Stay in school, watch 'Scott Pilgrim'; both are equally rewarding.

School started this week, which to some sounds the death knolls of summer, and just translates to "no more free time". And to those people, I say, "No, sir or madame, you're doing it wrong." School (college especially) is your chance to do and learn about exactly what you want. You know that thing that you love, that maybe you don't think you could make a career out of, but you still kinda hope you can anyway? Yeah, that's what you're supposed to be doing right now. Do it. Learn it. This is the time of your life where you can do whatever you want, take courses that you find interesting, and no one thinks it's a waste of time! (Okay, maybe someone will, but that's because they wish they had the option to do what you're doing.)

Yeah, sure, you're gonna have to apply yourself a little bit. Big whoop. And maybe you'll have to wake up before the crack of noon every now and then. Boo hoo. But you get to spend your time defining yourself as a person, and bettering every aspect of your life in the process. You can get a little taste of that future career that you really really want. And, if you play your cards right and actually do apply yourself, that dream job will stop being a dream job and be your real job.

It's so exciting to think that from here on out, we make our own decisions. We get to choose our field, our job, our path, and really work for it. Yes, you do have to work for it. But, come on. No one's just gonna hand you the job of your dreams (unless you're really really lucky). And even if they did hand it to you, you'd probably screw it up. Because unless you did the work that it takes to earn that job, you're definitely not gonna be able to do it.

So, yeah. College is cool. Sometimes it's the most random classes that take you by surprise and end up teaching you the most.

In other news, 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World' came out. So please go watch it. Not only will it completely blow your mind to pieces, it needs your help. We need to support good, original, fresh films. Universal took a risk on this movie; it's quirky and niche and weird--oh, right, and GOOD. It's such a sight for sore eyes; we get so much garbage, especially now (how many 'SAW' movies are there? And 'Jackass 3D'? Really?), that this could be the start of a huge movement in Hollywood where studios take risks on good movies. But only if it makes money. And right now, it's not making money.

What is everyone seeing? 'The Expendables'? I haven't seen it yet (I'd like to), but I can guarantee that it's not original, not risky, not heartfelt; at least nowhere near 'Scott Pilgrim'. Everyone that sees it at least like it, most people love it. It's phenomenal. From a filmmaking perspective, the thing's brilliant. The direction, editing, effects, acting, writing, music, techniques; it's all there, guys. You won't be disappointed. Help support good films in Hollywood and we'll get more of them. Let it die, and we'll get 'Transformers 5', 'Saw 24' and more Zac Efron. And is that really what you want? Really?

In other, other news, I've started production on a short film I wrote about five years ago. I'd filmed it back then with a friend of mine on a crappy camera, and it never made it to the editing room (it was pretty funny, though). But a couple years back I rewrote it, heavily cleaned it up and improved it, and cast a new lead. But then I didn't do anything. Until now...

It's called 'P. D. Stands for Pretty Dumb' (people that have known me for a long time may recognize it), and it's a mockumentary about this private detective, Jim Boe, who's just completely oblivious. We've shot a bit of it so far (piece by little piece, we're getting there; below I included a little 'behind-the-scenes picture from shooting), and it's looking pretty funny. I'm doing everything I can to really nail this one. If I don't like a shot completely, we redo it. No more moving on just 'cause we need to get stuff done (for the most part). I want to make sure every shot is deliberate, and exactly how I want it, before we move to the next one. That way, I can be 100% proud of the outcome (and, if it sucks, I'm 100% to blame).

I love being behind the camera, though. It's home to me. When I'm directing, there's basically nothing else in the world I'd rather be doing. Sure, there's scenes that take FOREVER to get right, and that can get frustrating, but it's a small price to pay to be doing this for real.

It's not gonna be long enough to submit to contests or festivals or anything like that, but it's something that's not too short, not too long, hopefully well-produced and written, that I can show people without any qualifiers of , "Oh, that scene's rough", or "We didn't have time to reshoot that", or "The microphone broke". This is something I can get behind and I won't stop until it's the way I want it. And so far, it's looking really good. It's something simple and small I can pull off during the hustle bustle of school, work, and ten million other things.

Also, I'm hoping to make Jim a recurring character. I already have another script (needs to be wholly revised) and some neat ideas for future stories with this guy, but I'm focusing on the first one for now. This is part of my self-college. I'm actually making my own movies and learning from those experiences, which I think is invaluable. And so freaking gratifying, you have no idea. If you're interested in something, go do it yourself. Don't wait for someone else to tell you the "right" way to do it. Figure it out. Make it happen. It's awesome, and so are you.

But you're probably also lazy. Yeah, me too. Sucks, doesn't it? Partly why this post is two weeks overdue. Guess I'm trying to make up for that in length. So I'll cut it off now and stop rambling. And in honor of college starting, I'll give you college kids the cliffnotes version:

• Stay in school, don't do drugs
• PAY TO SEE SCOTT PILGRIM. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE (or at least make you laugh)
• I'm making a movie, and so should you

There you go. Now go do your homework.

-Micah