New York, New York! Part 2
Ok, I have so much better stuff to be doing... and yet... (Sorry flist)
Day 2, and we make our appearance on the CNN Early Show, outside their headquarters. Weird but fun; especially all the sets being outside and poised around a fountain.
Freebie Count: 1
Details: Pink organiser. Nifty.
After this, a film locations tour (we are supposedly here for educational reasons. Yeah. Ahem.) An actress gave us a talk while a coach zoomed us round. Quite interesting but led to a lot of blurred photos out of coach windows. Did, however, see the ghostbusters fire station. Hehe.
Also learned that some dude called Donald Trump owns lots of New York. As do the Church. I expect if any New Yorkers are reading this, they're now about to slap their foreheads and scream "Moron!" and other epithets at the screen. Carry on, but do you guys know where Hampshire (England) is? Thought not lol. I love how American shop assistants like to ask where visitors are from; I do not love having to explain, in a typically embarrassed English fashion, where it is. Eventually we gave up and said "south of London". It is geographically accurate.
After our film tour, we ended up in Union Square and went to the New York Film Academy. I don't know why, but I'd imagined this super glamorous building with an arty cafe in the ground floor. *shrugs*. It is, in fact, a cosy little building full of industrious people with cameras and other things, making movies. After a brief introduction, we were out on the streets again with a camera and a tripod that delighted in either being too tight or too loose. Our mission was to make a short and we completed it, after a fashion. It took about 20 mins of five girls arguing, one clash of artistic sensibilities and one boy being apathetic, but we got it done. I imagine proper film sets are very similar, just with more shouting and more slamming of trailer doors. I entertained myself by taking pictures of two rats frolicking about in the flowers; they were pretty sweet, despite being rats.
Freebie Count: 2
Pink organiser, New York Film Academy Jacket (oh yeah!)
The evening, though, was the highlight. Five of us wandered down into Times Square, in the dark. You hear scary stories about New York, but I can honestly say I felt safer there than I do in my hometown. There is something strange and ethereal about wandering around at night at the best of times, but in a foreign city with a few friends... magical.
And Times Square itself... Mind blowing. I know the saying is 'New York never sleeps', but I think people who've never been there are tempted to think it isn't true. But it so is. I have never seen so many people, and not just people who you expect to be out at night, normal people, seeing a show, eating out... Just like day, with the light turned off. It was especially wonderful at night as the signs stood out more; neon everywhere. A lot of people think cities are ugly because of their buildings and lights but personally I think it's a form of beauty. Seriously.
Times Square is like a piece of modern art. I am just so happy to have been there, and seen it myself.
I also bought an "I (heart) NY" hoodie. I know, I am such a tourist.
Hoodie Count: 1 (2 jackets)
Dinner was at Planet Hollywood, at about 11. Kinda cool as the guy on the door said "Five coming in" into his walkie talkie as we passed.
Inside was, in a way, more of an assault on the eye than Times Square. The sound, the decor... OTT but great. I think I only ordered a starter, such was my jet lag by this point. We staggered home to the hotel, drunk on coke, pop music and neon.
.
Day 2, and we make our appearance on the CNN Early Show, outside their headquarters. Weird but fun; especially all the sets being outside and poised around a fountain.
Freebie Count: 1
Details: Pink organiser. Nifty.
After this, a film locations tour (we are supposedly here for educational reasons. Yeah. Ahem.) An actress gave us a talk while a coach zoomed us round. Quite interesting but led to a lot of blurred photos out of coach windows. Did, however, see the ghostbusters fire station. Hehe.
Also learned that some dude called Donald Trump owns lots of New York. As do the Church. I expect if any New Yorkers are reading this, they're now about to slap their foreheads and scream "Moron!" and other epithets at the screen. Carry on, but do you guys know where Hampshire (England) is? Thought not lol. I love how American shop assistants like to ask where visitors are from; I do not love having to explain, in a typically embarrassed English fashion, where it is. Eventually we gave up and said "south of London". It is geographically accurate.
After our film tour, we ended up in Union Square and went to the New York Film Academy. I don't know why, but I'd imagined this super glamorous building with an arty cafe in the ground floor. *shrugs*. It is, in fact, a cosy little building full of industrious people with cameras and other things, making movies. After a brief introduction, we were out on the streets again with a camera and a tripod that delighted in either being too tight or too loose. Our mission was to make a short and we completed it, after a fashion. It took about 20 mins of five girls arguing, one clash of artistic sensibilities and one boy being apathetic, but we got it done. I imagine proper film sets are very similar, just with more shouting and more slamming of trailer doors. I entertained myself by taking pictures of two rats frolicking about in the flowers; they were pretty sweet, despite being rats.
Freebie Count: 2
Pink organiser, New York Film Academy Jacket (oh yeah!)
The evening, though, was the highlight. Five of us wandered down into Times Square, in the dark. You hear scary stories about New York, but I can honestly say I felt safer there than I do in my hometown. There is something strange and ethereal about wandering around at night at the best of times, but in a foreign city with a few friends... magical.
And Times Square itself... Mind blowing. I know the saying is 'New York never sleeps', but I think people who've never been there are tempted to think it isn't true. But it so is. I have never seen so many people, and not just people who you expect to be out at night, normal people, seeing a show, eating out... Just like day, with the light turned off. It was especially wonderful at night as the signs stood out more; neon everywhere. A lot of people think cities are ugly because of their buildings and lights but personally I think it's a form of beauty. Seriously.
Times Square is like a piece of modern art. I am just so happy to have been there, and seen it myself.
I also bought an "I (heart) NY" hoodie. I know, I am such a tourist.
Hoodie Count: 1 (2 jackets)
Dinner was at Planet Hollywood, at about 11. Kinda cool as the guy on the door said "Five coming in" into his walkie talkie as we passed.
Inside was, in a way, more of an assault on the eye than Times Square. The sound, the decor... OTT but great. I think I only ordered a starter, such was my jet lag by this point. We staggered home to the hotel, drunk on coke, pop music and neon.
.