future's now

This is the first blog post of 2013 and the first blog post of the Spring 2013 semester. Take a look at the picture. This is a literal metaphor of looking into the future. The future is rapidly approaching, the future is among us. However, this time "the future" looks a little different. "The future" doesn't look like another semester of school, "the future" doesn't look like the same ol', same ol'. This future looks like NO school, NEW life. I will be graduating at the end of this semester in pursuit of success in the job market. After all, that's what the point of college is, right? A professor put it this way:

"You're about to be fired from your full-time job of 18 years and be forced to figure out how you're going to live. Does that involve finding a new job? Changing living conditions? Changing locations? Good luck."

The time is now. The future is now.


So, this is the first blog post in the last six weeks. When asked to describe my winter break, I have been responding with one word: "short." Yeah, it was six weeks. Yeah, many Biola students think it DRAGS and LULLS and takes just way to long. Me? I could have easily lasted a few more weeks. I've realized this is simply in Lott Family fashion. For my whole life, our breaks have been packed full of trips, adventures, fun, and the like. We travel, we sight-see, we do everything but sit around at home watching television. I'll give you the simple breakdown.

Finals → Wedding → Simi Valley → Reedley → Christmas → Walnut Creek → Simi → New Years → Rose Parade → Biola → IRIS → Ralph B. Clark Park → Long Beach → Young Empress → Temecula → San Diego → Temecula → Simi Valley → Ventura → Pismo Beach → UCLA → Biola → UCLA → First Day of School

Here's the slightly longer version:

After a week of difficult end-of-the-semester final exams, I spent two near-all-nighters editing a wedding video so the couple would be able to have their video in time for Christmas. I then headed to Simi Valley where I stayed for 1 hour before I left with my family to central California to celebrate Christmas with my extended family on my mom's side. After a few days and a lot of fun, we continued north into Walnut Creek to celebrate Christmas with my extended family on my dad's side. After a few days and a lot of fun, we returned home to Simi Valley to celebrate Christmas by ourselves, the immediate family. After a few days and a lot of fun, we experienced New Year's Eve with our long-time friends the Weirs and Gencarella's which led into a observance of the 2013 Rose Parade in Pasadena. I then made my way down to Biola University to participate in the interterm IRIS by speaking about my documentary thisisstuttering to preface the film The King's Speech. This then led into a visit from Ms. Morgan McGannon as we headed to Ralph B. Clark Park. Long Beach was next as Mr. Isaac Svensson and I prepared for a music video shoot the following day for a band called Young Empress, which turned out exceedingly well. I then made my way down to Temecula to visit Ms. Morgan McGannon and her family. We ate at a winery, we enjoyed San Diego, we enjoyed Temecula, we shopped at a mall, we enjoyed relaxing. After a few days and a lot of fun, I returned to Simi Valley to work hard before Ms. Morgan McGannon would visit my family. After a few days and a lot of fun, Ms. Morgan McGannon visited and we toured Simi, visited friends, stayed up way too late with Mr. Sean Cook, enjoyed Ventura, and prepared for our trip to Pismo Beach with my family. After a few days and a lot of fun, my family, along with Ms. Morgan McGannon and Mr. Dan Mitchell, made our way to Pismo Beach to enjoy a few days and a lot of fun, including but not limited to playing football on the beach, Joe vs. The Volcano, Quelf, McClintocks, and The Monster.  We then headed back home to Simi Valley, Ms. Morgan McGannon left, and I said goodbye to Simi Valley as I prepared for a documentary shoot involving Mr. Marc Wymore, in which his sister Corri was going to be giving him, a type 1 diabetic since he was 2, her kidney in a miraculous kidney transplant, an evidential example of God's providence and provision. After a few days and my mind being rocked by the incredible intricacies of modern medicine, I returned to Biola and to begin the semester. And here we are. Right now.


Here's a slightly longer version of a specific part: IRIS.

I was honored and curious to speak in front of about 100 Biola students about my life as a stutterer and my film thisisstuttering. To understand the context read this: http://emliv.blogspot.com/2012/12/thisisbig.html. This was the first step of complete vulnerability and honestly in direct response to the release of the trailer to thisisstuttering. It's difficult to put into words how this speaking engagement went, it was an incredible experience. The entire day was preparation for the viewing of the film The King's Speech, "the story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it." A number of professors spoke on different topics, which led to Mrs. Teri Clemons, a speech pathologist/professor at Biola, to speak about the science of speech impediments. I was then introduced as a "real-life stutterer" and I told my life-story, what it's been like living with a stutter, the challenges, the trials, the learning opportunities. I then showed the trailer to thisisstuttering and talked about the project, the challenges, the trials, the learning opportunities. The audience was then polled for questions, to which I answered to the best of my ability. It was at this point when the significance of this speaking engagement became known. First of all, and this has taken me 21 years to figure out, but God has given me my speech impediment for a reason. I've come to the realization that if this film changes one person for the kingdom of God, then my years of struggle and embarrassment have been worth it. It's easy to blame God for my stutter, "what did I do wrong? Why do I deserve this?" Instead, it's "use this for your glory" and "reach people that would not be reached by any other means." So, I spoke publicly about my deepest, darkest secret. I was vulnerable. Following the Q+A, a number people came up to me, saying things such as "I have never told anybody this, but I'm struggling in this way" or "thank you for being vulnerable, now I will be more intentional and sensitive with my friends." These conversations following the session are what turned this opportunity from "cool" to "INCREDIBLE." God is using this film in ways that are just barely becoming known. This has already been a life-changing experience and I am nowhere even close to be able to predict what is coming next. I can barely even handle it. God's got this.



WHAT.



Here is all sorts of different media things from break. Enjoy.

And that's that! That's the post! Unbelievable. Shout out to Dan Mitchell for taking the last few pictures of Ms. Morgan McGannon and myself. I'm all about them.



Think about your last few months. Think about all the things that made you genuinely happy. Are those things substantial enough to base a lifestyle of them?

Combo-Nation

WOW! Well hello, it's been a while. This bloggy got the back seat these last couple weeks because, well, it has been an ABSOLUTE ZOO! Up above is not a picture from today; instead, there are two throwback images to send us back to yesteryear. They are fun to look at and remember...things. Okay, back to reality. The last few weeks have been off-the-hook crazy, so here we go, in chronological order.


We begin with finals, the best week of every college students semester. Study study study, project project (more the latter). One of those times where, before finals week, the workload that needs to be accomplished seems a monstrosity and impossible for the timeframe, and then 5 days and little sleep later, it's finished, all of it.  It's a strange, great feeling. I don't have much to show for my exams, but for my Integrated Design II final, we officically completed the 100 Days project, mine being THE SLEEPTALK 100 (http://sleeptalk100.tumblr.com). This was a 2 part final, half of which is still in production. But here is the first half: a 32" x 24" poster, including the transcript of sleeptalks from each of the 100 days, running from September 1 to December 9.  Enjoy and expect part 2 of 2 in the coming weeks!

And then, all a sudden, school is out. UNREAL. 6 weeks of break from formal education. After this insane intensity of finals week, FREEDOM was here. Well, not quite. I've been learning some things as I've got through college and one of these "learnings" is college is not forever and you need a job. I've been somewhat proactive and have become involved with a new clothing company called the ADAMO Collection. A few guys from Huntington Beach and a few from Biola connected and began production for a creative community created for the youth by the youth.  I was asked to produce a video or two for them and I was more than obliged. It was GREAT being a part of this process. The creative inspiration and ideas these guys produce are unbelievable and having the opportunity to film pretty rad stuff was just that...pretty rad. I'll let them tell you their story:

ADAMO Interview from ADAMO Collection on Vimeo.

Working clothes for the graffiti segment. That stuff is PUNGENT.

And then BOOM! It's Christmas! Here's a great video from one of my favorite filmmakers Eliot Rausch. A great look into a modern day Christmas. Super interesting.

O NIGHT DIVINE from Eliot Rausch + Phos Pictures on Vimeo.

Christmas though, AWESOME! Always is. There's something about this season, seeing family, seeing friends, giving and receiving gifts, and most of all, celebrating the birth of our Savior, God turned flesh to save us from our own sins, Jesus Christ. Born in a stable, fulfilling prophecy, the star shines bright. Do we deserve it? Not one bit. Every time I try and think about this ultimate sacrifice I'M BLOWN OUT OF MY BOOTS! Sure is Good News.

And WOAH! Here's some of my extended family. We took a picture together. Yes, yes we did.

And WOAH! Here's some more of my extended family, watching my sisters and cousins performing "Go Tell It On The Mountain" in a very peculiar way.

And WOAH! Christmas is over and WOAH! New Year's is here!

New Year's is a bizarre experience. It's when the earth completes one complete revolution around the sun. 365 days. That's all. But it's a BIG DEAL. I guess. Just take a look at Time Square New York. Yeah. Big deal. So, for New Year's, people party. Parties all over. Big parties, small parties, ragers, get-togethers.  Mr. Austin Axen and Mr. Kyle Norman decided to invite a group of Biola people as well as a group of Simi Valley people to celebrate the coming of 2012.  Good times, good conversation, good fun. And 4 on a couch for a man? Well, the late arrival of Mr. Josh Suaverdez turned the gentlemen's record around and we went on to win the next 3 rounds, taking the championship.  We also threw down some PHAT fireworks, gettin' crazy with the explosives. Fireworks are always a good time, especially when you play with them in a safe manner, with a water source nearby. And Piccolo Pete's? Always a winner. And an earsore. A toast, watching a recording of the famous BALL in NYC, and celebrating into the night brought in 2012 RIGHT.

Here's the group x2!

But OH! It's not over. My little broski's are on the Royal High School, my alma matter, soccer team. They play games now and then and I take pictures now and then. Can you say perfect opportunity? The absolutely gorgeous sunset can too.

Fútbol.

And THEN. The project from the last couple days:

So in the film industry (maybe music industry?), there's this weird thing called the REEL. I'm not quite sure what it's all about, but basically it's a filmic resume, a collection of work that demonstrates and gives examples of your work in a compressed, short form video. The last few days I have been working on gathering clips scattered throughout the wide variety of videos I have conjured up, and spent quite a bit of time organizing and editing them together to create just that: my collection of work. So here it is, for you:


Morgan Lott // 2012 Demo Reel from Morgan Lott on Vimeo.





And then BOOM! Here we are today. It's been quite the few weeks! Things happen, lots of things happen. That's life. Don't blink or else it will skip right by you and you'll wake up and wonder where the last 50 years of your life went. Boy, that'd be nuts.




Friends, make memories each and every day. Discover something new about yourself. Be curious. Be passionate. LIVE LIFE!

Midweek

It's Wednesday again, the middle of every week.  I must admit, I do not have much enthusiasm for this post.  Call it laziness, I just don't really feel like writing it, messing with it.  Consider this a life lesson; sometimes, you need to do things you just don't want to do.  I know this is a crummy example of that, but it applies nonetheless.  Life lessons, good stuff.

This week has been good.  It has consisted of traveling and seeing family members that I do not see on a regular basis.  My extended family is incredibly fun to be around, every member is a unique in their own way, and when you combine every unit of the production, you just get a party.  It's a good time.

That was my week, now I have a few days until I head back to Biola to take 3 weeks of español, basic immersion. 




HEY! I've got a surprise for you.  I just recently launched my website, it's still in development, the kinks are being worked out and more elements are being added, but hey, check it out now!  Might as well, huh? 

http://morganlott.virb.com


and now,

I've got two fun videos for you.


1st.

One of the couple days I was at home, I went with my family to the local Brunswick bowling alley.  It's weird situations like this that spark my creative fire, don't know why, so here's what I did.  I told my family "I have this video camera, I'm going to put it down on the table, at any time, you can pick up the camera and film anything you want under one condition, you must show your face first so I know who is taking the footage." I proceeded to show how to work the camera and all that jazz, and off we went.  Little did they know, the "show your face first" part was the only part I cared about.  Check this out and you'll see why:






2nd.

If you read the post THE STORY (http://emliv.blogspot.com/2010/12/story.html), you know that a wedding took place.  If you read the post THE STORY, you also know that Mr. Isaac Svensson and I captured the wedding videographically.  Want a tease?


R + M Wedding Teaser from Morgan Lott on Vimeo.

12+11+10

Randy & Megan Marshman

Encinitas, CA








That's the post ladies and gentlemen.  Sorry if it's not all you hoped it might be.  Sorry if it's lacking on the content.  Here's another life lesson: life's a rollercoaster.  There's ups and downs and it doesn't stop, it keeps going, there's a big ol' surprise right around the corner.

I must have just hit the bottom of the bunny hop.



Have a delightful day.  Tell someone what your favorite color is.  Mine's charcoal.