the LA film festival

i've always wanted to go to the LA film festival so i decided this summer to volunteer there so i could experience the festival. the movie business is definitely not my industry but i've always been curious about it. it's like learning a whole new world.

my volunteer shifts have been very uneventful. i spent one shift taking tickets at a theatre from movie watchers and then collecting ballots for the viewer's choice award. i spent another shift at the movie lounge where filmmakers and producers and high up movie business gurus get to chill. the lounge has live music and art on the wall...it's a very artsy environment where people can mingle (and enjoy an open bar).

basically there were too many volunteers and not enough things to do so i ended up meeting some pretty cool people. there was the security guard who has "secured" some pretty high up celebrities and worked lots of premieres. there was the irish woman who is a screenwriter who i ended up having one of the best and most stimulating conversations with - we talked about art, movies, school, and personal life stuff. and then there was the korean producer who offered me free tickets to the screening of "my dear enemy", a korean movie opening at the festival.

i think it's the people who make any type of festival interesting. and i think especially in the entertainment/movie business, there are lots of interesting people. these people are very different from most of the friends i've made at school because they are in the arts and humanities. with arts and humanities people, you can end up talking to them about almost anything (world issues, art, films, culture)...and i love it! i feel like i've been so mentally stimulated these past few days because of the interesting people i've met who are so passionate about the festival and because of the films i've seen and will be going to see.