In the spirit of pro-active procrastination, I figured I should write something instead of applying for jobs, continue using the name of my Cornell Sun's blog Watch Me If You Can and drink three more cups of coffee.
This past weekend, I graduated from Cornell University. The most bittersweet moment was the unpredictable Ithaca weather calling for the shortest commencement ceremony in university history.
(Look, there's me waving. I did it, Ma!)
James Franco also came by on Saturday as the keynote speaker for the convocation ceremony. His various degrees from NYU, Yale and Columbia are equal parts intimidating and curious, especially for someone who just completed one degree in one rigorous program. He said he worked on upwards of 60 credits a semester, and I need to follow up with him regarding where he gets his coffee beans from. He urged students to follow their passions and do whatever it takes to get there, even if it means supporting yourself by working at McDonald's.
As inspiring as his speech was, it also made me want to sit around and rewatch the Spiderman trilogy and dread my hair like Saul in Pineapple Express. (Just kidding; no such masochistic actions occurred.) But in all seriousness, his speech made me think of all the cinematic journalists I look up to, despite the fact that half of them exist in a dopey rom-com. I have no idea why, but being a journalist or working at some glamourous magazine has become a prerequisite for a protagonist in this genre. Not that I'm complaining, I would love to be swept off my feet by a Matthew McConnaughey if it means writing articles about how to lose a guy in ten days.
Here are a few characters I need to thank, as they make me want to be a better writer and achieve something groundbreaking in my field in due time.
Andie of The Devil Wears Prada: yes, I know this falls into the category of chick-flick-rom-com, but Andie had some serious chutzpa putting up with all the shit Miranda Priestly put her through. Before I made the leap into the world of writing and journalism, I assumed that this was what it was going to be. As an aspiring journalist, I can relate to Andy from The Devil Wears Prada in my bizarre internship duties (have you ever had to go to an exclusive, old-school club in Manhattan to pick up a cardboard cutout of Kevin Costner?). Her hard work and determination are admirable, and even though I don’t keep fit by eating cheese by the cube, working for a New York-based publication is something I plan to experience after May 29. PS-her jobs perks definitely outweighed placing the unpublished Harry Potter drafts on the wrong table.
Actual picture of what I thought my job was going to be. But I really want
three dogs instead of one, all huskies carrying me in a sled through Manhattan.
Almost Famous: a great example of narrative journalism, something I also aspire to master. Even though a few classes I took have highlighted the narrative arc and the ever-fascinating art of storytelling, there really is nothing like going out to find out specific nuances that can only be explained by physical presence. This film pushes William Miller to chase his dream and ride away on a tour bus with the band Stillwater in the 1970s. It is the adventure of a lifetime, as he cozies up to a rock band, writes for the Rolling Stone magazine, and attempts to keep the lines of personal and professional relationships from blurring, which is always a challenge. It is also important to note that the film is semi-autobiographical in nature, as director/writer Cameron Crowe was a teen reporter for Rolling Stone. Basically, this is essentially my dream, except I hop a flight to France for the Cannes Film Festival.
Citizen Kane. Because as scandalous as Charles Foster Kane's life was, along with his real-life counterpart William Randolph Hearst, there is something respectable about this rise to power in the media world. With the advent of newspapers and their increase of importance in the media world, it was as significant as Twitter is today. His government connections, accusations, and the power to tell people what to think about still resonates today, as every writer and every media outlet has their own agenda set. In my time before Cornell, I actually ran a newspaper and was in charge of everything from extensive edits to advertising, plus making sure I got everyone's lunch order correct (probably the hardest part, TBH). Nonetheless, his rise to power is fascinating, both Kane and Hearst's.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas & The Rum Diary: hear me out on this one. Hunter S. Thompson was heavily involved with drugs and alcohol abuse, and the films about the books of the same title are so vivid in depicting what happens to your mind under this influence. However, he was the founder of Gonzo journalism. The content he wrote about was focused on more of the experience than a head-on piece about a certain event. This is incredibly important, especially since this is a better way to tell a story than sticking just with an objective account of what happens. No, this does not mean I plan on going out to do drugs in order to write better stories about a film festival, or prance around Shakespeare in the Park drunk to REALLY understand the Bard. Instead, there is a chance to take a look at everything else going on, and figure out what brought other people to a certain event/location instead.
