Annocha Gabriella José: March 2013

The cool thing about studying at New York Film Academy in Los Angeles is that every now again as part of our projects we get to shoot at Universal Studios backlot.

Our first project was to shoot on the western backlot with the 1 year filmmaking students.

It was a first of many for many. So it was nothing major, 30 sec scenes that were made up on the spot and we were the actors. We could wear some costume but it was not compulsory For me personally the only cool thing was being at Universal studios AND...... being an actor for once! Finally I got to do nothing but wait til they call for TALENT and perform. Being on the otherside for the last couple of years was painful but now I could be me, people looked at me as an actress! It was the best feeling ever, I am exactly where I wana be. The other cool thing about NYFA is that its an international school! I got to work with 3.... (cute) brazilians. Just too much fun I tell ya!

BLESSED!!!!!

I thank God everyday for showering me with his blessings, as this whole experience still feels like a dream.

"I like the way you die boi"

Damn, all I can say is that LA is where I belong. WOW!!!

Ventura Boulevard, Studio City

Coolest Thrift store ever

So it is my 2nd week in LA and I have been living in my digs for a couple of days. Now I havent been out and its been tough getting around. I dont have a car and its been kicking my ass. Been late for class because its the first time in my life ive ever taken a bus. The thing that I have been struggling with is getting around to all the spots that everyone is talking about, because its all so far away from each other. In Cape Town, its easy....... LONG STREET. But here its West Hollywood, Downtown LA, Burbank, Hollywood and its all about 20min away. Now that doesnt sound to bad right?? NO! When you dont have a car you have to take 3 buses to get there and sit and wait and wait and wait for the next bus to get anywhere. The

Starbucks - Anoka

problem through is that I have had the luxury of having a car now that I dont have a car or a friends I can ask its just awkward going anywhere. Also the fact that I am not used to asking anyone for list since I was 17. Its a big adjustment for me. So I have been blessed to know some folks out here from a movie I worked on as a coordinator, I tried calling them once I got a local phone. No one answered and I got a wrong number when I tried calling my one friend. I felt so alone. But then after like 4 days I checked the numbers again and realized I was calling the wrong freaking number. It was when I texted my girl Tristin Mays she replied and invited me out for a movie. HAAAAALLLLEEJUAH! What a relief!!

Hummus, pita and veg stir fry....... NOM NOM

She pulled through for me in a big way and this was one of the most epic nights of my life. I went to class and it and then decided to go hang out on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. Man I love it there, found some great shops,found a really cool thrift shop called Wasteland and bought a really cool leather jacket and bought a sick pair of platform boots for $50. BOOOM!
Trisitin came and picked me up and said we gona have a chilled night and watch a movie. Little did I know what was to come.......... We go for supper in Tahuga street, at a cute cafe shop where for the first time I had a good meal. Hummus and stir fried vegetables with pita bread. This cafe was sooo beautiful and reminded me of Cape Town. Though when I saw the pies, I realized this is not Cape Town. Hahaha I still havent had an American Pie. Not a big deal for most folks out here but I've only seen the pie eating tradition on TV Ive never had a pie other than a savoury pie at 2am in the morning drunk at the petrol station ( South Africans, you will get this.) Anyway, Tristin then says we going to watch a movie with Randy Jackson Jnr........ yeah I know... I was like WHAAAAAAAAAATTTT!!!! Kept my cool and act like going out with a Jackson is normal. We went to the Grove in Beverly hills. Its an outside mall. Amazing and huge........ like everything in America.

Tristin and Randy

We ended up watching "The Exocist... 5" Or I duno, it was balls. LAME! Then after the movie we have a drink at an Italian Resturant, Tristian mentions about going to a crazy club with Midgets flying in the air serving you drinks. I laughed it off and in 30mins it became a reality and we were on our way to a club. Dressed in my sneakers legging and my latino check shirt I was game to get out and experience the infamous nightlife of LA. We meet up with her friend Nash Overstreet from the band Hot Chelle Rae. We arrive at the LEGENDARY Roosevelt Hotel, to find out its an exclusive party called The BEACHERS MADHOUSE. And boi oh boi I should have know that madhouse was the keyword. We stepped into the club and it was madness. We had our own little VIP section and it was OOONN!

I died!! Partying with a PANDA! SURREAL

There was a whole bunch of people dressed in fury costumes, im talking, Emo, Mario Brother, Barney the Dinosaur and wait for it........... a MOTHERFUCKING PANDA!!!! The was a 7foot woman with nothing but leggings and gold caps on her titties. And then......... MIDGETS! And then it happened out of no where I saw a midget harnessed to a the ceiling flying from the one end of the club to the other with a bottle.Yep she was giving everyone shots. CRAZZYNESS!!!! And just when I thought it couldnt get more crazy, the show began, I saw everything from a old lady with the biggest( like double J) titties I have ever scene smashing baseball bats with her boobs, to burlesque dancing, to a midget band rocking it out and a strip show with the oldest stripper ive ever scene(creeeepy) and a midget stripping...... magic mike style. YES, he did a handstand lap dance. Disturbing but simultaneously hilarious. And through everything the music was ON Point! I mean hiphop all the way. I was entertained the entire evening. Surrounded by Celebritites, crazy drunk people and midgets........... 2nd week in LA. The BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!!!!
The biggest shout out goes to Tristin Mays, she is the most down to earth, humble beautiful and kindest person I have had the honour of being friends with. She showed me the best time of my life and I am so blessed to have experienced that with her. And just when I think it cant get any better than this......... She tells me we going to Disneyland on monday......... OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So far...... I love class and I love LA!