As many of you know, last summer I visited Los Angeles. I had three primary reasons for being there:

1) Seeing John Williams in concert,
2) Meeting all my MM.com buddies (who could attend), and
3) Visiting the University of Southern California to discuss transfer from my community college into Film School.

USC School of Cinema-Television is regarded as one of the, if not the best film school in the nation. Along with that is the difficulty of being accepted. As many of you know, my dream has always been to become a film director. The application process consists of GPA, a personal statement, a portfolio list, writing samples (2), and letters of recommendation.

I'm finishing my essays now and will begin to compile the rest as the due date approaches (January 10th). I have been blessed to have many of you look over my essays and help me perfect them during this process. To all of those who have helped, thank you very much. I am blessed to have you as friends. I've got one more essay I might need help on! So heads up!

I have also been fortunate to have good letters of rec, a fairly solid personal statement, and an average GPA (in the mid 3-point range).

With this thread I suppose I just wanted to update you all (my extended virtual family) on what is going on in my life right now. On top of all of this, my 35-year-old sister was wed in my house yesterday - and then of course, Christmas time is always hectic but joyful. My old friends have come home from school and I'm so desperately wanting to spend time with them. Consequently, I must be diligent and finish this application and make it as perfect as possible in order to feel as confident about this as I can.

If I get accepted, it will mean a change in my life. A big one. I'll be moving from Garland, TX (a suburb of Dallas), to a city that everyone knows. I'll be moving to a city that has no place to go but up, and a city that is so overflowing with people that it is next to impossible to breathe, especially with all the pollution. On the brighter side, it's a city of opportunity, and certainly a city that, as a filmmaker, will need to get to know! Having lived in Garland all my life, I know nothing else. I am not accustomed to leaving familiarities behind (for longer than a week!). I'm especially hesitant about "leaving the nest," though at age 19 I'm sure that most of you would agree that it's about time. Life here, while good and secure, has become somewhat routine and dull. My mother especially has trouble dealing w/ the thought of me leaving.

But, that's how life goes. If I am fortunate enough to be accepted into USC's Film School, I'll have no choice but to go, because if I don't, I'll regret it for the rest of my life.

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers throughout the holidays, and I hope you'll do the same for me. I'm sure gonna need it.

Love,
Jeron

PS - Joan, I promise I'll treat you to that steak sometime in the future!

Happiest Holidays to All!

Merry Christmas to you and your family and everyone else, and the dogs and the cats and....well...you know...

Jer, you will go fine, trust me

I hope God walks with you during this period, but don't worry about it.

Hope to see you down there in a few years too

Always and forever, your friend,

--Kyp Avider
Writer/Video & Film Editor

NP: Home Alone 2 Suite

Best of Luck!

NP just the TV

USC is where I met Miklos Rozsa. David Raksin use to teach a class in film music. Rozsa came by one week to discuss his score to THIEF OF BAGDAD.

Joan, I'll gladly treat you to lobster... in fact, that sounds really good to me right now. I'll have to fly up to Seattle and treat you to a nice one at the Waterfront at Pier 70! Yummmmmmmm.

Oh, and Mark? Thanks for your wishes!

Jeron

Go TROJANS!!!

This is a pivotal moment in your life. I remember we discussed your interest in USC breifly back in August. Man, it's good that you're trying to make good on your dreams. That is something so rare to this world to the point that it has bred cynicism. I've yet to go to USC, but I already have a degree in Radio, Television, and Film from the University of North Texas. My advice is, and Kyp can back me up on this if he so desires, but I think he'll agree, is to study Editing before you get to Direct, because it will teach you pace and force you to understand the outcomes of what can happen when directors aren't prepared in pre-production. Filmmaking has similar attributes to assembly line work: Everything done before each phase must be done better than well or best by the person holding that job, because without a solid foundation, a structure cannot stand. That analogy in simpler language means you have to control things and be careful of what you do in filmmaking if you want the film to work. The other pieces of advice I have for you is to (and you already do this, so why mention it? Because anybody can forget to do this) try everything, and not be afraid to try new things. I've lived in the pacific before, and it is a totally different atmosphere than Texas. With your laid back personality, you should get on just fine. Feel free to contact me, I think you still have my information. Anytime things seem strange to you there, please call and just ask for help. I would be honored.

" From acclaimed Director Jeron Moore, comes a gripping tale of friendship, revenge, and CDs..."

I wish you the best of luck, but I don't really think you'll need it... I have complete faith in you, and I hope you have complete faith in yourself (you should). I know how passionate and determined you are in reaching your goals, so I have no doubt you will.