How I Spent My Summer Hiatus

It’s hiatus, which means I have a lot of time on my hands. If you’re in the same situation, I thought I’d offer some suggestions of what you could do with your time.

First of all, I’m trying to catch up on some reading. During production, I never have time to actually sit and read a book.

I just finished The Martian. Now, if I say it’s science fiction, you’re immediately going to think of aliens and blasters and stuff. That’s not what this is. It’s much more realistic than that; it’s a pretty accurate portrayal of what a manned mission to Mars would be like. Which, admittedly, also doesn’t sound that great. Did I mention it’s hilarious? In a way that’s hard to describe, other than to say, if you get my sense of humor, you’ll enjoy The Martian.

I’m also burning through The Song of Ice and Fire series. I’m in a race to finish the books before HBO spoils any more. I have to say, while I’m enjoying the books, I think this is one of those rare cases where the show is better than the book.

But I’m not all fancy pants and book readin’. I’m also catching up on YouTube series that have been backing up my Watch Later list. Tropes vs. Women in Video Games is informative, insightful, aggravating, and funny, all at the same time. The Cyanide & Happiness animated series is just plain funny. And if you haven’t watched How It Should Have Ended, you should. Specifically, Frozen:

Speaking of movies, Netflix has some great documentaries about movies. Side by Side examines the debate between film and HD. The Story of Film is exactly that. There’s nothing in there you wouldn’t pick up in film school, but its a nice refresher if it’s been a while since you graduated. And Room 237 is basically a cautionary tale against too much film school.

If you’re new to Los Angeles, you might not know we have some world class museums. LACMA always has interesting works on display. Also, it’s free on the second Tuesday of the month, so you can’t beat the price. Along with priceless art, The Getty has some of the most amazing views in the city.

Also, if you’re new to town, you should watch the two most important films about Los Angeles: L.A. Story, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Despite being ridiculous comedies, these two movies tell you everything you need to know about this city.

If you want to do some good with your time, consider donating at the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center. They have comfy beds, with a TV over each for watching movies. You’ll hardly even notice the life draining from your body a pint at a time. And it’s not all altruism– they give you movie passes when you’re done.