Paul Simon's singing about wanting to go to Graceland, and for some reason, I feel like I know what he means. I went to Graceland today. The sun was out and I was missing my women's sunglasses, but it's a condition of my rehabilitation that I give up my sickboy accessories. Had lunch with Nath in Crows Nest and drove out to the AFTRS to clarify a few things about my application. In the end there wasn't much clarification to be had. The student centre advised me to "do whatever you think would improve your application." In other words, the more work you put in, the greater your chances of getting in. Not quite the answer I wanted to hear, with only two weeks left on the clock, and fulltime work about to resume next Monday. To top it all, my little sideline web-design business is finally beginning to generate some projects... 3 of them in fact, due mid-September. There's no rest for the wicked.

I need to draw on some of Kweli's persistance, dedication, and concentrate on getting my application in on time. Now that the pennicillin is kicking in, the pressure is on to make up for lost time. I'll need to be firing on all cylinders and then some. From the look of the other candidates queued up in the student centre, the competition will be fierce. When I asked the helpdesk if people were submitting scripts and storyboards, or just a plot synopsis for the creative proposal component, this snooty nerd behind me told me to write a treatment, not a synopsis. I gave him "Blue Steel" and blew my nose.

Proceeding to the AFTRS library, I booked a screening room and watched a few short films by Ivan Sen, Cate Shortland and Teck Tan - 3 recent directing graduates whom I greatly admire. Watching their work was both impressive and scary. I'm not capable of such exemplary filmmaking, but the thought that AFTRS can train me up to that level justifies everything I am now struggling with. I've decided to write to Teck Tan and volunteer to work as an assistant on any of his future projects, if he'll take me on. Aimee at SAPFF says she'll help me get his contact details.

Now the big question is, can I get all this done in two weeks of evenings and weekends?
1) write, shoot and edit a 3 min personal statement
2) recut my honours film to make it look more professional
3) write, shoot and edit a 3 min critique of my work to date
4) write a killer treatment for a new short film

Can I get some action from the back section? Pull the finger out nereis! It's time to do some real work.

Flame on! I'm gone!