AT
(I shit you not...)
Today is probably my first progressive day since I've been here in California. (FYI: I arrived December 7.) I was greatly overwhelmed as I visited the New York Film Academy with my cousin Richard (whose house I've been living in for the past month) and the legendary Nick Lizazo, renowned Film/TV Director in the Philippines. "Direk," as I fondly call him, who I believe had earned the title through his experience and fantastic work, had met with me in the Philippines at Quezon City Sports Club a few months back and discussed with me the possibilities of being in a film school of this caliber. I distinctly remember browsing through a brochure and book about the school and how I was amazed and excited about what it had to offer. Little did I know that I would have the privilege of actually seeing what the school would be like with my own two eyes a month later and experiencing the tour that would suddenly reduce my confusion level on what to do in my life from a 10 to a 5. (Not bad, I would think.)
For the lack of the word and due to a really bad OVERWHELM hangover, I’d like to simply describe the school as… PERFECT. It offered film study in levels I never thought would exist! I mean having my limited experience in film education back in Ateneo, (Hats-off of course to my first teacher who was truly an inspiration “Direk” Marilou Diaz-Abaya, who turned out to be the Padawan of “Direk” Nick) this program was so comprehensive to the point of complete perfection!!! (Again, apologies for the apparent hangover…)
Our tour guide, the lovely Jessica who is also a film major I believe, showed us around the school along with Richard, Direk, and a curious German fellow also in search for film education. I saw their schedule postings, kick-ass editing rooms, prop rooms, studios, sets and the rest of the package. It was really exciting seeing all that and what was coming if I tried this out. The place was so warm too as we were welcomed with smiling faces of facilitators, teachers, and hopefully future fellow-students (nudge to the financiers.) When I was walking around the school I was experiencing a certain high I couldn’t describe. (Not what you think...)
Then comes the climactic drop of course, assuming every story has a plot decline. Of course, something as great as this does not come cheap and film education in its perfection comes with a not-so-perfect price (well maybe perfect for the school beneficiaries.) I have never seen a dollar price tag that big, I can tell you that since my stay here in the U.S. So imagine converting it to the feeble peso and enjoy the company of a very slim Snowhite and her six dwarves smoking cigars with a big "FUCK YOU" on their faces.
So as my friend Bon would say, all the bull shit and crap in the world to the saying: “the best things in life are free,” simply because it’s not. So it seems my next project would be to put up the “Put John Unson to Film School” fund raising but I guess the timing’s kind of bad since everyone’s donating to Southeast Asia, no thanks to natural disasters. (My prayers and sympathy of course to the countless victims…)
I guess my next step is to figure out a way to get through this…But I am looking forward to sitting in on the classes tomorrow with “Direk,” provided I don’t overdo my life as Paladin in W.O.W. tonight and play till both suns rise in both the lives I’m living right now (more details to come for the perplexed!)
“Don’t it make you sad to know that life is more than who we are?” – The Goo Goo Dolls, Name
