Saturday, September 1, 2012
TCF 201 - Short Film Reviews Fall 2012: Short of the Week Due 9/5/12
I thought that this was a really great film. At the beginning I was a little against the excessive handycam style but in the end it really helped move this story along and put you more into the charters lives. The kids did an amazing job acting and conveying just how it would be if someone were living in that situation. Right from the beginning we jump into the lives of these characters and at first I didn't think that the mother was really their mother because of how irresponsible she was and I couldn't imagine any mother treating her kids that way. I like how in the bio it talks about how the director set it up that in the beginning when we first meet him we automatically dislike him because we think he's just trying to hook up with her but in the end we see the other side of him when he buys them all food and doesn't just leave them behind. I like the film because it shows that some people actually live this way and it tells the story in a way that doesn't feel like you are sitting through a long film.
Friday, August 31, 2012
TCF 201 - Short Film Reviews Fall 2012: Short of the Week Due 8/29/12
Absolutely hilarious. I loved how first off the film came full circle to really make it even more powerful. I liked how there were some already well known faces in the film like Shelley Berman, which was a funny and good surprise. The use of humor was great while the message was to do good deeds for others. I felt the editing was very well done and even with the car hitting Bobby scenes. The scene with the Latin dancing was a great touch as well as smashing the Ricky Martin Boombox. I have watched it three times now and is still funny and powerful. http://www.shortoftheweek.com/2011/09/26/in-god-we-trust/
Friday, April 27, 2012
My Story of April 27, 2011
On this day one year ago, my freshman year at The University of Alabama, I remember it being a nice sunny morning. I didn't have class that morning but it didn't really matter anyways because the University had soon cancelled all classes for that afternoon because of the severe weather that was predicted to come. Skipping forward to that mid afternoon, a few small rain bands had come through but nothing serious yet. So while the rain was holding off, some of my friends from my dorm and I went to the quad to throw the football and get out of Harris Hall for a little. After about 30 minutes outside, people started running back inside buildings because word had spread that severe weather was about to come. Now back in my hall, people were all spread out on the first floor with their phones, computers, pillows and blankets continuously watching the weather. We soon lost power, which was when people began to freak out (mainly the girls, screaming of course because they figured it was the perfect opportunity to do so) but I went into my room, which also was on the first floor. I watched the dark clouds roll in over the stadium from my window that overlooked sorority row. A few of my friends came in to join as we watched the wind blow around debris and lift off some shingles from the tops of a few sorority houses. We then went to sit in the lobby with everyone else for what was probably two hours. Now it was dark outside and it was pitch black in the lobby area except for those that had flashlights with them. I then had an idea to get my LED light, used for my camera, and placed it in a tall lamp in the lobby lighting up the entire room which with my 12 hour battery would last all night so at least people could see each other. I then get a phone call somehow from my parents asking me where I was and making sure I was okay and being kind of skeptical I asked "why?" just being confused as to why they were asking so many questions thinking it was only a bad storm. They then proceed to tell me that a tornado hit but they don't know exactly where. After getting off the phone with them I went back to the lobby and heard all sorts of different stories. "University mall has been completely demolished", "All of 15th street is gone" and other various rumors of apartment complexes being hit. I then decided that I needed to see for myself.
I went to my room and packed my backpack with my camera, some medical supplies and flashlights. I put on a white shirt thinking it would help to be more visible but I grabbed one of my nice expensive shirts, which was a bad idea because I later end up ruining it but anyways I was loaded up and would set out on my bike headed towards 15th street. I kind of sneaked out of my hall because our RA's were not allowing us to leave but I decided to anyways (my curiosity got the best of me). Once I got to 15th street and started getting closer to McFarland, I couldn't see anything. Even the road right in front of me was compete darkness. I then stop and look around and can't see any lights anywhere and for the most part it was completely silent. It was the most eerie feeling of being right in the middle of one of the busiest streets and yet it was lifeless. As I rode on down towards McFarland I began to see the damage. There were power lines and tress all in the road and thank goodness the power was out because I ran right over a few power line cables. I slowly rode on down and looking up at this one power line pole with a sheet or flag stuck on it slowly waving in the breeze, it reminded me of something straight out of the movie Twister, but seeing it first hand was surreal, I was living my worst nightmare. As I arrived at the intersection of 15th and McFarland I came across a car in the middle of the road completely flipped over and smashed, which was the first real sign to me that this was no small storm that had passed. There were a few cop cars in the intersection helping a few people and I assumed they were blocking off any cars wanting to drive through. It then started to downpour and the wind was blowing like crazy so I was looking for some shelter when I saw some people under the roof of a gas station that had been badly damaged. I rode over to them and we stood near the gas pumps under the roof that had giant holes in it now. I then saw this woman with her child standing out on the corner of the street just standing their in this storm that was causing more debris to fly around and other signs to fall. I ran out over to the woman and asked if she was okay and she did not say anything for a moment. We stood there for a few seconds and then she followed me back over to the gas station when some scrap metal or some debris blew past me and cut down the back of my leg. In the mix of it all I really did not feel it or notice it until I got back to my dorm later. The manager of the gas station was telling us his story of how him and his friend heard the tornado coming and ran inside in the back room as they heard windows blowing out and bottles crashing. He then offered us drinks and said that they were going to go bad anyways so for us to help ourselves but the rain was starting to lighten up so I decided that I would head on back to my dorm. I started back up 15th street but once I got half way back, an officer told me that the road was closed and that I had to go around. Well that meant that I had to go all the way down McFarland to Hargrove road and then I could cross 15th street. It was about a 4 mile loop that I had to make in the dark and once I got to Hargrove road, I had to pick up my bike several times to get around power lines and trees that had blocked the road. I finally make it back to my dorm hall and people were asking me where I was and when I told them they said I was crazy but I did not speak much to them before going straight to my room. I sat on my bed just trying to take in what I saw. There was so much to try to take in while I was out there that I just couldn't grasp what I had seen. I remember that being a long night, wondering if all of my friends were okay and knowing that with all of the houses I saw demolished that there was going to be death reported in the days that followed. I just lied there in my bed praying, for those who would find out in the morning that their lives were going to be changed forever. They would realize that their homes were gone, loved ones lost or injured and that their lives would feel as if they were over.
The next morning when I woke up, I walked down the halls and saw several people packing up saying they were going home. Later we find out that the University had cancelled exams and after that announcement people cleared out of there without hesitation. I then talked with my parents trying to figure out what I should do because it would be about a 10 hour drive for me to get home to Orlando. We then come up with the plan for me to go stay with my sister for the weekend in Atlanta to get away from all of the chaos and come back in a few days to pack up and go home. On my way out of Tuscaloosa it was crazy trying to find a road that was not blocked off and traffic was really slow. I really could not see much tornaod damage because it was in the opposite direction than I was headed for the most part. Once I got to my sister's I turned on the news and it was the first time I had seen footage of the tornado. I was shocked by what I saw, having a hard time grasping that I had not even been a mile away from where it had hit. I went to bed that night with thousands of thoughts racing through my mind. I started to feel guilty about having left Tuscaloosa, having left a city, that I was now a part of, when it most needed help. I then decided that I was going to go back the next morning and see what I could do to help.
On my way back I stopped by Walmart and picked up over 60 cases of water bottles with packs of 32 bottles in each of them, so a ton of water. When I got back to Tuscaloosa I called up some of my friends and got them to come with me to drive around to neighborhoods that had been hit by the tornado and pass out water to people. A few times we had to go around the national guard that had some streets blocked off but most of them let us through. After a few hours of doing that, there were still hundreds of water bottles left so I just dropped them off at a nearby church. The next day I went over to TES (Temporary Emergency Services) where they had a warehouse just full of supplies that people had been dropping off. I was overwhelmed by the amount of supplies people were coming to give. I helped sort supplies and unload items from people's cars for the next few days. In the mix of that, I rented the largest U-haul trailer I could find and took it to TES and they loaded it up with supplies that I took across town to other smaller supply stations. I did that for awhile as well as helping one of the Fraternities transport their supplies in the U-haul to other supply locations as well. There were a few days that I went around town shooting some video footage of all the damage to put together just a short video of some of the aftermath. I stayed for about 10 days after the tornado before heading home but I can say that I am glad that I did stay and was able to help out.
For those of us that were in Tuscaloosa on that day and the days after, we each have our own stories, our own experiences and our own ways of dealing with that tragedy. What is important is that as that day begins to drift further into our past we need to remind ourselves of how we felt and how we acted during then. It should not take a natural disaster for people to show kindness towards one another or put others before themselves. Those are things that we need to do each and every day because in the end it is the things that we do for others, the sacrifices we make to help others and the humbleness we show others that leaves a lasting impression and that make the differences in the lives of others. What do you want to be remembered for? What kind of person do you want to be? It all starts with the small things you do, don't be afraid to help others, it does not make you look weak, but in fact it shows your strength and your character. Live life putting others before yourself and you will see that in return good things will come your way.
Humble yourself.
-Alex Beatty
I went to my room and packed my backpack with my camera, some medical supplies and flashlights. I put on a white shirt thinking it would help to be more visible but I grabbed one of my nice expensive shirts, which was a bad idea because I later end up ruining it but anyways I was loaded up and would set out on my bike headed towards 15th street. I kind of sneaked out of my hall because our RA's were not allowing us to leave but I decided to anyways (my curiosity got the best of me). Once I got to 15th street and started getting closer to McFarland, I couldn't see anything. Even the road right in front of me was compete darkness. I then stop and look around and can't see any lights anywhere and for the most part it was completely silent. It was the most eerie feeling of being right in the middle of one of the busiest streets and yet it was lifeless. As I rode on down towards McFarland I began to see the damage. There were power lines and tress all in the road and thank goodness the power was out because I ran right over a few power line cables. I slowly rode on down and looking up at this one power line pole with a sheet or flag stuck on it slowly waving in the breeze, it reminded me of something straight out of the movie Twister, but seeing it first hand was surreal, I was living my worst nightmare. As I arrived at the intersection of 15th and McFarland I came across a car in the middle of the road completely flipped over and smashed, which was the first real sign to me that this was no small storm that had passed. There were a few cop cars in the intersection helping a few people and I assumed they were blocking off any cars wanting to drive through. It then started to downpour and the wind was blowing like crazy so I was looking for some shelter when I saw some people under the roof of a gas station that had been badly damaged. I rode over to them and we stood near the gas pumps under the roof that had giant holes in it now. I then saw this woman with her child standing out on the corner of the street just standing their in this storm that was causing more debris to fly around and other signs to fall. I ran out over to the woman and asked if she was okay and she did not say anything for a moment. We stood there for a few seconds and then she followed me back over to the gas station when some scrap metal or some debris blew past me and cut down the back of my leg. In the mix of it all I really did not feel it or notice it until I got back to my dorm later. The manager of the gas station was telling us his story of how him and his friend heard the tornado coming and ran inside in the back room as they heard windows blowing out and bottles crashing. He then offered us drinks and said that they were going to go bad anyways so for us to help ourselves but the rain was starting to lighten up so I decided that I would head on back to my dorm. I started back up 15th street but once I got half way back, an officer told me that the road was closed and that I had to go around. Well that meant that I had to go all the way down McFarland to Hargrove road and then I could cross 15th street. It was about a 4 mile loop that I had to make in the dark and once I got to Hargrove road, I had to pick up my bike several times to get around power lines and trees that had blocked the road. I finally make it back to my dorm hall and people were asking me where I was and when I told them they said I was crazy but I did not speak much to them before going straight to my room. I sat on my bed just trying to take in what I saw. There was so much to try to take in while I was out there that I just couldn't grasp what I had seen. I remember that being a long night, wondering if all of my friends were okay and knowing that with all of the houses I saw demolished that there was going to be death reported in the days that followed. I just lied there in my bed praying, for those who would find out in the morning that their lives were going to be changed forever. They would realize that their homes were gone, loved ones lost or injured and that their lives would feel as if they were over.
The next morning when I woke up, I walked down the halls and saw several people packing up saying they were going home. Later we find out that the University had cancelled exams and after that announcement people cleared out of there without hesitation. I then talked with my parents trying to figure out what I should do because it would be about a 10 hour drive for me to get home to Orlando. We then come up with the plan for me to go stay with my sister for the weekend in Atlanta to get away from all of the chaos and come back in a few days to pack up and go home. On my way out of Tuscaloosa it was crazy trying to find a road that was not blocked off and traffic was really slow. I really could not see much tornaod damage because it was in the opposite direction than I was headed for the most part. Once I got to my sister's I turned on the news and it was the first time I had seen footage of the tornado. I was shocked by what I saw, having a hard time grasping that I had not even been a mile away from where it had hit. I went to bed that night with thousands of thoughts racing through my mind. I started to feel guilty about having left Tuscaloosa, having left a city, that I was now a part of, when it most needed help. I then decided that I was going to go back the next morning and see what I could do to help.
On my way back I stopped by Walmart and picked up over 60 cases of water bottles with packs of 32 bottles in each of them, so a ton of water. When I got back to Tuscaloosa I called up some of my friends and got them to come with me to drive around to neighborhoods that had been hit by the tornado and pass out water to people. A few times we had to go around the national guard that had some streets blocked off but most of them let us through. After a few hours of doing that, there were still hundreds of water bottles left so I just dropped them off at a nearby church. The next day I went over to TES (Temporary Emergency Services) where they had a warehouse just full of supplies that people had been dropping off. I was overwhelmed by the amount of supplies people were coming to give. I helped sort supplies and unload items from people's cars for the next few days. In the mix of that, I rented the largest U-haul trailer I could find and took it to TES and they loaded it up with supplies that I took across town to other smaller supply stations. I did that for awhile as well as helping one of the Fraternities transport their supplies in the U-haul to other supply locations as well. There were a few days that I went around town shooting some video footage of all the damage to put together just a short video of some of the aftermath. I stayed for about 10 days after the tornado before heading home but I can say that I am glad that I did stay and was able to help out.
For those of us that were in Tuscaloosa on that day and the days after, we each have our own stories, our own experiences and our own ways of dealing with that tragedy. What is important is that as that day begins to drift further into our past we need to remind ourselves of how we felt and how we acted during then. It should not take a natural disaster for people to show kindness towards one another or put others before themselves. Those are things that we need to do each and every day because in the end it is the things that we do for others, the sacrifices we make to help others and the humbleness we show others that leaves a lasting impression and that make the differences in the lives of others. What do you want to be remembered for? What kind of person do you want to be? It all starts with the small things you do, don't be afraid to help others, it does not make you look weak, but in fact it shows your strength and your character. Live life putting others before yourself and you will see that in return good things will come your way.
Humble yourself.
-Alex Beatty
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