You know what happens when you are a graduate student, working, and planning events for your extracurricular groups? You have no time is what happens! And then you graduate.
You graduate, get a job and realize it has been over a year since your last blog post and it had been months since the one before that. So, much time has passed in fact, that I almost forgot my password. Talk about sad.
So many things have happened over the past year it’s hard to know where to start. I guess that is what I get for not blogging.
I think the best place to start is with “Believe Me”. After all it was the catalyst for my starting a blog so it seems fitting to start there and call wrap.
Back in April 2014 the World Premier of “Believe Me” happened at the Dallas International Film Festival! I worked on the film for a month out of the summer of 2013 in Austin. While working on the film I met awesome actors like Alex Russell, Max Adler, Sinqua Walls, Christopher MacDonald, Zachary Knighton, Miles Fisher, and then there was the fantastic crew I got to be a part of. If you have no idea what I am talking about go check my old posts you will be caught up in no time. You should also check out the trailer below.
The premier was fantastic! I loved getting to see the actors again, catch up with some of the crew and then celebrate with everyone at the after parties. Plus, watching your friends’ dream come to fruition is one of the best things. I’m so proud to have worked on Will, Michael, and Alex’s film and knowing I was able to play a small part in making it happen gives me great joy. That is what I felt at the World Premier, JOY! Plus, knowing the premier would lead to a bigger release later in the year was pretty exciting.
Then the next month I graduated from my masters program. I also started a job as a Financial Analyst at Abilene Christian University the next Monday. So yes, I graduated on a Saturday, started working the next Monday.
Now, I bet you are wondering why on earth I would take a job as an analyst for a University when I have so clearly stated I want to work in the film industry. Even all of my internships point toward that career path. Well I will break it down for you.
During the last months of grad school I was really trying to figure out where I wanted to be and what I wanted to be doing. But, I was dragging my feet. I knew I was supposed to work in the film industry, but something in the timing was wrong and I couldn’t get myself to just take a leap. Deep down I knew it would be wrong thing and I wouldn’t be successful. So, I started praying about it and asked God to show me where He wanted me. The next thing I know I’m being pursued by the University to work as a financial analyst. The job was being created and somehow I was at the top of the candidate list for filling it. The job opportunity literally fell into my lap. When you are looking for signs from God, let me tell you “Captain Obvious” is knocking when a new job position is created, you are pursued, you never “actually” apply and get the job. My working for ACU has been a total God thing. I know it’s not where I am supposed to be forever, but it is definitely where I was supposed to start my professional career. Plus, looking back over everything that has happened over the past year God knew what he was doing. He always knows.
Fast forward to September 2014 and we are looking at the Theater and On Demand release of “Believe Me”. It was during this time that I started coordinating with Alex to have the film be shown at ACU in October. Becoming an Advisor to ACU FilmFest made doing so possible. Through coordination with the Student Productions Office and Chapel. We were able to show the film to 700+ students in Cullen Auditorium on October 24th. The day was crazy for more reasons than one and I was kind of out of it. But, I will leave the explanation for my being out of it for my next blog post “Post Grad Reflections (Part 2)”.
One thing I do know from that day is that the ACU premier for “Believe Me” was excellent. It went over without a hitch and everyone loved it. Cullen was busting at the seams, every seat was filled and some people even sat on the floor. Sorry fire code…
Will, Michael and Alex were able to come to Abilene for the showing and have a Q&A session with the students which really just brought the whole evening to a another level. Showing a film is one thing, but being able to have the film makers come and hang out with students and answer their questions is so much better.
I really have some outstanding friends! I am so glad I was in a position that allowed them to show the film to so many people.
The rest of the year went pretty much as expected when you are living life as a post graduation adult. Thanksgiving with the family, Christmas with the family, New Years with family and friends. Life moves on. Good and Bad, life moves on.
I couldn’t be more thankful for the people God has put into my life because they are the reason I have made it through the last year. Through all the good and all the bad.
If there is one thing I could pass on to student nearing graduation it would be this:
College doesn’t prepare you for life. It merely gets you into position for it. So, take advantage of your opportunities in College. Find you passion and find where God wants you to be in the world. Keep in contact with friends and cherish time with family. Life is really boring if you don’t have any one to share it with. And finally, Be Bold and Pray Daily.
Stay tuned for my next post “Post Grad Reflections (Part 2)”. I am going to go into some of the not so great parts of the past year and how how I found grace and peace in learning to say no.
Katheryn Canisno 