July 5, 2015 by Zephyr Ash Ostrowski

Monthly Update: July 2015

You’re looking at a hired man, which is very big for me. Granted, it’s not where I want to be but the money is good and I’ll take it. I’m working at a window manufacturing plant. After being internally transferred, I’m at a fill station. Basically, I fill the different spacers that are used to frame the windows with sieve. Lots of lifting and standing but whatever, it’s a job. I’ve been trained on first shift for the past month (wake up at 3:45 am). I officially start on second shift tomorrow.

Because of this, I’ve been extremely busy. It’s getting harder to watch films like I used to but I’m figuring out how to make them fit into my schedule. On top of that, I’ve been working with friends on getting our let’s play channel launched. Right now, only two episodes are up. They’re not the best but we’re working on polishing them in future recordings.

In terms of script progress, it’s been slow due to, again, work. It’s about trying to find time to sit down at the computer and crank out some kind of treatment. I’m moving towards shorts but the ideas come to me at the worst times. I suppose I can spend my time at work plotting but I need to be on my toes due to the details involved.

I should probably stop right now before my face hits the keyboard. I did review Inside Out, so there’s that. Can’t guarantee anything else.

April 30, 2015 by Zephyr Ash Ostrowski

Coming this Month: May 2015

The one new film that I’d like to see and review would be Avengers: Age of Ultron. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll watch Tomorrowland. This is all while I take the next step in adulthood: graduation.

Yes, I’ll graduate college very soon (Saturday as of this post’s publication). The realization has quickly dawned on me the past few days. Before, I pushed that reality off to the side. Then it hit me, thanks to this thought from yesterday. My mind brought up the Blue’s Clues episode where Steve left for college and then I thought “Wait. I’m graduating college in a few days.”

I know that the ceremony will take an emotional toll on me. It didn’t help that earlier this month, the student exhibition was far too loud for me. Long story short, a friend checked on me and helped talked things through with me. I quit after ten minutes and went off and bought Clerks and Coldplay’s “X&Y”. What’s going to happen on Saturday is that one routine that I’ve relied on for the past fifteen years will end. Yeah, there will be tears. Sure, I’ll stay within the area; I’ve got some plans in mind but I’d like at least a week off. It’s been a fast semester and I just need a breather.

Meanwhile, I finished my senior project. It’s split into two parts due to file size. Click here for part one and here for part two. I realized too late that there were some issues in terms of phrasing that have since changed when I filmed them. The only footage of me that’s in it is in the first short (not going to lie, I’m pretty cute).

I have few ideas for some short films. Just need to get them down and shot so that I can still keep doing what I want outside of employment.

Finally, this happened on Twitter (the great thing) as well as this (the bad thing).

April 2, 2015 by Zephyr Ash Ostrowski

Turning Two!

It doesn’t seem like it but here we are. Two years old and just getting started. I know that in the past few months, you haven’t seen me post much aside from the occasional movie review here and there. That will change soon.

From April 2, 2014 to today, I:

Learned that a lot of people want to know about Eyes Wide Shut
Met Chris Buck
Have participated in taking over a hashtag
Finally got around to watching movies at a drive-in, one great and another not so great
Finished my senior project
Got some paid freelance work editing videos
Done some more self-exploration (which really is more of a never-ending process)

Like last year, here are some of the stranger search terms that led people to my blog:

gotg yellow is the new black
“this beats citizen kane by miles”
lars and the real girl interpersonal communication
headless chicken mode
what album does labyrinth movie sync with? (the answer: David Bowie’s “Hours”)
fat monkey
equilibrium movie catholic answers
elephant my stat movie full (?)
fur film and fur movies (sorry to disappoint)
tarzan yell words (yes he does)
1950s ice cream ads (not sure what you were looking for)
video about life in the 1980 (we’re talking about the 1980)

Eyes Wide Shut has a separate category for search terms:

eyes wild shut
eyes wihde shot
eyes without shut
eyes wide shoot
http cinema theiapolis movies on nine eyes wide shut

As far as what’s coming in the distant future, I have a post on Argo and one on my path to autism advocacy. Offline, I’m it’s one month until college graduation(!).

Again, I apologize for not posting as frequently as I used to but offline life came up and that was more important. Thanks for staying, reading, and commenting on what I have to say. Here’s to another great year!

February 5, 2015 by Zephyr Ash Ostrowski

Coming This Month: February 2015

I’ll be reviewing some romantic movies, like Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris and Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There might be something with Cake if I have the time. I can absolutely guarantee you that there will be no review of Fifty Shades of Gray. That’s not my kind of thing and frankly it’d be impossible to review on a G-rated site.

I know I didn’t do one of these last month but stuff has happened. I got another part-time editing job for an auto repair shop. This is coupled with another project (a triage instruction video) and my last semester of college. The fact that I’m graduating soon hasn’t really sunk in yet and I’m working on getting the most out of it. This is coupled with the fact that when the Christmas tree was put away, my parents boxed my ornaments separately.

With regard to the Oscars, I’ll probably wait and publish my results the following day. Last year, I didn’t watch them but kept refreshing iMDB. I’ll probably be in bed, gathering my strength for the next day.

January 6, 2015 by Zephyr Ash Ostrowski

2014: My Year in Film and the Obligatory Best/Worst Stuff

Once again, it’s time to look at my year in film. Cinematically, 2015 is poised to be a big year. You have Avengers: Age of Ultron, two Pixar movies, Jurassic World, Star Wars: The Force Awakens just to name a few. Seriously, it’s going to be big. After all, we’re supposed to be cruising on our hoverboards and watching Jaws XIX.

Looking at the progress made between 2013 and 2014, I hit 365 in October of 2014, a whole month earlier. Granted, it helped that I started from day one instead of day eighteen or whatever. You can check my Stat Sheet to see how well I did. I don’t think I’ll top my 2014 total for a while.

I know I’ve mentioned it in previous posts but I’ll go ahead and talk about them. Meeting Jim Miller and Chris Buck, complete with pics and autographs, was really amazing.

Also, I did get through all of LOTR like I promised earlier this year. Never did get to Harry Potter. Maybe this year.

Best of 2014 (in no particular order):