Amster-darn

Well, exciting stuff in the world of not-America. Friday morning was The Big Pitch, where our groups presented our film ideas to a roomful of faculty and mentors who will work with us this semester. We were given plenty of advanced warning that Czech professors (FAMU professors? European professors? ...In any case, these professors) are often brutal with their criticism. And you know what? That's exactly what we got.

We went up group by group in front of this sea of excruciating judgment, presented our ideas that we have been fine tuning for the past month, and... well, you know that scene from Jurassic park where they lower the cow into the velociraptor exhibit? It was a lot like that.

So for many of us, this week has been dedicated to either drastically changing our stories or scrapping them altogether and doing something different. I'm in the latter boat. We've got a new idea, though-- it's one that all three of our group members likes, and it is far more feasible to write and shoot than our last idea, which was about a mother with Munchausen's who keeps her child sick in order to keep the doctor coming back, because she has a twisted infatuation with him. A little too much to tackle within the parameters of a 7-minute film. Also a little absurd when you sum the plot up like that, and below the image of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

At this juncture, you're probably wondering why the title of this blog is "Amster-darn." Well, you've got three guesses, and the first two don't count. Yes! I went to Amsterdam this weekend. I met up with Casey and her new friend who is also studying abroad in Barcelona.

The short version is: Amsterdam is incredible. It's a vibrant city filled with color, eccentric locals (maybe I just went to the wrong bar.......... or the RIGHT bar), and a system of river canals weaving between the buildings. Amsterdam is like a magical Venice-New Orleans-Disneyland lovechild. Also, they make unfathomably delicious dessert waffles. I may or may not have eaten multiples of them.

Take it all in, baby.

Here's some more pictures of Amsterdam that are like dessert waffles for your eyes. The canals are simply gorgeous.

I am... standing in front of giant letters.

Points of Interest: Van Gogh Museum (you gotta Gogh!!!), Sapharti Park (beautiful park near the hostel where I was staying), Red Light District (duh), Dam Square (parenthetical statement)... I didn't make it to Anne Frank's house, but Casey went and said it was a good, if not sobering, experience.