Basic Film Production - Back to the basics of film!

I thought I would tell you about each of my classes at KU in more detail - the highlights, the stressful parts and the overall journey of the courses themselves.


As I said before, I took Basic Film Production which was taught by Professor Small. I took the class hoping it would give me an introduction to film production, including working collaboratively to make a short film.

Bell and Howell 70

This wasn't what the class was about.

The basic part didn't mean easy (like I had hoped), it meant back to the basics of film. We learned how to use a 1930s camera, 16mm film and how to edit using a splice. Basically we learned how people made films in the olden days by doing it ourselves.


Having no experience in photography myself made the class especially difficult, especially as there were many ways that things could go wrong or you could make a mistake with. We had to take special care as the equipment we were using was ancient (probably from the 30s) and it was very expensive and difficult to replace.

Professor Small had an unusual grading system. He had an 'A' option and 'B' option which meant you had to make 2 films to get an A. Even if you sat the exam and did well in it and/or if you're first film was good - it was impossible to get an A unless you made two films. At first this seemed fair because working in film or media industries means you have to meet deadlines. But after undertaking the course this was actually very difficult - especially as aspects of the course were time consuming. Things were slightly more difficult for me as an exchange student because I was still adjusting to living the US in general and this created problems for me in this course.

First we had to learn how to use the camera- which is very difficult (at least it is for me). The cameras we used were not like analogue or digital cameras you could just switch on. We had to learn how to load the film into it (which got easier with practice) and it was important to do this correctly, otherwise we could damage the film and waste it. We had to learn how to set exposure with a light meter (which could very easily go wrong) and we had to learn about the focal lengths of the lens and how to set this correctly (otherwise the picture would be blurry). Although professional photographers probably use this on a day-to-day basis - most digital cameras do these things for you and you only have to fix the lighting conditions. With 16mm film, you didn't know whether you did it right until you're film was processed - and this took a lot of time.

First we had to order the film. That wasn't too bad as we were told which film to purchase, but it took a while to be delivered. Then when I finally had it I had to book the camera equipment. This actually wasn't too difficult either. However, as I couldn't drive or have a car I couldn't get around easily with the camera. Thankfully, a guy in my class suggested that we film on the same day and offered to drive me around.

Being naive, I trusted that he was doing me a favour and took the offer. Little did I know I was about to be betrayed (whether it was intentional or not). The weekend came and we agreed to film. I waited to be picked up from Jayhawker Towers. Fifteen minutes passed and he still hadn't came. So I phoned him.

No response.

Half an hour passed and still no sign of him. I phoned again. No response. I phoned and phoned and phoned but he didn't answer. I didn't know what was going on. I assumed that if he couldn't take me anymore that he would have let me know. So I went upstairs to check my email. My inbox was empty. He just never showed up without an apology or reason...

...until around 9pm that night. He told me that he had been drinking the night before and that he was sleeping because he was hungover, so that's why he didn't answer his phone and so he apologised. Although I was pissed off, I forgave him and asked him if he could take me tomorrow instead. He said, "Yeah, of course! I still want to help you out and you can help me out with mine."

I should have known by then not to trust him but he seemed like he genuinely wanted to do it with me like we agreed, so I waited for him again the next day. Of course -  he didn't show up. I was so annoyed and extremely stressed out. If I could have got my filming done on that weekend then I wouldn't have ended up so far behind!

My roommates didn't seem to get why I was so pissed off the situation. I planned to do my filming on Mass St to film traffic lights, so they asked why I didn't just get the bus. I explained because the equipment was old and expensive that I didn't want to carry it on the bus, plus I needed a buddy to look after it while I was filming and it made sense to do it with someone from the class. None of them offered to help me, but then again - I didn't ask. I didn't want to drag them with me if they didn't want to go and most of them had other arrangements and studying to do by this point. So I basically grovelled on Facebook that I was fucked.

Thankfully, Cheryl seen the grovelling and offered to help me - including driving me around Mass St and helping me out in general. It was really unexpected and I was so happy when she offered. Eventually I managed to get my filming done just in time because of her!

At home I'm pretty independent and have always been self-reliant. Of course I like to take help if someone offers but I don't necessarily like to ask for it. In the States, I learned that if you need help - you have to ask for it. Americans generally will try and help you out if they can and ask for nothing back. I always felt that back home, people will only help if there's something in it for them and if you give them a favour in return.

This is the ethic I've always followed, if someone helps me out I have to do something for them. But in this situation, I knew there wasn't much I could offer in return which is why I didn't ask my roommates to help me. Also, it made sense to do it with my classmate and I could help him with his film too.

Oh well, it got done in the end - thanks to Cheryl. Filming was only half the battle. Then we had to send off our film for processing. This would have been okay if I was more familiar with the US Post Office system at this point. In the UK, if you stick a 1st class stamp on it you can send it anywhere in Britain. However, as this was a package, I needed several stamps on it to be sent to Massachusetts.

My film ended up being sent back to Oldfather Studios and I had to resend it again, which delayed the film processing. Then when it got back, we had to spend a lot of our free time editing it. This took for ages as we had to learn how to use the splice and viewer and editing itself takes a while. I finished the film with only a couple of weeks left at the end of the course, in which we had to make our second film. I spent so much time on the first film that I knew I would never be able to get the 2nd film done. Perhaps if the 2nd film had been a group project then we could have done it. Only the graduate students in the class managed to do the 2nd film, which meant everyone in the class either got a B, C or failed.

Professor Small decided to give me a B-. Thanks for that Small!

If the teaching assistant, Julie Pitzer, hadn't been in the class - I wouldn't have passed the class at all. It was only after she explained how to use the equipment that the class understood what was going on. Small just assumes that we know what he's talking about before he's even taught us anything. Small liked me though, even though he couldn't understand me. I think its because his mother was Scottish - which he told me randomly several times.

Although the class was challenging, there were good times to be experienced. At first I didn't like Small because I didn't get him. But the more I got used to him the funnier he became (usually when he wasn't trying). One time he randomly jumped on his desk. It was so bizarre that it was just funny. He always ate a banana because he had Attention Deficit Disorder. He always closed his eyes when he explained something and one time when we was showing us how to shoot movement he pretended his banana was a gun and kicked over the bin. I was in stitches because any time something crazy happened it was completely random.

I remember one time I was in Oldfather Studios and the walls had just been painted white (although they were already white). Which is fair enough, except there were no wet paint signs. So a guy in my class learnt on the wall and got paint all over his clothes. I felt so sorry for him but had to laugh at the stupidity of the situation. Why didn't they tell anyone the paint was wet??? Crazy stuff!

Would I recommend anyone at KU to take this class?? I'd say you're best to avoid it if you can. Unless you like Professor Small and like a challenge...and Julie Pitzer's the assistant...and if you want to work on your own...and if you want to learn how films were made in the olden days. Don't take it if you want a class thats relevant to the digital age of film and technology.

Find out more about my International Women Filmmakers class next week! Comments/questions are always welcome!

The 1st Frat Party...

We had only been at KU for about a week and we managed to go to our first frat party!

Basically some of the Australian/English guys we already met had went out to explore the campus (at night) and met a couple of frat guys! So they invited them to one of their parties and we then got invited too...so we decided to go.

Some of the other exchange students that we met from the 'Wild West' party on Wednesday came round to our flat while we got ready and we all went down together.


I was so excited I wouldn't shut up about it. What would it be like?

Beer Pong!

My only experience of a frat party was watching it in a teen comedy film like, "American Pie: Beta House" and "Old School". I wondered if they were really as crazy as the movies made them out to be. I wondered whether they would have red cups...


They did! They were everywhere..in the hands of frat boys, littered on the floor, stacked on tables, placed triangularly on each side of a long table while guys tried to throw a little white ball into them. Later found out this was actually a drinking game called Beer Pong! I think most of us exchange students were pretty excited to see those red cups in action...


The fraternity house we went to was the Jewish fraternity! We nervously approached them in case they decided they didn't want us there - but it turned out they were a really friendly bunch of guys! One of them shook all of our hands as we went into the house and they let us drink their beer for free! They also had the legendary jungle juice which had a combination of liquor, fruit and Everclear - which I thought was screen-wash...so I only had one. Then there was rumours that it ended up being laced with pills so definitely avoided it after that.


The frat party was cool but a little awkward seeing as we didn't know anyone. I remember standing when this guy told me I looked bored. I was like I'm not its just a bit awkward and then he was like, "Where are you from?"...So then I told them and pointed and said that we're all exchange students. So then he was like, "Are you all Scottish?" and I was like, "No but we are, and those girls are English and she's from Sweden and she's German and this guy is from Australia". He got so excited about the Australian,


"I wana go hug him that's so cool!' he exclaimed. I was like "Me too!"

So talking to him some more I found out that he was originally from Los Angeles but grew up in Kansas. Some of the other guys I spoke to were from Chicago, Seattle and Kansas - it was pretty cool!

End of the Frat Party...

After the frat party we went to a house party down the road. It was pretty random now that I look back, I duno how we even ended up down there but they invited us in and gave us more free beer. One of the other Australian guys did the whole drink beer from the tap upside down over the keg...was pretty funny.


My roommate got the frat guy's number. Only two of them had a mobile at this point, me and my other roommate had to get a cell phone. I'm glad she got his number because he helped us out a lot the first couple of weeks...


I think the alcohol helped break the ice to be honest. The group meetings and orientation week were good but after that night I felt a lot more comfortable with the other international students.


I forgot to mention on my last post that the next day I saw a sorority house do their initiation (at least that's what I think it was)...It was really weird. They were all dressed up in dresses and boots and they all walked out into formation. Then they sang a song and did little dance moves, the song was pretty funny. They went into harmony and sang like an octave higher and then lower and one minute it was slow and then really fast. Then they all walked back inside with their hands behind their backs...it was pretty creepy. I saw them doing this several times when I was at KU as their house was accross from Jayhawk Towers!

Check out the blog next Monday and find out about Hawk Week - when the KU students officially started. Comments/questions are always welcome! Thanks for reading...

Hello Kansas - International Orientation Week (Day 2)

So the first day of the orientation week came and went...

The next day was made up of meetings mainly. The first one was about cultural adjustment...I didn't bother going because it was at 9am and didn't feel it was essential but those who did go said it was aimed primarily at the students from the Non-English speaking countries. Apparently American girls can flirt but it means they don't want to have sex with you. Lesson learned.

However, I did go to the meeting about paying for KU, which was pretty important as I found out how to pay for my fees online - its a really good system. You're enrollment card could pay for your food/meal plans, as well as be used as a library card and access your apartment building. Only one problem - we didn't have our cards yet!

Not much happened that was particularly exciting that day...well not from what I can remember. That's the problem with reminiscing you see.

However, that night we were given a free dinner, courtesy of Commerce Bank! Rather than have dinner in Downtown, we had food from the Kansas Union which was served to all the international students. It was served in a massive room with tons of round tables. It was a really good layout to socialise with other exchange students we hadn't met before. Although we Scottish girls stuck together, we shared a table with an Australian guy and a pair of twins - from Denmark! We had good banter and later on - we became friends with them.

After the meal, a 'Scavenger Hunt' was arranged for us. Should be fun, or so we thought...I can't even remember what we were supposed to find. I just remember being really enthusiastic at first and then being bored. However, it was a great opportunity to meet more people.

 I remember it was the first time I spoke to a couple of the English girls. Having seeing them around I kind of recognised their faces, but this time we properly introduced ourselves. One of the girls was pretty chatty and I learned that she went to the University of Kent. She was with a French girl who seemed pretty shy. They were both really nice. 

The hunt was a great way to explore the campus and meet more of the other students. After that day we began to recognise more faces and make more friends outside of the ones we already had...

Find out how the next day went tomorrow!

Hello Kansas! - The Powers Family (Part 2)

Staying at Cheryl's for the first night was a great beginning to my year abroad...

Her house was very comfortable after a long day of travelling. I ended up waking up at 3am with the time difference...so my first full day was a really long one.

When I had been showered and was ready, I found that Cheryl had already made breakfast! Hot freshly baked muffins - they were amazing! (My mum never bakes so it was kind of a big deal lol)

I met Cheryl's husband Dick that morning also. He was also lovely like his wife and daughter. They decided to give Simon and me a tour of Lawrence and of KU!

The sun was splitting the trees and it was roasting hot! It was so exciting to see all of Lawrence and then see KU before we'd even checked in. Mass St looked like a cool, quirky part of town and then there was KU - I could not believe how massive it was!

Stirling Uni is absolutely tiny compared to any university I've seen/studied in America. KU not only has tons of different buildings, but most of them are huge! Don't get me started on the Sorrority and Fraternity houses - man they are big! They look exactly like the ones you see in the films, like old fashioned mansions with the Greek letters. I was so excited when I seen them!

We went past one sorrority house and there were a bunch of girls outside. Cheryl said they were probably doing their initiation. I couldn't believe it - I really felt like I was in Legally Blonde or something (even though that's set in California but oh well).

A Sorrority House, huge eh?

Later in the day we packed up our stuff at Cheryl's and got ready to check in to KU. Cheryl helped us both with it and I'm really glad she did because it was all a bit overwhelming. Basically, there were hundreds of foreign students, like me, who were all trying to register/check in and figure out what we were supposed to be doing. With Cheryl it made the process a whole lot easier.

Then she helped us both move in to our rooms with our bags. Interestingly, a lot of the other exchange students had families with them, helping them move in - which of whom, I assume had signed up for the family transportation program like me. I think it definitely helped having that bit of support with us.

Then I met Tori, who was to be my temporary roommate at Hashinger Hall for the orientation week until I moved in to Jayhawker Towers. She was a graduate student, 24 years old and from China and I think we both had difficulty understanding each other - although she was lovely. She had already met some of the other Chinese students and seeing that I was alone, they invited me to sit with them at dinner which was nice of them. So we went down to dinner and we ate.

I remember seeing a pretty blonde girl and we caught each others eye. She was alone. Seeing an empty seat next to me, she came over and asked if she could sit with us. We were all like, of course! No-one left each other out, everyone was friendly and made an effort. So she sat next to us. I found out she was Swedish, but her English was very good. So we chatted a lot and I was happy to find that she was really friendly.

Then I remember seeing another blonde girl at the salad bar. She looked really familiar although I didn't know her, I wondered if she was a student from Stirling. Later on I found her and asked if she was Scottish - and she was! She was the first Scottish girl I'd met and she was from Glasgow, like me. I also spoke to another guy who was from England, but studied in Edinburgh - so he could tell I was Scottish right away.

Later on, I found out that the blonde girl from Sweden and the Scottish girl were roommates - it was a really weird but cool coincidence as we could all relate to each other in some way. Then later on, I met two other Stirling students from the north of Scotland - which was really cool! One of the girls I knew from my course (although not very well) and the other I hadn't met before - although they knew each other. 

Although the whole point of the experience is to meet new people from different cultures and backgrounds, it was nice to meet other Scottish girls as they were outgoing and friendly. No-one could understand my accent and it was starting to make me feel a bit homesick - until I met them.

The first day was tiring, but had been a great start. I had met people and was ready to meet more and learn about the other stuff I was gonna have to take care of. The International Orientation Week had begun. 

To find out how it went, become a follower of the blog or check it out on Monday! Comments/questions are always welcome!

Hello Kansas! - The Powers Family (Part 1)

So the 8th of August came and I flew into Kansas City International Airport. What happened next?

I met the lovely Cheryl Powers.

I had been told by the Office of Study Abroad at KU that I was supposed to arrive on August 9th to check in and participate in the International Orientation week. With the time difference and flights and everything I thought I'd be best arriving the day before, deciding to book a shuttle bus from the airport to Lawrence and booking a hotel room for a night.

Me (looking rough) at 2am

Luckily, I didn't have to do either of those things because I signed up for the Family Transportation programme that KU organise and the family that I was assigned to offered me an overnight stay! I couldn't believe it - it saved me a lot of cash and I managed to get in contact with an American family before I even got there! I'm so grateful that KU organised that for me as an International Exchange Student and that the Power's family were so kind to offer that kind of help...

So I met Cheryl as soon as I got off the plane. I was really tired because I hadn't had much sleep but also so excited when I finally landed in Kansas. She seemed to recognise me right away which was great because I was worried I wouldn't be able to recognise her. I remember she picked up another international student from China and since his plane hadn't landed yet, we decided to get a Starbucks.

The first cultural confusion came at this point when I ordered a Caramel Creme Frapauccino and the lady at the counter had no idea what I was saying...and then paying for it because I wasn't used to American money yet. I think Cheryl ended up ordering for me in the end.

So we were sitting with our drinks and Cheryl told me all about her family, which was fascinating - until we heard a scream. We looked around wondering what was going on, until we realised there was a bat flapping about the airport! I was really shocked because I'd never seen one before and Cheryl was really shocked because it was flapping about in broad daylight.

Then we met Simon, who was a nice boy but was rather shy...I think it was a bit harder for him to chat with us because he couldn't speak a lot of english. We got our cases and then Cheryl picked us up at the entrance.

The heat hit me like I'd stepped into a sauna. I really didn't expect Kansas to be that hot, I thought it was more like Scotland in terms of weather but man was I wrong. I was wearing jeans and a vest top and I was sweating. It was over 100 degrees farenheit (that's a big deal when you come from Scotland).

On the drive back to Cheryl's we spoke a bit more and I just couldn't believe I was there. Finally after all that time, I was actually gona be studying in the States!

Then we got to hers and I met her daughter Cara who had studied abroad in London. After we introduced ourselves she asked us what we wanted to do. Shower and sleep...by then I realised how tired I was...I was so excited I forgot about being tired. 

I went to Caleb's old room and got ready for bed...the whole time I kept thinking I can't I'm actually here. Cheryl's house was so beautiful. It was a great way to start off my year abroad, with a family. 

The next day would be my first full day in the United States, and my first day at KU! Read about it this Friday and become a follower of the blog! Comments/questions are always welcome!

See ya in a year!

It wasn't until my last week in Glasgow that it hit me that I was really leaving.

Before that the feeling came and went, the feeling that it was all real that is. Like how I felt when I had been accepted for a visa, then when it came through the post and then when my acceptance letter came through from KU. At all these times I got really excited about moving...

The last week was the time to make plans with all my family and friends seeing as I wouldn't see them again...for a year.

Near the beginning of that week I went out for dinner with my mum, sister, uncle and childhood friends in a more intimate setting. We went to our local Chinese restaurant, the I Chai. The food was delicious and the banter was great. Naturally, because I was leaving we started talking about childhood memories including funny ones, happy ones and even sad and embarrassing ones. It was good to reflect but the sad/embarrassing ones put me in a weird mood. They're the ones you would rather forget and I kinda wish they hadn't brought them up because they made me feel insecure - not the best state to be in when you're planning to start a new life for yourself.

Our matching bracelets (my arm's the weird shaped one)

The next day I met up with my school friends who I'm very close to, even now. We went to a local pub and had a couple of drinks which put us in the mood for going out...so we went clubbing afterwards. It was a really good night and they gave me leaving presents which was a nice surprise. They gave me a photo album with pictures of us all and friendly messages, plus a friendship bracelet and American dollars. I remember how we thought it looked like Monopoly money! I also remember the fire alarm went off in the club and drinking more than what I should've...so I spent all of the next day being hungover.

The day after hangover day I felt really weird. I had a lot of stuff to get sorted but couldn't be arsed with it, everything just felt like an effort. That night I had my leaving night out and so invited everyone including my childhood friends, school friends, cousins, uni friends and friends from Homebase, where I worked. I should have been excited but for some reason I felt sick...I thought it could've been the after-effects of drinking and was suffering from a 2-day hangover but I hadn't felt sick earlier that day. I don't know why but I couldn't enjoy myself at the beginning of the night. I had to go to the toilet at the bar (Firewater) because I felt like I was gonna throw up. My sister and cousin checked to see if I was okay...the more I explained it, the more I realised I was just feeling really sad. Seeing everyone there on my leaving night had just confirmed that I was really leaving...and that it was the last time I would see them again. I knew I would miss them all. It had finally hit me.

The next day I felt really really sad and didn't feel like doing anything. Which was pretty bad because I still had to pack my suitcase and write out thank you cards to everyone who had given me money and gifts. My mum ended up doing most of it (she's way better organised than me!). I decided to give my friends one last call to thank them for their gifts and support, but broke down on the phone. I couldn't stop crying and then my mum started and things got all emotional! It wasn't like I was crying because I didn't want to go, but more because the nerves had finally hit and I was a bit anxious about leaving my safe secure life in Scotland.

Then the leaving day finally came. I was still a little nervous, but more excited - even though it was 2 am. I was surprised I didn't cry at the airport but I think I had done enough the night before I wasn't scared anymore. My mum and sister cried a little bit but I kept telling them, "You'll be glad to get rid of me!"

Then I left.

And eventually landed in Kansas! To hear about my experiences in Kansas become a follower of the blog or check it out next Monday! Comments and questions are always welcome.