Tamara's Page

:flops down:

Its been a crazy first month.

After finally getting out of the apartment the task of juggling two jobs started. And ooooh was it a task. Most of the time I would leave out of here around 6 am and not get home until midnight, only to start the day the same way again. It was something that I tried to avoid doing again, but as it was to be, it happened.

So the first month was a bit of frustration trying to understand the need and nuances of game testing once more. I still haven’t found that old part of me that loved games more than anything. In truth I think it retired somewhere quiet and safe, and left me with fond memories and a need to fill in the gap it left behind.

So I turned my attention to something other than bug finding. I knew I wouldn’t be the best in that category because I’m not that sharp. Not that I couldn’t find them, just not that quick like others. I did more admin part of it, setting up stations, doing paperwork, trying to understand the database (still need to do that more), and the game itself. Even taking on the Leads, ALs and SLs, challenges as they came; though I do admit was difficult since it had me handing out orders and stuff to my peers.

But it paid off as just a little over a week ago I and some others were pulled aside after a meeting to be told that we were doing a good job and had potential for more. They would be giving us more responsibilities and training and what it looked like something to make us into Lead or Jr. Lead material.

I was a bit shocked as this was the first time in this field someone actually came up to me with this and me not pursuing it. But it died down rather quickly and I was really, really happy. I still have a lot to learn, and personally trying to work through the old feelings I have and get rid of them for the possibility of a better future, but over all very positive about this experience so far.

Being at LA so far has been rewarding. Not just by having some sort of a job for 6 months, but for being allowed to access their resources to improve myself along with having a job.

 I was worried that I would be in the same place as I have been for years because of the hit and miss situations with me and getting my college degree. After years of messing myself up I dug in and pushed to get into a better academic standing, only to be faced with not having a chance to go back because I needed to work. Fortunately this is where LA shined for me.

I couldn’t go to class, but I could make my own class by taking the seminars, checking out books, scripts, and talking to talented people that were around. With it I was able to network and befriend the librarians, learn about movie making techniques, understand scripts and the process of writing them, and be inspired near daily on past movies and people who created them.

For that month I’ve been reading, revising, covering my bases copyright wise, and understanding things a bit quicker than I had in class. 

But for now I have my new laptop after one great week of overtime, my scriptwriting software that kept my ideas safe until I could now return to them, and a better attitude and feeling about whats to come.

I may not get full time in 6 months, but I will make the absolute best with what I have so far.

Me walking on the LucasArts campus on orientation day:

Me stepping one foot into the ILM offices:

I have no shame when it comes to geeking out over movies.

No. Shame.

And I’m up trying to decide what show to watch to kick start my birthday, thanks to Amy.

Spider-Man or Dark Knight.

Then I see that the theaters start their shows at 8:30 am and any movie before noon is 6 bucks and before 1 pm, $9.50.

I was all…

Looks like I’m gonna have to double down.