land of Exeter, Devon.  The event was designed to be a meet and greet with approximately 60 Ambassadorial scholars studying in Scotland, Ireland, and Great Britain.  This was a fully packed weekend with presentations from the Lord Mayor of Exeter and other Rotary members.  We also had a 3 hour Red Coat Tour where we saw some of Exeter's historical sites.  At the station, I was greeted by my Rotarian host, Terry Blackler of the Otter Valley club.  Terry and his wife, Anne, were such generous, accommodating and hospitable people.  They live outside Exeter in the countryside and it was a nice change especially coming from the city.  My first night, I was invited to a barbeque at the Otter Valley Club hall.  I met the current club president and discovered that he was knighted by the Queen, carrying the title of "Sir".  His name was Sir John Evans and although he is now retired, he served as the police Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall.  We also served as the head of the entire Police Association in England.  I really enjoyed myself and the time spent with my hosts.  Anne, prided herself to enculturate me with British beer, breakfast, corned beef hash, and the acquired taste of Marmite.  I do hope to visit them again before my study in London is over.  The height of the weekend's events was the evening Ceilidh, which is a Gaelic social gathering, involving a Gaelic folk band playing music and, of course, scholars dancing. No one could escape participating, but it was all good fun with plenty of laughing. 

My host Terry Blackler in his lovely home. Picture taken by his wife, Anne

Each Rotary event I take part in, I learn more details about RI's mission to promote health, support education, and to alleviate poverty.  It is a good reminder of what I represent and how my own personal mission is in line with RI.  This Link Weekend proved to be an invaluable opportunity to experience great British and Devonian hospitality through staying with my Rotarian family and to meet and establish life-long friendships with other scholars from around the world.

London Film School

The London Film School, located in Covent Garden.  Right in the heart of downtown London, this is the oldest international film school in the world.

Course 179 - Term 1- MA Filmmaking

My classmates range from all parts of the world such as France, Norway, Brazil, Pakistan, Greece, Venezuela, China, Romania, Zimbabwe, India, United Kingdom, and the United States.  We are truly a diverse group of talented, creative and artistic students who believe that the London Film School will transform us into tomorrow's leading and innovative filmmakers.

My group unit for our Term 1 Films on our practical with the Aaton 16mm camera with our instructor Terry Hopkins.  From the left, Jackie Teboul, Dimitry Kalinin, Lily Dong, Shahrukh Naveed, and Losif Mainas (Not Pictured).

District Governors Equality Meeting

 On the 20th of October, I was invited to attend the RIBI District Governors meeting on Equality  by District Governor, Suraiya Kassamally.  The meeting was held at the York Gate, London Rotary Headquarters.  I had the privilege of meeting various District Governors and to get an understanding of the type of meetings they conduct.  This meeting was led by Ken Billington, RIBI Specialist,  and it was an opportunity for members to get a refresher on the issues regarding the proper recognition of the Equality Act.  We separated in groups and were given a series of scenarios about situations that involve Rotarians and how unforeseen situations should be addressed according to the Equality Act.  This act requires equal treatment in access to employment as well as private and public services, regardless of the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. In the case of gender, there are special protections for pregnant women.  It was clear how serious the London Rotary valued protecting its members and the image of the Rotary Club.  Although, the scenarios seemed fabricated for the purpose of the exercise, Ken informed the group that they were all actual case studies that had occurred in the past by other Rotarians.  In the end, it came to using common sense and manners, but most of all abiding by the four way test.

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Landed in London, UK

My first post on the ground in London!  I arrived on the 3rd of September and the following Friday after arriving I met up with my host counselor.  His name is Christoph von Luttiz of the Hammersmith Rotary Club in London.  I was invited to attend their Friday lunch meeting where I had the opportunity to introduce myself to the members present.  I gave a short presentation to the members about my hopes as a scholar in London and what I hope to gain with my education from the London Film School.  The meeting is structured much like an American Rotary meeting, however I did find it quite interesting how the members take time in their meeting agenda to make a toast to the Queen.  This shows a sense of historic and nationalistic pride and I really respected that.  In the states, we never see a sense of pride by making as toast to the President of the United States. 

The photos included show the Hammersmith lunch meeting and a picture of me with my host counselor and another Rotary member of the club.  Christoph is on the right and Nathan is on the left.