Guessed Alumnus

Friday I got a call from Drue Metz inviting me to be one of the guest alumni at the first ever Film and Electronic Arts Orientation. The event was designed to introduce the department to students of the major and incoming freshmen. The courtyard of the UTC hosted a hamburger and hot dog cook-out with a few tables set up as booths for the Equipment Room and some other program information. The big reference monitor bought last semester was out, showing the promotional video Gol and Alexis put together. I rather like that video. I can be spotted briefly on the Balloons crew, and so is a clip from my movie. Shahin was the cook, grillin' burgers! I got to know Trystan Savage-Tate, the dependable teenage grip on Charlie, a little better. He is an entering freshman to Cal State Long Beach and he asked which courses he should take. I like him. He's quiet and bright. Moments after three o'clock, guests were shuffled in to the University Theater to hear the Drue, the Dean of the Collage of Arts, the Chair of the FEA Dept. speak enthusiastically about the future of our film school at CSULB. Generous contributions have enabled the department to upgrade the facilities and purchase new film gear. The latest installment of $500,000 was just deposited in May from our favorite anonymous donor (*cough* Spielberg). The faculty present was asked to come down to the foot of the stage to be introduced. Then came my turn. Nathan, Alexis, and I were called out from the seats to walk down and give the students an idea of who we are today. Nate and the lovely Jew on my right went first, answering the three questions quite casually with a bit of humor. Here I come. "When did you graduate, how was your FEA experience, and what have you been doing since?" Public speaking never feels as natural as a conversation between friends, even though I should have been at ease here. I had an empowering introduction. Drue naturally called attention to my long hair, and my fun name is always received well. Did he call me studly? When I spoke, I felt that I must not fail to get the words out at a normal rhythm, to combine candor and optimism, and punctuate the end with an entertaining statement. I can't remember what I said. It all blurred together and soon it was done. Here's what I know I mentioned: "Be cool with everybody," A quick anecdote that I was probably one of those guys Nathan mentioned who just came to class and watched movies until I got to talking to the boys in the Equipment Room, and put up a sign. An affirmation of the importance of networking, as had been stated earlier, and a testament to my experience: I've worked on forty four projects and, except for two, all have been from referrals. I just pick up the phone and say, "Ya, let's do it!" I guess I could remember most of it. The rest of the afternoon was filled with smiles, hugs, and many new faces approaching me to compliment my words and ask for advice. That's a nice feeling.