CES Blog

I should probably mention that I am interning for a film company. Slingshot Studios, an independent UK firm. They produce films digitally (as opposed to on film) with budgets between one and two million pounds. They are beginning production on “Tormented”, a teen horror movie. In weeks to come, this film will make me live life between Birmingham and London. Currently, as one of six people in the production office, I assist in a variety of tasks, including (but not limited to) making tea and coffee.

I should probably mention that they do not have propper coffee machines in the UK. As brits spend most of their time sipping tea, even places where you would definitely expect a coffee machine (ie, a film studio) lack one. Instead, they have a device called a “press pot”, which is merely a glorified jar with a strainer. As if I were making coffee in, I don’t know, 1885, I add boiling water to coffee grounds and use this device to strain the coffee. Baffles my mind.

That is not to say I only make coffee and serve lunch. I also occasionally clean and move boxes. Ha. My other duties include writing script analysis, and certain special projects. This week’s “special project” is to transcribe a series of british animated cartoons, so that the transcribed script can be sent to translators and subtitled with foreign languages for international distribution. Although I am not really sure how “bullocks”, “rubbish”, and “bloke” will translate. Among my other jobs is professional mover.

This week, we moved offices from Ealing Studios to Edgware Road. Now, instead of sharing offices with the cast and crew of “Prince of Persia” (Jake Gyllenhal, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, the new Bond Girl), we share offices with an UK independent record label (which is almost as cool). Each situation had its perks. Last Monday, my first day on the job, I witnessed Alfred Molina wreck his Aston Martin in the Ealing Studios parking lot. This week the independent record label put me on the guest list for a White Denim concert. White Denim, I am told, is the next great american rock band.

Oh, my bag finally arrived. Two weeks late. Nonetheless I am thankful to have all of my stuff back.

Until next time.

TH