Reconte Moi Une Histoire

I don't speak french as well as I used to back when I was required to take the class in elementary school. However, I do know how to use google translate like a wizard. Reconte Moi Une Histoire means Tell Me A Story.
A while back I wrote a post called Frogs, Solos and Silver Ratings. In it, I mentioned this project. It's been a really long time but the opening and ending title sequences took forever for the guy I asked to help me with it. Apparently it was more work than I anticipated plus he had computer problems.

The project is a stop motion animation to a song by M83 (one of my all time favourite bands in case you didn't know). In it, a little girl tells a story about a magical frog and I had that story come to life.
The preproduction took way more time than I had planned and we finished filming late into the night (or should I say early into the morning?) making it the most tiring shoot I've ever done. That being said, it was totally worth it! :)

So without further ado, I present to you Reconte Moi Une Histoire ^_^

Working on this video, I was hit hard in the face with the feeling of being over ambitious. Considering the timing of when I decided to take it on paired with the courses I was enrolled in that semester and of course the ever-daunting procrastination, there was no doubt I felt stressed.

When I was younger, being overambitious wasn't a term in my guide to live life. Probably because I didn't have much standing in my way. Now though, I have to schedule myself and prioritize things that are important or required above things I 'want' to do.
This summer, my schedule has been pretty relaxed and I've gotten a ton of writing, filmmaking and photography done. Now that school is just around the corner though, I've got to push my hobbies aside to make room for studying and homework.

More projects like this will still come around though and I'm not about to slack off on my writing because one: I enjoy them and will do a lot to make sure I can keep enjoying them, and two: if I don't express myself creatively, I'll go insane ^ ^

Thanks to everyone who made Reconte Moi Une Histoire possible. You're all superheroes for your efforts :) 

Beautiful People | Masara 3

*happy sigh* Oh summer, how you've flown by. This summer I've been participating in a blog link up called Beautiful People. It's hosted by the world dominating Notebook Sisters. (They really do promise world domination so you might want to check them out cause lets be honest here, we all secretly want to take over at least a part of the world ;) )

If you haven't heard of Beautiful People, you can check out what this fun is all about here.

This month I'll be using Masara for one last time. Masara is from my WIP science fiction novel, Crec. I've gotten to know her so much better through this link up and I've only done two other posts with her! If you're considering doing this thing, I highly recommend it. 

And now, onwards to the questions!

1) What does your character regret the most in their life?

Masara regrets agreeing to go with her friends to Brooks Tower when she was twelve. It's kind of a minor spoiler but what happened there sparked a new wave of cautiousness in her. She constantly wonders is she'd be a lot braver now both physically and emotionally had she refused to go.

2) What is your character's happiest memory? Most sorrowful memory?

When Masara was seven, she, her older brother Trey who was fourteen at the time, and her dad hiked up the mountains near their hometown. They had a picnic in a field at the top overlooking the valleys and played games until the sun went down. On the hike home, a tired Masara was given a piggyback ride on the way down by her dad. Since she hardly ever sees her dad now because of his job, it's one of her fondest memories.

As far as most sorrowful memory goes, that would probably have to be what happened at Brooks Tower.

3) What majorly gets on your character's nerves?
Masara really hates it when people don't take action. Whether it's for something smaller like a school project of something bigger like spying on some baddies, she's one of few words and much action. Talking about plans mean nothing to her if they're never followed through.

A picture I found of a girl that looks a bit
like Masara.

When all people do is talk and talk and try to revamp plans until they're 'perfect', she really wants to smack them upside the head and get moving.

4) Do they act differently when they're around people as opposed to being along? If so, how?
I guess in a way she does. When she's around other people she likes to try to prove herself to both them and herself. People are her motivation to push herself a little further. When she's by herself, she tends to give in a bit to her fears.

5) What are their beliefs and superstitions? (Ex. their religion or lack of one, conspiracy theories, throwing salt, fear of black cats.)

Masara really doesn't have many beliefes or superstitions. She bases a lot of things—and by that I mean almost everything—on facts and logic. Since conspiracies are all theories, she doesn't waste her time with them.

6) What are their catchphrases, or things they say frequently?

"Alright, let's go."

"Just forget about it."

She uses the word, "Fantastic," quite often.

She also asks, "What do you mean?" more than she should XD She's a very questioning person.

7) Would they be more prone to facing fears or running from them?

She'd really like to run from her fears and her instincts tell her to but her friends and older brother subconsciously motivate her to face them. Their own fearlessness is something Masara really admires and she strives to be like them. She's sees them as strong people and wants to be able to call herself strong too. 

8) Do they have a good self image?
I wouldn't say she does. In the case of her own appearance, sure. But when it comes to other things, not so much. Like I mentioned above, she looks at other people's strength and longs to be like them. She's pretty hard on herself and doesn't think she'll measure up to the standards she's set for herself. 

9) Do they turn to people when they're upset, or do they isolate themselves? She isolates herself. Masara's doesn't like to bother other people with her problems and prefers to move on when it comes to emotional and personal problems. She won't dwell on anything long enough to feel the need to vent. 
"Just forget about it," is something she'll tell herself as well as other people in a variety of circumstances.
Look how nicely those two questions tied in!

10) If they were standing next to you would it make you laugh or cry?
I would laugh ^ ^ I'm imagining her just popping up beside me and looking super bewildered. Her expression would make me laugh! And then she would blush and wonder what she did...

So that's this month's Beautiful People. I hope you enjoyed reading it and that you got to know Masara a little better over the last few months. I know I have! Thanks for reading and be sure to check back next month for the next Beautiful People featuring a new character :) 

Also, stayed tuned for a super neat research/interview project I'm working on right now. I'm really excited about it and can't wait to share it :D

Liebster Award 2014

Not even a year into blogging and I've been nominated for a Liebster Award! Say what?! I guess this is what happens when you have blogger friends XD A huge thanks to Victoria Grace Howell @Stori Tori's Blog for the nomination. Be sure to check out her blog cause it's awesome :) 

11 Things About Me

1) I'm an avid long-boarder. In the summer and fall months I like to take my board to the trails and head to one of my favourite spots to recharge. Exercise + Tranquility = a happy Cassia.

2) I take karate classes twice a week. I'm not a black belt yet but there's no way I'm quitting until I get there. And lets be honest, once I get there, I won't want to quite. I'll feel like a ninja! 

3) In tenth grade, I won a film festival for my music video The Moment by 'Goldhouse'. It took me over one hundred gruelling hours of work to get there but the feeling of watching it on the big screen was totally worth it. Film and photography have always been a side hobby of mine. I love capturing life, stories, people and the world through visual mediums.  

4) I'm a certified lifeguard. You'll never have to fear the water again! 

5) I have this strange ability to shake the irises of my eyes (and sometimes they shake on their own when something gets to close to my face) and to wiggle my left ear...only the left one. I've tried to train my right one to do it too but I can't for the life of me! 

6) I've been to Hawaii and learned how to surf while there. Maui is a beautiful place plus it's super fun! PS: Shaved Ice is the most fantastic dessert on the entire planet ^_^ 

Nothing beats the vibration of the wave under your feet

7) I'm an owner of a QWERTY keyboard phone. Remember the commercials? "Slide in, slide out." My parents have been bugging me to get a new one but I'm persistent to hold onto little Jarvis until he dies. Stay strong, Jarvis!

8) My birthday lands on friday the thirteenth every once in awhile. That being said, nothing catastrophic has ever happened. In fact, I think the cake was better that year. 

9) I can officially say that I've dry-land luged down an olympic track. It was spectacularly fast and beyond fun. If anything makes you feel like a kid again, it's steering those things around corners, racing your younger sister to the finish line XD

10) I don't watch TV. Why would I waste my time with that when there's stories to be told, new places to see and adventures to go on!

11) My favourite foods are sushi and anything Thai. When my mom found out about this on our vacation to the Rockies last week, she brought me Thai food and sushi brochures from the front desk at the resort ^_^ 

11 Questions From Victoria (I love these questions!)

1) If you could have one day with any superhero, who would it be?
Spiderman! While I love Iron Man for his sarcasm, I feel like Spiderman would actually talk to me and make an effort to make that day the best day ever—and it totally would be! Gosh...now I want this to happen. Somebody, please contact Spiderman and set this up XD

2) If you could have any object from any book, movie or show what would it be?
Hm...well I already have a mockingjay pin, a coat of midnight would be fantastic but I'd probably have to say a Loric pendant from the I Am Number Four Series which by the way, I'm obsessed with! I know you can buy them but getting it straight from the series would be a dream come true. 

Four's Pendant (look how cool it is!)

3) Why did you start blogging?

I noticed that a lot of teens at Go Teen Writers blogged along with one of my friends (who happens to be the person who nominated me) so I figured I could give it a shot. I wanted to connect with other bloggers and build a platform. I really like it so far! 

4) What genre do write in?

Science-Fiction and Dystopia are the main ones but I'm venturing into action/adventure too. One thing at a time, Cass!

5) Do you have any pets?
I do! I have a little dog named Ciro. He's a bit of a brat but I love him ^_^ 

Ciro's finally found good use for my biology homework: it makes a great bed!

6) Light saber or sonic screwdriver?

Ooo...that's a hard one. A sonic screwdriver can do more things but a light sabre would make me feel so epic using it! I don't think I can make a decision on this one XD

7) What's your favorite Disney movie and why?
I love Brave. 

What? Not Frozen? *crowd gasps* 

No, not Frozen. I love the themes in Brave, and Merida's journey is so captivating. I can totally picture myself as her. And bonus points go to it for the fact that Merida isn't involved in any sort of romance. I just get to sit back and enjoy the story. Oh, and it's not a musical. I'm okay with musicals....until everyone in Walmart is singing Let It Go! 

I've been told I'd like Pocahontas and Mulan for similar reasons but I haven't seen them yet...*hides* I'm sorry! I had a sheltered childhood! No worries though, they're on my very, very long list of things to watch. 

8) What's your favorite kind of music?
I'm a big Indie music listener. Indie Rock and Indie Folk are my favourites. I'm also super drawn to soundtracks. I even listen to an online 'epic soundtrack' radio station.

9) Do you have any other artistic talent besides writing?
Well I'm not sure they're considered talents but I do some photography and I like doing pencil sketches and watercolour paintings when I can. I'm also in choir and make short films. Does that count as artistic?

I'm a pretty artsy person whether I'm good at it to not ;) 

10) What place in your books would you like to travel to?
The Dome by far! How could I pass up an opportunity to visit an underwater dome where everyone has superpowers? I'd probably be that weird person who's obsessed with the dome wall and just stands there looking at it and touching it XD Oo! Do I get a superpower too? 

And maybe I would run into some of my characters!

11) Which character of yours would you go on a date with?

Always the hardest question last...
After long consideration, I think I'd have to say Sorrel from my science fiction novel, Crec. With his teasing, spontaneous and awkward personality, he'd make that date memorable.

Sorrel: You're hotter than an overheated computer. 
Me: *blinks* Uh...right. 
Sorrel: Didn't think that one would work anyways.

Yeah, memorable for sure. My friend and I talked about my characters until I could decide...maybe I took this question a little too seriously XD

And now comes the time where I nominate 9 bloggers:

1) Leah @ Apassionata

2) Heather @ My Writing Desk

3) Bethany @ The Ramblings of a Young Author

4) Emily @ Emily Rachellle Writes

5) Brian @ Shattering the Darkness

6) Gillian @ Of Battles, Dragons, and Swords of Adamant

7) Heather @ Sometimes I'm a Story

8) Lily @ Lily's Notes in the Margin

9) Sarah @ Inklined

Bloggers, your mission if you choose to accept it, is to answer these 11 questions: 

1) What is something that you always carry with you?

2) If you could live in any fictional world, what would it be? 

3) What book has left the biggest impact on your life? 

4) Are you a city or country kid at heart? 

5) Do you collect anything? 

6) If you could pick an element (earth, air, water, fire) to describe you based on your own criteria, which element would you choose?

7) If you had to chose one of your characters to room with, who would you pick?

8) Summer or winter?

9) Which reality TV or game show would be like to be or think you would do well on?

10) What is the most listened to song in your iTunes library? 

11) If you could take the place of any famous book or movie character and live out their story, which character would you chose? 

So there you have it! Be sure to check out the nominees above cause they're pretty cool people and I'm sure their answers will be just as great as they are :)