Could it be?

What a busy month!

Back on the 18th, I emailed several different job posting on VFXTalk.com 's web forum. To my excitement, one of them replied. After several day's correspondence, I got to talk to Delaney Dragon, the Director/Producer/Writer of the independent film Rough Hustle, now in post-production.

We had a delightful conversation, and scheduled an in-person meeting at his office on Hollywood Blvd! After spending close to $700 on airline tickets, shuttle services, a new shirt and tie, a hair cut, a new laptop bag, food, gas, and other miscellaneous expenses, was ready to set out on the 30th.

One other thing I bought was an educational book on Adobe After Effects. I was told that part of my interview process was that I would have to demonstrate sufficient proficiency with that software to get the job. AND I'D NEVER EVEN TOUCHED IT BEFORE!!! All my compositing experience to-date had been with Combustion. I spent the week cramming my brain with that book, which wasn't easy. I kept falling asleep. Without a copy of the program to use myself, it was so boring. It was like memorizing a map to a new kitchen when you already know how to cook.

Soon enough, the day had come.

My day started early, showering at 5:00 AM. I set out my clothes the night before and packed all my things in the family van at the same time. After my shower, I made a cup of hot chocolate, a glass of apple juice dosed with 2 tablespoons of a mineral supplement, and an "Eggle Bagel" (a fried egg, melted sliced cheese, and a sausage patty in a buttered, toasted bagel sandwich). I ate these while driving.

I started my drive from my home in Orem to the Salt Lake International Airport at about 5:50, but found I needed to fill up my gas tank before hand. This normally wouldn't be a problem, but my wife and I decided a long time ago to deal in cash when buying gas, which usually saves us 5¢ per gallon verses paying via card. So I had to wait for the cashier to open the store. I didn't get back on the road until 6:08.

The trip up to the airport was uneventful, except for one of my freeway companions was a sporty, custom-painted green sedan. I remember it well because its headlights had a green hue to it. Needless to say, it stood out.

It was a breeze getting through security, and I strolled to my gate. That is until I read one of the monitors and noticed my flight had the flashing word "BOARDING" listed. That's when I ran. Turns out they we're just getting the first group on, and my ticket was for the second group. I felt very lucky, and a little silly for running, just to have to wait a little longer.

I had never used an airplane restroom before that day, and technically I still haven't. I knew I wouldn't have much time after the plane landed, so I brushed my teeth in the restroom. It was cramped, but effective.

Anyway, after my plane landed in LA, I had to call my wife to read the email I got from the shuttle service I booked with. It told me to look for someone in a red hat. Well, the lady had forgotten her hat that day. Go figure.

After a brief ride in the back of a Prime Time Shuttle van, I was dropped of at my destination on Hollywood Boulevard. It was amazing, for the first two minutes or so. The address of my interview was some random merchandise store. I walked in, dressed to the nines, way out of place for such a dinky little novelty shop. It was selling shoes, shirts, DVDs, cups, memorabilia, posters, candy, internet access, granite countertops, and hardwood flooring.

I waited for 2 hours there, waiting for an interview with a guy who I'd never met. He'd keep texting and calling me assuring me he was on his way. All I could do was sit around and pray he turns out to be real. And sure enough, he showed up, at the office the narrow hallway ADJACENT to the shop I was in. All I could do was thank God he was real.

So I nail the interview. I complete the AE test with flying colors, and I'm convinced he really likes me. The interview ends with a statement that he has a few more interviews to complete to build his team. And I leave, ecstatic. He asked me to do some additional research on his film and let him know my opinion of it.

Another shuttle picks me up and takes me back to LAX. All was going well, but the guy driving the shuttle is pretty paranoid. He drove like a madman to get me to the airport. He seemed that it was very important that he get me there early enough to catch my flight. I suppose I was grateful. He got me there 20 minutes earlier than I had scheduled, and about two and a half hours before my DELAYED flight actually left.

On the flight home I ran into a woman who works for an old friend of mine. I'd never met her before in my life and it was one of those wild coincidences that just seem to work out like that.

After that I tried to reintegrate into my life as usual. Then, only a day or two ago, I got an email back from Delaney that I'm in his "Top Two" for the position, and he needs to call my references.

I'm hoping to hear from him soon about an actual job offer. If I get it, it'll be a HUGE opportunity to impress the right people in the right places.

Wish me luck!

Time to start Blogging.

Hello World.

My name is Lee. I am a father of two, soon to be three, struggling to make ends meet. My family and I are living in a dinky 2-bedroom apartment that was once a 2-car garage, in the basement of my brother-in-law's home. He's giving us pretty cheap rent so we can devote most of our money to paying off all the debts I accrued when trying to start my own business.

Good news is all the Credit Cards should be completely paid off by the end of January 2011! This is a great feeling. Big problem is that by February 2011, instead of paying credit card bills, I'll be paying student loan bills. What a nightmare that is.

At the moment, I'm working full time doing a catering service for God's waiting room. (lol) And by that I mean I'm a chef for an Assisted Living center. I've done food service jobs for close to 12 years now, so in that regard, my résumé is pretty strong. But it's not what I want to do with my life.

I think my dream job would be a Visual Effects Supervisor on feature films. I'd basically be the guy working between the Director and the VFX Studio(s), (like ILM) to make the film just the way the Director envisions it. I think I'd be pretty good at it, honestly. But for the life off me, I can't seem to get my foot in the door.

Well, here's what holding me back in the meantime. As I mentioned earlier, my wife is pregnant. We're expecting a little girl around Christmas time. Not only is she pregnant, she's one 3-credit class away from getting her Associate's Degree in Behavioral Science. Her finals should be around December 15th. Between pregnancy issues and schoolwork, she needs me home when I'm not "bringing home the bacon."

That is to say, after our little angel's born, and my wife's got her degree, and everything starts to settle down again, I'm gonna be hitting CraigsList.org, Mandy.com, and any other site I know for something to get me into my field of choice. I'd even settle for an unpaid internship if it means a foot in the door. 

Well, that's the long and short of what's on my mind at the moment. 

Thanks for reading.

-Lee