Cyber-bullying

Last year, a girl named Amanda Todd committed suicide because she couldn't handle the awful things people said about her. She was being cyber-bullied. Although I'm sure this is not the first time this happens, I would like to express my concern about this subject.

Maybe I find this important, because I was bullied back in middle school and I can only imagine what this kids are feeling now, with the use of Internet, it has gone to a whole new level. The only thing that could "protect" you from bullies was the fact that they could get caught and have repercussions, and with the Internet, they can now all wear a mask and do it anonymously. So not only they hurt people without even signing those mean words, but they can do it faster and to more and more kids who they might not even know! 

When I was 13, I changed schools in the hope of a new beginning, to make new friends and get away from the catholic school I was in. Unfortunately, I seemed to attract too much attention (being a new girl in school), according to the "popular girls" in my school, so the change wasn't all for the best. From being a kid who was never even noticed by the popular group in my old school to being the center of all their hate: all I wondered was..."why me?, many other new students joined the school this year...I've done nothing wrong to these people". All through middle school I was bullied by the "popular group" of my generation. I was lucky enough to have true friends who sheltered and supported me when I was beginning to believe what those silly kids said about me. I might not have gotten to the point of thinking about ending my life, but changing schools was definitely on my mind and until these days, a mark prevails in me and my personality.

In my last year of high school, I made a short film called "Yo" trying to promote an awareness of the importance of this matter. And I'm glad to say, that without my distribution, other students from my hometown recognize that video since apparently teachers heard about it and started to show it in schools. When I heard about it, I couldn't help myself from thinking how little I thought my gesture had been and how many people I had reached. I want to reach more people through my videos (maybe, one day movies?). I want people to watch a movie and stop feeling alone, I want them to be able to identify themselves with the characters and find hope to their problems.

I wish this doesn't stay as only a dream of mine.

Honestly,
Andrea.

YES!

Art by Ronnie Boehm.

“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to 

have the life that is waiting for us.”

     ― Joseph Campbell

   Remembering some of the best days I've ever had, I realize that most of them began as any other day and the only reason I remember them is because something out of the ordinary happened. Because I did something I usually didn't do.

With this said, is it possible every time we say "No" to an invitation for something unknown to us, we might be missing out a great experience? As I said in my last post, I often get scared when it comes to change. But this past few weeks I did a little experiment: even if I didn't really feel like it, I accepted invitations to go out, and meet new people. All I had to say was "Yes" (That's right, like that bad Jim Carrey movie). And I've got to say, I've had a great time! It's not like I lived the best days of my life, but I did have a good time even when I didn't think I would.

 Give it a shot, maybe you find this whole "Yes to everything" phrase might help you get out of your comfort zone too!

Honestly,
 Andrea.

Dare

It is well known that life is out of our comfort zone, but how long does it take to actually let this message sink in and start doing something about it? I have to say, I am TERRIFIED of change. I'm a woman of routines, I like to make plans and I don't cross the street when the light's about to change. There is a quote that I love that says:

    "Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better."

-King Whitney Jr.

I must say I do want things to change, but it's inevitable to me to feel uneasy about not knowing wether that change is going to be good or bad. I've noticed that at my 19 years old, I live in a fear that would be found on an 80 year old woman who just wants to stay home.

The next video is an advertisement that I love, called "Dare, change". I hope you like it, I find it very inspiring.

I post this not only to share this thought with you, but to make myself move out from my comfort zone and try new things. Who's with me?

Honestly,

Andrea

The Cure

Art by Alan Nart.

Sometimes, life distracts us from our main goals because as the argentinian cartoonist "Quino" would say: "Urgent things don't leave time for important ones". We have so many things that we HAVE to do, that we forget about the things we WANT to do. Or even worse, as myself, you might forget that those things you have to do are actually helping you to get closer towards what you want to do!

About 5 months ago, I came to Vancouver pursuing my dream (which I share with many film students): to become a film director. Because, just like in any career you choose, you always, ALWAYS wanna be the best of them all, right? It's not enough to be "a doctor", you want to be "THE doctor". And it's pretty scary when you realize the number of people who want exactly the same thing as you do. It's dangerous to think of that because it even invites you to give up without a fight. Everybody deserves a chance and you must not forget that.

There may come times when you doubt yourself: if whether or not you should be here pursuing that dream, but you must never let go. Because without your dreams, what is left?

Fortunately, I found my personal cure for times like this, and it was to go back to the start, back to the core of my love for films: the cinema. It's pretty obvious, but I had actually forgotten the "magical" feeling I got every time I watched a new movie. So every time I start to doubt about myself and my dream in the film business, I go to the movies. Because, that's what it's all about! And I have to remind myself how important it is to me in order to keep myself from giving up!

No matter what you're studying, or working on, no matter what your dream is, find your personal cure. Find your cinema, and recur to it every time you feel the monsters coming back to haunt you. Defend those dreams of yours, people!

Honestly,
Andrea.

So close and yet...

Art by Elizaveta Porordina

The Internet is a real wonder, but is it so even when it costs us our social lives? Think about it: you communicate with so many people throughout the day, you exchange messages, pictures and a few laughs, but is your social life as good as when you actually SAW the people you consider your friends? Sure, it does help when those friends and family members are far away from you and you got no other choice but talking through the internet or phone calls, but aren't the ones that are far away receiving the same treatment as the ones that are close to you? Don't you hate going out with somebody and that they can't stop checking Facebook through their smartphones? I mean, if you'd rather be home and checking your Facebook all day long, why did you ever ask your friend if she/he would like to meet?

 It seems to me that the Internet separates people who are close and brings closer people who are separated.

Honestly,
Andrea.

First time

Source Unknown, let me know if you do! I found this on a friend's Facebook.

Can you think of the last time you tried something new? Do you recall the excitement? The decision you unconsciously made either you like it or not?

I've read so many times on the Internet (Facebook, to be more specific) that people should live their lives as if it was their last day on earth, but I disagree. At least, if I think of a day in which I'm told: "This is your last day alive", I would totally be a train wreck, I'd break rules, hurt people and just act crazy, because honestly, what else can you do? You're going to DIE.

In my opinion, lives should just continue their normal way and if that's not enough for you, then you're doing something wrong from the very beginning! In my opinion, everything that surrounds us is amazing, and I don't mean in a drugged "look at the sparkles" kind of thing, what I mean is: if you actually take in what's really in front of you, even a simple tree can amaze you.

Take it this way: right now, somewhere around the world someone is giving his/her first kiss. It's amazing to think that something so special and unique is happening to someone when you're actually just listening to your teacher talk nonsense about art. But actually, you have the power to experience something really really special whenever you want, with whatever activity you're doing:

When you remember to do so (or even NEED to do so), stop your thoughts for a second and acknowledge that the moment you're living in right then is never, EVER going to repeat itself. It's like you're time traveling to your past before you even need to do so! You get to enjoy every single detail that surrounds you once you realize it's a unique moment in your life. Because not even the weekly art class you go to is exactly the same as the last one (even if sometimes it seems so).

Try it! Tell me what you think! Did you feel the "first time" feeling I was talking about? What did you think about the experiment?

Go ahead, and the next time you kiss (or even just hug) someone, try to erase every memory of past kisses from your lips and enjoy the uniqueness of that first kiss.

Honestly,
Andrea.

End of background

So that's it for me showing the videos I created in the past, now I will actually get to write some posts like the first ones I started with!

If you want to watch more videos of mine, please follow me on my Youtube channel: anmepa93.

Now, prepare for some more heart to heart blogging about themes you can all relate to!

Honestly,
Andrea.

My backup plan?

So a miracle happens: my brother gets married. And you would think that I spent an awesome time at the wedding BUT I did not. The thing is, I was too busy filming with my camera all that I could get. So there are not many pictures of me on his wedding (except for the staged ones) and here's the reason why:

Yes, another music video haha. But actually, to this day I'm still very proud of my work here. I watch this video and it gives me goosebumps. I even dare to say it's better than the one they payed for. Maybe, if it comes the day when I give up on my dream of being a film director, I could at least make pretty decent wedding videos, right? hahaha. I hope you enjoyed it and please do comment!

Honestly,
Andrea.

Goodbye, high school!

In the last months of high school, my coordinator asks me if I would like to make a video for my generation due our graduation day. I feel this is a great responsibility and I don't know if I can pull it off but I accept. I'm more than happy to take my talent and create a gift for my generation and all the people who played a big part in the past years. So I come up with an idea with the help of a classmate, I draw the storyboard and I ask for volunteers. This is the video that was presented after everybody got their diploma, it is poorly made, but you get the idea of what I was trying to achieve there :) .

Honestly,
Andrea.

"Yo"

For my last presentation at my high school as a member of the short film workshop, Celia pushes me (and I'm glad she did, she knows me so well! I work better with pressure!) to do a final short film. So, in a day I figure out a story and shoot it. The next day I finish the editing and I present my bullying themed short film "Yo" (it means "me" in spanish):

PS: Bullying is a serious problem, even more so with the internet. Please be careful not to scar people, those marks won't go away...EVER.

Honestly,
Andrea.

My comic side (a very big side...)

Just a short exercise I did with some classmates in the short film workshop on my last year of high school. Enjoy!

Honestly,
Andrea.

Lights, camera, stop motion!

It's the second year in my short film workshop and my teacher invites us to create our very own stop motion short film. She shows us the music video "Her Morning Elegance" and I'm completely amazed by it! I totally want to try it...but not so soon! Unfortunately, the death line approaches and I have no idea of what to make my video about, I even start considering Polly Pocket's!

Then, one day before the death line, I get an idea. I once more rely on a friend to help me with the acting and on another friend to help me accommodating the objects frame by frame. Of course, it couldn't come out as beautiful as the video that inspired me, but at least I got the comment "it's good enough for a video that was made in a day".

PS: I want to thank Marlene and Astrid for helping me with this! And I'm sorry for your sunburns! 

Honestly,
Andrea.

One year later...

One year after my first "official" short film, Celia (my short film workshop teacher), gives us the liberty to choose the subject for our short films and so I do: revenge. There's only one limitation this year: the short film MUST be a minute long. With some awful audio and decent visuals, I handed this in:

PS: Notice how the music video editing still influences me? ;)

Honestly,
Andrea.

First "official" short film

After editing Final Fantasy videos, 16 year old me was told on her first day of high school that there was a new short film workshop where she could sign up. I could almost swear that I screamed a little: "YES!". So I go to this workshop for an hour and a half two days each week. My teacher, Celia, is a wonderful person an she introduces me into this world I thought I knew, but I was barely visualizing the very tip of the iceberg. After 6 months of basic classes, we get the assignment of creating a short film with the theme of "everyday activities". This including: script, storyboard, filming, editing and finally, presenting it on a huge screen. This is what I came out with:

PS: Through the next videos, you'll notice that my actors are actually just VERY good friends who helped me with these silly projects of mine.

Honestly,

Andrea.

Music Videos: Final Fantasy fan work

To carry on with my process on video editing, here's my next step: Final Fantasy addiction. As soon as I discovered those amazing stories in 3D animation, I decided I wanted to tell those love stories through music videos and this is what came out of that:

Honestly,
Andrea.

I had to start somewhere...

Ok, so even if I'm completely embarrassed to show this I want people to know where I started so right below it's what I would call my very first attempt at creating a short film: from coming with the idea to editing the clips and sharing it on my Youtube channel. Enjoy and please be merciful.

Honestly,
Andrea.

Lost & Found

Tumblr picture, but I found it so long ago i couldn't find the artist this time.
If you recognize it, let me know.

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching.”
- Unknown








 
   After leaving the awful stage of my life called "adolescence" (although, I can't be sure I'm really out of it, I'm just going to say so for my sake...), I finally met the person that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. And THAT, even if most people deny it, is the ultimate dream everybody has. I gotta say I'm very lucky, since a lot of people I know still haven't met their lifelong companion. You see, who I'm actually talking about is: ME.

That's right, I'm not talking about any other person but yourself. When people talk about love, "soulmates" or at the very least "companionship", they always seem to go ahead and start talking about some random person waiting for them somewhere in this enormous world just born to complete them, and I can't help by thinking: "How do you know a person completes you if you don't even know what "you" is all about?"

So when I say I've found my lifelong companion, I'm saying I have found who I am. I have accepted my characteristics, good and bad and I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with myself. Because, as you may have heard or read around: " If you're lonely when you're alone, you're in bad company" -(Jean-Paul Sartre).

As soon as I "discovered" myself I decided to make a compromise: I would always try to be faithful to myself and I would never let somebody else make me act otherwise. I share this thought because I think it's very important to be true to yourself and not only towards other people. So next time, before you make a decision, think: "Is this what I would do?", "Will I be ok with this tomorrow?", "Is this the RIGHT thing to do?". You can't stop regretting on some decisions you make, but this sure has helped me to reduce them a LOT.


Honestly,
Andrea.

I'm honest.

All my life, I've had some trouble with authorities (teachers), I've had trouble with my friends, my family, etc. And through many years, I thought: "Hmm, I guess I'm being rude or something...". And so I start to try and control those urges to tell people what I think when there came a time that my boyfriend at a time cringed and said: "...you're so honest". And I thought "Is that a bad thing?". So after this remark, I start to notice more and more how true it was. People only seemed to respond negatively when I actually said what I thought.

After noticing this little aspect of me, I thought about how the world is used to only listen to what they want to hear, even if it's a lie. That's pretty shocking, considering that lies are good for nothing and only complicate everything. I don't understand why people like to be lied to.

With this, I start my blog "Honestly", where you can be sure I'll be saying exactly what I feel or see, no filters. I hope you enjoy the blog and I hope you enjoy honesty.

Honestly,
Andrea.