Rule #1

If you do this, everyone will know and laugh at you

I've been on a blogging vacation for a while (soz) but I think I might be back. Maybe. I'm not sure. All I know is I have some social media hang ups I need to divulge. Film people really suck at digital things. And also I lied - this is rules #1, #2 and #3. Bonus rules for you.

Rule #1: don't be a social sheep - look through user timelines before you follow. Don't judge based on a #FF (utterly useless unless personal) or on a single engagement. If someone has made the effort to conversate, check out their bios, their discussions and then make a decision. If they're not someone you see yourself networking/bantering with, drop your Follow finger and move on.

Rule #2: you are missing out on a world of psychological analysis if you do not look through a users' Favourites. Or Favorites, as Twitter (wrongly) calls them. These tweets are like a diary with a faulty lock. You can tell a lot about someone from what they archive - are the tweets self congratulatory? (i.e. they've saved every single rave review about their new trailer/book). Informative? Is there a trend in topic? (mine will be Guillermo del Toro and 'zen' quotes). This is gold, people.

Rule #3: avoid general schmuck-ness - everything you do on any social media platform is visible. Are you liking something offensive on Facebook? Yep, I can see you in the side bar. Are you following Sasha Grey on Instagram? Yes, your girlfriend knows. Are you tweeting in the middle of the night? Or during a work (your day job, I mean) meeting? There's a time stamp on your tweet. Nothing is a secret on SM. Or on the internet, really.


What are some of your film-relevant social media rules?

Sour Grapes and Football Greats

On Thursday 2nd December 2010, football history was made as the winners of the 2018/2022 World Cup bids were announced. Polar geographical opposites, Russia and Qatar respectively, had nabbed the rights to host the World Cup on these two separate occasions, much to the surprise, and sadly, the horror of a worldwide audience.

Since Thursday night, a flurry of negative feedback has saturated news agencies, from both Western and Arab networks. Blogs, online newspapers, sport sites, Facebook-ers, Tweeters, radio stations and even President Obama, have dished lashings of sour commentary in response.

There have been some legitimate queries put forth, surrounding Qatar’s capability of fulfilling the promises made for the 2022 WC. Sadly though, most have been...well, bullshit.

The Rock and The Hard Place

Basically, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, I could learn to become at least somewhat satisfied with what I’ve been given thus far. This entails a good job with great work experience, living in a country with relatively good weather year-round and paying less than the equivalent of £8 for a week’s supply of petrol (probably the biggest perk living in Qatar, however, if civil infrastructure was remotely more efficient, there may not be the need for a 4 car average/family). This is the rock. 

Careers, Immigration, SIA and SEO

As it stands thus far, I am pretty much where I started with this job hunt. Or at least that's how it feels. It's been a roller coaster ride of late, what with trying to tap into a million (slight exaggeration) different avenues to try and get somewhere with this whole networking business.