Goodbye Los Angeles

At the risk of sounding cheesy, this has been the best experience of my life.  The more I learn about this industry, the more I love it and the more I want to work in it.  The more I learn about television, the more I want to work in it.  The more I learn about comedy, the more I want to work in it.  You never know until you try something, and after trying this and living and working in LA, it's confirmed.  I will live here the rest of my life and I will work in this business.  Before I came, I knew this would be a gamble.  This would either be the worst experience or the best experience.  I knew I might realize this isn't for me or I might love it even more.  I'm so happy to know what career I want and to have goals.

Writing a script has been a surreal experience for me.  I wrote a Modern Family script and have showed it to alot of people at work and to my fellow interns and it has gotten really really good responses.  It has made it's way to the owner of one of the companies I work for and I'm really excited about it.  It's been very strange.  When someone talks to me about my script or an executive says "come in my office, let's talk about your script" I wanna say 'What? I wrote a script?  Really? No.  I couldn't do that.  That doesn't sound like me.'  Or when I read the emails the owner sent to his co-owner of the company saying "our intern wrote this,  and I know you watch this show, you should read it" I think, 'who are they talking about? What intern? Oh.  Right.  That's me.'  When I'm reading my script, I think 'who wrote this? Oh yeah.  I did.  What?  Really?  Are you sure?'  It just feels very surreal. 

Things I will miss:

• The owner of the company walking through the office at the end of the day on Fridays saying "what are you still doing here? It's the weekend; get out of here!" 
• Talking to the producer of Desperate Housewives in the elevator about his current projects.
• Watching the owner of the company walking  up and down the hall on his bluetooth talking on the phone cause he didn't want to be sitting anymore.  It always looked like he was talking to himself.
• Bonding with the owner of the company as I would pick him up at his house and drive him to work because he didn't have his car because he was too drunk the night before the drive home.  That was such a good opportunity because now he likes me and knows me and on my last day he told me to let him know when I move back and he'll make whatever calls I need and help get me a job. That is priceless.
• My friends.  I made such good friends here! They are such amazing people and I am so grateful that I met them.  They have helped me and changed me more than they will ever know.  I love them and will miss them so much!
• This city.  I love LA.  I don't care what anybody says about it, I love this town.  The traffic didn't bother me nearly as much as I thought it would.  I love the skyscrapers, I love the culture, I love that it's always warm, I love it has beaches, and most of all, I love that it's the entertainment capital of the world.
• Working in the entertainment capital of the world.  I love how close I was to what I see on film and TV everyday.  I got to read some amazing scripts that will come to theatres soon and get a peek at new shows.  I'll miss being part of creating entertainment that reaches people all over the world.  Everything is done on such a big scale here and I will really miss that.

Despite all of this, I am really looking forward to being near my family again.  This is kind of pathetic, but this is the longest I've gone without seeing my family, and I've only been gone for 13 weeks!  I miss them so much and can't wait to be closer to them! Especially my nephew; I can't wait to be only 20 minutes away from him.  And I get to meet my new nephew on Tuesday!! I can't wait!

I'll miss this place.  But I'll be back in August.  Peace out Los Angeles, I'll miss you!!

A Memoir of Driving in LA & Halloween

I asked a very successful comedy producer and writer what advice he had for young comedy writers.  He told me to write everyday, always and constantly writing.  I've been good this week.  And writing this counts for today right??

Driving in LA is an experience in itself.  Before I moved here, everyone had told me that LA traffic is so bad and it's just gridlock and horrible all the time.  This is only half true.  It's not gridlock unless you get on the 405 N during rush hour.  Then you can sit and watch a glacier melt.  But on other streets, you can usually go 20 in a 55.  That's not gridlock  to me.  Gridlock is stopped dead and moving an inch every 10 minutes. 

LA drivers are the rudest people.  If you don't go at a green light the SECOND it turns green, you get honked at.  Then the person will switch lanes and pull up next to you choose to share their annoyance.  They give you an evil look and gesture.  Whenever this happens, I just shrug at them and lift up my hands like "what you gonna do about it buddy?" And then I stick my tongue out at them once they're gone. 

Saturdays and Sundays are the only times when you get the pleasure of driving 65 on the freeway.  But the funny thing is is that LA drivers don't know how to do that.  It's the funniest thing, when a freeway is clear, its like everyone has forgotten how to drive fast.  It's like a totally foreign concept to them.  WHAT?! I can go 65??? How do I DO THAT? It's quite amusing.  A girl who has never come close to mastering the value of patience, I speed by them while they chug along in their ignorance.  I look at the speedometer thinking, "Wow! I'm flying! Am I speeding?" Nope.  I'm going exactly the speed limit while everyone around me going at least 15 under because they don't remember how.  If there is one thing I won't miss about this place, it's the traffic.  Ah how I can't wait to get to my lovely Salt Lake where the "traffic" is only on the freeway, not on the streets, lasts an hour, and you can still go 40!!

Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year.  Why wouldn't it be?  You get to dress up, eat lots of candy, and it's in my favorite season AND month!!

I was an assassin for Halloween.  Those of you close to me and know the deep desires of my heart, you know why this is ironic.
                   
 I was wearing a blue tooth to communicate with my "team" and I had a gun holster.  And my gun was orange which makes it Halloweeny.

Our ward had a combined dance with other wards.  It was super fun, especially the Latin dance floor so I could get my cultured groove on.

From left to right: Snookie, Cat, Assassin, Candy Man

Kristine had it comin'.

It's okay.  She survived.

Kristine had a party at her humble abode on Halloween and we told scary stories and watched Signs and made caramel apples.  Signs is the stupidest movie to ever happen.  I wasn't even scared, and that's saying something.

The only person in costume is this picture is a queen.  And it's pretty.  But I am wearing Halloween colors!

So I only have two weeks left and I am looking forward to going home.  This is the longest I've been away from my family.  I'm still a little girl and need my Mom and Dad and I haven't seen them in 10 weeks.  Ya, I know, I'm lame.

I feel really good because I've sent my script all around this city and am getting really good feedback.  I first gave it to my fellow interns and then after changing it, I sent it to people who are higher up at work.  I'm so terrified.  They're all reading it this weekend and I am so scared on Monday I'm going to get to work and they're going to tell me it's the worst thing they've ever read and I should quit this and get a job at Staples.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  That's just not my dream.

Any last advice for my last two weeks?  Do you know of any awesome and amazing thing I should do before I leave?  Anything you think I should do at work before I leave? If you have a script you want me to read, if I like it I'll give it to the execs. 

P.S.  If you live in SLC and know of something looking for 2 roommates, let me know.  Me and my friend Stacey are looking.

 

The Mouse and the Fox

I went to Disneyland week before last.  But who needs to hear about that?  It's always the same old story isn't it. Squeal with delight, act like a child, eat decliciously overpriced food while riding rides in a park that is run by a single mouse.  I went with my familiy friend, Hayley, and her brother Parker.  We had a grand ol' time.

                                                           Me and Hayley at the entrance

California Adventure

So scared to go on Tower of Terror!

Tarzan's "house" a.k.a. dude lives in a tree

Hayley, Parker, and wait... Who's that one in the middle?

HAUNTED MANSION!!! MM-UUUU-AAAA-HHHH. All decked out in Nightmare Before Christmas Fashion. Christmas and Halloween combined.

Halloween time at Disneyland!

Me in Minnie's kitchen.  I'm pretending to show you around. I know you're convinced I live here.

You can't go to Disneyland without taking a picture with Mickey. 

And now for your viewing pleasure.... what I look like on Space Mountain!!

I was holding onto Hayley so tight.  Hayley's face is priceless.

I got to go on the Fox lot this morning.  It was so cool!! I got to walk around and explore a little bit. 

My friend Kate was with me, and when we got to a sound stage, I saw trailers.  I told her they must be dressing rooms.  We got a bit closer to them and I saw the names on the doors.  And guess who what it said?  There were two doors, one said Jay, and the other said Gloria!!! It was Jay and Gloria from Modern Family's dressing rooms!! I got so excited.  Made my day.

Last week, I went to a panel with big wigs from the industry as speakers.  I got to talk to the panelists after and met a very well respected and successful tv producer.  He was really nice and after talking for a minute, I asked him if I would be out of line to ask him to read my sitcom script.  He said no, that wouldn't be out of line, but it will take him a long time to read it.  Yay! This is very exciting.  So we'll see what happens with that, but I hope my script impresses him and make him immediatley hire me as a staff writer.  Ya. That will happen.  But I finished the script recently and I can't even tell you how good it feels to be done.  Obviously, now I'm fixing things and having it looked at by my peeps, but I feel good about it and proud of what I wrote.  One year.  It took me a freaking year to write that thing.  I could have done it faster, but I was busy/unmotivated.  If nothing else, LA sure does make you motivated!!

Have I already said I love this town?? Because I do.  I really, really do.  I can't wait to live here for the rest of my life.  I can't wait to graduate college and start getting paid.  I can't wait to move up the ladder and create television!! How exciting!

When an assistant can't come to work, an intern is the person who does his/her job.  I got this experience last week.  It did not go well.  The exec I was an assistant for isn't the nicest and every intern that covers for him leaves in tears.  He yelled.  He swore.  I got frazzled and dropped calls.  It was bad.  He said he liked the other intern that covered for him last week better and I was too inexperienced. Which I am.  But maybe if he hadn't been yelling, I would have done my job right.  It's totally fine, I'm over it, I've talked to the guy since, he doesn't even remember me.  It's all good.  And this week I covered for another assistant and the exec was so so SO nice and it went very well.  Lesson learned powerful people: yelling doesn't help.

There.  Now you know my life isn't all roses and you won't think I'm an annoyingly happy person. 

Lauren out.

Around the World In a 9 Hour Work Day

I got back from Utah on Sunday and it was so great!! It was a very welcomed break.  I stayed with my sister and played with my nephew and went to the wedding of my friend Stephanie Wilson.  It was such a fun weekend!!

The best part was seeing my nephew! I love him so much.  I love him so much that I sometimes forget I'm not his mother.  He has gotten so much more cuddly! He would never let me hold him before; he was always too busy with exploring.  But when I took him out in public, I would put him down where we were so he could walk around.  But after a minute, he would come up to me and reach his hands up, like he wanted me to pick him up!! I was so surprised! He has never done that before! He let me hold him as he looked around the store and took everything in.  I'm so glad he likes cuddling now.  To keep up with my adorable nephew, check out my sister's blog.

My work place is diverse. I was so surprised where my fellow interns were from.  There are two Australians, one South African, a Parisian, and two Canadians.  Then there are interns from all over America too.  New Jersey, North Carolina, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Arizona, and Chicago.  I guess I thought I would be the only one from out of town.  I don't know why.   People from all over the world want to be in this business, so I should have guessed I would work with people from all over the world.

After a month of working for him, I finally got to meet the owner of  the company.  I had seen him from a distance, but never formally met him.  We had an intern night at work amd got to have a Q&A with the owner and he his story of how he climbed up the ladder.  He was really nice and very funny, and I learned alot from that session.  He also told us something that I had been too afraid to ask.  We can pitch our ideas to them and bring in scripts we think he should consider! I got really excited because I have alot of ideas to television shows.  So now I'm working on them and writing the arenas and hope to pitch at least one of them before the end of the month.  Don't get excited though.  It's not like I could get a creator credit if this turned into something.  I don't know what credit I would get, but I imagine it would be small.
I got reprimanded by a an executive at work the other day.  I'm so terrified of anyone at work finding my blog, so just in case, I'll be really vague.  I was asked to do something and the exec gave me very specific instructions.  I followed them and did what he asked.  He wasn't pleased with how I did it and asked me to do it again.  I did it again and he loved what I presented him.  I guess it was just a mis-communication.  Oh well, at least I did it right eventually. 

I only havve 6 weeks left in this program.  I can't believe it!! It's going by so fast!! I don't want to leave!! 
I only have 6 weeks left in this program.  I can't believe it!! It's going by so fast!! I don't want to leave!! 
I LOVE CALIFORNIA.  I LOVE L.A.  It's official, I'm going to live here the rest of my life.  Before I came here, I thought "I hope I like LA! Cause if I want this career, I have to live here."  I am so happy to know that I love it here and am so comfortable here.  Katy Perry, just call me a California Gurl.  I'm undeniable.  After this, it's back to Utah for 8 months to finish school and then I'll move here pernamently!! I can't wait!!

I'm a Big Shot Executive Lady

Not. But in 5 years I will be.

I am so pleasantly surprised at how much responsibility I get at work.  Both companies really take my opinions into consideration when considering taking on a project.  I feel so powerful knowing that if I think a script is crap, which they often are, the executives don't even look at it.  But it's not like if i think a script is good, they immediatley pitch it to a studio and start casting.  No no.  But it at least gets a second read. 

Becuase of my "power" some aspiring writers have been sucking up to me.  It's kind of funny.  Yes, the execs don't look at a script unless I like it, but if I don't like it, I'm not passing it on.  It doesn't matter how much I like you.  If your script sucks, its' not seeing the light of day at this company. Is that mean?

This job is hard.  I haven't had a full time job before, and I'm quickly learning how exhausting it is.  I calculated my work hours I work a week, including my commute, and it's 60 hours.  And I often have to bring work home with me and I have homework.  It takes me 1 hr and 15 minutes to get to one office, and 40 minutes to get to the other.  I collapse on the weekends.  My friends here are calling me "grandma" because I'll leave a party at 10 so I can go to bed.  What can I say? I'm tired!

I run alot of errands.  Alot of errands.  I don't really mind, and it's nice to get out of the office.  Sometimes tasks are not so glamorous, like "take my dogs to my house" and "take my dog for a walk" and "go pick up my medicine."  But sometimes they are really cool, like "go deliver this script to this director." Or "go deliver this document to the writer of ________ "(I can't say but it was a good movie).  This one place I went was right in this really fancy office building.  My car got checked by a security guard before they would let me in a garage, and once I got in the building, I had to go to another security guard to get a key that would make the elevator go up.  But he wouldn't give it to me until he called the place I was going and confirmed they were expecting me. It was a production. 

It's the weirdest thing.  I have never felt so comfortable so fast in a city before.  There was never an adjustment period or a time when I was scared to be in a new city.  I got here, and I immediately felt at home and like I had lived here forever.  It's safe to say I love it here and am excited to settle down here and live here pernamently once I graduate college in August. 

Even though this job is exhausting and stressful and demeaning at times, I love every single second of it. This is such a hard, wonderful, rough, and stressful experience.  And the weird thing is I love every bit of it!! This is such hard work, but I love it!! I have learned that I like working in an office, and all that I talk about is movies and TV. Seriously.  I don't remember the last conversation I had that wasn't about this business.  I get really sick of talking about it at times, but that's usually at the end of a ten hour work day.  Understandable.  But then I go home and talk to my roommate about her day and we talk more about the business, and then my friends ask me about the business and how my jobs are going, and before I know it, I'm blue in the face because I've said the word "script" 20 times in one minute. 

Tomorrow I'm leaving for Utah to go to my dear friend Stephanie's wedding.  I'm super excited!! I can't wait to snuggle with my nephew, hang with my sisters, and be around good friends.  And the best part is I only had to work 3 days this week! Thank you Stephanie for getting married and letting me come to your wedding! This break is very much welcomed!

Lauren out.

Sports Weekend

For anyone who knows me well, you are probably confused by the title of this post. Lauren? Sports? Those are never affiliated with each other. I know. But last weekend, those words were. 
My friend Alyssa, came out from school for the USC vs. Utah game. It was the first game my school played in Pac 12.  I obey the Beach Boys, I'm true to my school.  So regardless of whether I liked sports or not, I went to the game. How could I not? It was right there!

Alyssa is a big Yankees fan, so we went to the Angels vs Yankees game the night before. It was lots of fun!

This is my friend Alyssa.

This is our sad face when the Yankees lost.

The next day, we got to go to the game! The USC colessium is HUGE!!

I'm trying to do a "U" with my hands. Don't know if I accomplished it. The guys behind me are Alyssa's brothers and friends.

It would have been the perfect day if we won that game. Oh well.

This weekend, I went on a walking tour of the Theatre district. It was in a really cool  neighborhood with lots of little shops and street markets.

All these theaters are theaters that showed films and vaudeville shows back in the day. Now all but one is boarded up or turned into a store.

This is the Million Dollar Theater. This holds films in the summer time only. Sorry, they're bad pictures. This is the balcony.

This is the Bradbury Building. The final scene in 500 Days of Summer was filmed here. And it's a beautiful building.

Example of a boarded up theater.

Example of a theater turned into a store.

We went to this adorable little place for lunch!  It had all these cute little outdoorsy displays. It was so fun!

Peace. Lauren out.

Labor Day Weekend

Yes, I know it's been a week since Labor Day weekend and am just now posting. Sorry!
Labor Day weekend was so much fun! My family came out for vacation and were in Newport Beach, about 40 miles away from me.  It was  so much fun!! It was so good to see them.  The best part was it was my nephew's first time at the beach, and he LOVED it!!

He really loves French Fries. Even  if they're sandy.

He did this all the time. He would just lie in the sand and get his belly warm.

This is my family. We were incomplete because my very pregnant sister and her husband couldn't come due to how far along my sister is. She's due October 1st! I'm so excited to meet my new nephew!

From left to right: My Dad, Brad (my sister Rachelle's husband), Rachelle, Me, my Mom, my nephew Eli, my sister Andrea (mother of Eli), and Adam (husband of Andrea, father of Eli)

The boys HAD TO watch football on Saturday.  They left the beach in the middle of the day to go and watch. I don't get it.

We went to Laguna Beach for dinner. It's so pretty there!

The lovely Albas.  Because we always refer to them as one, we have combined their names to make it easier, so we call them Adandrea.

Eli loves it when we cuddle.

As you can tell.

The Tilleys. We combined their name to B.Rad. The husband's name is Brad, and Rachelle's initials are R.A.D.

My mom and pop. How I love them. They're the best.

I love this little guy SO MUCH! He's 14 months.

My family went back to Utah on Sunday, so on Labor Day, me and my new friend from Church, Kristine, went to Hollywood to see the sights. This is me at the Kodak Theatre.

I love her.

Iron Man

YE-AH!

Me and Kristine. Can you see the Hollywood sign in the background?

That statue of Marilyn actually looked really creepy up close.

Bumblebee from Transformers.

Footprints at the Chinese Theatre.

How awesome is it that Bruce Willis wrote "Yippie Ki Yay!" It's the best.

This is the plaza right next to the Chinese Theatre. It was so cool!

It was a super fun weekend! One more thing.

This past week I got to go to the Sony Pictures Lot to run an errand for work.  It was so cool!

This is my parking pass. I felt special.

And this is the lot. It reminded me of a street in Disneyland.  It had shops and restaruants where the workers could eat and shop.   

I tried to wander around and explore for as long as I could get away with, but a security guard came up to me and said "you look lost." I didn't want him to follow me around, so I said "nope, that's the building I'm looking for." But I was too scared to get caught again, so after I found a stage and looked at it from afar, I left. When I got back to the office, the assistant asked me how I liked the Sony lot.  He said ideally I could have wandered around, no one would know. I told him I tried. And failed. Darnnit! At least I got to see a bit!