That being said, I kinda realize a lot of writing (especially blogging) is done looking back or reflecting on certain points in time. This one is about this semester. Or rather, just the last few weeks. I'm not going to try to go into too much detail because I could just as easily fly off and start foaming at the mouth. Frustrating? You bet. Not exactly what I wanted my last semester of College to be like (at Bradley or at anywhere else) but I'm learning to let go of what I can't control, since that seems to be the main breaking point.
I talked with the head of the Game Design specialization a few weeks back. She seemed very receptive of what I had to ask about, and told me about the graphical expansions to the department that were going to take place in the next year or so. I was very happy to hear that. I didn't know if in the beginning they were actually going to look at expanding the "mini department" out but knowing that they're actually putting their minds to it is a great relief off my chest. Now if I could only get my mind onto what I need to do....
That being said, I think working in coordination with the Theatre Department has been one of the most hectic parts of this semester. Not so much working directly with them but through another class, a theory course that at the last two weeks of class wants us to go out and film a bunch of "on the street" footage when I'm trying to write and wrap up working on my damn portfolio that I had to set aside for several reasons and at play practice running commercials all night. The professor running the class once said that the reason he pushed his students so hard was that he wanted them to be able to say out in the field "Well, this client sure is a piece of work, but at least he's not as bad as that asshole we had for X class..." (True to my word, I am not making this up.) But that was for his production course. See my problem? Yeah. So far we haven't written a paper yet for it. Not that I'm complaining about the lack of paper writing. But still. Even if I feel like he's pushing us because of some shitty poster designs I cobbled together, I still think this is rather psychotic to do. (The poster designs fell through because, goddamnit, I had other classes with larger workloads at that point. Modeling always seems to default to my primary concern when I have tasks to complete.) I've tried to get a few of the other students to come with me to put the proverbial foot down, but at this point I've got the strangest feeling that my voice of reason dies with me. Maybe it's because of me failing the shitty poster designs. Whoops, sorry guys. I'm not much for graphic design some days.
That being said, it's definitely an interesting performance we're putting together. The old theatre practicum part of me says I should be there every damn day since we open next week to actually get my timing correct on what I'm supposed to do, but I am secretly grateful for the nights off I get. They don't end up being nights off (surprise surprise), but I enjoy having the extra hours to sit on a padded chair and work on my other classes. Stress and old injuries pick the best times to come and bite my ass. Resolution for the 500th time: MORE YOGA PLEASE. This semester started off okay for it, but now it's just plain nuts.
I know a part of my frustration is that I'm kind of taking the wrong major (Animation and Vis Effects) purely because Game Design wasn't visually based when I started here. But in retrospect I'm glad I've done what I have done with little exceptions. I mean, honestly, even though some semesters I barely get a chance to draw my abilities have improved by leaps and bounds.
That's all for now.
