I was having some challenge today thinking about what to do with my advanced students. They are on the eve of their firstday of production on their short films. THis project is bigger than anything they have ever done and they have no idea how much it is gonna take.

So I was thinking today about what I could do to help get them in the right mind set for tomorrow. I have given them plenty of speeches. I have givin them the "don't disappont me speech" the "I set the bar speech", the "what do you care about", the "integrity speech", and the "if you fuck up again I am going to kick your ass to the curb".

 But Today I was at a loss. So I went with my gut and talked to them about a point in my life when I was going to give up on film. And then I showed them the film that brought me back to my passion. "The Killing Fields".

At first they were making their usual quips and immature comments but without me noticeing a quiet began to settle over the room and they where locked in. The bell rang signifing the end of the period and no one moved. Finally I had to usher them out so that I wouldn't have to explain to all their teachers why they where late.

But it felt good to have them care about something that I think is worth caring about. Thats all.

Casey