ipblsk's Xanga

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 15:27:11 GMT

hey tosin lovely, please read my comment response to your comment. you are always the most vigilant to my site. :o) So blue tooth and landline phoneis off the list courtesy of the great Tim Boyd :o)

Happy Birthday to me!

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:49:13 GMT

hey everyone, so "selfish and self-centered" little me has my 23rd bday wish list up:-

If you are planning to buy me something, pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase refer to the following list as these are things I really really need, if you can't afford an item, just help pay towards it :o)

Being straightforward but really practical...why not :o)

(i) hands free head set for phone, blue tooth would be great but it is expensive but the foam headset is getting old and unclear.

(ii) cordless digital phone set for my landline

(iii) camera tripod (atleast 40 inches long with lateral and vertical motion)

(iv) noone can afford this but it is still a wishlist. SONY PD-150 camera :oD

(v) weight/dumb bells of 12 pounds and 15 pounds, two of each

(vi) DVD-burner deck just so I can hook it up to my laptop

(vii) pair of nice black comfy high heels

(viii)big, dark brown leather bag that looks fashionable but handy

Thank you lovelieeeeeeeeees and no pressure if you can't or don't want to buy anything.

Iramieeeeeeeeeee

Monday, April 24, 2006

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 02:28:31 GMT

heya Tosin..Looking for comedy didn't do well at all and from what I know..it wasn't really good..went to see it but was doomed, the theater projector didn't work and it was the last showing in LA only 7 days after its release!

I went to the Indianf film festival of LA...a couple of exciting things happened..met a filmmaker who I had met for 55 seconds in Bombay when I was watching a film with friends..his film made it to the festival..really laid back dude who has worked as an AD with Mira Nair, Deepa mehta etc..so cool person to know..Tim and I showed him around LA, took him to bonaventure etc...was fun...it is so strange to be on hte other side of the equation..driving ppl andhosting them as I have been so fortunate to be hosted! we ate dinner a P.F. Chang's china bistro where we had to wait an hour fo rhte table..tim paid..:o) I hope he gets this job he really wants..no more newson that till he hears from them!

What else...met pooja batra..saw Naseeruddin Shah! and watched some incredibly inspiring films and docs...

Am getting excited that summer is nearing..go into meeting my internship ppl on the 9th..it is always so tempting to take all of summer off but hey, those days are gone now..I wish I had treasured those no worry days more..with this business, you can't take time off ever but then again, your time on is so much fun if yo uare passionate about yourproject that who wants time off anyway!

My film is in its picture lock stage on Tuesday after which, Nick and I start working on the soundtrack..am really excited about that..will be a LOT of fun I tell you! Insha'allah, knoiwng him, he will give music that will kick it straight into heaven...ironically it is about Satanic forces though!:oP

I hope to send it aorund to low key festivals...aite, that's all, me go call mama and finish watching apocalypse now!

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 16:38:51 GMT

yes yes I know..I have been gone for soooooooo long..but trust me have been meaning to write for a MONTH! but get distracted with work...have been really busy with cinematography and then directing of a 16mm film..this semester is very production (aka the physical act of making a film) stuff...but almost done..three mroe weeks and we are DONE!

Also, on the news, I am interning ont he Warner Bros lot...will be very interesting and I hope that I can make contacts because for what I want to do and how I want to do it..seems like I will be writing grant proposals all my life and try and turn it into a watson fellowship forever..the thing is that filmmakers are self-employed and while that is an interesting thought...it is really cscary as you have no insurance of a check coming in every month! So I gotta be really really active and just keep tyring..speaking of active, in trying to do these productions and do written homework and be with my baby and friends and attend screenings and watch films on my own and read scripts and htink of ideas..I really don't have enough hours int he day.

Also, darting back and forth from pasadena, while necessary, I feel takes a lot out of my concentration!

Oh yeah, new news is that I have moved into an apartment downtown..really really nice palce alhamdulilah! Enjoying it every bit but sometimes I really feel lonely and wnat to go to pasadena and stay there for a looooooooong while..duno, have been really up and down these days..this business is so nerve wrecking that at times just settling for a lame photcopying and making coffee job at a studio (which is what my internship will be) seems almost relieving..to think of it...a Caltech grad doing that!

I interviewed at a lot of places (basically 2!) and didn't get it..really threw me off cuz I thoguth the interviews were great..atleast that is what they make you feel..yeah, that is what I wnated to talk about..how much FLUFF there is in hollywood...my mind goes bonkers trying to figure out what ppl reall ythink! That is why ppl who have been in the business far too long are so paranoid and never take yourword for anything..they keep looking for subtext..sigh, it is always about communication problems..ins't it!

What else..ahve been working out and trying ot cook whenever I have the time..have been visiting the motion pic academy for events and just hitting up events all over..am just trying to really focus on getting some brilliant ideas and working on them this summer...

want to shoot a lot of street scenes but dunno how that will be in Pakistan..maybe cna shoot my servant ladies home...

love

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Sat, 04 Feb 2006 01:29:13 GMT

well I thought I had submitted a xanga the other day but apparently it did not get published..I probably forgot to hit the submit button or somethign like that...

life as a filmmaker is busy as hell..I am the director of photogpraphy for this 16mm film whcih basically means I am incharge of the camera operation, lighting etc...is pretty interesting.. i love it soooooooooo much more than producing...the day goes by so fast and I don't even have a clue where the hours went!

My baby scored a homerun today! only player at caltech to hit a homerun..I have his ball :o) cuz if you hit a homerun, you get to keep the ball..felt so proud but he didn't pay any attention to me....:o( it is all right, he was busy concentrating wasn't he!

oh guess what I saw on tv the other day, "american association of fat acceptance"..this lady was up there trying to thrash ppl who call other ppl fat or who rightly call ppl who are fat, fat! I mean, there is one thing to be sensitive to ppl who keep gaining weigh tno matter what they do..but there is one thing to accept and encourage ppl who are into gluttony and make them feel that they are normal and accepted..god save me but it is a mental illness and unfortunately it is true, fat ppl, in the current scenario and preferences of hte wrold are really not that attractive..it sux but the skinny blonde bbabes have spoilt all themen..!!!

I am trying to bring tim to pakistan this summer..we will see how our timings work out as I am going to be interning hopefully in the summer and tim will be finding a job!

My film..the one I am directing after spring break is gonig to be kickass insha'allah, nick is composing sitar music for it and it should be beautiful if everything turns out like we want it to!

pray for me...I need hope and prayers!

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 06:54:04 GMT

hey all

sorry it has been a while but life has taken me off guard these days...really busy with productions and just dealing with life in general...I don't know why but I get really upset with politics andpeople eventhough I feel for a 22 year old I have had a BIG share already..in all that crap...these days, at our program, one feels really tightened by the competitive pressures and the generally abrasive attitude of ppl in a competitive scenario...

I don't know what to do about my life...it feels harder and harder to break into this business and the more I see what I have put to stake, my tendency is not to go out further whereas I probably should cuz you only make it in showbiz if you are risk-taking and gut-sy...

I have started driving my car fully..so am totally stick shift trained..when I go to Pakistan next, I hope I can drive...

Thank god for Tim..he is the most refreshing and honest thing in my life after my family.

alhamdulillah!

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Sun, 08 Jan 2006 07:45:31 GMT

aite, writing from bangkok..yes, can you believe it..after all the horror stories and yes, "brokedown palace" tim, I am back in this city! had a 12 hour transit which got shortened by the plane being half and hour late and the freaking hotel rep being 1.5 hours late!!! was sooooo sleepy that I didn't have anything on \the plane and as a result was ravenous while waiting for the rep..shouted at hi m and his response, you ask?! "no english!!"

aaaaaargh

anyway, got to the hotel..very very nice hotel..had a huge buffet breakfast but I am sure if I were later than 10am (reached aty 9:15), they woul.d have not given me a meal eventhough i\t was not my fault..atleast not the nicey nice buffet.

went to my room and collapsed for 3 hours, got a wake up call and rushed for lunch at 1:10pm as it was closi g at 1:30..no buffet this time but a nice shrimp and ste4amed rice with a vanilla sundae..wehn I asked for chopsticks, the guys were like "WHAT????"..guess no desis have ever used chopsticks in thailand!!! heehee, my mehndi is not getting darekr aishwee, I know when it does na..I told you then :o( anyway, the thai men love it!:oP yes yes NB, am not flirting..kya karein jab compliments miltay rehtay hain:oP alhamdulillah!

had a LOVELY perfect trip to pakistan and am sort of thinking about returning to south asia after my masters...or atlease seriously look into options that have me close to my mom for a decent part of the year..too many ppl I miss whenever I am anywhere..this is a sad thing about neing a tyraveller.

btw, I am a royal orchid plus member now, you would think they have special things for me..oh well, maybe the buffet was for that!

Just got my fave $5/hour body massage and maan, it HURT! shge was laughinh her head off when I would jerk as soo n as she would press on my kidneys..was scared something wrong would happen!

and yeah, first ever toilet where they have no options of tissue or water or soap.. you have to BUY tissue for 2 baht outside the toilet!!! how insane is that..and absolutely no soap!.even me, low on hygiene girl, was like YUCK!

what else...yeah, I miss my baby..wanna puppie his cute cheeks..he is soooo tiny and looks up and smiles..m eri jaaaaaaaaani raiyaan!:oP what did you think?!;o)

what else..yeah, not too thrilled to return except that I will be meeting ppl I have missed so far...am just super nervous..my mind is sooooooooooo stuck, don't get ideas and all..want to be flooding with ideas as I am a filmmaker..oh well, what can we do eh?!

I have fully relaxed and so I know now deep inside that the next 3.5 months is HARD WORK!

maaaaaaan, atleast I will ge3t to see lovely faces this time :o)

mmmmmchua

Monday, December 12, 2005

Mon, 12 Dec 2005 06:28:52 GMT

funny how to date, I have been in LA for 5 years but have never seen christmas lites..well guess what? because I have never been driving! I have been in and around downtown LA for sooooooo long these past two weeks that all the festivities and the politics has been taken in. The reason I have been in downtown so much is that I was shooting a doc on the making-of my mentor's film, identity theft. There was a lot of learnin by just observing. I don't know if I am really ready to direct next term..another thing on my head is the whole stark special project which I want to apply for but don't have any script yet or any writer who is submittin a script yet!

Just watched Syriana..waht a film man! America is getting interested in making iflms and mind you, almost anti-american foreign policy films...I swear, such bold communication is only possible in this country!

ANyway, I am off to bombay tomorrow and should be there insha'allah on wednesday..super duper excited to see sumeet and co...will be a veyr emotional trip for me. ALso, it is always tricky returning to a place as it is never as great as it was the first time.

Then I fly off to Pakistan to be with my lovely mother and my cutie putie lil nephew who is about to walk anyday. I wish he holds on till I am there just so I can witness it!

Happy vacations to you all (oh yeah, the conservative christians are passing rings/bands this xmas telling christians to "just say merry xmas" as they are sick of the secularism in america. Did you know, according ot BBC, 80% of america claims it is christian!!! I never thought the percentage was that high!

All this secularism is BS. no country is fully secular..tis always the majority's opinions and interests..oh well, that is life, isn't it!

hate the world, love my family and friends.

I LOVE YOU!

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Sat, 03 Dec 2005 21:56:44 GMT

so it is freaking cold in LA these days...hey everyone, am so bloody glad to be going back to Bombay and then Pakistan...yaaaaaaaaaay, my lil nephew just turned one..everyone is waiting for him to walk..how cute! first pressures of parenting and adults eh? walk, walk, honey!

Monday, November 28, 2005

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 09:05:08 GMT

hey hey everyone

I knwo, I know...a blog has been due from me but seriously, if you know my life the way the Peter Stark has moulded it, you would sympathize wiht me and understand..

anyway, went to see my baby in scotland this past week..darn it was cold!!! i managed to see snowfall in the 5 days I was there..met a bunch of cool desi dude friends of his..a lot of influential ppl (;o) ) back home and all the good stuff..one of his friends, Ally (spelled really weird for Ali) cooked nihari and acchaar gosth for me..tim was so caring as to getting me pakistani food..he wanted me to have the best time..took good care of me.I owuld hardly say I want osmething and he would literally try his level best in every direction to fulfill my desires..love you!

came back to horrible loads of homework..and very un-understanding teachers of the stark program..dosn't matter how well you have been doing or what you have been doing..they are harsh and judge your perofrmance on all these little things..khair, my classmates were no help either...ppl answered back after days and days, even if that, about my quest for the homework..and now I am screwd...oh well, not so much..only if I can keep my head proper tomorrow!

Have a shit load of things to take care of befoer I fly to bombay....and to Paksitan...can't wait..it is almost scary as I realize howmuch I don'tlike the ppl here (esp in my program) and this place..esp without tim..almost makes me wonder why I am doing this and maybe, that I should just go back home?

I LOVE YOU and miss you soooooooooooo much!