The headline is correct. For the fall semester, I will be going to the University of Carlos III in Madrid to study film-making. It’s been my dream since sophomore year to be able to officially study filmmaking under an official curriculum. Officially. With all of this going on, I must be one extremely excited to go. Right?
I’ve completed three years of college (a massive accomplishment, in and of itself) with only one left to go. Then what? To be honest, I’m not completely sure how I’m supposed to feel right now, especially with the beginning of my professional career looming closer and closer.
I’ve also chosen to participate actively in the film industry where there is not a guarantee of financial security. It’s also incredibly competitive and I will be going up against other ambitious and creative filmmakers pushing to have their own ideas produced. I am very much aware of these difficulties, especially if I pushed myself to create my own film major, but now that I’m closer to the goal, I couldn’t be more frightened as well. The most anyone can say is "if you’re passionate about something, pursue it endlessly" but at what point should you admit that you’re abusing yourself too much to achieve your dreams?
Maybe that’s what’s worrying me the most. This fall, I will be able to prove, once and for all, if I am capable of doing film. I’ve done it before (to mixed results) but can I do it under an academic program? Should I even be asking this question if only to ruminate on it for the rest of the summer?
…I guess I’ll find out a few months from now.
I made some promises that I did not adhere to, College Student: Nutrition for example, so I apologize to you all for not keeping up with them. I won’t say what I’m working on now since that puts more pressure on me but I will say that stuff is coming, sooner than you might think. With yet another year of working on this blog coming and going, I’m always surprised by the small yet devoted following that I somehow maintain and could not be more grateful for your support especially when I ask for absurd requests like this one: "So, I'm currently writing a script and one of the characters is a ghost. Do you have suggestions for comically tragic ways that the character died? I'd really appreciate it!”
Thanks for being with me on this crazy journey.
-Arlill “Arley" Rodriguez
