new blog for this trip

Had to start a new blog specifically for my Europe circus filming. Follow where we go & see videos & pictures. I'll try to keep it updated...but not going to try to do both blogs.

GO HERE for Europe trip Dec 10- Jan 31st

http://worldcircusculture.blogspot.com/

7 weeks in Europe

PLANE TICKETS ARE BOUGHT!!!!!!!!!!

Europe: Dec. 10th - Jan. 30th. WOW.
Germany, Holland, France (Paris & Nice), and Monaco.

GOOGLE MAP LINK!


The last few days I've felt like a little kid that's so excited to go outside in winter they can't get their snow suit on. It also felt exactly like Christmas eve last night as I lay in bed at 2am, completely unable to go to sleep.

WORLD CIRCUS CULTURE UPDATED WEBSITE (click on link)

with VIDEO!

One last stop - for now - Seattle / LA

Chicago was it's usual - or not so usual - wonderful stop. Only thing it was missing was sleep. Still Best City Ever. Edited Peru trip #4, which will be up online soon.

Then, because I couldn't just fly directly to LA at the end of my wanderings, I stopped in Seattle for some Halloween partying and catching up with a wonderful friend who has stuck with me through my travels.

Now I'm back in LA, in MY room, in MY bed. wow. This is stranger than any of my other sleeping arrangements thus far. But man this is the best bed EVER. My room is empty from packing it all up for the sublet. I don't think I'll unpack though because - big news - I'm moving out Dec. 1st. Not 100% where to, but I have a security blanket plan of sharing a room with a friend. So, at least there is a pretend plan, although strangely this decision was a really hard one. Not sure why I cared so much about an apartment I hadn't been in for 5 months.

I've also noticed time zones don't exist to my body. Go to sleep now? OK. Stay awake now? OK. Helpful I guess.

CIRCUS!! December & January

As I return to my boxed up empty room, perfect bed, and food cravings from boredom due to sitting at my desk, I have to remind myself...I'm leaving in a month.

It's happening. Somehow.

I will be spending my first Christmas away from home this year - France, or maybe Germany.

In 2006, I took Documentary and Social Change in College - strangely my only Documentary class. We had to write a treatment for a documentary. I chose the Circus, of course, but wanted to travel, of course, so figured a way to combine the two, of course.

Who knew, four years later I would actually be making this extravagant dream and slight obsession come true. Around December 10th I will head to Paris, Germany, the Netherlands, and Monaco for my World Circus Culture Documentary. The circus has a culture of its own, a culture outside and beyond age, country and time; that's what makes it so unique.

7 weeks in Europe here I come. I was / AM feeling overwhelmed with moments of panic from the prospect of traveling again, especially for the cause of my biggest film yet and the one I care about most, but day 2 in my LA apartment finds me ready to leave, ready to pack....so, I'll be fine.

WEBSITE PROJECT INFO

Everyone please dream piles of money for the film and spread the word to all those interested in investments or donations!

This is a logo WORK IN PROGRESS by Karen Gersch

home is....

"Where are you from?" is one of the hardest questions people ask me. When I pause and look confused, well that's not the normal reaction, they're not looking for a story, just one word. I'm definitely from Vermont, but I grew up in St. Louis. I love Chicago and went to College there. Now I live in LA, well kind of. But for being on the road for 5 months, I'm surprisingly unfazed. I'm pretty comfortable where ever I am.

I once spent a month on a job in DC and slept on an air mattress behind my friend's couch. This is the conversation she had with Josh regarding where I'm staying for two weeks in Chicago.

Laura: : so you are making me look like an awful friend
Josh: what! por que!?
Laura: : you give angela her own closet to live in, and all i gave her was a nook behind the couch...now i look like the assholeI've been calling it a closet, but I've realized it's directly off the kitchen - it's a pantry.

Romania Habitat Video

Here is the link to the 3min video Lindsey and I put together for the last night in Romania. Habitat asked for this to show at the closing dinner...right because we had time to edit a video in between filming 250 people. Anyway, not too shabby for staying up to 4am in the middle of shooting. More videos and a documentary to come from Lindsey.







THE ROMANIA VIDEO

snow in October

Definitely home in Vermont. Saw lightly falling snow this morning. Walking home last night I could see my breath, the crisp air smelled like snow, with the crunch of fallen leaves below and the massive sky of stars above. Why would I want to live anywhere else?

I leave Monday for Chicago. I can't wait.

New Orleans has been canceled on my end, although the project is still underway. Unfortunate, but maybe it will give me a moment to breath and I'll no doubt be involved in future projects. www.blackpattiproductions.com

I fly into Chicago Monday and am picked up by Josh to drive to Milwaukee Children's Hospital by 3pm for 5 interviews with the doctors who were on the last Yantalo trip. I'll probably stay in Chicago till the end of the month when my LA apartment is available to me. Editing, seeing my wonderful plethora of friends, and just maybe a day or two paid production work should keep me busy.