Storyboards are fun!

338... Yep, you all have overcome the 300 view mark. Now, onward to 500. FOR NARNIA!!! But, seriously, thanks to you all for doing this, I can't say how amazing it is to feel popular for once. Okay, that was kinda cheezy, but thats okay.

This is the last tuesday of 2012 that I have to go to school. I have exams tommorow and the next day, but I only really have one exam to take. AP Government. Gross. Having to take government is hard enough, but makingit AP is like kicking someone while they're down. Shooting a dead horse. Burning a demolished building. Torturing a dead man. Adding insult to injury. I really am not looking foreward to the two AP tests I will take at the end of next semester.

But, because I only have one exam to take, I get to have free time in most of my other classes! Whooooo! And what shall I spend that free time doing?

STORYBOARDING!!!!!!

Storyboarding is something that I love to do. I have never done it for a film, but I have done it for a few (2) music videos. I did it for the Zombie video that I filmed in October. Note, the video did change some in going from storyboard to actual video, but the main concept stayed the same. Some things have to change, thats just the crative process.

Every time I go to storyboard things, I think of two people: Tessa Violet and Isaac Dietz. Tessa because she, nanalew, and some guy from australia or something are making a kind of mini-series and posted a bunch of stuff about it and storyboarding it on youtube. Of course, their storyboarding involves post-it notes on a corkboard. My storyboarding involves drawing four boxes on each page of my notebook and drawing a picture in them, then explaining it with text on the right side of the page. It reminds me of Isaac Dietx because I have watched the video he posted of him explaining the treatment for the official Zombie music video. He has the song playing and he is running around this little room, explaining what should be happening at that point in the song. I found it rather entertaining. In the video, theres a little part in the corner that shows what the actual video looks like at that point in the music, and you can compare it to what he is explaining.

Right now, I am storyboarding a music video for Deathbed by Relient K right now. I have only worked on it today and yesterday and I already have 6 pages with four lyric segments on each page. I storyboard by lyric segments because it helps me set the video in my head with the timing of the music, and I am able to storyboard even when I don't have the music playing. I just know the lyrics and how the song goes. It also allows me to go back to the beginning and play in my mind what the whole thing would look like. The thing is, Deathbed is like a 10 minute song, and I'm only about 1 or 2 minutes into it on the storyboard. This should last me through the holidays.

I like storyboarding because it allows me to get the messages across that might be hard to explain otherwise. I can also jot down my music video ideas and have people look at them even when I have the inability to make the music video or show an already made music video to them. I think the next storyboard I'll do may be a skit or something. I've never storyboarded a skit. I can't wait until I go off to college so that I can actually have a large space to use to storyboard with post-it notes and stuff. I could use an entire wall in my dorm room and storyboard whatever I wanted to. I will have to invest in some sticky notes though. Christmas presents and graduation presents anyone?

I think I actually have a picture of the Zombie storyboard on my instagram. Feel free to stalk me on instagram, because I probably won't get a twitter anytime soon. You can watch the pictures I post and figure out what my day-to-day life is like. And I won't spam your feed. @lizardbreathwalker

Well, I want to go back to storyboarding, because I find it rather entertaining and fun.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Things That Have Been On My Mind...

I have been doing a lot of thinking recently. This post is deticated to the things I have been thinking about.

Prom
I really don't know what to expect for prom this year. Our school lets you go to prom both your junior and senior year. Last year was fun. I actually was the one who asked someone to be my date. He said yes, but we weren't dating, so it was a little awkward. This year, I can't think of anyone that I would like to go with. Everyone that I can think of would never think about asking me and I would be too afraid to ask myself. I know that I will go, that thing is for sure. I love dancing and dressing up too much not to go. I just think I might be going alone this year. This saddens me...

College
I am very scared about college. I applied to two colleges and I am number four in my class, therefore, I should have been automatically accepted. I haven't gotten any letters or anything yet. I can't check online because I can't figure out the login information and there is no way to reset it. I am very stressed about it. I wish they would just send me a letter and get it over with. I sent everything in way before the deadlines. And I did it electronically, that way it would get through faster. But, I do have a last name that starts with a W. I may have been pushed to the end of the line just for that reason. Maybe. I don't know that much about how college works.

Homework
I have been working nonstop it seems like on homework. This last week, one of my teachers decided to assign a last minute project, due on thursday. So, I have to write, translate, film, and produce a spanish Christmas commercial before Thursday. And I have no DVDs because my parents decided that they needed them for school. Wish me luck on finishing that.

Family Force 5
I find that Family Force 5 music is very much becoming the soundtrack to my life. Nearly every time that I put my headphones on, that it who I am listening to. I love listening to their music while I drive. In fact, it makes me calmer and makes me drive better. I can't wait for them to make another music video or come on tour in my area.

Music Videos
I have been brainstorming a lot of music videos lately. I have a couple ideas for songs and stuff. I think I could make a really fitting one for "Deathbed" by Relient K. The song seems really sad at first, but it really is a good song with upbeat parts and tells a story of hope. I'm trying to learn the words and the ukulele chords and get my brother to learn the piano part. I got him to listen to the song for the first time last night and he said that he really liked it. I also have an idea for "Drama Queen" by FF5 and have had the idea for a long time for "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry and "Raise Your Glass" by Pink. I think I just need to start making storyboards again. The music video for "Zombie" by FF5 is what I plan on working on next, however. I plan on using a demo of PowerDirector 10 during the Christmas break to do some amazing things with it. Look for the video some time in January.

Christmas Songs
I have learned a bunch of Christmas songs on the Ukulele and everyday I am learning more. I plan to put some videos of them on youtube before Christmas, and my brother and I plan on playing them at every Christmas gathering we go to. Maybe we'll upload some live recordings from cell phones on Christmas.

Cover Videos
I have found so many songs that I want to do covers of. Deathbed by relient k is one of them, but it is a really long song with a lot of lyrics to learn. Many songs that I like are impossible to find chords to online. I search and just when I think I've found them I'll come to a page that says "access denied" or "page not found". Then I post on yahoo answers and they just tell me to look in the places that I've already looked. Either way, I will have some new cover videos out within a week or so.

Documentaries
I think it would be really cool to make a Christmas documentary like I've discussed in previous posts, but I think I might wait until next year to do it. That way, I will have a little more prep time and I can get it out before Christmas. I will also be able to interview more people because I will be in college. I should have some better editing software by then too.

FanFiction Update
We have reached 314 views this month, but, if you haven't gotten the hint, I would love to get 500 views before the end of this week. I will post the fanfic at 500 views, so get to work telling your friends to look at the blog and subscribe to blog and youtube updates. Just so you know, that means that you have easier access to blog posts and youtube videos. But, to thank you for making it this far, I will post another small section of the fanfic for your enjoyment.

About ten or so people were scattered throughout the area, each working to accomplish a different task. Even so far away, I could hear Isaac shouting orders. Knowing that he probably didn't notice me come in, I made my way accross the warehouse to where they were. It didn't take long to be notice after I got within seeing distance of the band members. Of course, the first one to notice me was Jacob, AKA Crouton. Of course, how could I not be noticed by the one who pays the most attention to hair and clothing? "Hey guys, look!" he shouted," Its Lizardbreath!" Suddenly, I was surrounded by a mob of rambuncious musicians.

Well, thats all you get for today. I can't really think of anything else to write about.

Love,
From another LOVE ADDICT,
Elizabeth W.

Finding Something To Do...

So... I officially have nothing left to do for my dual credit class this semester. My next one starts january 14th. I am so happy that it is over. I am just working on finding something to do for this last week and a half.

Driving home tonight

I didn't see the lights

I was just watching you sleep in shotgun

I could have crashed the car

Ha, just a little Hellogoodbye that I thought was appropriate. Because, you know, the name of the song is "Finding Something to Do"... Get it? Yeah, it was kinda lame. Sorry. Today I managed to remember to bring my notebook with me to school, so I started writing the FF5 fanfic. I know, I'm such a nerd. And a hipster. I don't like the idea of being a hipster though. Don't call me that. EVER. Feel free to call me a nerd though. I take it as a complement.

I have nothing to do after school today, so I might upload a few YouTube videos. I hope I get to. If I go home and immediately do some chores (make my bed, wash some clothes, wash some dishes, clean the house) for about an hour, I will still have plenty of time to make some videos, and I will be on my parents' good sides. I wore a Christmas shirt today, so it would be perfect for me to make Christmas covers when I get home. I might even have time to start making the Christmas presents I have planned for my friends. I really need to do that before school ends.

At the moment, we have a total of 187 views for this month. A lot of progress was made yesterday. I guess you all really want me to post a fanfic. Maybe. Or it could have just been a coincidence. Just remember that there has to be at least one person comment and say which story they want me to post. I won't choose on my own. Keep up the good work people!

Yesterday, I had to make a fake newsletter for computer class. I didn't get to finish it. We had a bunch of requirements of things we had to have, but we could make it over anything. Being the kind of person I am, I decided to do mine as a newsletter to my fans as if I was an internet celebrity. It never fails, give me free creative reign over something and it will turn out to relate to the internet somehow.
I really hope Family Force 5  decides to shoot a new music video soon, involving fans like Zombie, Wobble, and Cray Button. I didn't get to go to any of those, and I would love to go to the next one they do. I dream of working with Isaac Deitz and Family Force 5. I heard that they are working on a new album called "Phenomenon". They occasionally release songs for free on NGEN radio's website. They've released two so far: Chainsaw and Phenomenon. Then, on Facebook and whatnot, they rumored and new music video being planned. I am super excited.

I reallly don't know what else to blog about right now. I just want school to be over. And for Christmas to come. And for the plays that I am in to be over.

Tomorrow and Friday are the performances of Amber Waves. Tomorrow the group that I directed performs and the next day the group that I am in performs. I just want it to be over with. I know we will do decently, but I don't know that it will be the best performance ever.

We had one act practice yesterday. The play we picked is really wierd, but I'm excited about it anyway. I love one act because everyone is serious and you get more time to work on the play. There is still 25 minutes left of class. Ugh. Well, I'm off to go stalk some other blogs and waste time, since I am obviously braindead right now.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Annoying Things and a Good Book

I think something is wrong with me.
Nothing major, just something wrong with the way I see the world right now.
My problem?

Everything is annoying me.

Yes, everything just seems annoying right now. My brother was very annoying yesterday when he said "You keep threatening to hurt me but you never do it." I find it very annoying that the school computer ecided not to work right today and therefore I cannot write the essays that I need to write for scholarships. It is annoying me that I have homework in a dual credit class but I cannot complete it at school because I need the giant textbook. People just doing small slightly irresponsible or mildly annoying things are driving me bonkers. I am very annoyed right now.

Anyway, I have been reading a really good book. Technically, it is the sequel to another book. I am reading "Love, Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli. Yes, I read books that are like fourth grade level. The thing is, I can find books that have entertaining plotlines and don't take forever to finish at that grade level. So, shut up, and stop judging me!

Okay, that was a little harsh...

I'm sorry.

Anyway, the first book is called "Stargirl". I find that books by Jerry Spinnelli are very entertaining. The main character is always very intelligent and philosophical in their thinking, like in the book "Smiles to Go", also by Jerry Spinelli. They are also very wierd and also like outcasts. I sit there reading thinking, "Wow, I've had those same thoughts" or "I am so much like that character!" And then I realize that that may not be a good thing. So, yeah. I am addicted to that book right now.

Something awesome also happened yesterday. The schoolboard met for out school. They decided that this friday, we will not have school! Its supposed to be so that people can go see the games of our statebound volleyball team (Thats right! State bound! What?!). This means that I get to get things accomplished on Friday. Maybe. I hope so. I need to work on some video stuff and some college stuff. I also need to get some rest. I have not gotten to sleep before ten since like thursday night. But, whatever.

I hope I get to post videos to YouTube. When you are a hard core deticated Youtuber like me (Pffff... yeah right), you tend to have YouTube posting withdrawals. I NEED to post something (*twitch, twitch*). I filmed stuff this last weekend but I didn't get to finish editing it, since it was late when I started doing and I was on my dad's computer instead of the family computer. I hope I get to finish that video and post it. I started using a program that is kind of like a miniature version of PowerDirector, so it has similar features but its like only 1/10 as awesome. And I plan to download the free trial version of PowerDirector over Christmas break and work with it then.

And, based on my number of views, it feels like this is listed on the VERY LAST PAGE of Google. Is that possible? Is there a last page? But, you have to start somewhere...

Question of the Day:

What is the thing that annoys you the most?

and also...

What is your favorite children's book?

Okay, well, I gotta go! Bye!

Elizabeth W.

Senior Year

So, this year is my senior year in highschool,if you haven't already figured it out. Its wierd to be doing some of these things for the very last time. Today, I am feeling extra nostalgic because of the fact that I will attend my last peprally today. They will play a special song for the seniors and we'll all run down to the middle of the gym and I'll probably cry. I always get emotional over things like this. I keep thinking of how I will soon be moving on. Some of these people I will never see again (PRAISE THE LORD!) and some of them I will really miss. I start thinking about college and what type of things I want to have in my dorm and what kind of new people I will meet. Then I take a big jump ahead to the future where all of us will be married and some of us will have kids of our own. I have friends who have been in relationships for a year or more and I sit and think, will they be married the next time we meet after high school? It seems that these years go by so fast.

Personally, I am in no hurry to leave my hometown. I don't hate my family or the tiny community that I live in. I wouldn't mind staying here all of my life. But I know I am destined for bigger things. I want to be a movie director. I know that directing is something that I am really good at and enjoy and I also know that there is very little chance of me staying where I currently am and making my dream a reality. I know I will probably have to move to a big city or possibly California (Eeeeeewwww! Liberals! No Offense...) in order to find a job. I would love to work kind of free-lance like Issaac Dietz and Tessa Violet do. Those two filmmakers are my heroes at the moment. I don't know if I'll ever become as famous as Steven Spielberg or Charlie Chaplin, but I know I will become a director somehow.

On a completely unrelated note, I really don't know why I have begun blogging again. I know that I want to keep track of the fun I am having during my senior year, so that is part of it. I also know that many famous people who I am a fan of blog when they have nothing else better to do. Currently, I have very little else to do. I could write essays for scholarships but I am way too distracted today. I have no real work to do in my online college class at the moment. I just felt thinky and needed to get it out.

On the subject of YouTube, by the way (Wow, I am being really random today (Hey! That rhymed!)) I am working on getting some neew editing software. I shot a music video on like October 27th but I haven't edited it yet because of the fact that Windows Movie Maker is a really crappy video editing tool. I want to be able to use Sony Vegas someday, but it is way out of my price range at the moment. My current budget is $0 to whatever my parents will buy me. I think I might just download a free trial of PowerDirector and make the music video from there. I have worked with PowerDirector before and it seemed decent. The music video is to the song "Zombie" by Family Force 5, and it has actual people in it besides myself and my brother. So, be on the lookout for that sometime around Thanksgiving or Christmas. I will probably do some how-to/blog videos and covers before then, so don't worry. And if you get to bored with my videos, feel free to watch the many videos of Isaac Dietz, Meekakitty, and Nanalew. They are all pretty amusing. And amazing.

Wow, I have taken up a whole 20 minutes just typing this. Dual Credit class really is useful for something after all. I really should do this more often. I keep having these random ideas of things that I want to do. Today, blogging was one. I also came up with a senior year music video idea today. I have my camera in my backpack, so I should be able to start it today also. I want to start my own charity/mission type of thing. I want to help people while having fun and have a way that others can help them also. It still in the developmental processes of my brain. I have been meditating on it for several days. I kinda want to make it into a movie project also. Isaac Dietz did a thing called "Search For Joy" that was really interesting in my opinion. I want to do something similar.

And now, because I have run out of ideas for what to type and because I just want to be EVEN MORE RANDOM...

Question of the day... errr, blog... or week or something like that:

If you could replace a single hour long segment of your day with an activity that you enjoy, what segment would you replace, why, and what activity would you replace it with?